MGB: Anwar staying at UNT

Brett Vito · May 15, 2014

MGB:

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/05/breaking-news-david-anwar-to-remain-at-unt.html/

TheTastyGreek · May 15, 2014

Spoiler alert:

Tomorrow, we'll get an article where Anwar says he couldn't bear to leave because the work here isn't done yet, and he's committed to finishing the job with his dear friend Tony Benford.

Around August 1st, he'll take a different job at Arkansas State or Tennessee-Martin instead.

Vito, go ahead and start writing the August Anwar article now. Just leave a placeholder for the school. Or, if you think your editor won't notice, just do a search and replace with the old Lundy story.

UNT90 · May 15, 2014

Why would you leave a sure paycheck for the next 2 years. Risk vs. reward. He knows there is zero risk of losing his job for at least 2 years.

Harry · May 15, 2014

This is good news for Camp Benford. It shows some pretty significant loyalty from Anwar who would have garnered more security if he took the USM job. Nice offseason win for Benford to keep his staff intact.

Harry · May 15, 2014

Why would you leave a sure paycheck for the next 2 years. Risk vs. reward. He knows there is zero risk of losing his job for at least 2 years.

that's inaccurate, Benford has to win next season and he knows it.

TheTastyGreek · May 15, 2014

that's inaccurate, Benford has to win next season and he knows it.

Maybe, maybe not. I think RV is very excited after seeing Coach Evans play softball with the other guys who live at Robson Ranch.

If Evans can channel that back into basketball, we'll make the Final Four.

CMJ · May 15, 2014

that's inaccurate, Benford has to win next season and he knows it.

Define win.

I think if we're around .500 he gets another season.

emmitt01 · May 15, 2014

that's inaccurate, Benford has to win next season and he knows it.

"Yeah....about that..."

-ToddDodge

NT03 · May 15, 2014

It shows some pretty significant loyalty from Anwar who would have garnered more security if he took the USM job.

I don't know , this is the same program that fired their head football coach after just 1 year. USM will have very high expectations going into next season

BillySee58 · May 15, 2014

We need him for recruiting. Since Anwar's recruits (Flash, Coleman, and Arthur Casimiro) are set to be seniors this year, we'll need him to find sufficient replacements to match their production.

emmitt01 · May 15, 2014

We need him for recruiting. Since Anwar's recruits (Flash, Coleman, and Arthur Casimiro) are set to be seniors this year, we'll need him to find sufficient replacements to match their production.

I see what you did there...

TheTastyGreek · May 15, 2014

I see what you did there...

I don't... But as everyone now knows, my parents tv remote wasn't as fancy as yours.

UNT90 · May 15, 2014

that's inaccurate, Benford has to win next season and he knows it.

That's what was said about this year, Harry.

People just saying what they know you want to hear. You will get a line after next season about how close we are, which is why we are keeping h for a fourth year. It's what this program does.

It's all about saving money at UNT.

flyonthewall · May 15, 2014

Ok. about this "saving money" thing. I completely disagree. Any mans wife goes to the mall. She buys a sweater 50% off for $120.00 bucks. did she save $120 bucks or blow $120 bucks on something she didn't really need and will only wear a couple of times. We can't be about "saving" money. There is no time for that. Keep him or fire him. I would rather you say, we didn't need the sweater and we are wasting money by keeping it another year.

There is no way that mindset of anyone involved all the way up to the board of regents is keep a coach to save money. Progress is evaluated, and business decisions are made.

UNTFan23 · May 15, 2014

Ok. about this "saving money" thing. I completely disagree. Any mans wife goes to the mall. She buys a sweater 50% off for $120.00 bucks. did she save $120 bucks or blow $120 bucks on something she didn't really need and will only wear a couple of times. We can't be about "saving" money. There is no time for that. Keep him or fire him. I would rather you say, we didn't need the sweater and we are wasting money by keeping it another year.

There is no way that mindset of anyone involved all the way up to the board of regents is keep a coach to save money. Progress is evaluated, and business decisions are made.

Average Attendance

Benford Year 1 - 3,518

Benford Year 2 - 2,373

Difference - (1,145)

% Difference - (32%)

That's a pretty bad drop in attendance year over year.

I don't know what ticket prices were but if you attached a value of $10/ticket, you're looking at a net loss in revenue of about $11,500/game amassing to an estimated loss of about $184,000 in revenue for the 2013-2014 16 home games. That's not including lost sales at concession stands or apparel from the small booth that gets set up to sell NT merchandise.

There might have been slight progress in terms of Wins and Losses but attendance saw a pretty sharp drop-off.

Edited May 15, 2014 by UNTFan23

forevereagle · May 15, 2014

Average Attendance
Benford Year 1 - 3,518
Benford Year 2 - 2,373
Difference - (1,145)
% Difference - (32%)
That's a pretty bad drop in attendance year over year.

I don't know what ticket prices were but if you attached a value of $10/ticket, you're looking at a net loss in revenue of about $11,500/game amassing to an estimated loss of about $184,000 in revenue for the 2013-2014 16 home games. That's not including lost sales at concession stands or apparel from the small booth that gets set up to sell NT merchandise.

There might have been slight progress in terms of Wins and Losses but attendance saw a pretty sharp drop-off.

Hard to attribute all of this to directly to Benford because one has to account for the Tony Mitchell effect. I think a lot of it has to do with the W/L record, but you also have to attribute at least some part of it to losing the best player we have had in a long time.

