Coach Andy Mac

ARLINGTON — The North Texas men's basketball team made a second half come back to beat UT Arlington on the road Tuesday night, 60-57, at the College Park Center. The Mean Green were led by senior Tylor Perry who scored a game-high 22 points, 17 of which came in the second half. "We were not at our best coming into the game," said head coach Grant McCasland. "We had guys banged up, not 100 percent. But I told the guys that this is what we have to learn. We have to learn how to win when we're not at our best. Championship teams win when there is adversity on the road. Obviously Tylor Perry has been in those moments and delivered. And (tonight) he delivered on offense about as well as he possibly could have." UNT (7-2), who was without junior guard Rubin Jones Tuesday night due to his offseason knee surgery, trailed the Mavericks (4-6) by as many as seven points in the first half as the Mean Green's offense trudged along. Offensive rebounds and second chance points kept North Texas in the game. Sophomore Aaron Scott grabbed 10 rebounds in the win but six offensive rebounds. In the second half, UNT opened the half on a 6-0 run that gave them a lead they'd never give back, though UTA pounded on the comeback door constantly. With one minute and 16 seconds remaining and the shot clock draining, Perry nailed his fourth 3-pointer to give his Mean Green team a six-point lead. He then sank free throws — he was 10-of-10 at the line overall Tuesday — before Kai Huntsberry iced the victory with a driving layup with 24 seconds remaining in the game. UNT stays on the road as they travel to Phoenix Saturday to face Grand Canyon at the Phoenix Suns' Footprint Center at 4:30 p.m. CT.

CHICAGO (Dec. 6, 2022) – After having stellar performances on the field this season, North Texas freshmen Var’Keyes Gumms and Febechi Nwaiwu both were named College Football News (CFN) Freshmen All-Americans, the organization announced Tuesday. Gumms, who set a record for the most single-season yards by a tight end in program history, was a Second Team selection while Nwaiwu, who started 12 of 13 games for the Mean Green this season, landed on the Third Team. UNT is one of just 18 FBS schools to land multiple players on the first, second or third teams and the only school in C-USA to accomplish that feat. One of the top tight ends in the country, regardless of classification, Gumms finished the season with 33 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns are the second-most by any TE in UNT history and is tied for 13th among all FBS TEs. Among FBS TEs who had at least 50 targets on the year, Gumms’ 13.7 yards per reception ranks second in FBS, only behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers who was recently named a finalist for the 2022 John Mackey Award given to the best tight end in college football. Nwaiwu, meanwhile, had a strong 2022 campaign after redshirting a season ago. A 12-game starter at guard for UNT, Nwaiwu blocked for a Mean Green offense that ranked inside the top-30 in FBS in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) Nwaiwu is the highest graded freshman offensive lineman in Conference USA and ranks among the top-20 among all lineman in the league. In 391 pressure opportunities, Nwaiwu has not allowed a sack and has given up just 11 total pressures this season. Both Gumms and Nwaiwu return to action with the Mean Green on Saturday, Dec. 17 when they play in the Frisco Bowl at 8:15 pm inside Toyota Stadium against Boise State.

Join @Evan@Harry@BeyondTheGreenand @TheReal_jayD as they discuss the firing of 7-year UNT Head Football Coach Seth Littrell as well as the impact on the program and the future. The boys also discuss possible replacements for Littrell as well as the status of the open AD position as Wren Baker moves on to almost heaven West Virginia. direct audio link: https://traffic.libsyn.com/gomeangreen/LIttrell_gone_mixdown.mp3

Last week, I looked through Brent Key’s connections to find potential candidates for his coaching staff here at Georgia Tech. And I have to say, I did not walk away from that list overly impressed with many of the candidates. It has been discussed (but not confirmed) that one of the good things about hiring Brent Key is that he is being brought in at a lower price which means Tech can spend more with its offensive coordinator hire. We have already seen that Tech is willing to put more money towards a coordinator hire with Chip Long, who is set to make $850K to not coach this year, more than double what his predecessor Dave Patenaude earned at Tech. As I was perusing Twitter yesterday, I saw the shocking news that North Texas had fired their head coach Seth Littrell. In seven seasons coaching the Mean Green, Littrell took his team to five bowl games. Prior to him taking the job in 2016, North Texas had been to one bowl game since 2004. It was mind-boggling across the country. But, that means he’s available for a job, and I think Georgia Tech should give him one as their offensive coordinator. A graduate of Oklahoma, Littrell got his first position coaching job at Texas Tech under Mike Leach. He served as the Red Raiders’ running backs coach from 2005 to 2008. And well, the running backs were very good while he was there. read more: https://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/georgia-tech-football/2022/12/5/23494669/seth-littrell-should-be-georgia-techs-next-offensive-coordinator

