1st Practice Friday Night---7 P.m.

[SUMG]

According to a blurb in today's FW paper....we have our first practices (men and women) Friday night at 7. It's open to the public. There will be some skills competitions, some interactive contests for fans, and posters will be available for autographs. After 60-90 minutes....both teams will participate in their first official practices of the season.

Edited October 11, 2007 by SUMG

[SUMG]

As of 8:53 on Thursday morning....there is no mention of this on the official site. So, I hope the FW paper is correct.

I'll be there, if it's happening.

[CMJ]

I can't believe it's not on meangreensports yet. Tell us how it is SUMG!

[untbowler]

According to a blurb in today's FW paper....we have our first practices (men and women) Friday night at 7. It's open to the public. There will be some skills competitions, some interactive contests for fans, and posters will be available for autographs. After 60-90 minutes....both teams will participate in their first official practices of the season.

And another marketing opportunity falls by the wayside. Thanks Athletic Department.

***It is now posted on the main website as of 9:45 AM***

Edited October 11, 2007 by untbowler

[MeanGreen61]

Men's Basketball Hits The Court For First Practice Friday

Courtesy: University of North Texas

Release: 10/11/2007

DENTON, Texas (10/10/07) – With the season opener just a month away, the defending Sun Belt Champion Mean Green men’s basketball team returns to work on Friday with the opening night of practice.

Three of the starters that helped cut down the nets in Lafayette, La. will return to the court, combined with a talented incoming class that will have the Mean Green back in contention for another trip to the NCAA Tournament.

North Texas’ backcourt is in the capable hands of Ben Bell. The senior was selected to the Sun Belt’s All-Tournament Team after posting three straight double-digit scoring games in the Sun Belt Tournament. He led the team with 105 assists, making him only the second North Texas player in the last seven years to reach the century mark. Bell averaged 10.8 ppg, and shot 50 percent from the floor (19-38) and beyond the arc (5-10) in NT’s five postseason games.

Opponents will think twice before entering the lane this year with the duo of Quincy Williams and Keith Wooden.

Williams is one of only three returning players in the league to average at least 10 points and seven rebounds per game last year, and was the only player to rack up at least 35 blocks and 50 assists. The senior is the principal rebounder on the Sun Belt’s best rebounding team, and was a monster in the weight room this offseason. Williams leads all conference returners with 2.94 offensive rebounds per game and ranks second in field goal percentage with a 57.6 percent clip.

Wooden boasted the top field goal percentage (52.5) among all newcomers in the Sun Belt last year, and his 31 blocks tied for the 10th most in school history. He finished eighth in the SBC in blocks per game (0.94), and ranked 16th in the conference and second on the team with 5.5 rebounds per game. Despite playing the season’s last 11 games with a protective mask over his broken nose, Wooden’s averages actually went up. He had 16 double-digit scoring games, including five straight during conference play, and tied for the game-high with 16 points against Memphis in the NCAA Tournament.

Top to bottom, the 2007-08 North Texas recruiting class has the talent to keep the Mean Green at the top of the Sun Belt Conference. Ranked among the top third of the country by HoopScoopOnline.com, this North Texas class is highlighted by a four-pack of gifted guards and a couple of powerful paint players.

Guard Adam McCoy earned NJCAA Region-I Second Team honors for Mesa Community College (Ariz.) last year. He not only owned the nation’s 14th best 3-point field goal percentage at 48.7 percent, but was the Thunderbird’s prime scoring threat, with a team-high 18.4 points per game.

Tristan Thompson, ranked as the 18th best player in the state out of Angleton High School according to HoopScoopOnline.com, spent last season leading Brewster Academy prep school (N.H.) to a No. 5 national ranking and a trip to the NEPSAC title game.

A three-time Louisiana All-State selection at point guard for Christian Life Academy, Josh White joins the Mean Green with an impressive prep resume. Named the 10th-best player in the state of Louisiana by Rivals.com, White led Christian Life Academy to back-to-back 1A state titles while earning the state’s Most Outstanding Player award given by the Louisiana Sportswriters Association.

One the Dallas area’s most celebrated players as a senior at Kimball High School, George Odufuwa joins Wooden as Arizona State transfers on the Mean Green roster. Odufuwa shot 50.0 percent from the floor in 13 appearances for the Sun Devils last season, averaging 4.8 minutes per game against some of the country’s top competition.

Dez Willingham started 42 games over the last two seasons at SMU, leading the Mustangs in assists/turnover ratio (1.59 a/to) and free throw percentage (82.9 percent) in 2006-07. As a prep star, Willingham was a consensus top-100 player in the nation at DeSoto High School, rated as high as No. 18 by the PrepStars Recruiters Handbook.

