Add North Texas!

[UNTLifer]

Originally posted by Navy&Crimson:
if u want ntsu, put some 'requirements' to the invitation that must be met within a 3-5 yr period like:

1 - upgraded stadium to 35-40K
2 - average attendance increase to ___
3 - additional sports to be added if need be
4 - so many dollars that 'must' be invested in your athletic programs in order to be a top 50 program in such in such yrs in the future especially in light of their alumni base which is 50X bigger than ours...hey if u - meaning ntsu - want to be in, u must do certain things to meet such in such guidelines or goals to make them worthy like what we've been doing the last 5 yrs, b/c if you don't, ntsu will always be ntsu & then drop back to div 2 in several yrs & then we all lose out...they're always jumping back & forth PERIOD!

hey - it would be great if they gradually built up a rivalry with us (which they don't have now nor do we with them) but they have to do certain things on their part to make it worthwhile for c-usa & us in the whole picture & the big thing is stimulate their alumni base which they have never done in their entire existence...good grief there is a million out there & 95% don't care!

besides, i'm sure there were some requirements for us to join c-usa, too that we had to attain over the next 3-5 yrs, too...afterall, we must carry our own weight like everyone else in the conference.

such is life

It is funny that you are interested in making requirements for UNT to join C-USA that SMU doesn't even meet. For instance:

1. 35k to 40K Stadium. I believe Ford seats between 32K and 33K. Fouts seats 30,500, and we are in the planning stages for not an upgrade to Fouts but for a new stadium.

2. Average Attendance. I believe we already surpass SMU in this figure with a growing fanbase.

3. The only sport we don't currently have that needs to be added is baseball, which SMU doesn't have.

4. Money invested in the program. UNT is in the process of developing our old golf course property and some adjacent land to build athletic facilities on. These facilities will include, when all three phases are complete, a dorm/dining hall and athletic center, new football stadium, baseball stadium, track stadium and tennis courts. The adjacent land will be a converted private high school to include a softball stadium, women's soccer stadium, women's training center, alumni center and a stand alone women's volleyball complex.

You also mention that we are always jumping between Div. 1 and Div. II. Actually we had one stint in D1AA during which we beat SMU. We would love to have a rivalry, but your administration has chosen to ignore this for years.

I apologize for getting a little bent out of shape regarding the above post, but if you are going to hold us to a certain standard, then you must meet it also. I do believe that the regional appeal of a UNT/SMU/Tulsa/Rice/Tulane/etc... conference would be best for the institutions and the fans. It is time to let go of the past and realize that the face of college football has changed dramatically over the last few years

[NavyCrimson]

one of many problems is that the rivalry is only in your eyes - not ours & comparing the won-loss record between our schools speak for itself.

also...u guys have tons of graduates - many more than we with very little to show on game day...sure things 'may' change but then again, they may not.

get over it & get on with life, son.

[MeanGreenGem]

I hesite to post a response as it makes North Texas look like our future hinges (as it obviously doesn't) on a football schedule with SMU; but what the heck, I'll take the bite...

Do you all not think the average man who follows college football in the Metroplex wonders why SMU has no problem playing Cal-Northridge, San Jose, Fresno St. La Tech, etc, etc, yet strangely continues to avoid a footbll schedule with North Texas? Did SMU even know who or where those aforementioned schools were 20 years ago?

Surely you give area sports fans some credit for not being so naive' on this avoidance on SMU's part of North Texas over schools even local college football fans have no idea where they are located? Even some writers from Belo have begun to question yall on this scheduling matter with the Mean Green. Yes, I said Belo, SMU knows that group well.

North Texans know why yall don't want to tee it up. SMU no longer needs to hide behind the old trusted, tried but now unproven reasons to not play UNT because people in the Metroplex don't buy it anymore and are much smarter than some of your traditionalists seem to give them credit.

You bring up the past? It's no longer about the past in the NCAA and if anyone should know that better than anyone that would be SMU.

UNT has gotten on with life, Pops. Yall should consider joining us in this new milleneum in the NCAA. We at North Texas are sort of liking it matter of fact.

Originally posted by Navy&Crimson:
one of many problems is that the rivalry is only in your eyes - not ours & comparing the won-loss record between our schools speak for itself.

also...u guys have tons of graduates - many more than we with very little to show on game day...sure things 'may' change but then again, they may not.

get over it & get on with life, son.

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 12:33 PM: Message edited by: MeanGreenGem ]</small>

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Well, we could always do like former UNT coach Matt Simon suggested in an article in the DMN about 10 years ago and "meet in the parking lot of a Safeway", or in this case a Tom Thumb, and play it out.

