You've got some of these same positive things happening at your school. Think back to how it was when you were there......then how it is now ! The future is bright !
Green Gang: A New Snapshot Of Mean Green Athletics Taking Shape
Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 10/19/2009
Hank Dickenson Oct. 19, 2009 9:52 a.m.
Everything is constantly changing. Nothing stills still. We age, we change...our house and yard does the same...cars don't look the same from decade to decade..and neither do football programs. That's why we update our photo albums from year to year. The old snashots aren't accurate after a period of time. Mean Green fans often use homecoming weekend to "take a new snapshot" of our campus and athletic program.
I was reminded this past homecoming weekend of all that has changed over the years in regard to Mean Green football. Friday and Saturday were busy days, built on the demands of heavy event planning and facilitating. After all, that is what homecoming weekends are about - bringing people back to campus to see what has changed. This includes seeing what is planned for the future, i.e., a new football stadium.
We like to boast our recent facilities and plans for the new stadium to friends who may not have been back to NT in awhile. From an athletic standpoint, we use the entire weekend to cater to letterwinners and alumni that support us. We hosted a successful Lettermen's Golf Tournament and Bon Fire dinner, a sold out Hall of Fame Breakfast, a packed luncheon for the 1959 Sun Bowl team and members of the Geezle fraternity. They definitely talked about the past, but hopefully they took some "new snap shots" while they were here.
In relative terms, here are some of things that I overheard from the folks that made their first trip back to campus in some years over the past weekend:
"Holy cow - the old golf course is gone...and look at all of the things they have built! Softball, soccer, tennis...dedicated football practice fields....is that a dorm??? A dining hall and a new field house!"
"Look at the tailgating...this never happened when I was here...look at all the activity out here!"
"This is a great place for breakfast...I think the president's house was located here when I was in school."
"What a great crowd...especially the student section...I can never remember that happening..."
Well, hold on to the new snap shot. It's hard to convince people of what has happened and what will happen until we get you back on campus. In case you haven't taken note, North Texas does have great athletic facilities and they keep getting better. Students and fans DO support this program. In fact, the crowd of 23,000 plus was the fifth largest in school history. Three of the top 10 crowds have occurred during the Dodge era and 8 of the top 10 in this decade alone. Don't let people tell you NT has little support - it simply isn't true.
The Denton Record Chronicle will no doubt take their own snap shot of empty seats if the opportunity arises, but you should hold on to this past weekend's images. They show what we have become and where we will be soon. The wins that are coming will only embellish that.
The only snap shot that looks the same as it did "way back when" is Fouts Field, barring the numerous advertising additions that have occurred since 1995. We are about to replace that one in the photo album as well. So, keep coming out and making game day a special event so that all those other North Texas folks can embrace the new opportunities and spread the word on the positive changes!