MeanGreen61

Posted on the Sun Belt board. FIU approved for new football stadium BY PETE PELEGRIN ppelegrin@miamiherald.com Florida International took the penultimate step to securing approval for its football stadium on Friday morning when the FIU Board of Trustees gave approval for the Golden Panthers to build a new FIU Stadium. The next step occurs in January 2007 when FIU is expected to receive the go-ahead from the Florida State Board of Governors to break ground on the stadium. ''It was a historic day for FIU,'' said FIU athletic director Rick Mello. ``This stadium will really assist us in delivering the intangibles that football was intended to deliver. That is building affinity with students, alumni, fans and faculty and this stadium will give us the opportunity to attract the top recruits we need. With the new stadium I see there is no reason why this program shouldn't be a perennial top 25 program.'' Once the board of governors approves the stadium, FIU is expected to break ground on the stadium in March and the stadium is expected to be ready for the team's home opener against South Florida in 2008. The total cost of the stadium is expected to be $54 million. The Golden Panthers will play their home games in the Orange Bowl next season. Mello said the stadium, which will be horseshoe shaped with the east end zone being the open end, will initially seat 20,000 and eventually 45,000. The stadium will have 14 luxury suites and a club level with 1,400 club seats. There will also be a video scoreboard. The stadium will be built in four phases. Phase I will be the stadium itself. Phase II will include a welcome center on the north side of the stadium which will house all student services which are currently in the on-campus Perry Building. The welcome center will serve as the facade of the stadium, similar to Florida State's Doak Campbell Stadium. Also in Phase II will be the construction of a football building encompassing the Golden Panthers locker room, clubhouse and coaching staff's offices. Phase II is expected to be completed by 2009. The current football fieldhouse which serves as the locker room for both FIU and its opponents will remain as the visitor's locker room and officials dressing room. Phase III of the stadium will finish the open end of the stadium and Phase IV will deal with the construction of the upper decks of the stadium.

Big West - 1-2 Sun Belt - 4-1

Rice/SMU/Harvard = Private schools UNT = Public university So, the comparisons should be with other public universities

