Game time and traditions

The tradition of firing the cannon, Boomer, began in 1970. The modern cannon is a scale replica of a Civil War model and is managed by the Talons. Boomer is fired at special campus events and at football games to signal touchdowns.

The Spirit Bell was brought to Denton from Michigan in 1891. It was used to signal class changes and evening curfew. The 2,000-pound bell served as a sound of victory for many years until a crack was found within. Though smaller, the bell's successor can be heard at any home game ringing with pride.

Friday Pride Day is one of the most recent campus traditions, which continues to spread throughout the North Texas community. With the help of a few spirited staff members, a campaign to turn the campus green was unveiled. This campaign encourages faculty, staff, students, and other in support of North Texas to sport their Mean Green gear every Friday. After a victory by a UNT athletic team, special green floodlights bathe the Administration Building clock tower to signal the victory to the campus and community.

Eagle Pride and The Mean Green

In 1922, a campus-wide student election chose the eagle over the dragon and lion as the college's mascot. In the 1960s, a costumed Scrappy began appearing at games and other events. The mascot was renamed Eppy in 1974 by students who thought the name "Scrappy" was too warlike. However, Scrappy was reborn in 1995, when students decided the first name was better. A large statue of the mascot is located at the center of campus and is a local landmark. In the spring of 2002, the school's chapter of the Albino Squirrel Preservation Society attempted to make the group's namesake the school's secondary mascot. The student body narrowly rejected the measure; if it had passed, it would have made North Texas the nation's second university to have a secondary mascot.

The eagle hand sign is the university sign of pride and unity. Curl the thumb, index, and middle fingers forward. The ring and pinkie fingers stay closed against the palm

The nickname "Mean Green" dates to the late 1960s, when spontaneous chants for the football defense from the stands inspired the athletic department to refer to the "Mean Green Defensive Unit" in a press release. One of the outstanding players at the time became known as "Mean" Joe Greene.

The Mean Green March is a parade including Green Brigade Marching Band, NT Dancers, the North Texas Cheerleaders, and the Mean Green Football Team. The March starts at Traditions Hall and proceeds through Mean Green Village culminating at the football locker room. The Mean Green March takes place two hours before kickoff as the team makes its final pregame preparations.

The Talon car is a green 1929 Ford Model A Tudor Sedan built in 1931. It was donated to UNT by an alumnus, Rex Cauble, in the early 1970's. The Model A, also known as the Green Machine, is driven by the Talons Cannon Crew at home football games, parades, and other special occasions.

Notable students:

• Stone Cold Steve Austin, wrestler
• Joe Don Baker, actor
• Joan Blondell, actress
• Pat Boone, singer
• Rogers Cadenhead, author
• Thomas Haden Church, actor
• Bob Dorough, musician
• Phyllis George, Miss America 1971, actress and broadcaster
• Toby Gowin, athlete
• "Mean" Joe Greene, athlete
• Don Henley, musician
• Buddy Hickerson, cartoonist
• Jim Hightower, politician
• Sarah Hickman, musician
• Ray Wylie Hubbard, musician
• Don January, golfer
• Norah Jones, musician
• Scott Kurtz, cartoonist
• Michael Lark, cartoonist
• T Lewis, cartoonist
• Meat Loaf, singer and actor
• R.K. Milholland, cartoonist
• Bill Moyers, journalist and commentator
• Dr. Phil McGraw, TV personality
• Larry McMurtry, author
• Roy Orbison, musician
• Ron Shanklin, athlete
• Ann Sheridan, actress Peter Weller, actor