U N T Sees Greeen For L S U Game

MeanGreen61 · September 20, 2007

Football: UNT sees green in LSU game

11:03 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas will make up to an additional $250,000 by backing out of its contract to play a nonconference game with Miami in 2008 and playing LSU instead, according to information provided by UNT and LSU.

UNT was scheduled to play at Miami on Aug. 30, 2008, in the Hurricanes' first game at Dolphin Stadium after spending seven decades in the Orange Bowl.

UNT formally notified Miami that it wouldn't play its game against the Hurricanes on Aug. 14 and entered into a contract with LSU to open the 2008 season at Tiger Stadium. UNT was guaranteed $450,000 for its game against Miami, but will make $700,000 for playing at LSU.

UNT and LSU were originally scheduled to play in 2009. The game was moved up a year at LSU's request.

"We moved them from 2009 to 2008 and didn't want to do that without giving them some more money," LSU senior associate athletic director Verge Ausberry said. "We wanted to keep a good relationship with them."

How much additional money UNT makes on the exchange will depend on the school’s help in filling Miami's open date. UNT will pay a $150,000 fee for backing out of the deal if no suitable replacement is found.

Miami spokesman Rick Korch said Wednesday that Miami has yet to replace UNT on its schedule. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said the school is still looking for an opponent for Miami and that its decision to play LSU was based on more than the monetary benefit.

"There were a number of issues with the cost of traveling to the Miami area, and we already have conference games in Florida," Villarreal said. "It was a better situation to go to LSU."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.

foutsrouts · September 20, 2007

Football: UNT sees green in LSU game
11:03 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
By Brett Vito / Staff Writer
North Texas will make up to an additional $250,000 by backing out of its contract to play a nonconference game with Miami in 2008 and playing LSU instead, according to information provided by UNT and LSU.
UNT was scheduled to play at Miami on Aug. 30, 2008, in the Hurricanes' first game at Dolphin Stadium after spending seven decades in the Orange Bowl.
UNT formally notified Miami that it wouldn't play its game against the Hurricanes on Aug. 14 and entered into a contract with LSU to open the 2008 season at Tiger Stadium. UNT was guaranteed $450,000 for its game against Miami, but will make $700,000 for playing at LSU.
UNT and LSU were originally scheduled to play in 2009. The game was moved up a year at LSU's request.
"We moved them from 2009 to 2008 and didn't want to do that without giving them some more money," LSU senior associate athletic director Verge Ausberry said. "We wanted to keep a good relationship with them."
How much additional money UNT makes on the exchange will depend on the school’s help in filling Miami's open date. UNT will pay a $150,000 fee for backing out of the deal if no suitable replacement is found.
Miami spokesman Rick Korch said Wednesday that Miami has yet to replace UNT on its schedule. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said the school is still looking for an opponent for Miami and that its decision to play LSU was based on more than the monetary benefit.
"There were a number of issues with the cost of traveling to the Miami area, and we already have conference games in Florida," Villarreal said. "It was a better situation to go to LSU."
BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870.

Hmmmm.... Apparently it was our decision to back out of that game. Not real happy about it, but I guess 100k to 250k money talks!

oldschoollefty · September 20, 2007

I'll just be happy when we aren't so strapped for cash that we have to keep taking these road "body bag" games. :glare:

Now a home and home with LSU/Arkansas/Oklahoma, etc. would be acceptable with the "home" part coming in our new digs on the west side of I35E. :thumbsup:

island eagle · September 20, 2007

I'll just be happy when we aren't so strapped for cash that we have to keep taking these road "body bag" games.
Now a home and home with LSU/Arkansas/Oklahoma, etc. would be acceptable with the "home" part coming in our new digs on the west side of I35E.

AMEN!!!! I will shout glory be the day we don't have to open in places like Baton Rouge. Of course, that is up to us alumni, supporters and fans. If we could average 25,000 to 30,000 a game, our need for "money games" would decrease dramatically and our ability to schedule good home and home series would increase.

GreenN'walinsVet · September 20, 2007

I think were missing the most important thing here

Rick V is genious.

He backs out of Miami to go with LSU. So instead of Miami in 2008 and LSU in 2009 we have just LSU 2008. By going to LSU we have less travel costs and pick up anwhere from 100k to 250k additional payout.

If you have looked at our possible future schedules, there seems to be very few "body bag" games, if any, and more home and home or 2 for 1 type teams.