Seth Littrell Current Gig: Unemployed (North Texas Head Coach, 2016-2022) Other OC Experience: UNC (2014-2015), Indiana (2012-2013), Arizona (2010-2011) Stats as a OC (SP+ Offense Ranking): 53rd (2022); 100th (2021); 83rd (2020); 86th (2019); 67th (2018); 65th (2017); 111th (2016); 7th (2015); 30th (2014); 25th (2013); 52nd (2012); 23rd (2011); 29th (2010); It was just announced that Littrell has been let go at North Texas after seven years on the job and just a day after losing in the CUSA Championship Game to UTSA. Over his seven years in Denton, the Mean Green finished with 9 wins twice and played in two conference title games. They went 11-5 in conference over the last two years and are set to jump to the AAC in 2023. Prior to his first head coaching gig, Littrell was the Assistant Head Coach and OC at UNC under Larry Fedora. His final year in Chapel Hill was the high-water mark for the Fedora era as the offense (and program as a whole) backslid after Littrell left town. Oh, yeah. Littrell and Dave Doeren just happened to be on staff at Kansas together from 2002-2004, Littrell as a Graduate Assistant and Doeren as the LB coach and Recruiting Coordinator. No idea what the relationship was between the two, but sometimes it’s those early connections that last. The positives here are... well, just look at those offensive numbers he produced when he was an OC. In six seasons as an OC, only once did an offense of his finish outside of the Top 30 in SP+ Offense. Only three times in ten seasons under Doeren has NC State’s offense finished in the Top 30 (29th in 2018, 15th in 2017, and 27th in 2015). Littrell would also offer another former head coach to the staff, one who has a reputation for creating a family-centric program much like Doeren and Ruffin McNeill, and someone with prior ties to the state. The negatives are basically just that the guy used to coach at UNC. That’s the only tie to that school for the former Oklahoma running back (class of 2000). read more: https://www.backingthepack.com/nc-state-football/2022/12/4/23493430/2022-nc-state-wolfpack-football-poaps-offensive-coordinator

Humble beginnings breed fierce competitors. Former University of North Texas AD Wren Baker is in Morgantown and prepared to get to work. Baker brings wife Heather and daughters Addisyn and Reagan to the Mountain State en route to becoming West Virginia University's 13th Director of Athletics. His stay in North Texas began in 2016, but prior to entering college athletics administration, Baker was working as a high school principal in rural Oklahoma. At 26 years old, Baker was tasked with organizing teachers, students, conduct, and budgeting, all aspects of his admin history that cross over nicely into Power-5 higher ed. When he got out of secondary education administration, Baker's first stop was at Rogers State University, where he became the first men's basketball coach in the school’s history. After that, he was the director of athletics for Northwest Missouri State, and served as deputy director of athletics at the University of Memphis and the University of Missouri. Baker then became the University of North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics in 2016. He saw seven different UNT teams combine to win 17 conference or division championships, his new coaching hires have combined to win nearly 70 percent of their games, and his fundraising produced the five largest gifts in UNT history and a doubling of the school's single-year fundraising record. Baker's impact also manifested in overall attendance boosts for North Texas' football (71 percent) and women's basketball (60+ percent) programs. Baker was selected away from the Mean Green ahead of 7-8 other applicants, WVU president E. Gordon Gee said. Talent appraisal company Turnkey ZRG assisted in the application process, and Gee gave the company a nod of approval. "When we interviewed Wren, I can tell you he fits every one of our criteria and in addition to being an exceptionally talented athletic director, he's also a very positive person who easily connects and engages with everyone that he meets," Gee said. He understands our mission; he knows where we want to go, and I have no doubt that he will get us there. read more: https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/wren-bakers-journey-to-west-virginia

