The Next Boise State ?

MeanGreen61 · October 5, 2010

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/10/sun_belt_commissioner_wright_w.html

Mean Green Matt · October 5, 2010

I don't really take Wright Waters seriously anymore...especially after proving last year that he could not even seed the teams for the basketball tournament correctly.

NT80 · October 5, 2010

WAC Commish Benson recently told UTSA and TxSt they could become the next Boise too.

PlummMeanGreen · October 5, 2010

WAC Commish Benson recently told UTSA and TxSt they could become the next Boise too.

Wright Waters has had the heevie'jeevies for UNT since we fired DD and then hired TDodge is word that I had heard back then. I guess he should now be on our future new HFC selection committee? Mean Green Radio Network guys did say on their broadcast how his first up-close look of our new stadium last weekend somewhat blew him away and he also said......"photos on the internet did not do it justice."

Commish' Benson is trying to keep his hand (and job) in the FBS instead of the next lower level and right now might say just about anything, but I like our potential to do the Boise State thing much more than his 2 named examples.

North Texas has NCAA D1 history (neverminding those years in NCAA 1-AA purgatory); the schools Benson is dealing with do not have such a legacy and will not for quite awhile.

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that our new stadium can be a complete game-changer for Mean Green football and when it takes off, more and more will see (if they even need further proof) how such an albatross Fouts Field has been to us for half a century.

GMG!

Edited October 5, 2010 by PlummMeanGreen

letsgiveacheer · October 5, 2010

Old timers will remember similar talk when we built the Super Pit. It was going to reverse our sagging basketball fortunes, allow us to recruit more talented players, etc. etc. If anything, it (and our leaving the MVC) made things worse and basketball went from being an exciting part of campus life to a non-event-save for a few bright spots like our current program.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but I do not know of any (or many) under performing schools with a long legacy that have been able to turn things around for good. Look at the NMSUs and Utah States of the world and we are right there with them. On the other hand, we have USF, UCF. Boise St, that came out swinging right from the gate. If anything, I suggest our legacy and baggage drags us down.

Having said all this, I would love for us to be the first school to prove me wrong!! And frankly, it really doesn't matter. If I'm still alive in 30 years, I'll be here rooting for the team no matter what (but a few winning seasons here and there would be appreciated!)

DeepGreen · October 5, 2010

Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that our new stadium can be a complete game-changer for Mean Green football and when it takes off, more and more will see (if they even need further proof) how such an albatross Fouts Field has been to us for half a century.

GMG!

Plummer, I hear what you are saying, but the new stadium needs to be complimented with new coaching and a desire by Alumni to financially support UNT Athletics. An example is Akron. They opened their new palace in 2009, promply went 3-9, and this season they are they are 0-5, including a loss to Gardner-Webb. Prior years: 2006- 5-7, 2007- 4-8, 2008- 5-7. This season Akron hired Rob Ianello, former Asst. Coach and Interim Head Coach at Notre Dame. He had been at Notre Dame for five seasons. Whether he was the right hire for Akron remains to be seen.

Point is, UNT desparately needed a new stadium and next year we open our "palace". But that in itself does not guarantee success on the field. Yes, the stadium will be our crowning jewel as far as athletic facility upgrades go. But it's going to take coaching for UNT to reach its full potential of winning and energizing its fan base. Many of us have been waiting a long, long time. The next hire for UNT football has to be "dead on". No room for experimenting.

Carry on.

Edited October 5, 2010 by DeepGreen

TheTastyGreek · October 5, 2010

I don't really take Wright Waters seriously anymore...especially after proving last year that he could not even seed the teams for the basketball tournament correctly.

He may not be able to count to 1 and properly seed a basketball tournament, but he was dead on about Todd Dodge.

FirefightnRick · October 5, 2010

Yes, the stadium will be our crowning jewel as far as athletic facility upgrades go. But it's going to take coaching for UNT to reach its full potential of winning and energizing its fan base. Many of us have been waiting a long, long time. The next hire for UNT football has to be "dead on". No room for experimenting.

Carry on.

We will still support this team as best we can. But for next year, as was the collective opinion by most of those I spoke with Saturday on the deck and in the stands, for the health of this program this fan base needs something positive to look forward next year. As SUMG correctly put it, "this fan base needs closure", meaning on this season ASAP.

Rick