Neinas Report press conference ends

Just got the wireless up and going here, but some highlights:

_ Consultant Chuck Neinas presented his report on how UNT's athletic department can move forward in concert with the building of its new stadium.
_ Apparently, interim UNT president Lane Rawlins is going to make every effort to bring the academic and athletic sides to the same table to foster the necessary support to move the perception or mindset of athletics to a higher place at the university. Neinas said the academic and athletic sides need to co-brand at UNT.
_ Lots of comparisons to Boise State, Rugters, South Florida, etc., as to what UNT can aspire to, but it will take time and $.
_ Speaking of $, AD Rick Villarreal said the athletic staff at UNT, at some point, can't keep carrying the burden of marketing, promoting and soliciting donations and ticket sales without more support, resources and interest from within and outside the university. Reading between the lines, it sounds like the athletic department plans to ask the regents to increase the operating budget for athletics.
_ Neinas said UNT needs to cultivate the Denton area harder, while not abandoning Dallas, Fort Worth or areas beyond.
 _ He made some athletic budget comparisons to other schools in C-USA, Houston and Central Florida $30 million and UTEP $23 million, and said it's obvious UNT ($16 million) is deficient in that area. The student athletic fee will bring the budget to over $20 million, but $4 million a year is committed to debt service on the stadium. Sales, sponsorships and other revenue -- some of that I surmised still coming from guarantee football games -- as well as a budget increase are needed to make available more monies for better coaches' salaries, increased marketing, advertisting, etc. Right now, UNT athletics had a marketing budget of $100K, and RV said that won't cut it. More giving is needed, too.
 _ As for conference realignment, etc., as per advice of Neinas and RV's own conclusion, UNT needs to dominate the Sun Belt Conference on a traditional basis before worrying about courting another conference. Winning is the bottom line now that facilities are in place, and that success should begat more attention, donors, interest and a host of other snowball factors that could boost the athletic department financially or in profile, in case another conference experiences more realignment or expansion. In its current state, there's too much for UNT to do in the Sun Belt before any such move. Neinas said he estimates the WAC won't have a football conference inside 3 years, so UNT should pursue nothing more there.
_ RV challenged UNT students and alumni to remain loyal to their school despite the football program's struggles and not "disassociate" from the program. Athletic events are the biggest tie a school has to its alumni, and RV said the program will be turned around and that they shouldn't abandon their team in tough times.
_ At the same time without saying specifically, RV sounded as if a coaching change is a foregone conclusion after this season unless there's an immediate and dramatic turnaround. There was no mistaking an edict on his part.