U.n.t. Vs Denton

July 19, 2008

I keep hearing over and over that the city of Denton doesn't support North Texas athletics. I'm not denying that's not the case but why is there no love?

Many of the businesses in Denton do support the Mean Green. Car dealers have been furnishing vehicles for our coaches for years through the wheel club. Ben E. Keith Distributors, Outback Steakhouse, and First State and Point Banks have been heavy advertisers. Many of the restaurants and car dealerships, especially also provide support in several ways. So, while there might be more participation, the fault does not primarily lie with the business community.

The problem then must lie with the townspeople. Why is that?

When I attended my first North Texas game in 1947, the 10,000 seat stadium was almost sold out. I found that to be the rule rather than the exception. At that time the sutdent body numbered less than 5,000. That meant that the others likely came from Denton, which only had a population of less than 12,000. Few would come from Dallas or Fort Worth as both were mostly two lane roads and fairly treacherous. Suffice it to say that at least 30% of the attendance came from the city of Denton. If we had continued to get that kind of support through the years we would likely be in a better conference with a 50,000 seat stadium.

Furthermore, that was done playing the likes of East Texas State, SFA, and Southwest Texas State. Houston was the only current FBA team to grace Denton as I recall. I realize that this is not a great example because back then there was no television or professional teams (other than minor league baseball) competing for the entertainment dollar.

I actually lived in Denton about seven years so I've heard the old excuse that we can't support North Texas and ignore TWU. No one asked them to ignore the women's college. It was just a lame excuse. But again, that applied more to businesses than townspeople. Why did the citizens of Denton quit supporting UNT?

Personally, I think it's because we never really asked them. The people of Denton are not stupid; the know that the University of North Texas is the largest employer and stirs the economy of Denton. Most/much of the population is there because of one or both of the two universities. It was a great place to live when I lived there and I'm sure that it still is. But, they need to be made to feel a part of the university(ies). We need to ask.

I would like to see a door-to-door campaign in the city of Denton, inviting them to attend one game FREE the next year. Give them a complimentary ticket at the time of the visity. Personal contact is far superior to a mass mailing. Explain why you need their support and the benefits that can be derived from a vibrant program. Keep doing it until we build up the fan base. Use volunteer students and/or alumni to distribute the material.

Wait, you say. We can't give away tickets. Of course we can. The university can't, but we can. We would have to set up a fund (underwritten by some monied alumni) supported by donors who pledge $20, $50, $100 or more. Hopefully, the underwriters would never be out a penny. If we can make the general admission tickets as cheap as $5, that would be a total cost of $25-50,000 with normal response. It could be a great investment.

If it's too late to start this grass roots campaign this year, then we need to get the ball rolling to start it next year.

Thoughts?

