Eagletalk.net has worked out an arrangement with Athlon's Football Magazine for a special cover specifically designed for North Texas. This special cover will not be available in any stores and right now can only be ordered through Eagletalk.net.

Here is a copy of the one Eagletalk.net was involved in at Southern Miss. The one for North Texas is not firmed yet but an example of what it could look like is forthcoming.

Athlon's has a national publication and regional publication. The Sun Belt is in the Southeastern magazine and at this point it looks like that is what the front cover will be on. It could be on the national publication but that would require fans to purchase two magazines. 1. The national to get the special cover and then 2. to get the preview of the Sun Belt.

In the history of special cover editions only nine schools have taken advantage of the offer. Because of distribution problems and other problems, the program was not active last year. At this point this year only North Texas is being considered because Eagletalk.net is willing to back up the orders and do the distributions.

There is nothing special inside Athlon's on North Texas. Everything inside the magazine will be the same as if anyone bought it off the shelf. What is different is the cover. If you go to the store to pick up an Athlon's Southeastern addition, there will be pictures of Auburn, Alabama etc on the front cover. What North Texas fans will have is the same magazine with North Texas on the front cover.

OK, here is the hump. Last year the store list pricing of Athlon's was $7.99 and this year it is slated to be $8.99 although they might keep it at $7.99. While we do not have an order process at this time, we are working out several options at this time. We are looking to sell the magazines are $9.25 each to cover cost of PayPal or .26 cents above the proposed list price. In order to make this go, we have to have 1,500 pre-sold orders. The minimum order is 1500, but we can order more in 500 increments.

Eagletalk.net will not figuring to make a profit in this project and probably will lose money. We have given the actual costs to Rick Villerreal except the shipping costs because we do not know what they will be. When added up it is a break even proposition and RV can verify it. By the time Eagletalk.net gets the magazines here and drive them over to Denton, we will lose money. We are looking for other alternatives to this too.

Right now, Eagletalk.net is guaranteeing the 1500 or more orders and taking on all risks with distribution. Basically, we are putting up slightly more than $10,000 or higher to get these things printed. PayPal will cost around $400.00. We are projecting shipping to be in the $1,000 range or higher. The cost to bring the magazines to Denton should be around $200 and a couple of days in a motel, meals etc. So you can figure the numbers. We are still working on details, like how to place orders and where they can be picked up.

North Texas fans complain about not getting national exposure, here is your start. If you have a business, instead of having a magazine with Texas, Texas A&M in your waiting rooms have one that has the North Texas cover on it. If you entertain, have the Athlons Magazine with a North Texas cover on your coffee table. Having the cover in the hands of local high school coaches would not hurt.

This can lead to other special things for North Texas with Athlons and lead to other national media outlets doing things. Eagletalk.net will keep putting information out about this project as things unfold.

If we can't get close to the order this thing will go away.