While We're On The Subject Of Scheduling And What Not...

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 29, 2008

As lame as the SMU-TCU Frying pan is, it's a thing.

We should pursue something similar with a school that is either in-state or borders Texas. The Big Ten has so many of these, it's not even funny. You've got the Little Brown Jug (Minnesota/Michigan), The Paul Bunyan's Ax (Minnesota/Wisconsin), Floyd of Rosedale (Minnesota/Iowa), Governor's Victory Bell (Minnesota/Penn State), Paul Bunyon Trophy (Michigan/Michigan State), Land Grant Trophy (Penn State/Michigan State), Heartland Trophy (Iowa/Wisconsin), Cy-Hawk Trophy (Iowa/Iowa State). Texas and OU have the Golden Hat.

We've got...nunca. Nothing.

Suggestions:

We're 8-9 all-time against Arkansas State, we share a border with them. Get some kind of trophy there.

We're 7-5 all-time against Houston, lets get a long-term thing going with them with a trophy to top it off - a true North Texas versus South Texas thing could be had here.

We're 12-12 all-time against Louisiana-Monroe. They border us, get something going.

Texas State is the team we've played the most all-time with 39 contest between us and them. At the I-A level, we've played New Mexico State more than anyone else, 33 times (SMU also has 33 games with us...but they don't like to play us).

The point is, let's do something. Get a rivalry thing going for real. A contracted number of home and homes for an out of conference foe, and a little extra bragging right thing to carry home at the end of the game.

Marketing. Selling the program. Thinking outside of the box...

...thinking at all.... :ph34r:

There's plenty of Texas history and lore, as well as cross border shenanigans with our neighbors such that we ought to be able to get something going in this direction. It'd be a good opportunity for the athletic department to invite in the History and Art department to help build school spirit...and all that goes with it.

Edited May 29, 2008 by The Fake Lonnie Finch

UNTflyer · May 29, 2008

I renew my call for the creation of a trophy called The Trinity Fork. It would be a giant silver fork mounted on a plaque, and it would be awarded to the winner of a UNT-SMU-TCU series every year.

http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=325377

Quoner · May 29, 2008

Silver Boot!

greenminer · May 29, 2008

Personally don't care for the idea of playing both SMU AND TCU every year. I'd like to have more room in the schedule for a top program (trying to avoid the "body bag" nomenclature), plus one or 2 of Lonnie's ideas...So, play one of each every other year, taking turns.

I'm not arguing what would/wouldn't work...just my own preferences:

I love the idea of playing Houston for a "North vs South" Texas title thingamajoo. Has a nice ring to it.

Just occurred to me that as much as we go back with Texas State, you have to "go back" a ways to find the good stuff. I don't recall playing them during my UNT fandom (maybe once...memory is foggy). I would like to renew that, not just because of the history, but because they are going to balloon pretty soon and I want to establish something while we can.

Arkie State and/or LaMo are teams we love to hate and are potentially great, healthy rivalries.

I miss NMSU. There. I said it. Although, if we're going to go that far west for a mid-BCS team, let's do UTEP instead

Edited May 29, 2008 by greenminer

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 29, 2008

I renew my call for the creation of a trophy called The Trinity Fork. It would be a giant silver fork mounted on a plaque, and it would be awarded to the winner of a UNT-SMU-TCU series every year.
http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=325377

I've thought about that as well. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton area is already called "The Golden Triangle." Why not have us each play the other every season for such golden triangle? Tie-breaker would be fewest points allowed or some such:

Year One

UNT at SMU

TCU at SMU

TCU at UNT

Year Two

UNT at TCU

SMU at TCU

SMU at UNT

Year Three

TCU at UNT

SMU at UNT

TCU at SMU

The only problem is see is that two give each school two home games every three years, someone would have to go on the road twice in a row every third year. That may not be a big road block. The answer might be to have the third year, odd game at JerryWorld in Arlington or at the old Cotton Bowl.

