Not Backing Down

[Dodge2007]

I read a lot of posts about body bag games. That mentality has got to change. Kids want to play in the big time stadiums, they want to be on TV, they want a shot to prove to those schools that they should have been recruited by the SEC, Big 12, etc.

I believe that UNT should model its program after several schools who have the mentality that we will play anyone.......anywhere. Yeah, will get our ass handed to us for a few seasons, we'll collect some big dollars to put back into the program, and then if Dodge can coach like and have the mentality of a guy like Pat Hill, this program will take off.

To get the respect of the nation, and to rid ourselves of the Sun Belt mentality that the nation has of this conference, UNT must continue to play the big boys. Now, Fresno State can't get all the big boy games anymore, no one wants to play them as much. What a great problem that would be.

[UNTLifer]

I read a lot of posts about body bag games. That mentality has got to change. Kids want to play in the big time stadiums, they want to be on TV, they want a shot to prove to those schools that they should have been recruited by the SEC, Big 12, etc.

I believe that UNT should model its program after several schools who have the mentality that we will play anyone.......anywhere. Yeah, will get our ass handed to us for a few seasons, we'll collect some big dollars to put back into the program, and then if Dodge can coach like and have the mentality of a guy like Pat Hill, this program will take off.

To get the respect of the nation, and to rid ourselves of the Sun Belt mentality that the nation has of this conference, UNT must continue to play the big boys. Now, Fresno State can't get all the big boy games anymore, no one wants to play them as much. What a great problem that would be.

Why model it after Fresno State when we can look to our conference mates in Troy, FAU and Arkansas State as prime examples? The "Sun Belt mentality that the nation has of this conference" will continue to change with victories over the likes of Missouri, Memphis, Minnesota, etc...

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

"We'll play anyone, any place, anytime...." Pat Hill, Fresno State

We've pretty much had that attitude since we returned to 1-A in 1995. During that span we've played Oklahoma five times; Texas four; LSU three; Alabama, Arizona State, and Arkansas twice; and Texas A&M once, all of which were played before crowds of 70,000 and up. In addition, we've played Kansas State, Colorado, Texas Tech, Arizona, Air Force and Baylor which drew crowds of near 50,000 or more. We had another 'home' game with Texas A&M that became our largest home crowd of around 47,000.

To the chagrin of our former coach, we haven't backed down from anyone. We'd play Notre Dame if they would schedule us. But, the conference office, noticing that we were losing all of these road games, strongly suggested that these 'body bag' games be limited to one per year unless these big time programs would agree to come to our stadiums.

There are only two conferences that seem to avoid us...The Big 10 and the Pac 10. We've never played anyone from the Big 10 and only Oregon State of the Pac 10. We don't play anyone in the Big East anymore and we've only played Florida State in the ACC. We do have Clemson on our future schedule but we've scheduled, then dropped, Virginia and Miami. I'd say that we are open with the above philosophy to anyone, and especially to those in reasonable proximity.

[The Fake Lonnie Finch]

This is, again, a stupid comparison. We never played in the WAC. Fresno and Boise built programs when the WAC was allowing unlimited non-qualifiers. They only stopped the practice two seasons ago. The reason the private schools left WAC was the non-qualifiers issue.

Yet, here we are, pretending to be in the same boat as Fresno and Boise. We don't have their circumstances and never will. We don't even have their stadiums, and probably never will.

Also, these teams don't just play I-A powerhouses in their OOC schedule, despite what many of you think. Nearly every season, they have at least one I-AA on their schedule:

Boise:

2007 - Weber State

2006 - Cal State - Sacramento

2005 - Portland State

2004 - NONE

2003 - Idaho State

Fresno:

2007 - Cal State - Sacramento

2006 - NONE

2005 - Weber State

2004 - Portland State

2003 - Portland State

I and many other poster have espoused the desire for us to schedule I-AAs to open the seasons as well. Even though you think they don't, Fresno and Boise do. As mentioned dozens of times, to build a winning program without the benefit of resources such as a big stadium and lots of money, the OOC should be as follows:

One I-AA, one or two mid-majors or lower level BCS (Baylor, etc), one BCS.

Regardless of what people think, it's not Todd Dodge's name, or student loyalty, or community support that draw butts to seats - it's winning. When Texas played Sam Houston State last year, DKR was filled. People like to watch wins.

And, for the umpteenth time, winning breeds a winning attitude among the players and coaching staff. It doesn't matter who it is.

Kansas State built their program in the 1990s this way. They had no money, an aging stadium, and almost no real football history. They built interest by winning winnable games.