Off the MUTS Delphi board. WKU football nears vote on Division I-A Could join Sun Belt by '09 By Michael Grant mgrant@courier-journal.com The Courier-Journal Western Kentucky University is moving closer to a major upgrade of its football program. The university's board of regents is expected to vote Nov. 2 on elevating its Division I-AA program to I-A, the highest level of NCAA football. If the board votes in favor, the Hilltoppers could be playing I-A football as a member of the Sun Belt Conference as soon as 2009. Change will not come without some opposition, however. Though results of a faculty referendum on I-A have not been released, the chairwoman of the University Senate, Michelle Hollis, an assistant professor of mathematics, said the overwhelming majority of faculty members who have spoken out are against it. Western has been studying I-A football for more than a year. The school was approached last year by the Division 1-American Conference regarding joining its league. The Sun Belt, in which the Hilltoppers play 18 of their 20 Division I sports, also wants Western to be its ninth I-A football team. WKU's football program now is in the Gateway Conference, and the men's soccer team is in the Missouri Valley. Though school President Gary Ransdell has declined to go on the record supporting the change, he has called I-AA football a "financial disaster." He also believes it's important that the university act now if its goal is Division I-A. In a memo to faculty and staff earlier this week, Ransdell noted that WKU is rare like Villanova University in that they are schools that belong to I-A football conferences for other sports but play I-AA football. Villanova is in the Big East but plays football in the Atlantic 10. "My instincts are that when WKU and Villanova decide what each will do, then the NCAA will likely put a cap on the migration of universities from I-AA to I-A," the memo said. "This could make it impossible for institutions to make the switch in the future." Both in the memo and in interviews with The Courier-Journal, Ransdell and athletic director Wood Selig noted the benefits of a rise to Division I-A. Selig said Western football is losing almost $2 million a year. When the Hilltoppers won the 2002 I-AA national championship, the postseason expenses cost the program $100,000. In 1992 the school came close to dropping football. In I-A, Selig said the program would stand a greater chance of at least breaking even. Though Western had previously resisted Sun Belt entreaties to play football, Ransdell said, "A lot of things have changed since a year ago. The Sun Belt is a lot more viable conference now. Attendance in the conference has shown considerable improvement." For the first time this year, Bowl Championship Series revenues will be shared among all the 11 football-playing Division I-A conferences. Western would have access to the money only as a I-A member. Ransdell also argues the move would elevate the university's profile nationally. However, he also recognizes the added cost. Western's annual I-AA budget is $2.36 million, which comes from ticket sales, donations, sponsorships, student fees, money allocated from the university and money from playing I-A opponents. Western is projecting a budget of $5.33 million by the third full year of I-A football. The university would handle the increased cost through a tuition increase of $70 per student per semester, revenue from 800 club seats from the renovated L.T. Smith Stadium, the sale of media rights and signage, money from the BCS and licensed merchandise and richer payouts from playing at major-conference, I-A opponents. (WKU has discussed playing Indiana, South Florida and Virginia.) The tuition increase would start next fall, generating $2.18 million and