untphd · July 19, 2008

I keep hearing over and over that the city of Denton doesn't support North Texas athletics. I'm not denying that's not the case but why is there no love?
Many of the businesses in Denton do support the Mean Green. Car dealers have been furnishing vehicles for our coaches for years through the wheel club. Ben E. Keith Distributors, Outback Steakhouse, and First State and Point Banks have been heavy advertisers. Many of the restaurants and car dealerships, especially also provide support in several ways. So, while there might be more participation, the fault does not primarily lie with the business community.
The problem then must lie with the townspeople. Why is that?
When I attended my first North Texas game in 1947, the 10,000 seat stadium was almost sold out. I found that to be the rule rather than the exception. At that time the sutdent body numbered less than 5,000. That meant that the others likely came from Denton, which only had a population of less than 12,000. Few would come from Dallas or Fort Worth as both were mostly two lane roads and fairly treacherous. Suffice it to say that at least 30% of the attendance came from the city of Denton. If we had continued to get that kind of support through the years we would likely be in a better conference with a 50,000 seat stadium.
Furthermore, that was done playing the likes of East Texas State, SFA, and Southwest Texas State. Houston was the only current FBA team to grace Denton as I recall. I realize that this is not a great example because back then there was no television or professional teams (other than minor league baseball) competing for the entertainment dollar.
I actually lived in Denton about seven years so I've heard the old excuse that we can't support North Texas and ignore TWU. No one asked them to ignore the women's college. It was just a lame excuse. But again, that applied more to businesses than townspeople. Why did the citizens of Denton quit supporting UNT?
Personally, I think it's because we never really asked them. The people of Denton are not stupid; the know that the University of North Texas is the largest employer and stirs the economy of Denton. Most/much of the population is there because of one or both of the two universities. It was a great place to live when I lived there and I'm sure that it still is. But, they need to be made to feel a part of the university(ies). We need to ask.
I would like to see a door-to-door campaign in the city of Denton, inviting them to attend one game FREE the next year. Give them a complimentary ticket at the time of the visity. Personal contact is far superior to a mass mailing. Explain why you need their support and the benefits that can be derived from a vibrant program. Keep doing it until we build up the fan base. Use volunteer students and/or alumni to distribute the material.
Wait, you say. We can't give away tickets. Of course we can. The university can't, but we can. We would have to set up a fund (underwritten by some monied alumni) supported by donors who pledge $20, $50, $100 or more. Hopefully, the underwriters would never be out a penny. If we can make the general admission tickets as cheap as $5, that would be a total cost of $25-50,000 with normal response. It could be a great investment.
If it's too late to start this grass roots campaign this year, then we need to get the ball rolling to start it next year.
Thoughts?

I always thought the above was a good idea. I heard in the past, reduced priced tickets were given to clubs, area high school clubs, and sold at a profit for the school. This brought in kids who wanted to watch college football and/or their parents. Their high school made money, we made money, and a fan base was built.

ADLER · July 19, 2008

I keep hearing over and over that the city of Denton doesn't support North Texas athletics. I'm not denying that's not the case but why is there no love?
Many of the businesses in Denton do support the Mean Green. Car dealers have been furnishing vehicles for our coaches for years through the wheel club. Ben E. Keith Distributors, Outback Steakhouse, and First State and Point Banks have been heavy advertisers. Many of the restaurants and car dealerships, especially also provide support in several ways. So, while there might be more participation, the fault does not primarily lie with the business community.
The problem then must lie with the townspeople. Why is that?
When I attended my first North Texas game in 1947, the 10,000 seat stadium was almost sold out. I found that to be the rule rather than the exception. At that time the sutdent body numbered less than 5,000. That meant that the others likely came from Denton, which only had a population of less than 12,000. Few would come from Dallas or Fort Worth as both were mostly two lane roads and fairly treacherous. Suffice it to say that at least 30% of the attendance came from the city of Denton. If we had continued to get that kind of support through the years we would likely be in a better conference with a 50,000 seat stadium.
Furthermore, that was done playing the likes of East Texas State, SFA, and Southwest Texas State. Houston was the only current FBA team to grace Denton as I recall. I realize that this is not a great example because back then there was no television or professional teams (other than minor league baseball) competing for the entertainment dollar.
I actually lived in Denton about seven years so I've heard the old excuse that we can't support North Texas and ignore TWU. No one asked them to ignore the women's college. It was just a lame excuse. But again, that applied more to businesses than townspeople. Why did the citizens of Denton quit supporting UNT?
Personally, I think it's because we never really asked them. The people of Denton are not stupid; the know that the University of North Texas is the largest employer and stirs the economy of Denton. Most/much of the population is there because of one or both of the two universities. It was a great place to live when I lived there and I'm sure that it still is. But, they need to be made to feel a part of the university(ies). We need to ask.
I would like to see a door-to-door campaign in the city of Denton, inviting them to attend one game FREE the next year. Give them a complimentary ticket at the time of the visity. Personal contact is far superior to a mass mailing. Explain why you need their support and the benefits that can be derived from a vibrant program. Keep doing it until we build up the fan base. Use volunteer students and/or alumni to distribute the material.
Wait, you say. We can't give away tickets. Of course we can. The university can't, but we can. We would have to set up a fund (underwritten by some monied alumni) supported by donors who pledge $20, $50, $100 or more. Hopefully, the underwriters would never be out a penny. If we can make the general admission tickets as cheap as $5, that would be a total cost of $25-50,000 with normal response. It could be a great investment.
If it's too late to start this grass roots campaign this year, then we need to get the ball rolling to start it next year.
Thoughts?