Another Louisiana All-State selection, Kedrick Hogans was a Louisiana Sports Writers Association First-Team All-State selection after leading Karr High School in New Orleans to the 3A state title.

The Mean Green will face a stout schedule in 2007-08 that features NCAA Tournament No. 4 seed Texas, and home matchups with NIT participants Oklahoma State and South Alabama.

Overall, North Texas will take on four teams that finished with at least 20 wins – including three inside the RPI Top-100 – and will play host to a school-record 16 regular season home games at The Super Pit.

North Texas plays an exhibition match against Oklahoma Panhandle State on Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., and will raise the banners from the historic 2007 season prior to the home opener against Cameron on Nov. 10 at 7:30 p.m.

Edited October 11, 2007 by MeanGreen61

[CMJ]

Unfortunately no mention of it being free and open to the public. Excellent article though.

[NT80]

According to a blurb in today's FW paper....we have our first practices (men and women) Friday night at 7. It's open to the public. There will be some skills competitions, some interactive contests for fans, and posters will be available for autographs. After 60-90 minutes....both teams will participate in their first official practices of the season.

Same time as Clark Park Pep Rally, but nothing in the Denton paper, Dallas paper, UNT paper, or UNT Athletic website about any time or fan invite/autographs. Perhaps UNT could hire this FW writer to join the SIDs office?

Edited October 11, 2007 by NT80

[SUMG]

Are you KIDDING ME?

Now, the official site says that Friday night's practice is closed to the public.

Never mind.

Edited October 11, 2007 by SUMG

[untbowler]

Are you KIDDING ME?

Now, the official site says that Friday night's practice is closed to the public.

Never mind.

Wow so when did UNT get so big with fans attending that we can afford to shut practices and not be fan friendly? A perfect opportunity to showcase our NCAA Teams for a little early midnight madness, but nope not at UNT, we have to keep the fans away. Is DD working in the Athletics Media Office? Let the fans in initially then you can close all the practices you want.

Same old 1 Step forward and 2 steps back, UNT just does not get it.

Just pathetic!!!!

Edited October 11, 2007 by untbowler

[NT80]

Are you KIDDING ME?

Now, the official site says that Friday night's practice is closed to the public.

Never mind.

Guess they just realized they had two events (pep rally and this) planned for the same time. Either that or they forgot they hired Dodge's practice storm-troppers to keep all the fans away. Nothing like killing a little fan interest early before it develops into $$ for the program. Oh well.

[SUMG]

Guess they just realized they had two events (pep rally and this) planned for the same time. Either that or they forgot they hired Dodge's practice storm-troppers to keep all the fans away. Nothing like killing a little fan interest early before it develops into $$ for the program. Oh well.

Not really, Jeffrey.

The practice starts at 7. The freaking pep rally starts at 9 or 9:15.

All that crap from 7:30 on at Clark Park, is a food give away and concert for STUDENTS.

So yeah, the practice could have still been open to the public....and not have affected the pep rally one bit. BTW, I personally could give a shit if the crowd is light for the performance by Space Monkey. I guess we'd rather promote them, than our b-ball teams.

[greenminer]

Wow so when did UNT get so big with fans attending that we can afford to shut practices and not be fan friendly? A perfect opportunity to showcase our NCAA Teams for a little early midnight madness, but nope not at UNT, we have to keep the fans away. Is DD working in the Athletics Media Office? Let the fans in initially then you can close all the practices you want.

Same old 1 Step forward and 2 steps back, UNT just does not get it.

Just pathetic!!!!

wtf? DD had open practice. TD doesn't. Our BBall teams dont' now? so what. It's just a coach thing. Not a big-school mentality.

Before ya'll go off on this, I suggest you read the endless debates we had when people were adjusting to TD's closed-practices in the spring/fall.

[untbowler]

wtf? DD had open practice. TD doesn't. Our BBall teams dont' now? so what. It's just a coach thing. Not a big-school mentality.

Before ya'll go off on this, I suggest you read the endless debates we had when people were adjusting to TD's closed-practices in the spring/fall.

Sorry guess I need to spell it out. Yes DD had open practices, but he also was consistent with his F*** the Fans attitude, that for some reason is prevalent still in the Athletic Department. Did JJ have open practices last year? If yes then why change now?