will come regardless of whether or not Western goes I-A. More pluses and minuses It's money Ransdell admits could be used for other purposes. But I-A football is intriguing. "There is a lot of interest in this," Ransdell said. "There is a lot of energy building." Another reason for the move would be Title IX. Selig said Western is not in compliance with the federal mandate that schools must provide equal opportunities for men and women. In what Selig described as an unusual situation, the athletic department is spending 6 percent more proportionally in scholarships for women than men. One way to correct the imbalance would be the addition of 22 football scholarships that would bring the Hilltoppers to the I-A limit of 85. Western also will have a facility for I-A football. Smith Stadium is currently undergoing a $37 million renovation, which will increase capacity from 17,500 to 24,000 by March 2008. The NCAA requires I-A teams to average 15,000 per game every other season. Last year's attendance at Smith Stadium was 12,798. Selig is confident Western would be able to meet the requirement. "We have a better opportunity to sell I-A football in our community with season tickets and corporate partners," he said. "We'll be able to recruit a higher-caliber athlete both academically and athletically. There are not many athletes that grow up saying 'I want to play I-AA football.' " Hollis, the university senate chair, is also a former athlete, having been a sprinter for Howard University. She declined to speculate on the possible results of the referendum but said she is personally against making an immediate move to I-A. Hollis said that the move is being made purely for athletics and not for academics. "Our faculty for the most part feels that the athletic department will not be able to foot the bill for football," she said. "And eventually if it came down to a budgetary thing we would be the ones to lose out." Hollis would be in favor of taking more time to study I-A football but fears that I-A at Western is already a "done deal." "I don't understand why we have to do it right now," she said. "And Dr. Ransdell's reasoning for having to do it right now, I don't buy it." John Hardin, an associate professor of history, is taking a wait-and-see approach. He received his undergraduate degree from Bellarmine, which doesn't have a football program. He earned his doctorate from football-rich Michigan. "There are some of us in the faculty that believe funds could be spent in other ways," Hardin said. "And some say 'Let's do it, and see what happens. If we don't do it now, we won't be able to do it in the future.' " Student body president Robert Watkins, who has a vote on the board of regents, said he has not made up his mind. "There is a lot of information," he said. "This is a major move. This is something I'm trying to learn more about -- who it has worked for and who it hasn't." It's working elsewhere Sun Belt member Florida International is in its first year of I-A football. Athletic director Rick Mello said that thanks to $1.8 million in student fees, the football program is profitable. Troy, I-A since 1998, says it is almost breaking even annually. The schools have also been competitive on the field. Last week Florida International played tough at Maryland, losing 14-10. Earlier this month Troy lost at Florida State 24-17. Mello said the Sun Belt needs Western. "Western brings strong tradition," he said. "They're a leader. They're a strong member in all sports. And when you look at the I-A requirements, it's much easier to do it with a nine-team conference than an eight-team conference because you get four (league) home games every year. From a scheduling standpoint, it's a no-brainer." Michael Grant can be reached at (502) 582-4069.