It seems to me, that Rick V, did this to get out of the "body bag" scenerio a year earlier, and get to games that our more beneficial to our long time success sooner.

greenminer · September 20, 2007

I'll just be happy when we aren't so strapped for cash that we have to keep taking these road "body bag" games.
Now a home and home with LSU/Arkansas/Oklahoma, etc. would be acceptable with the "home" part coming in our new digs on the west side of I35E.

I look forward to the day where we are competing with them. Call me crazy. Just raising the expectations and all.

NT03 · September 20, 2007

Sweet!!

I'm sure Miami asked RV nicely to back out and he did so while making more $$$$. Miami didn't want to look like it was running from an "lesser" opponent and they wanted to make sure they filled up their new stadium , which I can't blame them.

Best part of this is I thought we would be playing @ LSU in 08 & 09.

Boomer23 · September 20, 2007

Would we still be playing LSU in '09. I thought they said they just wanted to move that game up a year. If not it looks like an opening for another SMU game come 2009

NT03 · September 20, 2007

Would we still be playing LSU in '09. I thought they said they just wanted to move that game up a year. If not it looks like an opening for another SMU game come 2009

No the 08 LSU game would replace the 09 game , that's why we are getting more $$

Unfortunately SMU's OOC is set for 09 : @ Baylor, @ Texas Tech , @ Missouri , @ TCU , vs. Navy

There seems to be a spot open for 1 game for next year on both sides though

08 NT : @LSU, @ K-State , Rice

08 SMU: @ Ark St. , TeXas Tech , TCU , @ Navy

Edited September 20, 2007 by NT03

MeanGreen61 · September 20, 2007

Sweet!!
I'm sure Miami asked RV nicely to back out and he did so while making more $$$$. Miami didn't want to look like it was running from an "lesser" opponent and they wanted to make sure they filled up their new stadium , which I can't blame them.
Best part of this is I thought we would be playing @ LSU in 08 & 09.

If Miami did the askin', why will we have to pay them $150,000 if (with our help) a suitable replacement can't be found ?

NT03 · September 20, 2007

If Miami did the askin', why will we have to pay them $150,000 if (with our help) a suitable replacement can't be found ?

Believe me , they will find a replacement.

MeanGreen61 · September 20, 2007

Believe me , they will find a replacement.

That wasn't the point of the post. Your post indicated that Miami dumped NT. If that were true, we would have no obligation to help them find a replacement or pay the buy out fee.

gangrene · September 20, 2007

Football: UNT sees green in LSU game
11:03 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007
By Brett Vito / Staff Writer
UNT formally notified Miami that it wouldn't play its game against the Hurricanes on Aug. 14 and entered into a contract with LSU to open the 2008 season at Tiger Stadium. UNT was guaranteed $450,000 for its game against Miami, but will make $700,000 for playing at LSU.
How much additional money UNT makes on the exchange will depend on the school’s help in filling Miami's open date. UNT will pay a $150,000 fee for backing out of the deal if no suitable replacement is found.
Miami spokesman Rick Korch said Wednesday that Miami has yet to replace UNT on its schedule. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said the school is still looking for an opponent for Miami and that its decision to play LSU was based on more than the monetary benefit.

Two questions:

1. Can we set aside the entire $700K to start a stadium fund? :ph34r:

2. What exactly does a "suitable replacement" mean? Who determines what is or is not suitable and how is little ole UNT supposed to help big, bad Miami schedule a game? I'm sure we could talk another SBC opponent into taking that game, but I doubt that would be a "suitable replacement".

GreenN'walinsVet · September 20, 2007

My guess is "suitable" probably means D-1A and not D-1AA

GoMeanGreen1999 · September 20, 2007

I think were missing the most important thing here
Rick V is genious.
He backs out of Miami to go with LSU. So instead of Miami in 2008 and LSU in 2009 we have just LSU 2008. By going to LSU we have less travel costs and pick up anwhere from 100k to 250k additional payout.
If you have looked at our possible future schedules, there seems to be very few "body bag" games, if any, and more home and home or 2 for 1 type teams.
It seems to me, that Rick V, did this to get out of the "body bag" scenerio a year earlier, and get to games that our more beneficial to our long time success sooner.

I have to give RV some credit - this was a good move I think.

MGW · September 20, 2007

I'll just be happy when we aren't so strapped for cash that we have to keep taking these road "body bag" games.
Now a home and home with LSU/Arkansas/Oklahoma, etc. would be acceptable with the "home" part coming in our new digs on the west side of I35E.

:drool:

If it can happen at Troy, it can happen at UNT.