Things to know:
UNT was, a long time ago, known as the:
Texas Normal College and Teacher Training Institute (1890-1894)
North Texas Normal College (1894-1901)
North Texas State Normal College (1901-1923)
North Texas State Teachers College (1923-1949)
North Texas State College (1949-1961)
North Texas State University (1961-1989)
It is located in Denton, Tx. You may or may not know that as the home of Texas Woman's University. Sometimes, folks will confuse the two schools and ask "Denton? That where that chick's college is?" My answer to that is Yes, but I didn't go to that one.
People also think I am a teacher (but never a normal) or, most frustratingly, North Texas State alum. For you, UTSA-er, that is like calling your school UT-San Antonio but adding State on the end. I feel you there, bro.
I hate it, especially since it has been 20+ years since that name applied. I do recognize that it is on the school -- specifically the athletic programs -- to make the current name more well known. The university is doing it's best to foster a more close-knit atmosphere after years of the dreaded "commuter school" label. You may remember the sting of that name as well. I don't. Like Jared at UTSA, I attended after the policies to change that culture were in place.
There is a similar renaissance in sports. Whereas Lynn Hickey is a goddess, Rick Villarreal has been a good AD. Having presided over athletic success at the school, and the construction of the new stadium, his most famous blunder is probably his most well known credential: the disaster that was the Todd Dodge experiment. If you are/were a Texas high school football fan, you probably remember those Southlake Carroll squads. They were awesome and had that fancy spread offense that Mizzou came to Southlake to study. Chase Daniel, one of the QBs, went on to break Tiger records in Columbia. Greg McElroy won a national title at 'Bama. So it seemed like Dodge would be a great hire in the mold of the Guz Malzahn-to-Arkansas milieu. He coached the Mean Green to the worst stretch in our mediocre history.
That said, now Dan McCarney (yes, the MYSA beat writer's uncle) is the coach. He led Iowa State to decency and coached up Florida's defensive line under Urban Meyer. Like Larry Coker, he knows how a good program runs and has done coached at the highest levels.
The basketball team has generated the most recognition in recent years. You will hear about Tony Mitchell a lot. He is likely going to the NBA.
Forums, sites and the like:
GoMeanGreen.com is the most active and face-palm-inducing of the forums. There aren't many. There aren't as many blowhards on that one. Instead you'll find a ton of old fogies who love to remind you of 1970s UNT football and P1s who love to derail any and everything. In short, it is the internet tinged green and mean.
Beat writer Bret Vito is where you'll find the objective-to-a-fault bloggings of the Denton Record Chronicles' intrepid reporter. He gets a bad rap because he doesn't bullshit.
Mean Green Nation This of course, is where I fight the good fight of non-forum-based, unpaid coverage of my alma mater. Be warned, o traveler.
Where to party:
Depending on your tastes, you may prefer the infinitely more fratty Fry Street near the campus for your gameday indulgences. If you prefer a more hipster vibe, go to the Square. If you feel so inclined, you can also make the pilgrimage to Dallas or Fort Worth, but why would you do that?
Denton is a music town -- and not as haughty or new money as Austin so you'll like it if you aren't lame.
Reasons to hate:
- For whatever reason, UNT-ers are miffed that an upstart program is in the same conference as the Mean Green. Something about "not paying dues."
- Dallas vs San Antonio
- Lots of Mavs fans among the UNT alumni.
- You hate me.
- You never really liked hipsters, anyway.
- You like Austin more.
- Dallas stole away AT&T.