With green pride, Gretchen M. Bataille President

Sun Belt battle begins Mean Green hosts Middle Tennessee in conference opener Michael Prescott Issue date: 9/30/06 Section: SPORTS The Mean Green will open up conference play as it hosts the Blue Raiders of Middle Tennessee State Saturday night at Fouts Field. The Mean Green is 5-3 in conference openers under head coach Darrell Dickey and 5-0 all-time against the Blue Raiders. If history is destined to repeat itself, the Mean Green will have to play nearly perfect football. "The games in the past don't matter, who they played last week doesn't matter," Dickey said. "We know that they are going to come in here with a great game plan and play extremely hard football." SUN BELT BATTLE BEGINS http://www.ntdaily.com/media/storage/paper...www.ntdaily.com

NT, MTSU Game Matchups Michael Prescott Issue date: 9/30/06 Section: SPORTS When the Mean Green run: Advantage Mean Green Although the offensive line has looked questionable at times I think last week was what it needed to jump start the running game. Junior running back Jamario Thomas had his first 100-yard rushing game of the season rushing for 120 yards on 18 carries while junior quarterback Woody Wilson was able to add 43 yards of his own. The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed its opponents to rush for at least 95 yards in three of its four games this season. With Thomas and the offensive line having enjoyed a 100-yard game once this season, I look for the Mean Green to take this one away. When the Mean Green pass: Advantage Mean Green The Middle Tennessee defense has allowed an average of 171.5 passing yards the season. Now the Mean Green hasn't thrown a whole lot this season but when it has, junior quarterback Woody Wilson has completed to pass 64 percent of the time. With Wilson at the helm, not only will the defense have to about the pass but also his ability to run which should loosen up the coverage downfield. This will allow the Mean Green receivers to get open and put the offense in place to win the game. When the Blue Raiders run: Advantage Mean Green I give the Mean Green the advantage in this category, but it isn't going to be easy. Middle Tennessee uses a two-back system alternating between Eugene Gross and DeMarco McNair. Neither of the two has yet to rush for over 100 yards in a game, but they have averaged a combined 98.3 rush yards per game. On the other hand, the Mean Green defense has given up an average of 138.5 rush yards a game. With the defense being a little beat up after facing four tough opponents, it is going to be a dogfight on the ground. However, with this being the first conference game and NT returning home after two road games I look for the Mean Green front line to control the big gains as NT goes on to win the game. When the Blue Raiders pass: Advantage Mean Green The Blue Raider passing game has struggled this season as starting quarterback Clint Marks has only completed 51 percent of his passes for a total of 441 yards. Marks has also only thrown for two touchdowns while throwing four interceptions. Last year against NT, Marks threw three interceptions in a five-turnover game that led to fourteen Mean Green points. This is a series that has been highlighted with 17 total turnovers in the five games. If the NT defense can win the turnover battle and limit the yards after the catch, the Mean Green will extend its lead to 6-0 over the Blue Raiders. Special Teams: Draw The special teams for the Mean Green have been consistent all year aside from the first half of last week's game against Akron. Freshman running back Evan Robertson has blocked and recovered two punts this season and had a 24-yard kick off return last week. Although head coach Darrell Dickey was not happy with the way the team played last week, it was able to put the offense in position to take the lead more than once in the second half. As for Middle Tennessee they have averaged four yards on punt returns and 21.5 yards on kick returns. The field goal unit is almost dead even for both teams. NT place kicker Dennis Hopovac has made two of three field goals attempts while Middle Tennessee kicker Colby Smith has faired just as well. When all is said and done, there is no real advantage for either team so go ahead and take your pick.

