University of North Texas Athletics
Villarreal's Views-March 2011
6/20/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Wow! I know I've said it many times before, but now more than ever, this stadium outside my office is really coming together. We have a million things to get done before we open the gates to play Houston on Sept. 10, but my staff is working feverishly behind the scenes to make sure things go off without a hitch. My daily emotions range from excitement to anxiety because I know that we only have one chance to open a new football stadium and I want to make sure it is done right. This is one of the most exciting times in North Texas athletics history and I want to make sure it is memorable for all of our long-time passionate fans and supporters to which this is long overdue.
There is a very important deadline that is already upon us. The Mean Green Club staff recently mailed a Mean Green Stadium Seat Selection Process communication piece to all Mean Green fans. This piece is very informative and will help guide you throughout the seat selection process. Due to the special, one-time seat selection process for the new Mean Green Football Stadium, donors are encouraged to make their 2011-12 Mean Green Club donations by March 31, 2011. Mean Green Club Priority Points will be frozen on April 1, 2011 and will be used to determine the order for the seat selection process. All donors, whether Suite holder, Club Seat donors, Mean Green Club donors or Season Ticket holders (non Mean Green Club donors), receive credit for their annual fund and capital campaign contributions. Mean Green Club Priority Points reward consecutive years of membership in the Mean Green Club, Letterman's Association and basketball/football season ticket purchases, as well as financial support. Below are dates that Mean Green fans surely won't want to miss!
Important Dates for Seat Selection
- April 1, 2011- Mean Green Club Priority Points frozen and seat selection order determined by Mean Green Club Staff based on Mean Green Club Priority Point Ranking.
- April 18, 2011- Seat Selection appointment times sent via certified mail to Suite/Club Seat holders, Mean Green Club donors and season ticket holders who are not Mean Green Club donors.
- May 5, 2011- Suite Holder Selection begins
- May 9, 2011- Club Seat Holder Selection begins**
- May 23, 2011- Mean Green Club Donor Seat Selection begins**
- June 21, 2011- Season Ticket Holder/Non Mean Green Club Donor Selection begins**
1 Mean Green Spring Football game is scheduled for Saturday, April 16 at 1 p.m. It will be played at C.H. Collins Stadium in Denton. Coach McCarney, his coaching staff and the split squad look forward to this annual rite of spring. Additionally, all spring practices are open to the public and I encourage everyone to see firsthand why we're so excited about next year's team, the new stadium and the home field advantage it will provide when filled with our terrific fans.
Also, thanks to all of our fans that supported the men's and women's basketball teams and those fans that traveled to the Sun Belt Conference Tournament in Hot Springs. Please join us as we celebrate the Mean Green hoops seasons at the North Texas Basketball Banquet on Monday, April 11 at the Gateway Center. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the banquet starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person or a table of eight may be purchased for $240. Tickets may be purchased through the North Texas Athletics Ticket Office at (940) 565-2527. The Mean Green Nation will celebrate the careers of a combined eight seniors, and acknowledge with awards, the top players on both squads.
I would be remiss if I didn't mention our spring sports that are in full "swing". Our women's golf team just won its fourth tournament of the year, which is a school record. Prior to this year, our women's golf program had won a total of five tournaments in seven years. Along with our men's team which has consistently finished in the top five at its spring tournaments, they should be among the favorites to win the Sun Belt Conference championship in late April.
Our women's tennis team is finally returned to full health and is starting to hit its stride at the right time. With everyone playing healthy, expect them to make a good run at defending their Sun Belt Conference title.
The softball team will continue to find its groove in conference play over the next month. The ladies defeated Sun Belt power Louisiana-Lafayette in mid-March and will have two big conference home-stands in April that I would love to see all of our fans at.
The track and field teams turned in several outstanding performances recently, leading to Justin Flowers and Alysha Adams being named Sun Belt Conference Athletes of the Week. They will host a meet at Fouts Field on April 30th which is a good opportunity to watch some of our best athletes in action.
It is time to get out and enjoy the spring weather with a visit to Mean Green Village! Come watch one of our many events in April and check out the stadium construction progress. This is the time to get on board, the train has been scheduled for departure!
Go Mean Green,
Rick Villarreal
