University of North Texas Athletics
Villarreal's Views - October 2010
11/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | General
Posted October 12, 2010
It's hard to believe that we are nearly at the halfway mark of the fall semester, but if early results are any indicator of what the athletic year holds, it's going to be a great ride. Five teams are in regular season action and the Mean Green tops the heap in most of them.
Women's golf won its first two tournaments for the first time in school history. Junior Kelsey Kipp, just named Sun Belt Golfer of the Month, led the way as medalist in the Mean Green Invitational and has helped move her team to No. 37 ranking nationally.
Not to be outdone, the men's golf team opened the season wining the UTA Water Chase Invitational, then followed that up with a second-place finish in Oregon against a field that included five teams in the top 50. Josh Johnson and Carlos Ortiz were the individual champions in those respective events and their hot start has North Texas ranked No. 20 nationally.
Perched in third place in the SBC, the soccer team is 4-2 in conference and 9-5-1 overall. All of their losses have been by one goal and three have gone to overtime. Following suit, the Western Division leading women's volleyball team is 4-2 and features two-time Sun Belt player of the week, Sarah Willey.
Cross country swept the Mean Green Invitational and women's tennis, in their non-championship segment, dominated the Mean Green invitational and beat teams from Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and others in the Sooner Invitational which included seven teams from last year's Top 75.
Off the fields and courts, our student-athletes are working just as hard. Soon to be released NCAA Graduation rates will be at 77 percent and Federal Graduation Rates at 70 percent . In addition, the Academic Progress Rate (APR) which measures student retention and eligibility, projects to be above 935 for all teams with two teams possibly at the perfect 1000 mark. Lastly, 98 percent of student-athletes that exhaust eligibility graduate. It shows that your Mean Green Club donations are being put to great use.
Parallel to the rise of our teams on the field, the new stadium has finally reached its peak with the final high beam being set last week. The progress that has been made by Manhattan Construction is phenomenal and right on schedule. I know many of you have seen the stadium on the web cam or from the highway and while it is impressive, those views don't really do it justice. Standing on the back balcony, you experience the true massiveness and majesty that is our future football home. I feel I have great vision, but this concrete palace is more than I even expected as we went through the planning and development phases.
Most of you know that it is not unusual for me to be emotional and as I glance, well maybe stare, out my window more than once a tear has welled up in my eye. It comes from the pride I feel for our athletes, our students, our fans and alums and our University. I hope that each of you will experience that same feeling if you get to visit the site. I also believe it will inspire you to consider a suite or club level seats which are selling on a daily basis. Having climbed (yes climbed!) to the club and suite level I can tell you that the experience in those areas is going to be outstanding with great sight lines and outstanding amenities. Contact our development staff soon so you're not left out.
In closing, I want to thank each of you for your continued support of the football program during a very tough time. The attendance, especially by the students, has been good and our young men need your support especially at a time like this.
As Bart Starr once said, "Anyone can support a team that is winning - it takes no courage. But to stand behind a team to defend a team when it is down and really needs you, that takes a lot of courage." Let's all be courageous!
GO MEAN GREEN!
Rick V