Neither team has performed well offensively, so expect a low scoring, close matchup. The Mean Green have dominated the Blue Raiders in the overall series, and should continue that trend this Saturday in Denton. Sports Network Predicted Outcome: North Texas 20, Middle Tennessee 14 SPORTS NETWORK GAME PREVIEW http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform...ive/pv13871.htm

MTSU looks to break Mean Green curse By Nate Rau, Sports Correspondent September 29, 2006 Middle Tennessee State already has the media blitz in full force for next week’s game against Louisville at LP Field. Radio spots, newspaper ads, television commercials, e-mail newsletters — they all urge mid-state football fans to watch MTSU’s historic game against the Cardinals. It will be the Blue Raiders’ first-ever nationally televised game. But for as important as the Oct. 6 match-up with UL may be, there’s another game that could potentially go down as historically more important. That would be this week’s foray to Denton, Texas, to face the University of North Texas, MTSU’s Sun Belt nemesis. MTSU (2-2, 1-0) has never beaten the Mean Green (0-5 since 2000), but UNT (1-3) is down this season. If ever there was a chance to make a push toward Sun Belt contention, it’s now for the Blue Raiders. “I understand the importance of this game, not because we have never beaten them but because it’s a big conference game,” MTSU coach Rick Stockstill said. “This team has never lost to North Texas. It’s a different team than last year or the one before, etc. “We are approaching this game as one game. If we win it we are 2-0 and if we lose it we are 1-1. We are not going to put any pressure on this team that we have to win or we have no chance to win the conference.” While a loss would not eliminate the Blue Raiders from SBC contention, a win seems more important given the game’s spot in MTSU’s schedule. Last week the team was throttled for a 59-0 loss at Oklahoma. Next week, MTSU will again be enormous underdogs against No. 8-ranked Louisville. A win against UNT will help salvage the most difficult portion of the team’s schedule. “It’s my fourth year in the program and having not beaten North Texas, it gives you added incentive,” MTSU tight end Clinton Corder said. “Not only is it a big conference game but it’s a rival game… This is a different team but the fact remains that no one in our locker room has beaten [uNT].” Pay-out games against teams like Oklahoma and Louisville increase MTSU’s visibility and put money in the athletic department’s checkbook. But, Stockstill said the program’s top goal is to win the league and North Texas has always been the team which has stood in MTSU’s way. “That's ultimately what you play for, to win a championship,” Stockstill said. “We have won one game and we have a big one this week.”

Football: Dickey entering key point in tenure UNT looking to get back on track in Sun Belt Conference play 11:09 PM CDT on Thursday, September 28, 2006 By Brett Vito / Staff Writer North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey was riding a wave of momentum with four straight Sun Belt Conference titles and a 25-game winning streak in league play before the 2005 season. Those days seem like a distant memory a little more than a year later as the Mean Green prepares for their Sun Belt opener Saturday against Middle Tennessee -- a game that appears be a key point in Dickey’s nine-year tenure with the Mean Green. For the first time in four years, Dickey will enter the conference season looking to get UNT back on track instead of defending its status as the league’s top team. The Mean Green have lost 12 of their last 14 games dating to last season, when their dominance of the Sun Belt ended. “We are still working under very difficult circumstances, trying to survive, get into the league and be in contention at the end of the season,” Dickey said. “Four out of the last five years we have been, and we were close last year.” UNT enters Sun Belt play at 1-3 after navigating the majority of a non-conference schedule that Dickey named as one of the main obstacles the Mean Green have to overcome to return to their glory days of a few years ago. UNT faced defending national champion Texas and a pair of league champions in Tulsa (Conference USA) Akron (Mid-American Conference) on the road. UNT lost each of those games, but posted just its fourth win in its 32-game series with SMU. UNT’s win over the Mustangs could prove to be a crown jewel in a successful year, if the Mean Green can make a run in an improved Sun Belt. UNT was picked to finish fourth in the eight-team conference in the preseason coaches’ poll, despite returning 17 starters. “The teams have gotten better,” UNT junior linebacker Brandon Monroe said. “It has gotten tougher to win conference games.” UNT wasn’t far off last year, despite its 2-9 record. The Mean Green dropped five conference games by a touchdown or less last year while playing with what Dickey called one of his youngest and most inexperienced teams in his tenure. The Mean Green appear to be in better shape this season, even though they have struggled at times. Junior college transfer Woody Wilson has taken over at quarterback and solidified a position that was a weakness a year ago. Former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas showed signs of returning to his old form by rushing for 120 yards against Akron while UNT’s defense held SMU to six points in just its second game under new coordinator Fred Bleil. Even with that improvement, reaching the level of success it enjoyed in the Sun Belt previously could be a challenge for UNT. “Anybody can beat anybody now,” Arkansas State head coach Steve Roberts said. “All the games are very competitive because each team has improved.” The league’s improvement will make it tough for UNT to bounce back from a down season, but Dickey maintains he doesn’t feel any external pressure to turn the program around. “I don’t see this year as being any more important than any other year,” Dickey said. “The pressure I feel comes from within myself because I want to do the best I can for the kids in this program.”