TCU and SMU would never go for it, but I like the idea as well. I always have.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 29, 2008

Personally don't care for the idea of playing both SMU AND TCU every year. I'd like to have more room in the schedule for a top program (trying to avoid the "body bag" nomenclature), plus one or 2 of Lonnie's ideas...So, play one of each every other year, taking turns.
I'm not arguing what would/wouldn't work...just my own preferences:
I love the idea of playing Houston for a "North vs South" Texas title thingamajoo. Has a nice ring to it.
Just occurred to me that as much as we go back with Texas State, you have to "go back" a ways to find the good stuff. I don't recall playing them during my UNT fandom (maybe once...memory is foggy). I would like to renew that, not just because of the history, but because they are going to balloon pretty soon and I want to establish something while we can.
Arkie State and/or LaMo are teams we love to hate and are potentially great, healthy rivalries.
I miss NMSU. There. I said it. Although, if we're going to go that far west for a mid-BCS team, let's do UTEP instead

The Trophy for a UTEP or NMSU series could be the Pecos Bill Trophy or something. Something from our state folklore that ties in the west.

Maybe a trophy between us and Houston could be the Davy Crockett Trophy or Davy Crockett's Coonskin Cap with his immortal words emblazoned on it "You may go to hell; I will go to Texas."

Something along those lines.

Green Buckeye · May 29, 2008

The Safeway Bowl (SMU) "Bag of Groceries" trophy is probably my favorite idea I've seen on this board so far for a rivalry.

GoMeanGreen1999 · May 30, 2008

The Safeway Bowl (SMU) "Bag of Groceries" trophy is probably my favorite idea I've seen on this board so far for a rivalry.

I do like this award.

This is a great idea - and we do need to create some type of award for a rivalry game.

Green P1 · May 30, 2008

I renew my call for the creation of a trophy called The Trinity Fork. It would be a giant silver fork mounted on a plaque, and it would be awarded to the winner of a UNT-SMU-TCU series every year.
http://www.gomeangreen.com/forums/index.ph...st&p=325377

I support the "Trinity Fork" idea!

At my high school our chief rival was situated just across the Trinity River. Our series was called the "Battle of the Big Sandy." I'd be interested if anyone on here has any idea what schools I'm referring to. My guess would be no......

May 30, 2008

I've thought about that as well. The Dallas-Fort Worth-Denton area is already called "The Golden Triangle." Why not have us each play the other every season for such golden triangle? Tie-breaker would be fewest points allowed or some such:
Year One
UNT at SMU
TCU at SMU
TCU at UNT
Year Two
UNT at TCU
SMU at TCU
SMU at UNT
Year Three
TCU at UNT
SMU at UNT
TCU at SMU
The only problem is see is that two give each school two home games every three years, someone would have to go on the road twice in a row every third year. That may not be a big road block. The answer might be to have the third year, odd game at JerryWorld in Arlington or at the old Cotton Bowl.
TCU and SMU would never go for it, but I like the idea as well. I always have.

Actually, each team would have one home and one away each year. For example, let's say in year one UNT goes to SMU, SMU goes to TCU and TCU comes to UNT. The second year the process is reversed, i.e. SMU comes to UNT, TCU goes SMU and UNT goes to TCU. In year three the schedule is the same as in year one. Year four is the same as year two. That make one home and one away for each team every year.

Three teams in the same area playing each other every year would synergize the series.

VideoEagle · May 30, 2008

I just don't see either TCU or SMU going for a rivalry type series against NT. Perhaps sometime in the future, but not now.

Texas State is still FCS and will be till the moratorium on moving up ends. Even then, it will take several years for them to prove themselves at the FBS level.

Arkansas State, Louisiana or Louisiana Monroe all three have potential. I think a NT-Arkansas State contest for some kind of trophy would be a lot of fun for fans of both teams.

