Future of North Texas

We here at UNT have a complex. An inferiority complex. We do a lot of talking about how we are just as good as other universities. We have to, otherwise, no one knows who we are, or what we do. It's easy for me to recognize because I am from San Antonio, where we do the same thing. People have horrible misconceptions about SA, its people, etc. It is the same situation here at UNT. 

So how do we get on par with UT, A&M, TTU, etc? Well, we pick an identity and stick with it. UNT, has at times been known as a Normal college, a North Texas Normal college,  a North Texas State Normal college, a North Texas State Teacher College, a North Texas State College, a North Texas State University and finally in '89 University of North Texas. 

These name changes have an effect. In fact, when I decided to come here, and was telling someone about it, they asked me why I wanted to be a teacher. I responded that I did not, in fact, want to be a teacher. They responded, "So why are you going to a teacher's college?" After a few minutes and some fact-spewing it was all straightened out. Though we hadn't been a teacher's college for some time, someone still thought we were. 

Some people also get us confused with TWU which is another headache altogether. I won't get into why that is now, though. 

The problem is that we have no brand identification. We have had almost as many logos as names. There was the flying worm. Then the slanted one. Then we made the horrible decision to add blue and a brownish color. This is compounded by the fact that we call ourselves a color. So adding more, well makes us look kind of stupid. 

"Go Mean Green .. and Navy Blue .... an also a brownish, tan-ish color ....! "

That doesn't roll off the tongue quite as well. 

So, because of that, I am glad that we decided to switch back to just green. Kelly Green, is the official term if i am correct. Cool. You see UT has had it right for a while. Everyone knows they are Burnt Orange. OU is that maroonish color, A&M is, well, a darker maroonish color. Tech, the Red Raiders, are Red. Those three, as far back as I know, have not tried to add colors. Leave it be. If we want to be in the same type league as those guys, we have got to do the same type of thing. 

There is also the athletic thing. We are not very good. People like good teams. I've already talked about this a little so I'll skip this part. 

The above things I have mentioned will all do wonders toward creating brand identity ... over time. But how to do it quick? Get rich. You, former student, you, current student, you, future student, get thee rich. Get rich and famous and tell people that it was all cuz of good 'ol UNT. 

Simple as that. The university is a business. Its widget is smart peoples. They say if you come to UNT you will come out a smart kind of guy, with all the knowledge necessary to dominate the world. Or something like that. Well, what better advertisement than a quality product? If people who leave UNT come out and do successful-type things, then other people will want to go there, and UNT will be known for producing successful-type people. 

So yeah, what are you waiting for? Get rich and start donating!