Although I think it'd s novel idea I believe it would be doomed for failure. Remember the Kidz Korner Kampaign several years ago when the athletic department simply pocketed the money because nobody could be enticed to attend?

The residents of Denton are potential customers. They are more aware of the historic shortcomings of North Texas athletics than just about anybody. Like any product that has been deemed undesirable, North Texas needs to make improvements before it starts giving out free samples. These 'monied alumni' would be purchasing thousands of tickets and getting maybe 5% turnout on their give-away tickets. That's something like $200 spent for every person that actually bothers to attend.

I do see a way that the program can be made to work. Obviously there is some (though minimal) interest from the Denton business community. What if the entire north end zone seating was segregated as a 'private suite area' for the many Denton County Chambers of Commerce and there was a large tent behind their section to cater food and drinks for their function. These Chamber members would attend more for the social aspects than for the actual game. The athletic department could sell these people severly discounted tickets and start building a relationships that should flourish as the program improves in coming years. This could be the foundation for many of the future corporate sponsorships.

greenminer · July 19, 2008

I know there are several people out there who buy extra season tickets to get there friends to the games.

I wonder if it would produce difference results to "spread the wealth", i.e. take the 250 you pay for extra season tickets and instead donate 10 - 15 single game tickets to a Denton neighborhood?

Edited July 19, 2008 by greenminer

ADLER · July 19, 2008

I know there are several people out there who buy extra season tickets to get there friends to the games.
I wonder if it would produce difference results to "spread the wealth", i.e. take the 250 you pay for extra season tickets and instead donate 10 - 15 single game tickets to a Denton neighborhood?

Choose your recipients carefully.

It's only a good decision if there is a likelihood of someday receiving a return on the investment. Otherwise it's just pissing away money and effort that could make a significant impact if applied in other ventures.

I will remind everyone again about the noble but misguided Kidz Korner Katastrophe.

Mean Green 93-98 · July 19, 2008

I will remind everyone again about the noble but misguided Kidz Korner Katastrophe.

Pardon my ignorance, but what was that?

NorthTexan95 · July 19, 2008

When for so many years the UNT administration showed no interest in football why would anyone else?

ADLER · July 19, 2008

Pardon my ignorance, but what was that?

The whole plan is so Krameresque that it's hard to believe that it actually got implemented. It was doomed it to failure the second it was first posted on the board.

Members of the gomeangreen.com community, granted with the best of intentions, decided to exploit the least fortunate of society in an effort to boost football attendance figures. The plans was to buy ticket from the athletic department and offer them for free alonng with a hot dog to orphans if they came to North Texas football games.

It was the big project of the gomeangreen.com board for the whole off-season. Many posters contributed several hundred dollars each.

Of course nobody came, and the athletic department just kept the money.

Edited July 21, 2008 by ADLER

untphd · July 19, 2008

Pardon my ignorance, but what was that?

I would guess it started here.

Kids Corner Program Donates Tickets To Hattiesburg Youth Football

Hattiesburg, Miss. - In order to create more awareness of Golden Eagle football and promote community relations, the Southern Miss' Department of Athletics has strengthened its 'Kid's Corner' program.

The 'Kid's Corner' program is designed to encourage area businesses and individuals to purchase Southern Miss football tickets at a discounted rate, and in turn, donating the purchased tickets to underprivileged youth in the Hattiesburg area.

Recently, the program has targeted 260 of its donated tickets for the Tulane game on Nov. 17, to the Hattiesburg Youth Fifth and Sixth Grade football league. The league has been revived in Hattiesburg for the first time in years by Hattiesburg Director of Recreation Sports Program and Southern Miss graduate, Dr. Clemon Terrell.

