Spring '08 North Texan..

[FirefightnRick]

http://www.unt.edu/northtexan/feedback.htm

Rowdy the Armadillo

I wanted to thank you for the article on Necessary Roughness (Timetracks, winter 2007). It brought back a fond memory of mine as I had the opportunity to work in a two-role position with Paramount Pictures for that film. First, I performed as Rowdy, the Armadillo mascot in the movie. Jim Hobdy, assistant athletic director of marketing, referred me to Paramount because I had performed as Scrappy (Eppy at that time) during the previous two basketball seasons and also because I had just graduated and was available to work the usual 110 to 120 hours a week required.

The cast and crew for Necessary Roughness includes Rick McKinney as Rowdy the Armadillo. The movie was filmed on campus in 1991.

Second, I was a special liaison between the wardrobe department and the athletic department and did nearly everything under the sun asked of me while not shooting the Armadillo scenes, including serving as the equipment manager for all players on set and painting helmets and jerseys.

For giving Paramount its campus for roughly 16 weeks, the university earned two endowed scholarships, and all of the new Riddell football equipment used in the movie was donated as well. What was most fun for me was that the movie folks were willing to accept suggestions and I was able to get the large green North Texas Battle Flag and "Boomer" the Cannon into the movie.

I also got to spend time with Fred Thompson, who played the university dean, long before he became a senator from Tennessee. He was very down to earth, he and his wife both.

The cast and crew photo (above) was taken toward the middle of filming. Unfortunately, we were unable to shoot this during the weekend that the pro players who served as the prison team were in town. Although I'm in the mascot suit, including 'dillo gloves, I'm actually holding up a North Texas Eagle talon in the picture. I never miss an opportunity to show my Mean Green pride.

Ricky McKinney ('90)

via e-mail

I also noticed this letter below mine about Evander Holyfield.

Ears

I remember Necessary Roughness being filmed at UNT. I watched them film a scene near my apartment just off Bonnie Brae near Fouts Field. I remember the director shouting into a bagel horn often and loud.

Actually, what I was most curious to see was not a movie being filmed but instead Evander Holyfield's ear. From that distance, I could not tell if he had healed from his incident a few years earlier with Mike Tyson.

Go Mean Green!

T.J. Warren

Sorry T.J. but "NR" was filmed April thru June of 1991. The Tyson vs Holyfield "Bite Fight" was 6 years later, June 28th, 1997.

Rick

[UNTLifer]

FFR, did you see the ad and quote inside the back cover?

If anyone wonders about the attitude our students, then alumni, have about giving money to their alma mater, this should clear it up.

Edited April 6, 2008 by UNTLifer

[FirefightnRick]

FFR, did you see the ad and quote inside the back cover?

If anyone wonders about the attitude our students, then alumni, have about giving money to their alma mater, this should clear it up.

Thank you. I'll be making a post on that in another thread.

Rick