UNTflyer · May 30, 2008

I think a NT-Arkansas State contest for some kind of trophy would be a lot of fun for fans of both teams.

No, this is part of the problem. Nobody gives a crap about our Sun Belt opponents. Our largest crowds have come against OOC foes, and a series against the two local schools is exactly what we need. Do whatever it takes to get it signed. Todd Dodge should wallk up to June Jones and slap him in the face with a leather glove. Then call up Gary Patterson and tell him his mother was a hamster.

TCU may be in a better position to say no, but SMU needs butts in the seats and I think our last two games, despite the hand-wringing and denials from both sides, planted the seed for a good local rivalry.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 30, 2008

Todd Dodge should walk up to June Jones and slap him in the face with a leather glove. Then call up Gary Patterson and tell him his mother was a hamster.

I would pay crack-ho type bucks to see that.

KRAM1 · May 30, 2008

I just think the UNT-SMU thing is a bit more "nasty" than a UNT-TCU thing would be. UNT and SMU have had a "thing" going for some time and BOTH...MAKE THAT BOTH...programs need "rears in the seats", so it just makes sense to me as a rivalry game on the schedule each and every year...someone much more creative than I am can come up with a name for the annual game, but, I think it is a natural...too bad the SMU folks seemed a bit "shy" when it comes to setting this thing up on an on-going basis. Maybe that's because it just make too much common sense. Who knows?

UNTflyer · May 30, 2008

SMU sees playing North texas as beneath them. Which is hilarious since they have been a miserable team since 1986.

Quoner · May 30, 2008

SMU sees playing North texas as beneath them. Which is hilarious since they have been a miserable team since 1986.

Let's explore this issue. It can only make for some good discussion.

What has SMU ever done to us? I hear chatter, but wish someone could just list it out in one place.

Green Lantern · May 30, 2008

Let's explore this issue. It can only make for some good discussion.
What has SMU ever done to us? I hear chatter, but wish someone could just list it out in one place.

I second this motion. I've heard bits and pieces, but never the whole story.

Green Mean · May 30, 2008

I second this motion. I've heard bits and pieces, but never the whole story.

Really its more that people think that SMU is better than everybody and they think UNT is trash. Thats not even the case. Theres always going to be idiots like that but UNT has a bunch of idiots too that have dumb mentalities.

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 30, 2008

Really its more that people think that SMU is better than everybody and they think UNT is trash. Thats not even the case. Theres always going to be idiots like that but UNT has a bunch of idiots too that have dumb mentalities.

Maybe the upshot of high gas prices is that universities will consider closer, more regional schedules. Although I've preached it for years going with the "alumni in the area" angle, maybe the travel cost angle will be the thing that brings everyone to the table again (kind of like Nixon authorizing the bombing of the North Vietnamese sanctuaries in Laos and Cambodia).

Quoner · May 30, 2008

(kind of like Nixon authorizing the bombing of the North Vietnamese sanctuaries in Laos and Cambodia).

Can we explore this issue after SMU is done?

The Fake Lonnie Finch · May 30, 2008

Can we explore this issue after SMU is done?

Who dumped a whole truckload of Fizzies into the swim meet?

untphd · May 30, 2008

Maybe the upshot of high gas prices is that universities will consider closer, more regional schedules. Although I've preached it for years going with the "alumni in the area" angle, maybe the travel cost angle will be the thing that brings everyone to the table again (kind of like Nixon authorizing the bombing of the North Vietnamese sanctuaries in Laos and Cambodia).

Gas prices have been the a hot topic in Fla this past month. They are wondering if people are going to pay for diesel (around 4.50 a gal now) or sit at home and watch the game. When gas hits five a gal, and it will, how many are going to drive a couple of hundred miles, both ways, to watch a game? Right now probably quite a few will say they will. However, how many are going to do this when it hits six a gal? I hope the gas prices will bring people to the table and set up some closer rivals.