The Mean Green loss puts UTSA at 6-5 in the all-time series. The loss puts head coach Seth Littrell at 44-44 in his Mean Green tenure, and he is fourth on the program’s all-time win list. UNT’s captains for the game were KD Davis, Roderic Burns, Austin Aune, Manase Mose and Sean-Thomas Faulkner. The Mean Green are now 9-37 when trailing at the half in the Seth Littrell era, and this was the first time UNT had trailed a C-USA opponent at the half this season and first time its trailed at half this year since Sept. 24, at Memphis. The 14-point halftime deficit was the second-largest halftime deficit of the year, behind the 31-10 lead SMU had on Sept. 3. Junior QB Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) finished 14 for 29 for 194 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown pass. Aune’s 194 passing yards gives him 7,086 in his career and he is in fourth place on the program’s all-time passing yardage list, 338 yards shy of Derek Thompson (2009-13) for third. Aune completed passes to eight different receivers. The game was just the third this season in which Aune has failed to throw multiple touchdown passes. His 36-yard touchdown pass to Jyaire Shorter with 8:42 to play in the third quarter was his 32nd of the season and 55th of his career. It broke Mason Fine’s single-season program record of 31, which was set in 2017. That touchdown pass also tied the all-time, single-season touchdown responsibility record of 33, set by Mitch Maher in 1994. Sophomore RB Ikaika Ragsdale (Las Vegas, Nevada) had 17 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. Ragsdale’s 108-yard day marked his third 100-yard rushing day of the season and sixth of his career. Ragsdale’s 2-yard touchdown run with 8:09 to play in the first quarter was his seventh touchdown this season and 12th of his career. Ragsdale’s 56-yard run from the UNT 1-yard line in the final seconds of the first quarter was a career-long run. Junior WR Jyaire Shorter (Killeen, Texas) finished with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Twenty of Shorter’s 22 catches this season have gone for a first down or a touchdown (10 touchdowns). His 36-yard touchdown reception with 8:42 left in the third quarter was his 10th of the season and 19th of his career in just 31 games. Shorter’s 10 touchdown receptions this season is tied for ninth on the single-season list. He is the only player in the country with 10 touchdowns on less than 25 receptions. In the last 15 years, Shorter is the only player in FBS with nine or more touchdowns and less than 25 catches in a season. He also accomplished the feat in 2019 when he finished with nine touchdowns on 24 catches. Redshirt freshman TE Var’Keyes Gumms (Houston) finished with two catches for 13 yards. Gumms’ two catches give him 33 on the season and he is second on the program’s single-season list for most receptions by a tight end in UNT history behind only Jason Pirtle (2017-21), who had 41 in 2021. Senior OL Manase Mose (Euless, Texas) made his 61st straight start and is the program’s all-time leader for most career starts at North Texas. The center has started every game of his career and is in his fifth season with the Mean Green. When UTSA opened the scoring with 12:04 left in the first quarter, it marked the fastest a UNT opponent has scored this season since the season-opening win over UTEP, when the Miners scored just 1:02 into the game. Senior LB KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) finished the day with 14 tackles, including five solo stops. Davis now has 421 career tackles and passed Byron Gross (1987-90), who finished his career with 418 total tackles, to become the program’s all-time tackles leader. Midway through the fourth quarter got his 12th tackle to break record. Davis now has 196 career solo tackles to move into second on the all-time list ahead of Craig Robertson (2006-10), who finished with 194. Junior LB Larry Nixon III (North Richland Hills, Texas) finished the day with seven tackles, including four solo stops, and a tackle for-loss. Senior DB Sean-Thomas Faulkner (Easley, S.C.) finished with 11 tackles, including six solo stops. His 11 tackles tied his season high, which was previously set at UNLV. Junior DB DeShawn Gaddie (Arlington, Texas) finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Gaddie’s nine tackles were a new career- and season-high, besting his previous mark of eight. Sophomore DB Logan Wilson (Dallas) finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops. Wilson’s nine tackles were a new career- and season-high, besting his previous mark of eight. Sophomore DL Roderick Brown (Forney, Texas) finished with eight tackles, including three solo stops, and a half-sack. Brown’s eight tackles set a new career high, breaking his previous best mark of seven. Junior LB Mazin Richards (Burleson, Texas) finished with three tackles, including three solo stops, two tackles for-loss and a pass breakup. Sophomore DL Tom Trieb (Arlington Heights, Ill.) finished with three tackles, including three solo stops, and two sacks. Trieb entered the game without a full sack in his Mean Green career and finished the night with 2.0 sacks. Senior DB Quinn Whitlock (Pinola, Miss.) finished with 10 tackles, including four solo stops. Whitlock’s 10 tackles broke his previous career- and season-high of nine. Junior LB Kevin Wood (Converse, Texas) finished with seven tackles, including two solo stops. Senior kicker Ethan Mooney (Fort Worth) went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 3-for-3 on extra points. Mooney now has 325 career points and is the program’s all-time scoring leader. Mooney now has 102 points on the season and is now third third all-time in single-season kicking points, trailing Cole Hedlund (2018) by six. Trevor Moore holds the single-season record with 115 in 2017.

