football. The conference championship game will be held hosted on the campus by the team with the best overall record or other tie breakers. As expected for sometime North Texas will be leaving the Sun Belt Conference to move up the Conference-USA. The last time CUSA looked at North Texas it was not a very appealing situation with the old Fouts Field anchoring the sports programs. With Rick Villarreal at the helm he convinced North Texas students to agree to higher tuition fees in order to fund the Athletic Department and build the new Apogee Stadium now the crown jewel of North Texas Sports.
This time when CUSA looked at North Texas they found a school with new facilities in almost every sport. There was a solid title IX program was in place. There was a men’s basketball program that was on the verge every year of making the NCAA Tournament.
The only thing North Texas did not have was a baseball team which has been a concern for CUSA because there are not enough schools with baseball programs causing scheduling concerns. So much so Dallas Baptist was considered to become a CUSA member for baseball only. However, there are rumors North Texas is considering the addition of baseball.
When this all shakes out, the new conference will generate more money for North Texas. There will be better teams with better fan base to help attendance. There will be more opportunities to get into high profile bowls every year. CUSA offers more television exposure, not only for the CUSA footprint but because of the television, radio and newspaper market coming from the eastern schools. This is a huge exposure that can’t be bought.
The CUSA footprint is to have schools in major television markets, which is why North Texas, Florida International, the University of San Antonio and Charlotte were added. Coming along for the ride will be Louisiana Tech.
What else in store for North Texas is the possibility of future games with schools closer to home and out West. CUSA and the Mountain West are still in formation of a possible 24 team super conference. One sticking point is NCAA rules concerning the amount of games a college football program can play.
The Sun Belt has been good for North Texas allowing Villarreal to build competitive programs but it had its limitations, a lot of those limitations are gone.
One weak area for CUSA has been basketball, they are basically a two bid conference while the Sun Belt garners one bid. So it still is a step up for North Texas’ opportunities to make the big dance.
North Texas fans will now be able to travel to more away games. Four schools, Rice, UTSA, Tulsa and LaTech are within the four to five hour drive window, this will help in recruiting not just for playing teams nearby but for a kicker.
One reason some recruits choose a college is how close the school is so family can see him play. They want to know what teams on the road they will be playing to see if family and friends can see him play on the road.
A recruit wants to play for a team in a good or well known conference. CUSA gives a recruit and the coaches more ammunition for the player to wear green. Here is kicker. North Texas will now be on the airwaves in Tulsa, San Antonio, Tulane, Houston and Ruston. All are nearby where recruits can hear the game on the radio. If family and friends can’t make a game they do have a shot at listening to the game on air. It will help North Texas in getting better recruits.
This is a big day for North Texas and for the fans.
am to the 1981 Final Four. After completing his four years playing time, Brown hired Jones as an assistant coach where he helped coach the team back to the Final Four in 1986. The enthusiasm could be felt in the morning light as North Texas Football began the 2012 season on Saturday morning. New Defensive Coordinator John Skladany’s new defensive scheme was not what was expected. Normally, the defense is way ahead of the offensive going into spring practice. However, the offense poured through the defense for two quick scores, not what the new DC wanted to see.
It answered the big question for most North Texas Fans is who would replace running back Lance Dunbar and back James Hamilton? While most fans felt Dunbar was the offense for the last several years, moving the ball early showed the offense they have more weapons this year at various positions then in the past. It also gave them into a glimpse the running back position will be in fine hands.
Derek Thompson was a little rusty but that is to be expected at this point, but ran the offense well.
As the offense was having their way with the defense, Skladany’s crew started to get things together. As the defense started to get comfortable with the new scheme, they started to stop the offensive onslaught, forced turnovers, errors, stops and turned the tide on the offense.All in all, it was a good first outing for North Texas. Next scrimmage the cream of the team will start to rise and players will start getting their names penciled in for their slot on the depth chart.
Next week practices will be critical for players on both sides of the ball. The Spring Game just a short couple of weeks away on Saturday April 21. It will not be long the incoming freshmen will be on campus and then open day at LSU.