Heather Detrixhe
Managing Editor
Beginning next fall, the University of Houston will have a new adversary, the University of North Texas. The UH Cougars signed a four year football contract with the "Mean Green" UNT Eagles.
Under the agreement, UH will travel to Dallas to play one game per season against UNT. In return, the Eagles will come to play two home games at UH's Robinson Stadium.
UH Athletics Director Chet Gladchuk said the agreement will benefit UH both competitively and financially.
"North Texas (in Dallas) is close enough to hopefully bring in lots of fans, which brings in revenue."
UH will pay between $100,000 and $125,000 to UNT for each home game. Each game at Robinson Stadium, however, has the ability to generate $350,000 to $400,000 in ticket sales and concessions, Gladchuk explained.
"It's a two-for-one deal. We get two games to their one, and we only have to give them a small portion of our profits (from home games)," he said.
For each away game in Dallas, UH will also receive $100,000 from UNT.
To balance its schedule, Gladchuk said UH needs at least five home games per season. The contract with UNT was made to fill in two empty slots left when UH withdrew from an informal agreement to play the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Nebraska shared the 1997 national championship with the Michigan Wolverines.
The unofficial schedule with Nebraska was created by the previous administration and had timing conflicts, Gladchuk said. A game was scheduled on a date that was already contracted to another opponent.
"This might be a blessing in disguise," Gladchuk said. "The schedule now is difficult enough with opponents like Minnesota, California, Tennessee and UCLA.
"Not that North Texas will be an easy win," he added.
Gladchuk also expressed excitement about the decision made earlier this month to hold UH home games at Robinson Stadium instead of at the Astrodome.
"I think coming on campus will bring continuity and spirit to the campus. It will also greatly improve attendance (at the games). It will bring back fans, alumni and their friends," he said.
As for his future plans for the UH athletic department, Gladchuk did not divulge any particulars, but he said, "There's always a few surprises up my sleeve. You'll just have to wait and see."