Quit throwing our team under the bus twice a season. Get games we can win and build on them. Do it. Do it now. Quit f'n around with 79-10 and 66-7 losses. They prove and build nothing.

Edited October 2, 2007 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

[Arkstfan]

Boise has rarely gone after the top teams from the rich six leagues. They like to nibble around the middle and bottom.

[UNTLifer]

Regardless of what people think, it's not Todd Dodge's name, or student loyalty, or community support that draw butts to seats - it's winning. When Texas played Sam Houston State last year, DKR was filled. People like to watch wins.

True, but based on most people that post on here the win isn't the reason, it is the opponent. People complain that they don't know who we are playing, or they don't want to watch a "no-name" opponent. UT's fans fill up DKR because they are winning and because they support their team.

[NT91]

I want Drake in 09

[Got5onIt]

I want Drake in 09

How about we play the Ivy League schools, then venture over to the SWAC. Maybe even schedule some D3 schools like Mt.Union, Austin College, & Trinity University.

We'lL bE 12-0 and pWNED evRy body!!!!11111

Edited October 2, 2007 by Got5onIt

[MeanGreen61]

There are only two conferences that seem to avoid us...The Big 10 and the Pac 10. We've never played anyone from the Big 10 and only Oregon State of the Pac 10.

Actually we've played 8 games vs the Pac 10; winning 2 & losing 6.

Arizona 0-1 (2002)

Arizona State 1-4 (Last game 1998)

Oregon State 1-1 (Last game 1997)

[TIgreen01]

This is, again, a stupid comparison. We never played in the WAC. Fresno and Boise built programs when the WAC was allowing unlimited non-qualifiers. They only stopped the practice two seasons ago. The reason the private schools left WAC was the non-qualifiers issue.

Yet, here we are, pretending to be in the same boat as Fresno and Boise. We don't have their circumstances and never will. We don't even have their stadiums, and probably never will.

Also, these teams don't just play I-A powerhouses in their OOC schedule, despite what many of you think. Nearly every season, they have at least one I-AA on their schedule:

Boise:

2007 - Weber State

2006 - Cal State - Sacramento

2005 - Portland State

2004 - NONE

2003 - Idaho State

Fresno:

2007 - Cal State - Sacramento

2006 - NONE

2005 - Weber State

2004 - Portland State

2003 - Portland State

I and many other poster have espoused the desire for us to schedule I-AAs to open the seasons as well. Even though you think they don't, Fresno and Boise do. As mentioned dozens of times, to build a winning program without the benefit of resources such as a big stadium and lots of money, the OOC should be as follows:

One I-AA, one or two mid-majors or lower level BCS (Baylor, etc), one BCS.

Regardless of what people think, it's not Todd Dodge's name, or student loyalty, or community support that draw butts to seats - it's winning. When Texas played Sam Houston State last year, DKR was filled. People like to watch wins.

And, for the umpteenth time, winning breeds a winning attitude among the players and coaching staff. It doesn't matter who it is.

Kansas State built their program in the 1990s this way. They had no money, an aging stadium, and almost no real football history. They built interest by winning winnable games.

Quit throwing our team under the bus twice a season. Get games we can win and build on them. Do it. Do it now. Quit f'n around with 79-10 and 66-7 losses. They prove and build nothing.

Agree 1000%...and I nominate this for 'Best Post of ALL-TIME'.

[KRAM1]

Personally, I would like to see us schedule some "known" opponents for Fouts to get the fans out and excited. Like Navy (Nov. 10th...be there and wear a "Sink Navy T-Shirt), Army, Air Force, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Tulsa, Tulane, Rice, Harvard, Yale (are the Ivy League guys D-1?), etc. Big enough schools that will provide us some great exposure, and get fans in the seats, but still give us a decent chance of a win UNTIL Coach Dodge gets his team set the way he wants it and we can take on the BIG BOYS...well BIGGER BOYS like Okla. State, TTech, Kansas, BYU, etc....

I just don't care, at this stage in the team's development, to go get the "stuffing" beat out of us by the OU's and the Arkansas' of the world. The time will come...soon, I hope, but let's give the team a break for the next couple of years. Yes, I know schedules are set WAY in advance...so, it's pretty much a done deal for the next couple of years...but, we switched from Miami to LSU! Gee, that was a "relief"! Ha!

GO MEAN GREEN!

[H-towngreen]

We recently signed a home and home with Rice. But I agree I would like to see more games like this.

