College Preview - North Texas

KRAM1 · August 23, 2011

I have noted some chatter on the board recently about the Dallas Morning News previewing every local and most Big XII teams but not North Texas. Well, I don't know if some letters and calls may have helped, but I note in today's DMN sports section that UNT will, indeed, be previewed this Saturday (Aug. 27th) along with TCU. I wonder if the sports folks at the DMN "woke up" and added UNT...seems that may be the case, or if they were always slated to share the day with TCU, but it's there in print this morning.

Thanks to all who may have written or called the DMN. Hopefully, next season UNT will have a review day where it is not sharing the day with any other team. But, hey, it's a start and it's positive for UNT.

Will be interesting to see who writes it (probably Vito) and what is said. If Brett does it, it will probably not be new to those of us who follow Brett locally, but might open a few eyes around the metroplex to the Mean green.

UNT Mean Green · August 23, 2011

Not to be negative at all here (people who follow my posts know I support all aspects of the program), but I have to say I believe at this point, sharing the section with TCU is a positive for us rather than a negative or a slight at North Texas in terms of perception. Casual sports reader will open and at least read some about TCU, as they have earned the right to have interest from casual fan. As a result, casual fan will probably at least scan about North Texas by default that they are in the section with TCU or on the page next to TCU or what have you. In other words, piggybacking with TCU for media coverage locally is not a bad thing at this point.

I must say though, that I believe Coach Mac will take this thing to where we earn our own "day" in future DMN Football preview sections.

UNTflyer · August 23, 2011

DMN and ESPN Dallas seem to be under the impression that Texas, 0U, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech are all in the DFW area.

KRAM1 · August 23, 2011

DMN and ESPN Dallas seem to be under the impression that Texas, 0U, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech are all in the DFW area.

Well, they may not be in the area, but each has a very large fan base in the DMN's subscription area. I think it's simply a way for the DMN to gain some readership that they may not otherwise have. I think we have all noticed that these schools seem to have a good number of folks wearing their colors. Heck, Texas even has an entire store open in Ft. Worth (off 7th Ave. near the new In and Out Burger) for their gear. Right in the heart of Frog country there is a store dedicated to Texas gear! So, while these schools may not be "in" the DFW area, they are certainly in the subscription area and the viewing area of the metroplex.

I just wish that UNT got more of the coverage. And, i think it will as soon as the alums and fans start demanding that UNT be given the coverage. That coupled with the new stadium and some winning football should do the trick. But, don't for even one second think that both ESPN and the DMN know how little respect even UNT's own fans and alums have given the program and school over the last several years. Why should the DMN and ESPN pay attention if the school's own alums and fans wear other university colors, bad mouth their own school and programs and never stick up for UNT at "water cooler" and discussions and social functions?

UNT is doing everything it can to earn the respect of the metroplex and its own alums and fans can help that a great deal by letting people know that you are proud to be a member of the great Mean Green Nation. Show up and support the program...numbers talk. Join the Mean green Club, join the Alumni Association, donate what and when you can to your academic department. It all counts and it all matters.

As alums, fans and friends, when we demand respect we will get respect. You can be part of the solution, or you can sit back and wonder why these other schools continue to get more "press" than UNT in the DMN.

Travis Scott · August 23, 2011

Well, they may not be in the area, but each has a very large fan base in the DMN's subscription area. I think it's simply a way for the DMN to gain some readership that they may not otherwise have. I think we have all noticed that these schools seem to have a good number of folks wearing their colors. Heck, Texas even has an entire store open in Ft. Worth (off 7th Ave. near the new In and Out Burger) for their gear. Right in the heart of Frog country there is a store dedicated to Texas gear! So, while these schools may not be "in" the DFW area, they are certainly in the subscription area and the viewing area of the metroplex.

I just wish that UNT got more of the coverage. And, i think it will as soon as the alums and fans start demanding that UNT be given the coverage. That coupled with the new stadium and some winning football should do the trick. But, don't for even one second think that both ESPN and the DMN know how little respect even UNT's own fans and alums have given the program and school over the last several years. Why should the DMN and ESPN pay attention if the school's own alums and fans wear other university colors, bad mouth their own school and programs and never stick up for UNT at "water cooler" and discussions and social functions?

UNT is doing everything it can to earn the respect of the metroplex and its own alums and fans can help that a great deal by letting people know that you are proud to be a member of the great Mean Green Nation. Show up and support the program...numbers talk. Join the Mean green Club, join the Alumni Association, donate what and when you can to your academic department. It all counts and it all matters.