Censored by Laurie · May 15, 2014

Average Attendance
Benford Year 1 - 3,518
Benford Year 2 - 2,373
Difference - (1,145)
% Difference - (32%)
That's a pretty bad drop in attendance year over year.

I don't know what ticket prices were but if you attached a value of $10/ticket, you're looking at a net loss in revenue of about $11,500/game amassing to an estimated loss of about $184,000 in revenue for the 2013-2014 16 home games. That's not including lost sales at concession stands or apparel from the small booth that gets set up to sell NT merchandise.

There might have been slight progress in terms of Wins and Losses but attendance saw a pretty sharp drop-off.

UNT23, 1100 fans is not that drastic to me. However, you have to cheer with more guts (not size of dog, but fight in dog). I also believe they will add fans, as well as be "super-pumped-up". The combo of these 3 is the key to creating a college basketball atmosphere vs alienating 33% of your alumni and fan base. That's why I don't want to read about these concerns now. Read so much last summer from Benford haters when all he did was go out there and sub hard. I believe the culture that has been created will develop every fan with an entire row of seats to him/herself. So yell, stomp, and yell some more

TheTastyGreek · May 15, 2014

UNT23, 1100 fans is not that drastic to me. However, you have to cheer with more guts (not size of dog, but fight in dog). I also believe they will add fans, as well as be "super-pumped-up". The combo of these 3 is the key to creating a college basketball atmosphere vs alienating 33% of your alumni and fan base. That's why I don't want to read about these concerns now. Read so much last summer from Benford haters when all he did was go out there and sub hard. I believe the culture that has been created will develop every fan with an entire row of seats to him/herself. So yell, stomp, and yell some more

Also, keep in mind that Benford has until November to gain weight. I think he can do it.

UNTFan23 · May 15, 2014

Hard to attribute all of this to directly to Benford because one has to account for the Tony Mitchell effect. I think a lot of it has to do with the W/L record, but you also have to attribute at least some part of it to losing the best player we have had in a long time.

We did have an extremely weak out-of-conference slate to there is that to consider as well.

UNT90 · May 15, 2014

Ok. about this "saving money" thing. I completely disagree. Any mans wife goes to the mall. She buys a sweater 50% off for $120.00 bucks. did she save $120 bucks or blow $120 bucks on something she didn't really need and will only wear a couple of times. We can't be about "saving" money. There is no time for that. Keep him or fire him. I would rather you say, we didn't need the sweater and we are wasting money by keeping it another year.

There is no way that mindset of anyone involved all the way up to the board of regents is keep a coach to save money. Progress is evaluated, and business decisions are made.

Lets say this isn't the case. Problem is, it has absolutely been the case in the past, and when you don't fix a problem that has been apparent to anyone who pays the slightest attention, you send the message that we are the sane old UNT.

And you not only send that message to your most ardent fans, but to alums who may have just started to pay attention with the recent NCAA appearances or the Tony Mitchell signing.

And the attendance numbers illustrate that pretty much very element of your fan base has been alienated.

If its not money, it can only be pride and a terrible lack of understanding that this coach would never be successful here after the disaster that was the first year.

If not monetary, it smacks of being unable to admit a mistake. And that is unforgivable.

Censored by Laurie · May 15, 2014

Also, keep in mind that Benford has until November to gain weight. I think he can do it.

I'm not sure I've ever been more certain of anything ever.

You know...we could re-assign him as DL weight-gain liaison coach, or some-such. two birds...one fat, fat stone

greenminer · May 16, 2014

Hard to attribute all of this to directly to Benford because one has to account for the Tony Mitchell effect. I think a lot of it has to do with the W/L record, but you also have to attribute at least some part of it to losing the best player we have had in a long time.

How do you possibly quantify the Tony Mitchell effect? There's no denying that he created some buzz, but the timing of his arrival (JJ was already building this program) and his departure (crumbling program) makes it nearly impossible to discuss his true impact on attendance.

forevereagle · May 16, 2014

How do you possibly quantify the Tony Mitchell effect? There's no denying that he created some buzz, but the timing of his arrival (JJ was already building this program) and his departure (crumbling program) makes it nearly impossible to discuss his true impact on attendance.

I didn't try to quantify it, just saying that it probably played a part. As much as we want to assign all blame to Benford, there are a lot of factors that have played a part in where we are. If we had been winning, the TM effect would probably have been minimal.

GrandGreen · May 17, 2014

Average Attendance
Benford Year 1 - 3,518
Benford Year 2 - 2,373
Difference - (1,145)
% Difference - (32%)
That's a pretty bad drop in attendance year over year.

I don't know what ticket prices were but if you attached a value of $10/ticket, you're looking at a net loss in revenue of about $11,500/game amassing to an estimated loss of about $184,000 in revenue for the 2013-2014 16 home games. That's not including lost sales at concession stands or apparel from the small booth that gets set up to sell NT merchandise.

There might have been slight progress in terms of Wins and Losses but attendance saw a pretty sharp drop-off.

It is amazing, but we all like to discuss attendance; which is one of the most questionable statistics ever invented. For instance both attendance numbers you quoted are a lot higher than butts in seats. However, year 1 was really overstated because it was undoubtable NT's biggest year for season tickets in anticipation of the great year most expected. Those season tickets were counted every game when in reality most gave up attending long before the season ended.

As an aside, and I have no inside knowledge; but in general it is miraculous how many coaches decide to stay and be loyal when they are not offered the other job.

Edited May 17, 2014 by GrandGreen