Dec. 7, 2017

Dear UNT community,

Our football team has lived up to the Mean Green Standard this season, playing with heart, working together through adversity and executing creative plays that gained national attention. Our student-athletes have been selfless, tough and disciplined, and now are headed to the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 15 to play against the Utah State Aggies.

The bowl game will be a fun finish to an exciting football season that included an upset defeat of Arkansas, the unveiling of a "Mean" Joe Greene statue at Apogee Stadium, the record-setting Apogee crowds, and quarterback Mason Fine becoming UNT's all-time leading passer for career yards, passer efficiency, career completions and career pass attempts, and the most 300-yard passing games.

Join the Mean Green family in Albuquerque to support the team as they hope to knock off a top 25 team for the first time since 1974. A variety of fun events like the New Mexico Bowl Pep Rally, Mean Green Night Out, Fan Fest and Pre-Game Tailgate are planned for those traveling to the game.

New Mexico Bowl Tickets: UNT will be seated on the east side of Dreamstyle Stadium and reserved seating is on sale for $40. Tickets can be purchased from the North Texas Ticket Office online, by phone at 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366, or in person at the North Texas Ticket Office at Apogee Stadium Gate 2. All ticket purchases made through the North Texas Ticket Office, unlike monies paid to other vendors, remain at UNT and support our student-athletes. Student tickets are $20 and must be claimed by visiting the ticket office at Apogee Stadium or by calling 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366.

Alumni Travel Experience: The UNT Alumni Association is offering a travel package for all UNT fans that includes roundtrip charter bus travel from Denton, a one-night stay at the official team hotel and transportation to and from the stadium. Game tickets must be purchased separately. Pricing is available for single, double and quad rooms. All guests must be 21 or older. Buses will depart Denton at 5 a.m. Dec. 14 and return following the game.

Albuquerque Graduation Recognition Event: For students set to graduate on Dec. 14 or 15, UNT will host a graduation celebration and reception in Albuquerque at the Old Town Plaza on Friday, Dec. 14 after the 4 p.m. pep rally. More details will be distributed once arrangements are finalized. Students interested in participating and not traveling on the student charter bus should email christa.coffey@unt.edu by 11:59 p.m. Dec. 11.

Game Watch Parties: If you can't make it to Albuquerque, you still can watch the game with other Mean Green fans! The game will be broadcast on ESPN and will be shown at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in Denton. Game sound will be on at East Side in Denton, and Dot's Hop House & Courtyard in Dallas, two venues owned by UNT alumnus John Williams.

The football team is only one of our high-achieving athletic teams – soccer just won its 14th conference championship, cross country runner Florian Lussey clocked the fastest-ever time recorded by a UNT athlete at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, men's basketball started the season 8-0 and volleyball advanced deep into the postseason playing in the National Invitational Volleyball Championship. These student-athletes deserve our support throughout the year.

Under head football coach Seth Littrell, the Mean Green have made incredible progress and advanced to the postseason the past three years. With a defeat of No. 23 ranked Utah State, UNT could finish the season with 10 wins — something that only has happened twice in Mean Green Sports history. I hope you'll join us in New Mexico for an exciting matchup.

Go Mean Green!

UNT Proud,
Neal Smatresk
President
@UNTPrez