"We congratulate the city of Hattiesburg and Clemon Terrell for starting this youth tackle football league for the city of Hattiesburg." Southern Miss Director of Athletics Richard Giannini said. "It involves the fifth and six graders in the city and will have a tremendous impact on Hattiesburg High School football down the road. Children now have an opportunity to begin playing tackle football at an early age, and Clemon has done a great job organizing the league.

"He will have a real impact on the city of Hattiesburg and its recreation program. We're just excited because he's one of ours, played football at Southern Miss, has his doctorate in chemistry and is running the recreation league for the city of Hattiesburg. He is a great guy, and we're happy to support him any way we can."

With the donation of the $10 tickets, which includes a hot dog and soft drink, Southern Miss also hopes to generate more interest in the Golden Eagles' football program from local youth. Donations of these kids' corner tickets were made possible by Eagle Club members in Hattiesburg and Jackson, including Dr. Aaron and Leslie Puckett, Dr. John and Kristy Thornton, Rebecca Sullivan, LaVelle Watts, Ralph Hays, Rod Windham, Jerry Cockrell and the Russell Company (Ron Russell).

"I can't wait to see the eyes of our kids when they enter the stadium for the first time," Terrell said. "There is a lot of great experiences in my life as a student in the Hattiesburg public school system. I remember us taking a trip to USM to visit the museum and to plays and not to mention going to the games with my uncles and friends. It is exciting, and I want these kids to get the same taste. Athletics builds character and athletics helps build human beings, and we need that.

"For Southern Miss to come in and be as anxious to work with us as we are with them, I am very excited about it. I can't wait until we get out there and have a good time. It's going to be worth it for these kids and also for the city. I want these young people to go in there and have a USM experience and turn this city into a Golden Eagle city. When I was a young person, everyone in the city was excited about the games, I want that back."

July 19, 2008

Although I think it'd s novel idea I believe it would be doomed for failure. Remember the Kidz Korner Kampaign several years ago when the athletic department simply pocketed the money because nobody could be enticed to attend?
The residents of Denton are potential customers. They are more aware of the historic shortcomings of North Texas athletics than just about anybody. Like any product that has been deemed undesirable, North Texas needs to make improvements before it starts giving out free samples. These 'monied alumni' would be purchasing thousands of tickets and getting maybe 5% turnout on their give-away tickets. That's something like $200 spent for every person that actually bothers to attend.
I do see a way that the program can be made to work. Obviously there is some (though minimal) interest from the Denton business community. What if the entire north end zone seating was segregated as a 'private suite area' for the many Denton County Chambers of Commerce and there was a large tent behind their section to cater food and drinks for their function. These Chamber members would attend more for the social aspects than for the actual game. The athletic department could sell these people severly discounted tickets and start building a relationships that should flourish as the program improves in coming years. This could be the foundation for many of the future corporate sponsorships.

My intentions were that the cost of the general admission ticket would only be paid for redeemed coupons. Unlike the Kidz Korner, where the money was put up front before the program was sold, this money will only be paid for USERS. If all funds are not redeemed, then the donor gets a portion of his donation back unless he chooses to donate it to the athletic department.

Your suggestion about the Chamber of Commerce social function would work also. We know that because it's been tried and resulted in a near-sellout for the Baylor game. One drawback is that it is done for a targeted game only. That date might not agree with every member but covering the entire city sells the populace and gives them a choice of games to fit their schedule. The CofC program also gives only owners and managers of Denton businesses the opportunity to participate whereas the citywide program gives the opportunity to reach more potential fans.

I'm sure that many Dentonites are aware of UNT's past shortcomings but many aren't. Denton has added more than 20% growth in this decade. We need to get the word to these new (potential) fans that North Texas wants them. They need to be made aware of our aspirations and our needs. They may want to join the family. Not all fans of a university actually went there. We cannot be content with the gains that we have made nor can we afford to give up and say it's hopeless. We need to make a supreme effort and there's no better time than now.

Come to think of it, why can't we do both? That would really be a supreme effort.

