RIVALRIES SHOULD FLOURISH

[Harry]

For the first time since 1994, when North Texas was a member of the Southland Conference, the Mean Green is in a conference that includes other members from Texas.

Texas-San Antonio, Rice and Texas-El Paso are in Conference USA with North Texas, which has spent time since '94 in the Sun Belt (2001-12), Big West (1996-00) and the independent ranks (1995).

“Get some rivalries going,” said UNT coach Dan McCarney. “To this day, I still haven't found out who the rivalries really were at North Texas before I got there.”

Read more: http://newsok.com/college-football-tulsas-trey-watts-has-more-than-one-memorable-play/article/3865493

[JesseMartin]

“Get some rivalries going,” said UNT coach Dan McCarney. “To this day, I still haven't found out who the rivalries really were at North Texas before I got there.”

Sad, funny, and true. Look at our "rivals"-SMU, because when we wanted to play, they didn't? MTSU-because they were expected to be the big dogs in the early days of the Belt but we were instead? Houston-because we've played a little over a dozen times and it's a fairly close record? Louisville-because we used to play them fairly often decades ago and had a similar back-and-forth like we do with Houston? I don't think any of those comes anywhere near what most schools consider to be their "rivalries".

[jdennis82]

Sort of wish Javia Hall was walking into high expectations under center at UTEP...would really spark a rivalry quickly.

[Harry]

Sort of wish Javia Hall was walking into high expectations under center at UTEP...would really spark a rivalry quickly.

Looking ahead, the team reports for fall camp Aug. 5 with Camp Socorro in New Mexico beginning two days later, and the team will do it without Javia Hall.

The star recruit of the 2009 class appeared to have the back-up quarterback role nailed down with a chance to compete for the starting role after spring football in 2010. After some unspecified offseason issues Hall was fourth-team when the team arrived at Socorro that August, but was the player UTEP turned to after Nick Lamaison got hurt against SMU.

After playing serviceably in that game, Hall started against New Mexico State but struggled in UTEP's 16-10 victory. Carson Meger started the following week and Hall only saw one game of mop-up time after that.

His final numbers were 20-of-55 passing for 281 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns in three appearances.

With Lamaison and Meger entrenched in the top two positions and freshman Blair Sullivan coming off a strong redshirt season, Hall's future was cloudy before his dismissal, though his talent always intrigued the staff.

"I like him, I like Javia, I know he has the ability to be a good Division I quarterback on the field," Price said. "His off-field decisions troubled him. We're being very strict with our rules.

"I believe in second chances as much as anybody but enough is enough. ... I wish him the best."

Price added that several junior college players -- "difference-makers," he said -- could become eligible as soon as June 11. UTEP has scholarships available for them.

Read more: http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_20747977/price-adjusts-camps-offset-loss-funds

http://www.utepathletics.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/hall_javia00.html

[ragpicker]

I was disappointed when we were dropped to 1-AA, but those years in the Southland were the only time we had rivals since the late forties and early fifties. We are finally going to have rivalries again after all these years. I can't wait.

[BillySee58]

Hall was class of 2010

[wardly]

I was disappointed when we were dropped to 1-AA, but those years in the Southland were the only time we had rivals since the late forties and early fifties. We are finally going to have rivalries again after all these years. I can't wait.

I still don't know who it would be. The UTEP/NMSU game is big in El Paso area,and UTSA/TSU should become a good one as well. I would like to see us play La. Tech. in Shreveport every year,but that's not going to happen.

[SilverEagle]

I think that the last time we had a consistent rival was East Texas State (now East Texas A$M) back in the 20's/30's/40/'s and early 50's. During that time we played East Texas State 24 straight years, and it was regarded as a big rivalry game. During the same era, we played Texas State (SWTS) for 29 straight years (1920 to 1949), This entry from the 1949 YUCCA mentions the word "rivalry" Actually it says "ancient rivalry".....http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61018/m1/129/?q=Rivalry

Here is the lead story from the 1942 YUCCA.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/190/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

Here are some color images from the 1942 NT/ET rivalry

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/160/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

BTW, this game took place where the Willis Library now stands. The field and track were still there up to the late 60's.

Anyway, even though we played SWT longer, we regarded the East Texas game as a big rivalry, and the main reason had to be because they were closer to us (Commerce Texas) than our other conference mates.

Here are some highlights from 1947...

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61016/m1/230/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

[ragpicker]

Good stuff SilverEagle. I think Rice could use a good rival, the one with Houston seems a bit lame.

I think that the last time we had a consistent rival was East Texas State (now East Texas A$M) back in the 20's/30's/40/'s and early 50's. During that time we played East Texas State 24 straight years, and it was regarded as a big rivalry game. During the same era, we played Texas State (SWTS) for 29 straight years (1920 to 1949), This entry from the 1949 YUCCA mentions the word "rivalry" Actually it says "ancient rivalry".....http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61018/m1/129/?q=Rivalry

Here is the lead story from the 1942 YUCCA.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/190/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

Here are some color images from the 1942 NT/ET rivalry

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/160/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

BTW, this game took place where the Willis Library now stands. The field and track were still there up to the late 60's.