C-USA Championship Tickets Are Delivered! All tickets purchased through UNT have been transferred to your email on file over the last 48 hours. If you have not received an email, please check the spam/junk/other folders. Tickets may be accepted through the UTSA account manager via a standard web browser such as Safari or Google Chrome and then adding the tickets to your Apple/Google wallet. We encourage you to do this prior to arriving to the Alamodome to ensure a smooth and speedy entry process. Downloading the UTSA Roadrunners app is not required! Arrive early as a large crowd is expected. The Alamodome is a clear bag policy facility C-USA Parking The Alamodome parking lots are only available to UTSA season pass holders. There are other public parking lots available in the area that offer game day parking. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off is located in the Convention Center lot at the corner of Montana St. and Tower of Americas Way. VIA Park & Ride will be available from the Crossroads Park & Ride location, get more info here. ADA parking is located in Lot A on a first-come, first-served basis if you have a valid placard. C-USA Championship Account Management Please use the UTSA account manger site to manage your tickets. Click here for UTSA Account Manager. C-USA Digital Ticketing Info Page Please use the UTSA digital ticketing page for more information on how to download your tickets. Click here for the Digital Ticketing Information Page. UNT Ticket Office The North Texas Ticket Office will be open all week 9 am - 5 pm. Please call 940-565-2527 for assistance. UNT Game Day Customer Service North Texas Ticket Office representatives can be found at the southwest box office on game day. UNT Alumni Association Pre-Game Tailgate The UNT Alumni Association will host a tailgate party with free food, UNT swag and a cash bar from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at Smoke BBQ + SKYBAR, 501 E. Crockett St., San Antonio.

C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME - DEC. 2 KICKOFF - 6:30 P.M. PARKING LOTS OPEN - 12:00 P.M. ENTRY GATES OPEN - 4:30 P.M. #23 UTSA takes on in-state rival North Texas on Friday for the C-USA Championship. Download the UTSA Roadrunners app and load your tickets into your Wallet app before arriving at the Alamodome. Arrive early as a large crowd is expected. Curtis Grimes will be playing live in the Fan Zone in the H-E-B Plaza which opens at 3:30. Tell all your friends they don't want to miss this event. Get in the Dome early and get loud Roadrunners. LET'S GO 210! Here are some other important notes for the big game on Saturday: The Alamodome parking lots are only available to season pass holders. There are other public parking lots available in the area that offer game day parking. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off is located in the Convention Center lot at the corner of Montana St. and Tower of Americas Way. VIA Park & Ride will be available from the Crossroads Park & Ride location, get more info here. ADA parking is located in Lot A on a first-come, first-served basis if you have a valid placard. All fans should be out of the Alamodome parking lots 1 hour after the end of the game. Join the UTSA Alumni Association in a new location for Roadrunner Nation Tailgate. It will be in the NW corner of Lot C. Anyone who wants to get “rowdy” is welcome to join the party! Gates open at 3:30 p.m. Check out more details and ticket info here. The Spirit Walk is back again this year. Get pictures of the team and cheer them on as they arrive at the Dome. The Spirit Walk takes place between Lots B & C at about 4:15 p.m. The Alamodome Clear Bag Policy is in effect all season. Game tickets, parking passes, and hospitality passes are all digital this year. View and manage them through the UTSA Roadrunners app or at goUTSA.com/accountmanager and view our Digital Ticket Guide here. Download them to your Apple Wallet or Google Pay before arriving at the Dome. UTSA Roadrunners mobile app has launched. Through the app, UTSA fans will enjoy a personalized mobile experience with the ability to manage tickets, shop for official UTSA Athletics merchandise and receive breaking news and score notifications for the teams they follow. Visit the App Store or Google Play and search for “UTSA Roadrunners.” If you need assistance on game day, there are Customer Service ticket windows at the NE and SE box offices. Please call the ticket office with any questions prior to game day at 210-458-8872. GO 'RUNNERS!

Join @Evan, @Harry and @TheReal_jayD as they preview the upcoming C-USA Championship game in San Antonio against UTSA as well as the huge news that UNT AD Wren Baker has accepted the same position at West Virginia of the Big 12 Conference. direct audio link: https://gomeangreen.libsyn.com/gomeangreencom-barbershop-podcast-228