[Guest 97and03]

Personally, I would like to see us schedule some "known" opponents for Fouts to get the fans out and excited. Like Navy (Nov. 10th...be there and wear a "Sink Navy T-Shirt), Army, Air Force, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Tulsa, Tulane, Rice, Harvard, Yale (are the Ivy League guys D-1?), etc. Big enough schools that will provide us some great exposure, and get fans in the seats, but still give us a decent chance of a win UNTIL Coach Dodge gets his team set the way he wants it and we can take on the BIG BOYS...well BIGGER BOYS like Okla. State, TTech, Kansas, BYU, etc....

I just don't care, at this stage in the team's development, to go get the "stuffing" beat out of us by the OU's and the Arkansas' of the world. The time will come...soon, I hope, but let's give the team a break for the next couple of years. Yes, I know schedules are set WAY in advance...so, it's pretty much a done deal for the next couple of years...but, we switched from Miami to LSU! Gee, that was a "relief"! Ha!

GO MEAN GREEN!

I will repost my thoughts from another thread:

In Topic: Nt Vs Alabama

The game that everyone hasn't mentioned is Rice. I would love to see more games like this on the schedule. I think home and home series with Rice, SMU, Baylor, TCU, Tulsa, Houston, Tulane, La Tech, UTEP, and New Mexico St (and others) would be great for UNT for two reasons.

1) The schools are close enough for a decent number of students and fans to travel.

2) UNT has a legitimate chance of winning most of those. As most of the posters on this board have mentioned, W's matter.

I think these types of games, in addition to getting teams like Navy into Denton, will do alot to raise the enthusiasm for UNT football. Let's face it, despite the fact that FAU and Western Kentucky are in our conference, they just aren't likely to generate much buzz, outside of bigtime fans. But the casual fan can get a little more excited about a cross-town or I-45 rivalry.

UNT seems to be doing more of this and I think it is a positive thing.

Just my 2 cents.

[MeanMag]

Boise has rarely gone after the top teams from the rich six leagues. They like to nibble around the middle and bottom.

Love how everyone glazes over this. We here at GMG.com don't care about facts. Winning is all that matters. Except when we're 0-4. Then having Todd Dodge is all that matters.

[FirefightnRick]

Quit throwing our team under the bus twice a season. Get games we can win and build on them. Do it. Do it now. Quit f'n around with 79-10 and 66-7 losses. They prove and build nothing.

Yup!!!!!!

Rick

Edited October 3, 2007 by FirefightnRick

[NT80]

If fans and donors would pay the athletic bill$ we wouldn't have to schedule the OUs and UArks of the world. I believe RV even said we could support ourselves with 10,000 season ticket holders and averaging 25,000 per game. Personally, I enjoy us playing in the big stadiums and Top 25 teams and I bet players would say they liked it too rather than playing a Nicholls State. USF and UCF haven't dodged the big programs and they are on the way up. UCF was like 0-11 a couple years ago and USF didn't exist as a program 10 years ago. Why not NT?

[FirefightnRick]

If fans and donors would pay the athletic bill$ we wouldn't have to schedule the OUs and UArks of the world. I believe RV even said we could support ourselves with 10,000 season ticket holders and averaging 25,000 per game. Personally, I enjoy us playing in the big stadiums and Top 25 teams and I bet players would say they liked it too rather than playing a Nicholls State. USF and UCF haven't dodged the big programs and they are on the way up. UCF was like 0-11 a couple years ago and USF didn't exist as a program 10 years ago. Why not NT?

Not saying they outright dodged the big programs but they sure didn't forget the little ones either to start their seasons off.

Unless otherwise noted, all games below were home games and were wins for Bull and Knight fans to enjoy and build support with.

USF

'07....Elon 28-13

'06...McNeese St. 41-10

.......FIU..21-20

'05....Florida A&M 37-3

'04....Tennessee Tech..21-7

'03...Nichols State..27-17

.......Charleston Southern..55-7

'02...Florida Atlantic...51-10

.......Northern Illinois...37-10

.......North Texas(Away game)...24-17

.......Charleston Southern..56-6

'01...Southern Utah...42-12

........North Texas...28-10

........Liberty..68-37

........Western Illinois 48-17

........Utah State...34-13

UCF

'07...Texas (L) 35-32

.......ULL 35-19

'06...Villanova 35-16

'05...ULL 24-21

'04....3 straight road games against ranked opponents to start the year set the ball rolling to an 0-11 season

'03....FAU 33-29

'02....Liberty..48-17

'01....Liberty..63-0

........ULM 38-6

.........ULL 31-0

Rick

Edited October 3, 2007 by FirefightnRick