State Of Athletics

Eagle1855 · February 22, 2008

Question I wanted to pose to you all.

Is it possible, that given our relatively small endowment (that I believe really is our most pressing need as a University) coupled with our complete ineptitude for the better part of 30 years in all things regarding UNT athletics, we're really kinda doing the best we possibly can at present time? We've built a lot of facilities in the past 5 years, we're working towards a stadium, we're focusing on athletics more than ever before...

I know there are a few that believe RV might be a snake oil salesman or whatever else we've heard from various TCU and So Miss alums, but given all these other issues, is it possible to expect a whole lot more right now?

I'm not sure I know enough one way or the other answer this question right now, just curious as to your thoughts.

DeepGreen · February 22, 2008

For me, I am simply amazed and disappointed at how nothing has been done at North Texas for the past 30-40 years, whether talking about athletics or the endowment. Our university has been run by small time thinkers, always being overshadowed by the big boys in Austin and College Station. And you can add just about every other university in the state. Hardin Simmons has a larger endowment than UNT?? That says it all. And we wonder why UNT receives no respect.

ADLER · February 22, 2008

For me, I am simply amazed and disappointed at how nothing has been done at North Texas for the past 30-40 years, whether talking about athletics or the endowment. Our university has been run by small time thinkers, always being overshadowed by the big boys in Austin and College Station. And you can add just about every other university in the state. Hardin Simmons has a larger endowment than UNT?? That says it all. And we wonder why UNT receives no respect.

The endowment is directly a result of people in positions of power in the university not allowing North Texas to become something that people are proud to be associated with.

It's their fault, and it's their responsibility to fix it.

UNTLifer · February 22, 2008

The endowment is directly a result of people in positions of power in the university not allowing North Texas to become something that people are proud to be associated with.
It's their fault, and it's their responsibility to fix it.

I know what you are saying, but many that should be blamed are either no longer associated with NT or are no longer on this earth.

adman · February 22, 2008

I know what you are saying, but many that should be blamed are either no longer associated with NT or are no longer on this earth.

Jesus Christ, Aliens ran our school?

ADLER · February 22, 2008

I know what you are saying, but many that should be blamed are either no longer associated with NT or are no longer on this earth.

True, it's far from being the fault of only the current leadership, but it is their responsibility to correct it.

They are not performing their duty to the university if they ignore THE PROBLEM as others before them have done.

SilverEagle · February 22, 2008

Jesus Christ, Aliens ran our school?

Well that would certainly explain a lot. Good answer Adman. Look me up this fall at tailgating and I give you one of these.....

http://www.sierrablancabrewery.com/

Seriously, if any of you want a historical perspective on the thought processes of our founding administrators regarding athletics, get a copy of "The Story of North Texas" by Dr. James Rogers.

TIgreen01 · February 22, 2008

True, it's far from being the fault of only the current leadership, but it is their responsibility to correct it.
They are not performing their duty to the university if they ignore THE PROBLEM as others before them have done.

Alright...well how do we get them out of their offices and take their jobs, then??

Don't mean this to sound harse, but blaiming "they" and saying "their responsibility" just sounds like we've got more bending over to do, yet. Esp. when it comes from several here who seem to be much closer to the situation than most of us.

Adler, your first post on this subject (in a separate thread) was flat out inspiring. Surely there are things that can be done to "help."

DeepGreen · February 22, 2008

Adler, your first post on this subject (in a separate thread) was flat out inspiring. Surely there are things that can be done to "help."

I agree. Adler's first post was excellent and should be framed and sent to the Chancellor, President, and BOR's of North Texas. Maybe these "outsiders" just don't see it like we do.

FirefightnRick · February 23, 2008

Question I wanted to pose to you all.
Is it possible, that given our relatively small endowment (that I believe really is our most pressing need as a University) coupled with our complete ineptitude for the better part of 30 years in all things regarding UNT athletics, we're really kinda doing the best we possibly can at present time? We've built a lot of facilities in the past 5 years, we're working towards a stadium, we're focusing on athletics more than ever before...
I know there are a few that believe RV might be a snake oil salesman or whatever else we've heard from various TCU and So Miss alums, but given all these other issues, is it possible to expect a whole lot more right now?
I'm not sure I know enough one way or the other answer this question right now, just curious as to your thoughts.