Anyway, even though we played SWT longer, we regarded the East Texas game as a big rivalry, and the main reason had to be because they were closer to us (Commerce Texas) than our other conference mates.

Here are some highlights from 1947...

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61016/m1/230/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

Good stuff SilverEagle. I think Rice could use a good rival as the one they have with Houston seems a bit lame.

[aztecskin]

Those pics are awesome. Didn't know that about the old stadium.

My first introduction to our 'rivals' was NCAA Football's listing of MTSU, NMSU. When we played them my first year on campus and no one was excited about it I realized that that was just make-believe.

Here's to UTSA, UTEP, and Rice.

[Cougar King]

Good stuff SilverEagle. I think Rice could use a good rival, the one with Houston seems a bit lame.

Good stuff SilverEagle. I think Rice could use a good rival as the one they have with Houston seems a bit lame.

So much fail here, I don't even know where to start...

Yes, because a rivalry with UNT, a school Rice has no history with, looks down upon and according to their boards, wants nothing to do with, is so much better than the Bayou Bucket Classic. A rivalry that has been played for almost 50 years with animosity before, during and after the SWC (you, know the conference that thought UNT was not worthy enough to join and perhaps rightfully so. Especially considering the strong anti-athletics stance by the students and admin at the time) along with the fact that the rivalry has been ingrained in both schools' cultures over the last few decades. Somewhat similar to UNT or better yet, GMG's thing with SMU but this actually being mutual as opposed to a one-sided obsession.

BUT wait folks, according to ragpicker's logic, (or lack there of depending on how you would interpret it, I suppose) UNT could be a much better rival than UH. A school that does not know what a true rival is, a school that has not had a rival since World War II and perhaps post WW2. (Please don't bring up MTSU or NMSU, they aren't real rivalries. Plus, MTSU has their "100 miles of Hate" with WKU and NMSU has their true rivalries with UTEP and UNM)

Let's be real here, nobody truly wants to be UNT's rival with the exception of perhaps UTSA and even they care about Texas State (officially called the I-35 rivalry) a lot more than they do about UNT.

Edited July 27, 2013 by Cougar King

[eulessismore]

Let's be real here, nobody truly cares what Cougie thinks, with the possible exception of Cougie himself, who comes here because he's a young man who just can't get anything going on anywhere on a Friday night. Perhaps UTSA will even beat his Cougie team as badly as Texas State (officially called Houston stomped by a startup) giving UH two possible candidates for that rivalry THEY need so badly.

Fixed it for ya.

And get this critique of UNT from Cougie K:

A school that does not know what a true rival is, a school that has not had a rival since World War II and perhaps post WW2.

And so here we have a guy who attended UNT, and tries sweet talking about Rice, both schools where Larry McMurtry, probably the best writer in my generation (post WW2) earned degrees, and whose English Department Don Henley says "gave him the education he needed", who doesn't know the English language well enough to know that "since World War II" and "post WW2" mean the same thing.

I'm only saying this because he/she will defend him/her self as having such a lack of a personal life because he/she is studying. What can a person be studying, at UNT, UH, Texas State, or wherever, where one's professors don't care whether a student even knows the meaning of simple words that they have plenty of time to gaze upon (as they must when confronted by their own brilliance) before they put them where everyone can read them?

Our educational system has problems, and not just at UNT. This isn't about being a grammar nazi folks, this is about being able to communicate without seeming to be ignorant.

Edited July 27, 2013 by eulessismore

[PlummMeanGreen]

So much fail here, I don't even know where to start...

Yes, because a rivalry with UNT, a school Rice has no history with, looks down upon and according to their boards, wants nothing to do with, is so much better than the Bayou Bucket Classic. A rivalry that has been played for almost 50 years with animosity before, during and after the SWC (you, know the conference that thought UNT was not worthy enough to join and perhaps rightfully so. Especially considering the strong anti-athletics stance by the students and admin at the time) along with the fact that the rivalry has been ingrained in both schools' cultures over the last few decades. Somewhat similar to UNT or better yet, GMG's thing with SMU but this actually being mutual as opposed to a one-sided obsession.

BUT wait folks, according to ragpicker's logic, (or lack there of depending on how you would interpret it, I suppose) UNT could be a much better rival than UH. A school that does not know what a true rival is, a school that has not had a rival since World War II and perhaps post WW2. (Please don't bring up MTSU or NMSU, they aren't real rivalries. Plus, MTSU has their "100 miles of Hate" with WKU and NMSU has their true rivalries with UTEP and UNM)

Let's be real here, nobody truly wants to be UNT's rival with the exception of perhaps UTSA and even they care about Texas State (officially called the I-35 rivalry) a lot more than they do about UNT.

CoogieGuy, I have black-lined your post just to give you a nostalgic moment of how it had to be for you in your public school grammar classes. Was your 'teach a real Cougar sorta' gal, too, CoogieGuy?

