Harry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEAN GREEN ATHLETICS Strong APR Data Comes On Heels of Record Graduation Success Rate For Mean Green Tennis Again Earns Public Recognition For Perfect Score Of 1,000 DENTON — After posting the highest Graduation Success Rate (GSR) in program history earlier this year, Mean Green student-athletes continued their strong momentum in the classroom with the NCAA’s release of Academic Progress Rate data yesterday. The multiyear data covers a four-year period, ending with the 2016-17 school year. Seven Mean Green programs scored 980 or higher, with all 14 sports earning above a 960. Four teams ranked inside the top three of their respective sports among C-USA institutions – football, men’s golf, women’s tennis and swimming and diving. "I’m extremely proud of our coaches and student-athletes for embracing the challenge of building champions and preparing leaders," Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. "As proud as I am of a year full of athletic achievements, I’m even more proud of the continued success academically." The women’s tennis team continued to lead the way for Mean Green athletics with a perfect multiyear score of 1,000, which earned recognition from the NCAA for being in the top-10 percent nationally. It was the fifth-consecutive year that the women’s tennis team scored a 1,000 in its single-year score. The North Texas football program ranked third among Conference USA institutions in recording a multiyear score of 972, eight points ahead of the national average for Division I football programs (964). The men’s golf team had the largest improvement from last year, increasing their multiyear score by 16 points to 993. Other programs that saw increases this year are: men’s basketball, women’s cross country, women’s basketball and women’s golf. In addition to the success in APR, North Texas programs also recorded an average grade-point-average of 2.98 this spring, improving on last spring’s 2.96 average. It marks the highest departmental GPA during the last five years and eight programs finished this spring with team GPA’s of 3.0 or higher, including volleyball which posted a department-high 3.5. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally. The NCAA mandates a four-year aggregate score of 930 as acceptable for each sport. The APR is an annual scorecard of academic achievement calculated for all Division I sports teams nationally. The NCAA mandates a four-year aggregate score of 930 as acceptable for each sport. This year's report measures the 2013-14 through 2016-17 academic years.

Very proud of this.

Great news

May 23, 2018 NASHVILLE – Junior quarterback Mason Fineheadlines a group of eight North Texas players named to Athlon Sports’ preseason all Conference USA teams. Fine was selected as the first team quarterback following his breakout season a year ago. The Peggs, Oklahoma, native set single-season program records in passing yards (4,052), passing touchdowns (31), completions (324) and pass attempts (511) on his way to C-USA Offensive Player of the Year honors. He had 17 touchdowns of 20-yards or more, six of which went for 50-plus yards. Four Mean Green players were selected to the second team, with wide receiver Jalen Guyton, tight end Kelvin Smith and Elex Woodworth doing so offensively and defensive lineman Roderick Youngrepresenting the defense. Guyton, last season’s C-USA co-Newcomer of the Year, hauled in 49 catches for 775 yards and a team-high nine touchdowns in 13 appearances in 2017. He averaged 15.8 yards per catch during his first season in Denton. Smith was versatile for North Texas in 2017, factoring heavily in both the passing and running games, while also featuring on several special teams units. He caught 27 passes for 264 yards last season. Woodworth started all 14 games for North Texas and appeared at guard and tackle at different points throughout the season. Young was a key disruptor along the defensive line, finishing with 48 total stops, 6.5 tackles for loss with a pair of sacks and eight quarterback hurries. Three more North Texas players were selected to the third team, with running back Nic Smith and center Sosaia Mose representing the offense and linebacker E.J. Ejiya doing so defensively. Smith carried 138 times for 684 yards and added eight total touchdowns in a backup role last year. Mose appeared in 13 games, making 11 starts for the Mean Green and was instrumental in paving the way for the Mean Green’s potent rushing attack. Ejiya was the team’s leading tackler with 109 total tackles, 12.0 tackles for loss and a team-best 7.0 sacks with a forced fumble. Athlon also projected the Mean Green to repeat as C-USA Western division champions in 2018. North Texas kicks off the 2018 season against Metroplex rival SMU on Saturday, Sept. 1, on the new surface at Apogee Stadium. Season tickets for 2018 are on sale and fans can purchase tickets through the Mean Green athletics ticket office. For more information, visit MeanGreenSports.com or call the ticket office at 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366. Link: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/052318aaa.html

Head Coach is Dana Dimel who had success as an assistant at K-State. I recall he struggled mightily as a head coach at Houston. Still a respected guy. They have Chico as their OC and I noticed Mike Simmonds is their o-line coach. I have always felt like UTEP could be a decent program with the right coaching and recruiting focus. It may take them a couple of years but I could see them being a tougher opponent pretty quickly.

Excited to see him play!

Was just thinking the same.

Couple of thoughts I had after reading this article. 1). We seem very comparable to Arkansas State in terms of how publications describe us. High powered offense and susceptible defense. It would be nice to someday have both strong. 2). Willie Fritz turned out to be a good hire for Tulane. Guy has a winning G5 strategy.

Great write-up! Would love to see Chase in green.

Awesome news. Looks like we are finally incorporating the great state of Texas! Wonder if we will see similar on helmet or jersey?