Great question, and I completely say "NO" to "Is it possible, that given our relatively small endowment (that I believe really is our most pressing need as a University) coupled with our complete ineptitude for the better part of 30 years in all things regarding UNT athletics, we're really kinda doing the best we possibly can at present time?", and here's ONE small example. Just one.

Simply look at what our very own drex here on GMG.com did this past summer. He's an alumn, an ex..Asst Athletic Director of Marketing during the Corky Nelson era and a Dentonite(not for long, he's moving to yankeeville, or Dallas as some of you like to refer to it as). He performed a hell of a lot of tasks and put on a lot of promotional ideas back during his time as Asst AD of Marketing that were imaginative and fun, and did it with money HE raised. Some things he pulled off(A Billboard on I-35E) the current administration has yet to do, even with much much much less. This past summer, he alone through contacts he personally has brought Pittsburgh Paints of Denton on board with North Texas $75,000 worth of donated paint for Fouts. He did that, not the athletic department even though it's not his job. Pittsburgh Paint was very receptive to the idea. Why were they not contacted before by those who are paid to find them? And considering that they didn't recieve an official THANK YOU from the university until month afterwards I doubt we will see such support from them again in the future, but that's just a guess? I personally have spoken to others in and around Denton who have complained to me through discussions at events/games on how they or someone else they know called to make a donation or give an idea for a sponsorship with their company to which there was no return phone call, or that they did get a return phone call only after calling and pestering someone at the AD to do so. Those conversations are so numerous I couldn't even begin to tell you how many times I've heard it. Then there's the customer servicee issue which I have pointed out several times now.

So coupling all of that together and I say, the answer is NO. And how in hell we are going to go about finding $54 Million more dollars pledged over the $6Million we currently have with how things have been going I have no idea. But you never know, miracles happen every day.

Rick

Edited February 23, 2008 by FirefightnRick

DeepGreen · February 23, 2008

And how in hell we are going to go about finding $54 Million more dollars pledged over the $6Million we currently have with how things have been going I have no idea. But you never know, miracles happen every day.
Rick

There in llies part of the problem. NT has always waited for the mircale to happen, rather than hard work and doing what they are getting paid to do.

Eagle1855 · February 25, 2008

appreciate the responses, some good thoughts. Just trying to weigh all the info, come up with an opinion about all the goings-on of UNT athletics.. and maybe get an idea as to where it's going. In some ways I feel a lot of good things are going to come our way. In others, I see a lot of warning signs.

It's a frustrating for sure... I can only imagine how it must be for those of you who have been around for decades!

DeepGreen · February 25, 2008

appreciate the responses, some good thoughts. Just trying to weigh all the info, come up with an opinion about all the goings-on of UNT athletics.. and maybe get an idea as to where it's going. In some ways I feel a lot of good things are going to come our way. In others, I see a lot of warning signs.
It's a frustrating for sure... I can only imagine how it must be for those of you who have been around for decades!

With one bowl win, some conference championships, a trip to the NCAA, we still seem to be standing still - for decades!

February 25, 2008

The amount of endowment is somewhat overrated. First of all, we could not spend any of the principal and none of it on athletics. Endowments are funded primarily from foundations. Most wealthy individuals set up foundations to distribute their wealth while they are alive and after they are deceased. Corporations also have foundations. The remainder of the endowment comes from wealthy individuals and wills. Only the interest can be used and much of this is already specified for a particular purpose.

I believe that the endowment was started by Al Hurley at about the time that we elected not to stay in Division 1-A. It was started to fund new programs and improve existing ones by endowing "chairs" for more high-powered' professors. It helped raise the prestige of the university. However, it also divorced athletics from the ability to use donors to the university unless specifically noted on the gift.

Some five years ago, when we first started talking about this, our endowment stood somewhere around $40 million. The latest report that I've seen now places it a little above $70 million. That's decent progress but also consider that those that designated amounts from their wills has hardly come into play. That's a fairly recent phenomenom, so it will encrease exponentially in years to come. I see us topping $100 million in a few years; not terrible for such a late start.

Yes, it was the pre-1980s administrations that failed to see the need for endowments. Private institutions have been doing this for years, hence they are light years ahead of state institutions. I know that some administrators felt that if you gave large sums of money that gave you the right to control their actions....sort of like politics today.

Edited February 25, 2008 by GrayEagleOne