[j_bowling]

I enjoy the basketball game against North Texas each year and would welcome an annual football contest, as well. But I'm sorry, I don't want North Texas in our conference b/c of the recruiting draw. Not that SMU doesn't already have better facilities and a more respected degree (for the most part), but we also have a better conference to offer. Why eliminate one of our advantages, especially with a school that's so close? I respect TCU, but if they leave, I hope their recruiting goes to crap once they start losing again. Their loss would be our gain. We would then have an even stronger appeal for kids wanting to play football in the metroplex. In any case, it's out of our hands. So let's play North Texas in a couple of years (when we're competitive again) and enjoy the benefits of a local rivalry without hurting our program.

[MeanGreenGem]

The last time North Texas beat SMU we were 1-AA and yall were in the Southwest Conference.

AND did you not get the score of last December's NEW ORLEANS BOWL when UNT played the CUSA football co-champion? Do we not use scores anymore on who has a better league starting at the top with its football champions? Hopefully, SMU won't get bogged down in all this conference perception "stuff" again or yall will be sorely disappointed on what yall think something actually appears to be really is not. WHOA!

<>*<> CUSA without TCU or 1 or 2 others is really at what level for instance? You don't think Marshall is having 2'nd thoughts these days?

North Texas is a diversified public university with students who drive anything from BMW's to old Ford pickups. Like Hayden Fry used to say, "If I can get a kid to just visit our campus and see the, uh, "sights" I have a good chance of signing that kid."

Well, the North Texas Fry knew is twice as large in enrollment and acreage and even Coach Fry got lost on our campus a few weeks ago when we honored him. He could not believe its growth or what the Texas Higher Ed Coordinating board is projecting for its future growth!

I am glad to see SMU doing the same in recognizing Coach Fry this Saturday. On that idea we can agree.

Originally posted by AdGrad:
I enjoy the basketball game against North Texas each year and would welcome an annual football contest, as well. But I'm sorry, I don't want North Texas in our conference b/c of the recruiting draw. Not that SMU doesn't already have better facilities and a more respected degree (for the most part), but we also have a better conference to offer. Why eliminate one of our advantages, especially with a school that's so close? I respect TCU, but if they leave, I hope their recruiting goes to crap once they start losing again. Their loss would be our gain. We would then have an even stronger appeal for kids wanting to play football in the metroplex. In any case, it's out of our hands. So let's play North Texas in a couple of years (when we're competitive again) and enjoy the benefits of a local rivalry without hurting our program.

<small>[ 11-13-2003, 04:13 PM: Message edited by: MeanGreenGem ]</small>

[Southland]

Originally posted by MeanGreenGem:

North Texas is a diversified public university with students who drive anything from BMW's to old Ford pickups. Like Hayden Fry used to say, "If I can get a kid to just visit our campus and see the, uh, "sights" I have a good chance of signing that kid."

There is nothing wrong with North Texas, but UNT is not going to be voted into the conference when it finished 260 out of the 265 schools that scored points in the Sears Cup Standings.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/confs/nacda/graphics/0203D1FinalStandings.pdf

Like it or not, that is your standing. If you brought incremental revenue, it would be a different story...

SMU, Rice and Tulsa got into CUSA largely on the support of Tulane, and the other schools could swallow because the three schools are good at sports other than football. Again, UNT doesn't have that kind of blind support from any CUSA schools, so you're comparing apples to oranges...

Your best hope is that TCU stays in CUSA, and you are selected as a travel partner for Louisiana Tech in the WAC.

The nightmare scenerio for UNT would be for TCU to leave and be replaced by Louisiana Tech. Benson has already said the decision between selecting Idaho or UNT as the ninth WAC school would hinge on whether or not Louisiana Tech was still in the WAC.

The lack of conference affiliation would make it difficult for UNT to schedule 5 home games, and hence, difficult to stay in Division 1A... sad but true.
:thumbdown:

[PlanoStang]

Originally posted by EastStang:
My choice is none of the above. I would opt for UTEP. Why? They travel well. They are in a bowl city which hopefully can be wrestled away from BCS schools someday. They have a basketball tradition (one National Championship). They are in Texas (just barely). We seem to be able to beat them most of the time. I am not convinced that UNT would bring a crowd to SMU. I am not convinced that La. Tech brings a crowd to SMU. UTEP has proven it several times.

I agree with inviting UTEP. The minus is they are halfway to Caleefornia as Ahnold says. Doubt that the eastern schools would vote for this.