Drc Asu Loss Still Stings For Nt

[OldTimer]

Football: ASU loss still stings for UNT

12:22 AM CST on Tuesday, November 20, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas made the trip home shortly after its loss to Arkansas State on Saturday and felt like it left something behind at Indian Stadium.

"Our hearts had to be FedEx-ed back to Denton," UNT head coach Todd Dodge said Monday during the Sun Belt Conference's weekly head coaches teleconference. "We left them out there on the field."

UNT seemingly was in line for its second win of the season before Brandon Thompkins worked his way free in the end zone and caught a 27-yard touchdown pass from Corey Leonard with two seconds left to give the Indians a 31-27 win.

The loss was one of several disappointing endings for the Mean Green (1-9) thus far in Dodge's first season at UNT. The Mean Green blew an 18-point lead in a loss to Navy on Saturday and was up 21 on ASU before the Indians came back for the win.

UNT was also up 17-3 in the first half of a loss to Florida Atlantic.

The Mean Green's players seemed stunned after their loss to ASU. A few players lingered outside the locker room for several minutes before walking in.

Despite UNT's struggles, Dodge remained confident Monday that his players are ready to bounce back heading into a game against Western Kentucky on Saturday. The game will be the Mean Green's last home contest this season.

Several players who helped contribute to the Mean Green's run of four straight Sun Belt Conference titles will bid UNT's fans farewell before the game, including former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas and defensive mainstays Jeremiah Chapman and Maurice Holman.

Dodge expects each to give everything they have to win their final home game.

"We have been through some disappointments, but I feel strongly that our kids are still with us," Dodge said. "We are coming back each week and are improving. We are not seeing it in the win column. We will have to try and go get one this week."

WKU has UNT's attention

Western Kentucky has caught the attention of UNT's coaches and players with its performance against Sun Belt conference teams this season.

The Hilltoppers have already beaten Middle Tennessee 20-17 and gave Troy a scare before the Trojans came up with a stop on fourth down late in the second half to preserve a 21-17 win.

"They are a very solid football team," Dodge said. "They have been very consistent and fared really well against teams from the Sun Belt. I am very impressed with them."

Troy drilled UNT 45-7 while MTSU beat the Mean Green by a comfortable 48-28 margin at Fouts Field.

WKU is in the process of moving up from the NCAA's Championship Subdivision (formerly I-AA) to join the Bowl Subdivision as a member of the Sun Belt. The Hilltoppers have risen to the occasion when they have had a chance to face Sun Belt teams.

UNT's coaches have pointed that out to their players this week.

"They have played with a lot of passion in their Sun Belt games," Dodge said. "Our kids are aware of that."

UNT's older players know from experience not to overlook a team that is in the process of moving up from the Championship Subdivision. Florida Atlantic upset the Mean Green at Fouts Field in the second game of the 2004 season before UNT bounced back to win the Sun Belt Conference title.

ULM the talk of the Sun Belt

Louisiana-Monroe head coach Charlie Weatherbie has been busy answering phone calls and text messages the last two days.

It seems everyone Weatherbie knows has taken the time to congratulate him in one way or another after the Warhawks beat Alabama on the road in one of the biggest upset wins in Sun Belt Conference history.

The Crimson Tide was ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll earlier this month before falling out.

"It's a great win, but it is short-lived in this profession," Weatherbie said. "You have to move on. … We have heard from a lot of people. You get a lot of phone calls and text messages. It says a lot about this university and this community."

The rest of the coaches in the Sun Belt are hoping the win helps elevate the conference.

"What Louisiana-Monroe did was great for the league," Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts said. "To have a team win on the road against one of the storied football programs in college football history will help the conference."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

[FirefightnRick]

WesternKen will be one of the best defenses we will see at Fouts this year.

Rick

[adman]

WesternKen will be one of the best defenses we will see at Fouts this year.

Rick

Scheme wise, athlete wise?

[greenminer]

WesternKen will be one of the best defenses we will see at Fouts this year.

Rick

I can't be sure until this season plays out, but I think it will be the last we'll see at Fouts all year, too

[FirefightnRick]

Scheme wise, athlete wise?

Both.

WKY is chalked full of veteran seniors, playing where they have played before, where they are used to playing before and where they should be playing, like before in previous seasons and are having success at it with good showings against 1-A opponents including a win at Middle Tennessee. Had their stats counted this year their defense would rank them 17th nationally only giving up 312 yards per game. They held Troy to 21 points on 363 total yards. Troy amassed over 550 last night against MTSU.

Offensively the same it true. Full of contributing seniors averaging 414 yards per game which would ranked them around 40th nationally. Their rushing game is their bread and butter averaging around 249 yards per game which would rank them 8th nationally. Against Troy they had one running back, Stephen Willis rush for 158 yards on just 7 carries, and another RB put up another 75 against them.

Scoring defense they would rank 27th.

Rush defense they would rank 41st giving up only 129 yards per gam.

Passing defense they would rank 13th giving up only 183 yards per game.

Their punter is averaging 42.48 yards per punt which would rank in the top 30.

Their kick off return coverage defense is giving up 18.02 yards per kick off and would be ranked 8th naitonally.

In turnover margin they would rank in the 40's. with .09

Though most won't realize it this will be one of our toughest teams we will have faced at Fouts this season.

Rick

Edited November 22, 2007 by FirefightnRick

[DallasGreen]

Both.

WKY is chalked full of veteran seniors, playing where they have played before, where they are used to playing before and where they should be playing, like before in previous seasons and are having success at it with good showings against 1-A opponents including a win at Middle Tennessee. Had their stats counted this year their defense would rank them 17th nationally only giving up 312 yards per game. They held Troy to 21 points on 363 total yards. Troy amassed over 550 last night against MTSU.

Offensively the same it true. Full of contributing seniors averaging 414 yards per game which would ranked them around 40th nationally. Their rushing game is their bread and butter averaging around 249 yards per game which would rank them 8th nationally. Against Troy they had one running back, Stephen Willis rush for 158 yards on just 7 carries, and another RB put up another 75 against them.

Scoring defense they would rank 27th.

Rush defense they would rank 41st giving up only 129 yards per gam.

Passing defense they would rank 13th giving up only 183 yards per game.

Their punter is averaging 42.48 yards per punt which would rank in the top 30.

Their kick off return coverage defense is giving up 18.02 yards per kick off and would be ranked 8th naitonally.

In turnover margin they would rank in the 40's. with .09

Though most won't realize it this will be one of our toughest teams we will have faced at Fouts this season.

Rick

Sort of like a few years back when a record crowd showed up for Baylor and only half that many for South Florida when Baylor was buying out its contract with South Florida because they were afraid to play them!!! We don't have the most informed college football fans in Denton, TX and that's for sure!!!