MEAN GREEN FOOTBALL Apogee Turf Project Underway UNT Athletics Installing Cool Play Turf In Apogee Stadium DENTON – Apogee Stadium will receive a new, innovative playing surface for the 2018 football season, North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker announced Monday. “We are very excited to be updating Apogee Stadium with new turf,” Baker said. “This new surface, featuring cutting-edge technology, will be safer for our student-athletes. The dynamic design elements will also help elevate the UNT brand for both fans inside the stadium and watching worldwide. I can’t wait to see the finished product on September 1 as we open the season at home against SMU.” Phase One of the facility upgrade is expected to be completed by June 1, with the end zone portion of the project concluding in early August after the custom color for the end zones is manufactured. Apogee Stadium will be equipped with the FieldTurf Cool Play surface, which features an extruded composite-top dressing that keeps the surface 35 degrees cooler than traditional sand/rubber infill systems, according to independent laboratory results. The extruded composite top layer is durable, shock absorbing and takes on far less heat than other alternatives, helping provide a safer surface. Other FBS institutions utilizing this technology include Notre Dame, Georgia, Maryland, Nebraska, Arizona and Tulsa. Another new design element features recognition of the department’s mission statement, “Building Champions and Preparing Leaders,” which will appear on the visitor sideline. “We have established our mission is to Build Champions and Prepare Leaders,” Baker said. “Our supporters, coaches and athletes have embraced this mission and we want all visitors to Apogee to know what our focus is.” The iconic diving-eagle logo will remain at midfield, but will now be atop a shaded outline of Texas. “The diving eagle is our signature logo and is both regionally and nationally recognized with the University of North Texas,” Baker said. “The shaded Texas outline shows our commitment to recruit Texas as well as our commitment to defend and promote our home state.” For the first time, the end zones at Apogee will be Kelly green with North Texas and Mean Green prominently displayed on each end of the field. The UNT logo will be displayed twice, on the 25-yard lines opposite from the Conference USA logo, to provide national branding to the university. This is the first time UNT has been featured on the turf. The conference logo is green, white and gray, while the UNT logo is white. The average artificial field surface is replaced every six to eight years, and the 2017 season was the seventh for Apogee’s original turf. The athletic department’s commitment to player safety coupled with the condition of the existing turf has led North Texas athletics to make this change ahead of the 2018 season. North Texas kicks off the 2018 season against Metroplex rival SMU on Saturday, Sept. 1, on the new surface at Apogee Stadium. Season tickets for 2018 are on sale and fans can purchase tickets through the Mean Green athletics ticket office. For more information, visit MeanGreenSports.com or call the ticket office at 940-565-2527 or 800-868-2366.

I really enjoy this series.

Don't get me wrong, Hogs will be tough as hell on the road but man this may be as good a shot as we have had. They are transitioning from that pro-style offense and with some turnovers it could present an opportunity.

Fair enough but I see no reason why there should be any issue getting up for sack in ANY situation. They are the closest thing to a rival this program has ever had sans SMU. To quote @SilverEagle that is a “culture” or mindset issue that has to be addressed if it indeed exists.

I came across an article outlining Army's new stadium renovations which I have pasted a link below. The Wren/Littrell/McCasland/Jalie era has been fantastic to watch develop and bodes very well for the future of North Texas athletics. One of the few things I have never understood is why exactly we would move away from what has been a terrific series - both for our players and fans - with Army? I get that they are a hard team to prepare for etc, but I still think the positives outweigh the negatives. Their fans helped us create one of the better home atmospheres in Apogee last season. It is also one of the great destination games and now will become even more so after the upgrades. I would hope that we could reconsider this stance and keep what has been a very positive non-conference series for us in the future. http://footballscoop.com/news/army-big-plans-renovate-one-college-footballs-best-stadiums/

The only issue I have with Marshall is that they (like USM) always want to move to greener pastures and don't seem satisfied with C-USA which I totally get BTW... in terms of commitment and facilities etc they seem to be at the top of the conference. I know they have an IPF and seem to be building facilities necessary to compete and grow. The more I think about it, the entire conference needs to take the attitude of let's make this the best conference it can be.

Kid has some swagger and can play!

Agreed, but there are so many variables that could impact the depth and quality of the front 7. For instance, the name we hate to even bring up, Bryce English. If he is just serviceable, not even an impact type of guy but can be rotational, it would have a huge impact on what you can do with Young, Novil and the depth situation. If he turns out to be a dud you have limitations. If the secondary improves, ie like we thought they would be last season it makes the front 7 situation that much easier. I still see this defense as an athletic speed to the ball type of squad with our weakness, exposure being right up the gut. I think they will be able use blitzes and misdirection, stunts etc to offset some of the deficiencies. I am interested in LeBlanc, Novil, RJ Reynolds and Saafi in terms of what they can bring to the defense. It is interesting but on the roster we have just 2 DT's listed. Also not sure how McMillan will factor in but he could be a big plus.

Congratulations!!

Great pickup! Look forward to meeting you and your family at a tailgate. Also, welcome to the site! GMG

That’s encouraging!