Green Dozer · July 19, 2008

Simply, Denton is not a sports town. I grew up here, and have lived here most of my adult life. I played football at Denton High School, then the only high school in Denton. For a one high school town in supposedly football crazed Texas, support was poor. The only people that attended the games were parents/relatives of the team, Filles, and the band. After half time, half the fans had left. I have seen many bars try a sports theme, and most have not had great success. The bars don't even get much of crowd interested in another college game, nor do you have any trouble getting in during a Cowboy game. Vitty's on Teasley has Nebraska watching parties, but that is only because the owner is from Nebraska and is a huge fan. Many businesses have tried to tie to North Texas, only to see the benefit does not outweigh the cost (i.e. renting a tent at the games, opening a concession, putting up North Texas stuff in their business etc.) Even when Ryan High School won its state titles in football, it was not treated as a big deal like in other Texas communities. I know it would be against the rules, but I bet on player was not told his lunch/dinner was on the house in any Denton restaraunt. It happens in many other towns across Texas. Denton, as a community, wants to be seen as an eccletic, weird community that supports the arts.

MeanGreengdub · July 19, 2008

Simply, Denton is not a sports town. I grew up here, and have lived here most of my adult life. I played football at Denton High School, then the only high school in Denton. For a one high school town in supposedly football crazed Texas, support was poor. The only people that attended the games were parents/relatives of the team, Filles, and the band. After half time, half the fans had left. I have seen many bars try a sports theme, and most have not had great success. The bars don't even get much of crowd interested in another college game, nor do you have any trouble getting in during a Cowboy game. Vitty's on Teasley has Nebraska watching parties, but that is only because the owner is from Nebraska and is a huge fan. Many businesses have tried to tie to North Texas, only to see the benefit does not outweigh the cost (i.e. renting a tent at the games, opening a concession, putting up North Texas stuff in their business etc.) Even when Ryan High School won its state titles in football, it was not treated as a big deal like in other Texas communities. I know it would be against the rules, but I bet on player was not told his lunch/dinner was on the house in any Denton restaraunt. It happens in many other towns across Texas. Denton, as a community, wants to be seen as an eccletic, weird community that supports the arts.

Touche, unfortunately.

Mean Green 93-98 · July 20, 2008

Pardon my ignorance, but what was that?

Thanks for the responses, Adler and untphd.

PlummMeanGreen · July 20, 2008

I keep hearing over and over that the city of Denton doesn't support North Texas athletics. I'm not denying that's not the case but why is there no love?
Many of the businesses in Denton do support the Mean Green. Car dealers have been furnishing vehicles for our coaches for years through the wheel club. Ben E. Keith Distributors, Outback Steakhouse, and First State and Point Banks have been heavy advertisers. Many of the restaurants and car dealerships, especially also provide support in several ways. So, while there might be more participation, the fault does not primarily lie with the business community.
The problem then must lie with the townspeople. Why is that?
When I attended my first North Texas game in 1947, the 10,000 seat stadium was almost sold out. I found that to be the rule rather than the exception. At that time the sutdent body numbered less than 5,000. That meant that the others likely came from Denton, which only had a population of less than 12,000. Few would come from Dallas or Fort Worth as both were mostly two lane roads and fairly treacherous. Suffice it to say that at least 30% of the attendance came from the city of Denton. If we had continued to get that kind of support through the years we would likely be in a better conference with a 50,000 seat stadium.
Furthermore, that was done playing the likes of East Texas State, SFA, and Southwest Texas State. Houston was the only current FBA team to grace Denton as I recall. I realize that this is not a great example because back then there was no television or professional teams (other than minor league baseball) competing for the entertainment dollar.
I actually lived in Denton about seven years so I've heard the old excuse that we can't support North Texas and ignore TWU. No one asked them to ignore the women's college. It was just a lame excuse. But again, that applied more to businesses than townspeople. Why did the citizens of Denton quit supporting UNT?
Personally, I think it's because we never really asked them. The people of Denton are not stupid; the know that the University of North Texas is the largest employer and stirs the economy of Denton. Most/much of the population is there because of one or both of the two universities. It was a great place to live when I lived there and I'm sure that it still is. But, they need to be made to feel a part of the university(ies). We need to ask.
I would like to see a door-to-door campaign in the city of Denton, inviting them to attend one game FREE the next year. Give them a complimentary ticket at the time of the visity. Personal contact is far superior to a mass mailing. Explain why you need their support and the benefits that can be derived from a vibrant program. Keep doing it until we build up the fan base. Use volunteer students and/or alumni to distribute the material.
Wait, you say. We can't give away tickets. Of course we can. The university can't, but we can. We would have to set up a fund (underwritten by some monied alumni) supported by donors who pledge $20, $50, $100 or more. Hopefully, the underwriters would never be out a penny. If we can make the general admission tickets as cheap as $5, that would be a total cost of $25-50,000 with normal response. It could be a great investment.
If it's too late to start this grass roots campaign this year, then we need to get the ball rolling to start it next year.
Thoughts?