The MUTS have taken this game very personal since their first "sexy team" was slobberknocked in 2001.

Mahan finds groove with Mean Green Linebacker has 10 tackles in each of last two games 10:53 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 27, 2006 By Brett Vito/Staff Writer Colt Mahan seemed like a forgotten man at North Texas just a few weeks ago. The former Keller linebacker was buried on UNT’s depth chart, had his biography cut from the team’s media guide and was drifting toward becoming labeled a big-time recruit who didn’t pan out. Thanks to a series of injuries to players ahead of him, Mahan has started to change the course of his career heading into the Mean Green’s Sun Belt Conference opener against Middle Tennessee on Saturday at Fouts Field. Mahan has started in each of the last two weeks because of injuries to Phillip Graves, Brandon Monroe and Derek Mendoza and responded by leading UNT with 10 tackles in each game. Mahan had just three tackles in UNT’s first two games of the year and eight in his career before his breakout outings. “In our system if you stay around and work hard with the schedule we play, guys are going to get beat up and hurt and some opportunities are going to present themselves,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “Some people get 20 or 30 opportunities and take advantage of none of them. Some people, all they need is one shot.” Mahan took advantage of his chance and was named the Mean Green’s Defensive Player of the Game the last two weeks. That type of production is what UNT was hoping Mahan could provide after he signed with the Mean Green in the spring of 2004. The Dallas Morning News rated Mahan No. 70 on its list of the top 100 college football prospects in the area and he had long-term ties with the Mean Green. Mahan’s grandfather, Quincy Armstrong, was named All-Texas College and a Williamson All-American during his career as a linebacker and center at UNT from 1950-51. He was inducted into UNT’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. Mahan struggled to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps while competing for playing time with a host of talented players who signed with the Mean Green about the same time. Graves is a candidate for the Butkus Award that goes to the nation’s top linebacker, while Maurice Holman, Shawn Early, Monroe and Mendoza have all been starters during their careers. Graves and Holman were both members of the All-Sun Belt Conference team last season. “It was frustrating that I was not getting a chance to play, but I was behind some great players,” Mahan said. “It’s tough when you have so many great players at one position, but I was not going to give up. … I knew that as long as I kept working at some point I would get a shot. If I had quit, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything with it.” UNT’s switch to a 3-4 defense from a 4-3 this season helped Mahan find a role with the Mean Green. Mahan started out as an outside linebacker, but was moved inside this season to the same position he played at Keller. Mahan is small for an inside linebacker at 6-1, 201, but has made up for a lack of bulk with his speed. “Colt has pretty good athletic ability,” Dickey said. “He’s not the biggest guy, but he is pretty fast and more than anything he wants to get to the ball and make a play. That is as important as designing great defensive schemes.” Mahan showed that he could make the most of his ability when he started for the first time in his career against Tulsa. “I was nervous for my first start because I knew that if I didn’t make the most of it, that might be my last shot,” Mahan said. “If I did well, I might get a chance to play more.” Mahan’s 10-tackle outing earned him that opportunity. He started last week against Akron and will play a more prominent role on special teams against MTSU. UNT is hoping Mahan can help the Mean Green improve a kickoff coverage unit that ranks last in the Sun Belt. “I played with Colt in the Oil Bowl, so I knew he was a player,” Monroe said of the summer all-star game. “It was a matter of him getting a chance.” Mahan isn’t sure what his future will hold when the rest of UNT’s players return from injury, but is pleased with how he performed when he had his first chance to play a prominent role with the Mean Green. “I hope that I am going to keep on playing,” Mahan said. “I did all I can do. Hopefully I did enough to get on the field more than I have in the past. We will still have to share time because we have so many good players.”