Why not let the fans come in for a long weekend watch an NCAA Tournament Team practice to fanfare for one night, then go to the Pep Rally. Fans at UNT are few and far between so why shut out the true fans. Ever wonder why there are 100K + UNT Alumni in the metroplex but donations suck?

[Buford_Julep]

North Texas has always had open basketball practices.

JJ likes having open practices. I think he likes for people to see for themselves just how hard his teams work in practice. If you sit on the front row he will come visit with you during a break. Stay till the end of the practice and he will introduce you to the players.

[SUMG]

North Texas has always had open basketball practices.

JJ likes having open practices. I think he likes for people to see for themselves just how hard his teams work in practice. If you sit on the front row he will come visit with you during a break. Stay till the end of the practice and he will introduce you to the players.

I get the feeling, Buford that this wasn't JJ's call (closing the practice tomorrow). Like I said in the first post....there was a blurb about the event in today's FW paper.

So, somebody had some stuff planned for tomorrow.

And I'd bet the reason that it was cancelled was because of the pep rally.

Note to NT: Pep rallies don't have to be 3 hour events....with free food and concert. If the students have to be bribed to come to a pep rally---we should stop having them.

[SUMG]

One more thing: I'm 50....so I no longer come to pep rallies....now that they're concerts and food fests.

But, if say someone had planned the b-ball event from say 7-8:30 or 8:45...my old ass would have walked from The Super Pit to the pep rally...since I was already in the area.

Done right.....and this b-ball event could have increased the size of the pep rally crowd.

[GreenBat]

Just got off the phone with Eric Capper and Stephen Howard. The info reported in the Star-Telegram was WRONG. It was not written by the NT beat writer and Capper spoke with the Sports Editor and he said that UTA is doing something big with the first day of practice and that’s were the confusion might have come from.

My conversation with Stephen Howard was interesting. He stated that the info in the Star-Telegram was indeed WRONG and that Johnny Jones has never opened practices to the public.

I told him that I had attended more than one practice, sitting at the top of the concourse, and I was not asked to leave. I did not bother anyone, or make my presence known, but was not asked to leave. He reiterated that while he has been the head coach at NT, Johnny Jones has never had a policy that allows the public to watch practice.

These are the facts as they were presented to me by Eric Capper, Media Relation Director, and Stephen Howard, Assistant Director in charge of Men’s Basketball.

Brett (GreenBat) Tulloss

Media Relations directory.

[untbowler]

Just got off the phone with Eric Capper and Stephen Howard. The info reported in the Star-Telegram was WRONG. It was not written by the NT beat writer and Capper spoke with the Sports Editor and he said that UTA is doing something big with the first day of practice and that’s were the confusion might have come from.

My conversation with Stephen Howard was interesting. He stated that the info in the Star-Telegram was indeed WRONG and that Johnny Jones has never opened practices to the public.

I told him that I had attended more than one practice, sitting at the top of the concourse, and I was not asked to leave. I did not bother anyone, or make my presence known, but was not asked to leave. He reiterated that while he has been the head coach at NT, Johnny Jones has never had a policy that allows the public to watch practice.

These are the facts as they were presented to me by Eric Capper, Media Relation Director, and Stephen Howard, Assistant Director in charge of Men’s Basketball.

Brett (GreenBat) Tulloss

Media Relations directory.

Care to comment Buford??

Sounds like tons of miscommunication then.

[Buford_Julep]

Care to comment Buford??

Sounds like tons of miscommunication then.

I last saw JJ at the SMU football game. I mentioned that I was ready for the start of BB practices and he said something like the door is always open and he was thinking of having me suit up.

[KRAM1]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC????? When...if ever...will the UNT Athletic Dept. become "fan friendly" like so many of the other colleges and universities around the country? What's up with this "closed practice" thing for the first practice? What a GREAT PR and ticket sales opportunity...oh, I forgot, we sell out man's and women's basketball games on a regular basis, so we don't need to be fan friendly or promote the programs...NOT!

Another GREAT opportunity bites the dust in Denton. Have we/I missed something here? Does the NCAA ban "fan friendly" situations? What's up UNT Athletic Dept. folks? If I were in charge of the Mean Green Club I would be furious. That might be too much to ask of the MGC because it would be acting like a "Club" and not just an extension of the ticket sales office. If NOTHING else, open it to Mean Green Club members and give them so "real" reason for joining the Mean Green Club in the first place...not just a requirement to buy tickets in certain locations! Come on folks, we are trying to get support going for UNT athletics and UNT in general...this is NOT the way to go about it!