The Green Heart Award is all yours, Jack! Hang in there--hang in all those lonely trenches where few trod, bro'! We HAVE seen and heard it all, now haven't we?

Nothing new--in fact, kinda' getting old but...........

.,,,,,,we do need a new stadium, folks, if not for the fact that we are over-due one from a physical plant standpoint, but because many of our fellow Texans we work & play are seeing that others among the non-BCS and now even the Sun Belt Conference seem to have no problem getting their new stadiums jump-, uh, well....how are all of your families doing fellow alums? :rolleyes:

,,,but really, there is nothing wrong with UNT that a few "well-connected" (to DFW & Texas) dyed with green wool professional fundraisers could solve pretty damn quickly.

Good gosh! T. Boone Pickens is spending $50 million the next few weeks on TV commercials telling us how to build giant windmills across our Texas pastures & prairies to keep all the Husseins of this world from turning the USA into one giant used car parking lot. :blink:

ONE LONG SENTENCE COMING UP! Yet................I still truly think the same school that had "non-UNT" oriented Gene Stallings on a very nice salaried consultant fee at UNT could have done the very same with Hayden Fry and Bill Blakely to help us in athletic fund-raising, but we most always chose to do something different and (seemedly) non-productive for a school our size and scope and.............like most everything else at UNT (especially athletics) we are waiting for the 2'nd Coming of Jesus to act on anything that will help us catch up with those we should be running neck and neck with here in 2008, ie, U of Houston and Texas Tech?

BUT............... what the hell do we older alums know anyhow? Hellsbells! Many of us have only lived in DFW for over 35 years and have some pulse of what others have done around here (Lone Star State) with intercollegiate athletics and more importantly, its................H I R I N G S (and keepings of those who will aim us much higher than we've been in awhile).

Nevertheless........GMG!

PS: Congrats to Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hobdy on their Wedding Day today!

PS II: Lets not blow this hiring of Todd Dodge but make it a win-win for all concerned because all concerned need this thing to work in Denton, Texas, America, especially now.

God bless ya' all and...

I still defer to the signature below....

Edited July 20, 2008 by PlummMeanGreen

FirefightnRick · July 20, 2008

The whole plan is so Krameresque that it's hard to believe that it actually got implemented. It was doomed it to failure the second it was first posted on the board.
Members of the gomeangreen.com community, granted with the best of intentions, decided to exploit the least fortunate of society in an effort to boost football attendance figures. The plans was to buy ticket from the athletic department and offer them for free alonng with a hot dog to orphans if they came to North Texas football games.
It was the big project of the gomeangreen.com board for the whole off-season. Many posters contributed several hundred dollars each.
Of course nobody came, and the athletic department just pocketed the money.

There was also a phone-a-thon in which many of us, me included, met up at the gateway center for 3 or 4 separate days and called alumni lists asking for donations. This was during the summer of 2002 prior to that season. And I can't even remember the total amount of money we raised, somewhere around $3,000?, correct me if I'm wrong. That's part of the story.................

Rick

Edited July 20, 2008 by FirefightnRick

emmitt01 · July 20, 2008

There was also a phone-a-thon in which many of us, me included, met up at the gateway center for 3 or 4 separate days and called alumni lists asking for donations. This was during the summer of 2002 prior to that season. And I can't even remember the total amount of money we raised, somewhere around $3,000?, correct me if I'm wrong. That's part of the story.................
Rick

You can imagine my smiling face after taking the time to reserve the gateway center, set it up and follow through...only to see the money "donated" for lack of effort on the AD's part.