Look it up (remember Troy was not a member in '03) http://www.jhowell.net/cf/scores/NorthTexas.htm

You might be surprised, but there is a lot communication and info that doesn't get posted.

Key Sun Belt games begin Dan McDonald dmcdonald@theadvertiser.com The road to the New Orleans Bowl begins this weekend with the first meaningful Saturday in Sun Belt Conference football, and a lot of questioning eyes will be on Miami. Florida International hosts Arkansas State in one of three league games, and FIU is already in a must-win situation after a 7-6 road loss at Middle Tennessee in the odd league-game season opener. The Golden Panthers also are trying to shake off the moniker of the league's best team without a victory. FIU's four losses have come by a combined 11 points, and the Panthers have been in a position to win every game even though three of the four have been on the road. They had Maryland on the ropes until the final play. "Our kids are disappointed in the outcome of all those games, knowing they had the opportunity to win," said FIU coach Don Strock. "We always talk about giving yourself a chance to win in the fourth quarter and we've done that, but we haven't had someone step up and make the plays to win a football game. That's the next hurdle." FIU's non-conference foes - South Florida, Bowling Green and Maryland - are a combined 8-4. "We thought we could compete against everyone we played," Strock said. "I really think that now our kids understand we have to take care of the little things and the big things take care of themselves." At least now, the Panthers don't have to exist on the road. For the rest of the season, FIU only leaves the Miami metro area one time, that on Oct. 28 when they face Alabama. In addition to the regular home games, the Oct. 14 Miami game is at the Orange Bowl and the Nov. 25 Florida Atlantic game is at Dolphin Stadium. "We've played six of our last eight on the road," Strock said. "Now we have an opportunity to play at home, but that means we have to take care of our business there first." This Week's Rankings Nobody deserves to be ranked high this week. The teams ranked first through third in last week's listing lost by a combined 170-9 score last weekend. In fact, the team playing the best football in the Sun Belt right now may be: 1. Fla. International (0-4, hosts Arkansas State Saturday, 5 p.m.) - The Golden Panthers have been close all year, including their loss at Maryland last weekend. The Terrapins were lucky, since a questionable face-mask call set up one score and a replay overrule provided field position for the other, and Maryland needed a last-play interception in the end zone to hang on. LAST WEEK: 6th. 2. North Texas (1-3, hosts Middle Tennessee Saturday, 6 p.m.) - The Mean Green finally started showing signs of getting their running game untracked in a 33-13 loss at Akron, with Jamario Thomas going for over 100 yards. UNT fell behind 20-0 after one quarter and never recovered, but ended up with more total offense than their hosts. LAST WEEK: 4th. 3. Louisiana (1-2, hosts Eastern Michigan Saturday, 4 p.m.) - The Cajuns finally got to play victor instead of victim in a much-needed win over an outclassed North Carolina A&T squad. They still haven't played a game against a team on their level, but at least they showed they still know how to score and stop other people from scoring. The first true measuring stick comes this week. LAST WEEK: 5th. 4. Troy (1-3, at Alabama-Birmingham Saturday, 6 p.m.) - Nobody really knows what happened last week, even Troy head coach Larry Blakeney. A team that had solid efforts at Florida State and Georgia Tech imploded by a 56-0 mark at Nebraska. The Cornhuskers didn't beat Nicholls State that bad. The Trojans can only hope it was biorhythms or something. LAST WEEK: 1st. 5. Middle Tennessee (2-2, at North Texas Saturday, 6 p.m.) - The Blue Raiders had never lost a game by as many as 59 points until last Saturday. But after Oklahoma got jobbed by the Pac-10 officiating crew one week earlier, it was the wrong week to play the Sooners. Middle will still go into the weekend leading the Sun Belt (1-0), but it'll be an upset if they're still unbeaten after Saturday. LAST WEEK: 2nd. 6. Arkansas State (1-2, at Fla. International Saturday, 5 p.m.) - First the Indians halfway destruct against Oklahoma State, and then they get embarrassed 55-9 by an SMU team that managed one touchdown against North Texas and Texas Tech combined. ASU may have peaked too early with that win over Army. LAST WEEK: 3rd. 7. UL Monroe (1-2, hosts Fla. Atlantic Saturday, 6 p.m.) - The Warhawks may have also been an early-peaker with the close game at Kansas. Fortunately for ULM, an open date provided a chance to work things out. The 'Hawks are still very much a work in progress. LAST WEEK: 7th. 8. Fla. Atlantic (0-4) at UL Monroe Saturday, 6 p.m.) - The death march is over and none too soon. The combined scores against Clemson, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and South Carolina totaled 192-20. At least from here on in, the competition is in the Sun Belt. LAST WEEK: 8th. This Weekend's Picks Eastern Michigan at Louisiana (line UL -7) - EMU's better than its 0-4 record, but the Eagles may well be on a third quarterback by Saturday. The Cajuns looked good against subpar competition last week, so this game may be the first true indicator. UL 21-17 Arkansas State at Fla. International (line FIU -7 1/2) - How many thought FIU would be more than a touchdown favorite over last year's New Orleans Bowl representative? Funny thing is, that line's not enough. FIU 34-21. Fla. Atlantic at UL Monroe (line ULM -13 1/2) - FAU's been outclassed four straight weeks. The question is how will they fare when the field is more level. The guess is they're due for a decent week, but not enough to win. ULM 31-21. Middle Tennessee at North Texas (line UNT -2 1/2) - Middle was overwhelmed by a balanced OU attack, and that's what North Texas is trying to get going. The Mean Green's better than its recent scores. UNT 27-17. Troy at UAB (line UAB -9) - It's not a conference game, but it's a nice little scrap between two nearby rivals that don't have a lot of love lost for each other. In one like that, take the underdog to cover. UAB 30-27. LAST WEEK: 7-0 straight up, 4-2 against the spread. SEASON: 26-2 straight up, 15-9 against the spread.