On your subject of rivalries? At least North Texas never had what would be considered several most ideal rivalries jerked away from us to the degree that UH did when they got jump-kicked out of the SWC with no Big 12 invite while at the same time your school losing rivalries with UT, TAMU, Texas Tech, Baylor and now TCU. Sort of a real kick in the pants with that, eh?

Way I see it as a 50 plus year fan of NCAA college football is that UH has no more significant rivals today than we do except maybe Rice but so what, UNT now has SMU for the next 12 years in a row with a home and home beginning in 2014 so I guess that sorta' evens that out, right?

New Rivalries? We're really liking what we are getting for new rivals as a member of the CUSA West Division while UH basically keeps getting their "old hat" rivals of what yall already had in the old CUSA but with a conference name tagged onto it whose initials sound more like an organization that has a 12 step program.

[wardly]

This I don't understand. It would cost us a home game every other year and essentially be a home game for LaTech every year. No thanks.

I am too in love with the power of Apogee.

I was looking at it as a mini Texas/OU game, which as you know is played in Dallas, but because of the Sooner's following is basically at a neutral site .Looking at La. Tech's average attendance I don't think many fans from Shreveport make the drive to Ruston..We just need an annual game that as fans we plan our season around. Shreveport is a fun destination city with excellent entertainment.However,R.V. agrees with you, so its not going to happen.Just a thought.

[SilverEagle]

I get where you are coming from. But I see two differences. 1) Dallas is basically a mid-point for both schools, making it a neutral site, whereas Shreveport is LaTech's backyard. 2) Texas and OU still have 7-8 home games. We struggle for 6.

I think in theory it isn't a bad idea, just not great in practice.

The way I see it, we need to get people in the habit of REGULARLY coming to games at Apogee. And it pains me to say so, but La Tech can help make that happen. If the series starts heating up, and sell-outs occur, then maybe the issue can be re-visited down the road.

[GrayEagle]

I think that the last time we had a consistent rival was East Texas State (now East Texas A$M) back in the 20's/30's/40/'s and early 50's. During that time we played East Texas State 24 straight years, and it was regarded as a big rivalry game. During the same era, we played Texas State (SWTS) for 29 straight years (1920 to 1949), This entry from the 1949 YUCCA mentions the word "rivalry" Actually it says "ancient rivalry".....http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61018/m1/129/?q=Rivalry

Here is the lead story from the 1942 YUCCA.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/190/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

Here are some color images from the 1942 NT/ET rivalry

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61013/m1/160/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

BTW, this game took place where the Willis Library now stands. The field and track were still there up to the late 60's.

Anyway, even though we played SWT longer, we regarded the East Texas game as a big rivalry, and the main reason had to be because they were closer to us (Commerce Texas) than our other conference mates.

Here are some highlights from 1947...

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth61016/m1/230/?q=East%20Texas%20State,%20homecoming,%20train

Thanks for the memories, Silver.

I remember in 1948, my first year as a student, that we caught two East Texas students who came to do our stadium and signs harm and shaved NTs on their heads right in the middle of Avenue A and Hickory. Then we hung a homemade sign "I'm a stupid East Texan" around their necks and escorted them out of town. Now, that was a rivalry!

Did you notice that the stadium was filled to capacity in the action shots? It was that way at many most of the games. At the time North Texas had a student enrollment of around 5,000 and Denton had a population of 12,000 (and I believe that the students that were over 21 were counted in the Denton population). The average attendance was more than half of the combined total. The attendance came mostly from locals because neither Dallas or Fort Worth were all that accessible due to heavy traffic on two-laned roads. But, that kind of support is what prompted Fouts to be built in 1952.

[emmitt01]

So much fail here, I don't even know where to start...

Yes, because a rivalry with UNT, a school Rice has no history with, looks down upon and according to their boards, wants nothing to do with, is so much better than the Bayou Bucket Classic. A rivalry that has been played for almost 50 years with animosity before, during and after the SWC (you, know the conference that thought UNT was not worthy enough to join and perhaps rightfully so. Especially considering the strong anti-athletics stance by the students and admin at the time) along with the fact that the rivalry has been ingrained in both schools' cultures over the last few decades. Somewhat similar to UNT or better yet, GMG's thing with SMU but this actually being mutual as opposed to a one-sided obsession.

BUT wait folks, according to ragpicker's logic, (or lack there of depending on how you would interpret it, I suppose) UNT could be a much better rival than UH. A school that does not know what a true rival is, a school that has not had a rival since World War II and perhaps post WW2. (Please don't bring up MTSU or NMSU, they aren't real rivalries. Plus, MTSU has their "100 miles of Hate" with WKU and NMSU has their true rivalries with UTEP and UNM)

Let's be real here, nobody truly wants to be UNT's rival with the exception of perhaps UTSA and even they care about Texas State (officially called the I-35 rivalry) a lot more than they do about UNT.

I just gotta know something. Since academic eligibility at North Texas always eluded you (like girls above a 5 on a 10 point scale) at North Texas, would you consider passing classes to be your "rival"?

[wardly]

In order for us to have a true rival,such as La. Tech.,we are going to have to travel as well as Houston does.[note tongue in cheek]