Monday, Dec. 5, 2016

Dear UNT community,

 

You've probably heard by now that the Mean Green football team accepted an invitation to play at the Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl on Dec. 27 at the Cotton Bowl — our second bowl appearance in since we won the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl! We'll be playing Army, who we beat earlier this season 35-18, so our chance for another bowl championship is strong. I'm so proud of the team and Seth Littrell, who had a great season debut as our new head coach, and I can't wait for the big day.

The resurrection of our Mean Green football team has been amazing. After a 1-11 season a year ago, the Mean Green finished the regular season with a 5-7 record, which is the second-best turnaround in college football this year. This is only the second time that a first-year head coach in our history has led the team to a postseason bowl game.

We were invited to the bowl because our team's NCAA Academic Progress Rate ranks in the Top 10 nationally. I'm really proud of this fact because it shows that our student-athletes are committed to their studies and we're committed to helping them excel in the classroom.

Let's show the North Texas region that this is Mean Green Country by turning the Cotton Bowl Mean Green on Dec. 27! Be there. Be loud and proud! Tickets are $50-$75 each and are on sale now.

Purchasing tickets through the North Texas Ticket Office has added benefits rather than purchasing tickets from other vendors, namely the dollars support our student-athletes. You also get:

  • Free FedEx shipping for tickets purchased by Dec. 18. Tickets will be shipped on Dec. 20 unless you select will call as your delivery method.
  • Extensive will call ticket pickup. North Texas will set up will call at the Ticket Office at Apogee Stadium, at Mean Green men's and women's basketball games, in the lobby of the team hotel in the days leading up to the game, and at the Cotton Bowl on gameday.
  • Free admission to the pre-game tailgate.

The tide is turning in our athletics program as we focus on building a Tier One athletics program. We're seeing success across the board — from our football team's bowl game appearance to our women's soccer team's third-straight Conference USA regular-season championship.

This is a new chapter for the Mean Green athletics and our opportunities are endless. As members of the Mean Green Nation, you are essential to our success, and your pride and support is more important than ever. Join us for the Heart of Dallas Bowl and be a part the excitement!

UNT Proud

Neal Smatresk

President