Letter from the Editor

Just about everyone that follows their alma mater or has a rooting interest in a particular college, has heard or experienced stories about ‘football boosters.’ Many of the anecdotes reported seem to be either comical or cynical or sometimes, both. When, in fact, booster organizations help fulfill the financial needs of an athletic department, the incidents the media tends to focus on inevitably deal with an outspoken ‘friend of the university’ who will stop at nothing to ensure his school has a successful program. A recent boosters’ ultimatum, though, placed the University of North Texas in an awkward position: rename its new athletic facility after a just-fired coach or allow the donor’s $1 million gift to be directed to the music department. School officials say they will honor this odd request from Houston furniture magnate Jim McIngvale – known locally as ‘Mattress