GreenMachine · July 20, 2008

It's not just NT that dentonites don't support, they don't support anything. Drive around Denton County someday and then head to Collin County, world of difference. Maybe its just me but Denton County seems to be so far behind in infrastructure, city and county management, cleanliness etc.

Censored by Laurie · July 20, 2008

If you want to fill a stadium go find a fuller stadium...like the one a few minutes east of Denton on 380. Set up some sort of ticket free or discounted ticket packages for Denton Bible Church..."Saturday with Dodge, Sunday with God" or some-such.

Seriously, those folks travel in packs...and you won't to have to worry about most of them just staying in the parking lot tailgating

SilverEagle · July 20, 2008

I have to agree with both Jack and Jeff.

I agree with Jack, that we should personally go around Denton and ask the people of Denton to join us at athletic events. We should have in our possession some flyers (with lots of pictures of tailgating on it) about season tickets and/or promotional deals that the athletic department already has in place. We should also have schedules and yard signs. If someone is seriously interested in attending games, we should ask them if we could put a yard sign in their yard.

I agree with Jeff that ticket give aways generally don't work with our fan base. Besides, it tends to send the message that the product is not worth much.

Besides, if gas prices remain as high as they are now, selling something local wouldn't/shouldn't be all that hard.

GreenMachine · July 20, 2008

It's not just NT that dentonites don't support, they don't support anything. Drive around Denton County someday and then head to Collin County, world of difference. Maybe its just me but Denton County seems to be so far behind in infrastructure, city and county management, cleanliness etc.

One more thing on this topic. I have a neighbor girl that is a high school student that had absolutely no idea that UNT existed (she moved from CA with her family). Denton High had some FREE field trip where the students went to NT campus, received FREE t-shirts, FREE tour of the whole campus, FREE soft drinks and FREE snacks, FREE tour of the AC and Super Pit. Key word is FREE. Needless to say, she has several Mean Green T-shirts now and wants to go to football games this fall (she will probably be accompanied by her whole family of 7). We have to continue giving away FREE stuff to get people interested in our university. I feel once we get them on campus, we have an excellent chance at getting a new fan.

We need to do this with not only all high school students but the general population of Denton as well. Most of these people are transplants and aren't originally from here so we need to bring NT to them. Get them excited about something they can endorse and participate in their new hometown.

FirefightnRick · July 20, 2008

One more thing on this topic. I have a neighbor girl that is a high school student that had absolutely no idea that UNT existed (she moved from CA with her family). Denton High had some FREE field trip where the students went to NT campus, received FREE t-shirts, FREE tour of the whole campus, FREE soft drinks and FREE snacks, FREE tour of the AC and Super Pit. Key word is FREE. Needless to say, she has several Mean Green T-shirts now and wants to go to football games this fall (she will probably be accompanied by her whole family of 7). We have to continue giving away FREE stuff to get people interested in our university. I feel once we get them on campus, we have an excellent chance at getting a new fan.
We need to do this with not only all high school students but the general population of Denton as well. Most of these people are transplants and aren't originally from here so we need to bring NT to them. Get them excited about something they can endorse and participate in their new hometown.

I posted about it on another thread but Thursday this past week my kid's music school took a field trip to North Texas to tour the College of Music. And I was surprised at the thousands of high school age kids attending camps. No idea how many, but they were everywhere. So rest assure that there is a lot going on campus towards getting people interested in our school. I doubt we will ever have a problem getting students interested in attending North Texas. The trick is getting them emotionally involved in the spirit of the Mean Green, into Mean Green pride and WANTING to participate in all the traditions that follow. This can only be done by winning and winning consistently on the playing field while promoting the pride and traditions we already have in place. And the best way to ensure this happens is for the university to make a full commitment to improving the athletic product in all areas. Which is why we need to...

FIX THE PROBLEM!

Rick