He is also a big financial donor.

UNT Notebook http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...7.1d9c695f.html Football Dickey sees Jamario of old against Akron North Texas head coach Darrell Dickey could see a difference in running back Jamario Thomas last week in practice. The change is one Dickey believes carried over to the junior’s best game since winning the national rushing title as a freshman. Thomas finished with 120 yards and a touchdown in a 33-13 loss to Akron, which came into the game ranked No. 42 nationally in total defense. The Zips held Penn State and North Carolina State under 100 yards rushing, but struggled to keep Thomas under wraps. “No one said anything to him last week, but he had the best week of practice he had in two years,” Dickey said. “During our inside drill he would take the handoff and run 40 yards every time. … It was pointed out to the rest of our players that he had his best week of practice in two years and he followed it up with his best game.” Thomas came into the game with 161 yards on the season and nearly doubled that total in the Mean Green’s final game before the beginning of Sun Belt Conference play. UNT opens the conference season with a home game against Middle Tennessee on Saturday. “It’s not the 100 yards, even though that is a milestone, he just looked like his old self,” Dickey said. “He has been trying every game, but the first two games it seems like he was trying a little too hard. The plays we run need time to develop. He saw the creases much better and accelerated through them.” Thomas broke free for a 25-yard run and scored on another 22-yard run. “On his 22-yard touchdown run, Jamario made two people miss and broke two tackles,” Dickey said. “That’s a confidence thing. Confidence comes from knowing what you are doing and doing it a time or two. Jamario has always been a confident young man, but making some runs Saturday reminded him that he is capable.” UNT will look to Thomas to build on his performance against Akron on Saturday against MTSU and get the Mean Green off to a quick start in Sun Belt play. Quinn named to Biletnikoff watch list Senior Johnny Quinn has been named to the watch list for the Biletnikoff Award that goes to the top wide receiver in the country each season. Quinn has caught at least one pass in UNT’s last 40 games and is within reach of breaking every Mean Green receiving record. The former McKinney standout has led UNT in receiving in each of the last three seasons and is just one of 50 players who have been named to the watch list. Quinn enters Saturday’s Sun Belt Conference opener against MTSU leading the team with 17 catches for 207 yards, despite playing with a cast on a broken left hand for the first two games of the season. Graves may be back for MTSU Senior linebacker Phillip Graves could return from a knee injury he suffered during preseason practice in time for the Mean Green’s game against MTSU on Saturday. Graves worked out on Monday with a trainer and is still trying to work his way back into the Mean Green’s plans. Graves finished second among UNT players with 93 tackles last season and is among the Mean Green’s best special teams players. “Phillips has been very good on kickoff coverage and has good open-field tackling ability, which is necessary on both kickoff and punt coverage,” Dickey said. “I think he will be able to dress out and run, but I am concerned about him being able to change direction. … We will have to consider if we should take a chance or wait until he is completely healthy.” Dickey: Kickoff teams continue to be concern UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said Tuesday that improving both on kickoffs and kickoff coverage remain among his chief concerns heading into a game against MTSU on Saturday. UNT allowed kickoff returns of 78 and 79 yards while averaging just 17.8 yards per return in a loss to Akron last week. “Our kickoff return and kickoff coverage are horrendous,” Dickey said. “We have to take a hard look at what we are doing and who we are doing it with. We feel like with how much time we spend on special teams that regardless of who we play we need to win the overall special teams battle.” Dickey said the return of linebacker Phillip Graves from a knee injury could help the Mean Green improve. Backup running back Evan Robertson could also take on a more prominent role on special teams returning kicks after taking two kickoffs back 38 yards and returning a punt 10 yards. Dickey said UNT’s staff has been trying to impress upon the Mean Green’s younger players how important special teams can be to the team’s success.

Why do you assume there is any 'dirt' on Bobby Ray ?

You must be a MUTS fan if.... you stayed up all night studying for a urine test.

You must be a MUTS fan if..... You share a tree with your dog.

OK Playmaker, other than Temple, give us the list of teams that have been booted from conferences playing 1A football.

I'm for re-doing Fouts & these people are just the ones to do a 'bang-up' job! You can see they're experienced

Quinn Named To Biletnikoff Award Watch List Courtesy: University of North Texas Release: 09/26/2006 Courtesy: Rick Yeatts DENTON (9/26/06) – Mean Green senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn can add another honor to his list of career accomplishments as he has been named to the Biletnikoff Award watch list for the second consecutive season. Quinn is arguably the most prolific receiver in North Texas history and either owns or is on the verge of breaking every school receiving record. He has recorded at least one reception in every game (40) that he has ever suited up for the Mean Green, a mark that currently stands as the second-longest streak in the nation. He has led North Texas in receptions each of the last three years and is setting the pace in that category again in 2006.Through four games Quinn has 17 receptions for 201 yards and a touchdown. Despite playing the first two games of the season with a broken hand he still was able to pull in nine catches for 132 yards in the victory over SMU in week two. The Biletnikoff Award is presented annually by the Tallahassee Quarterback Club to the nation’s top wide receiver. Quinn is currently on the watch list which is a list of the top-50 receivers in the country and will be narrowed down to a list of three finalists at the end of the season. Recent winners include Braylon Edwards, Larry Fitzgerald and Charles Rogers.

You run your gals thru a car was before the game

The "Sexy MUTS" poster boy