Todd Samuels (’90) was looking over the TV listings in 2001 when he saw that his alma mater was playing in the New Orleans Bowl. He started keeping up with the Mean Green football and basketball teams — and, in 2011, he began hosting game watching mixers for alumni in Collin County and the surrounding area.
"It makes me feel closer to the university," says Samuels, who attends games on such a regular basis that he’s met other alumni, the players’ parents and former players.
Alumni in Denton (pictured right) sponsor mixers, tailgating and charity events and created a challenge coin for games that funds scholarship activities. And in Bangkok, Thailand, UNT recently organized its first international alumni network.
"It’s exciting to see alumni come together to build networks," says Derrick P. Morgan, executive director of the UNT Alumni Association. "When alumni join forces, great things happen."
Mark Miller (’70, ’80 M.B.A.), head of the Denton alumni network, was a student during the "Mean" Joe Greene era. When he moved back to Denton after a decade-long absence, he joined the alumni association and the Mean Green Club. Although he spends some time every day organizing alumni activities, he enjoys the work.
"Frankly, it’s selfish," Miller says. "I have a lot of fun doing it."