Let's hope we are all wet here, and that this "first practice" event will be open to the public and a good time can be had by all...I will keep my hopes alive until I am proved wrong...Come on Rick...Come on Johnny...come on Tina...put your thinking caps on and understand what a great opportunity you have to make it a great night for UNT fans with the start of basketball season and the football pep rally combo. Man, a great PR situation you guys are turning into a PR nightmare...

Let's hear from the athletic dept. on this...there must...just must be more to this story...I know there are two sides and I'd like to hear from the "accused" BEFORE they are convicted of pure nonesense and a pure "slap in the face of our fans" mentality!

I know you folks read this board from time to time...so, let's hear from you on this one...PLEASE. You can re-think the issue, you know...it is not too late!

[untbowler]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME! NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC????? When...if ever...will the UNT Athletic Dept. become "fan friendly" like so many of the other colleges and universities around the country? What's up with this "closed practice" thing for the first practice? What a GREAT PR and ticket sales opportunity...oh, I forgot, we sell out man's and women's basketball games on a regular basis, so we don't need to be fan friendly or promote the programs...NOT!

Another GREAT opportunity bites the dust in Denton. Have we/I missed something here? Does the NCAA ban "fan friendly" situations? What's up UNT Athletic Dept. folks? If I were in charge of the Mean Green Club I would be furious. That might be too much to ask of the MGC because it would be acting like a "Club" and not just an extension of the ticket sales office. If NOTHING else, open it to Mean Green Club members and give them so "real" reason for joining the Mean Green Club in the first place...not just a requirement to buy tickets in certain locations! Come on folks, we are trying to get support going for UNT athletics and UNT in general...this is NOT the way to go about it!

Let's hope we are all wet here, and that this "first practice" event will be open to the public and a good time can be had by all...I will keep my hopes alive until I am proved wrong...Come on Rick...Come on Johnny...come on Tina...put your thinking caps on and understand what a great opportunity you have to make it a great night for UNT fans with the start of basketball season and the football pep rally combo. Man, a great PR situation you guys are turning into a PR nightmare...

Let's hear from the athletic dept. on this...there must...just must be more to this story...I know there are two sides and I'd like to hear from the "accused" BEFORE they are convicted of pure nonesense and a pure "slap in the face of our fans" mentality!

I know you folks read this board from time to time...so, let's hear from you on this one...PLEASE. You can re-think the issue, you know...it is not too late!

like the fire but see post #17, apparently Atheltic Office has said practices are never open from JJ. Even though buford has spoken to him personally.

Edited October 11, 2007 by untbowler

[SUMG]

Maybe now it's open again......the line about it being closed has been taken off of the article at meangreensports.com

Note to the Ath. Dept.: If the FW paper screwed up, and that stuff that I mentioned in the first post---is not planned....THAT'S OKAY.

Most of us just want to see practice. No one will hold the FW paper's mistake against you.

[FirefightnRick]

I'm sitting here just now reading this and shaking my head?

This shouldn't have been a miscommunication like what happened back in August for the first football scrimmage. Like the first football scrimmage should have been, this first basketball practice should be opened to the public and PROMOTED as such in as big a fanfare as possible. It could have also coincided with the peprally. Have the PepRally at the Super Pit?

I have requested it, and so has drex that we should coincide the Taste of North Texas with a home game like drex used to have when he was working for us in the AD dept. You already have 3 to 4,000 people coming to eat, walking around the concourse. A ticket into the Taste got you into the game as well which immediately followed the Taste event. It worked then, it can work now. But it's been 17 years now since I've seen this done. And drex might know a thing or two when it comes to promotions and getting us involved with the community etc considering he saved us $50, $60, $70,000? in free paint for Fouts' face lift this fall.

We have got to stop thinking small time if we are ever going to get to the next level.

By the way, I've still yet to see a unified chant with a specific beginning and an ending.

GO!

MEAN!

GREEN!

EAGLES!

FIGHT!

FIGHT!

FIGHT!

Rick

Edited October 11, 2007 by FirefightnRick

[NT80]

Capper spoke with the Sports Editor and he said that UTA is doing something big with the first day of practice and that’s were the confusion might have come from.

Sure, I confuse UTA with UNT all the time. Big event for BB, no event for BB. Wants fans, what are fans.

[untbowler]

Maybe now it's open again......the line about it being closed has been taken off of the article at meangreensports.com

Note to the Ath. Dept.: If the FW paper screwed up, and that stuff that I mentioned in the first post---is not planned....THAT'S OKAY.

Most of us just want to see practice. No one will hold the FW paper's mistake against you.

I smell cover-up but won't say anymore.