As alums, fans and friends, when we demand respect we will get respect. You can be part of the solution, or you can sit back and wonder why these other schools continue to get more "press" than UNT in the DMN.

good post. I think we all agree that winning will cure all.

NT80 · August 23, 2011

DMN and ESPN Dallas seem to be under the impression that Texas, 0U, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech are all in the DFW area.

I wrote that exact theme to the DMN sports editor when I cancelled my subscription last year. Their sports section and even quality of general news coverage in all aspects has really declined in the past several years.

Edited August 23, 2011 by NT80

Green Mean · August 23, 2011

Just win games

KRAM1 · August 23, 2011

Just win games

I sure wish that is all it took. But, if you were around during the Sunbelt Conference championship and New Orleans Bowl years...not to mention the Hayden Fry era when UNT was winning against some "big boy" opponents, you would realize that "just win games" did not add up to decent coverage from the DMN or the Ft. Worth Star or even the old Dallas Times Herald (the now defunct Dallas evening paper). If only it were as easy as "just win games" when it comes to coverage for UNT.

Cancelling subscriptions does no good what so ever. Telling them you keep subscribing because they cover UNT is the much better play. If they know you cancelled, well, they don't need to care what you think any longer, but if you subscribe and tell them your thoughts on their coverage and ask for extended coverage, and get your fellow fans and alums to ask for extended coverage they have a reason to listen and perhaps do something about it.

My guess is that there are UNT grads on the staff at the DMN that don't even let the paper know they are grads. I heard from a DFW area businessman the other day who mentioned he had two UNT grads on staff who never go to games, never mention UNT, do not wear UNT colors nor talk about UNT. That, folks has been the problem for way too long. If the DMN and others don't know you exist, well, why should they care to cater to you?

All About UNT · August 23, 2011

I am not 100% positive but it feels like the TCU writer and BV will be contributing any and all previews on us and the DMN had to wait for them to submit content. This would make sense on at least our behalf since BV just wrapped up the 80+ page Football Preview.

NT80 · August 23, 2011

Cancelling subscriptions does no good what so ever. If they know you cancelled, well, they don't need to care what you think any longer,

Not true. They email or send messages at least 10 times in the past year begging me back and wanting to know the reason why I left or what it would take to come back...and I tell them!

On the contrary, if you stay subscribed you are telling them you are happy with the coverage and will keep sending them $$.

UNTFan23 · August 23, 2011

Newspapers are desperate for subscription revenues, so you leaving them is a big deal and they want to know why you left and what it might take to get you to come back.

KRAM1 · August 23, 2011

Ok, but couldn't you also tell them while you were a subscriber? If everyone drops their subscriptions, there won't be a newspaper to complain to or about as they will be broke. Remember the Dallas Times Herald? Lots of papers have gone out of business in the US in recent years. Seems to me that while they will most certainly send you boat loads full of emails and notices (just like Sports Illustrated does me since I did not renew) those are sent automatically and say the same thing to every person. Hardly the "personal touch".

You, of course, may be 100% correct, but to me it seems like I get better personal attention when I call and tell them that I have been a daily subscriber for many years and would like to talk to someone. UNT just needs more subscribers to call and "talk to someone" about UNT coverage. No one has personally called me from Sports Illustrated, but I got a personal call from a person with the Dallas Morning News Sports area recently and had a nice "chat" about UNT coverage. Had the gatekeeper and was getting nowhere until i told her I was a 35+ year daily subscriber. She then took my name and number and I got a call back within two hours.

meangreenadpi · August 23, 2011

On another note, I've seen quite a few more positive stories about UNT on NBC 5 lately! It's good to see them paying attention. UNT is a great place with some very exciting things happening right now for athletics and other departments on campus. I will be receiving my second degree from UNT in May and am VERY proud of my university. Hopefully more and more folks will start to pay attention. GO MEAN GREEN!

UNTLifer · August 23, 2011

Not true. They email or send messages at least 10 times in the past year begging me back and wanting to know the reason why I left or what it would take to come back...and I tell them!

On the contrary, if you stay subscribed you are telling them you are happy with the coverage and will keep sending them $$.

Exactly!

stebo · August 24, 2011

There is a big football magazine coming out from the DRC this week - at least I think it is this week. Vito has been working hard on this and had a photographer out at the stadium open house. I would bet that part of the North Texas piece will come from that, but that is just a guess. I don't remember the exact amount of pages but it will be a big deal and have a ton of print for the Mean Green.