Coach Andy Mac

Following two straight losses, Rice looks to close out its regular season with a sixth win and become bowl eligible for the first time in coach Mike Bloomgren’s five seasons at Rice and first since 2015. The Owls trail in the series 7-5, losing five of the past six. In his seventh year, UNT’s Seth Littrell is the longest active tenured NCAA Division I football head coach in Texas. Here are five things to watch as both Rice and North Texas play their final football game as members of Conference USA before joining the American Athletic next year: 1. Plenty on line Rice will not be the only team on the field playing for something big. With a win over Rice, North Texas secures a spot in the Conference USA championship game for the first time since 2017. The Mean Green could still reach the title game with a loss to the Owls, but FAU wound need to defeat Western Kentucky. The Mean Green have won 10 of their past 12 conference games dating to Oct. 30, 2021 when they slipped past the Owls 30-24 in overtime. Read more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/texas-sports-nation/college/article/Rice-North-Texas-regular-season-finale-Week-13-17610043.php

DENTON — The North Texas men’s basketball team is back in action from the Super Pit Tuesday night with a home game against Paul Quinn College. Tipoff for Tuesday’s contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on YouTube and the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on The Varsity Network app. UNT (2-1) is coming off a 61-52 home victory over Fresno State Saturday afternoon where reigning all-conference guard Tylor Perry made his return from injury and scored 21 points to lead the Mean Green to victory. Fellow starting guard Rubin Jones also made his return Saturday after missing the last five months due to an offseason surgery and positively affected the North Texas offense that had been looking for a spark. The Mean Green will welcome on Tuesday a Paul Quinn College squad that competes at the NAIA level and is the reigning United States Collegiate Athletic Association DI national champion. The Tigers (1-0) are not shy about playing NCAA DI teams around the Metroplex. On Oct. 29 Paul Quinn took on SMU in Dallas in an exhibition and held a one-point lead at halftime. The Mustangs pulled away in the second half and won 80-66. The next day Paul Quinn traveled to Fort Worth to face TCU. The Horned Frogs came away with a 112-42 victory. After Tuesday’s game the Mean Green will travel to the Bahamas to play in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. UNT will open the eight-team three games in three days tournament on Friday versus San José State. Tipoff to Friday’s game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT. All games will be streamed on FloHoops. Contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or by emailing ticketoffice@unt.edu for more information on UNT hoops tickets. Game notes: https://meangreensports.com/documents/2022/11/21/11.22.22_UNT_MBB_Game_Notes_-_Paul_Quinn_College.pdf

DENTON — The North Texas men’s basketball team is back in action from the Super Pit Tuesday night with a home game against Paul Quinn College. Tipoff for Tuesday’s contest is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and will be streamed on YouTube and the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on The Varsity Network app. UNT (2-1) is coming off a 61-52 home victory over Fresno State Saturday afternoon where reigning all-conference guard Tylor Perry made his return from injury and scored 21 points to lead the Mean Green to victory. Fellow starting guard Rubin Jones also made his return Saturday after missing the last five months due to an offseason surgery and positively affected the North Texas offense that had been looking for a spark. The Mean Green will welcome on Tuesday a Paul Quinn College squad that competes at the NAIA level and is the reigning United States Collegiate Athletic Association DI national champion. The Tigers (1-0) are not shy about playing NCAA DI teams around the Metroplex. On Oct. 29 Paul Quinn took on SMU in Dallas in an exhibition and held a one-point lead at halftime. The Mustangs pulled away in the second half and won 80-66. The next day Paul Quinn traveled to Fort Worth to face TCU. The Horned Frogs came away with a 112-42 victory. After Tuesday’s game the Mean Green will travel to the Bahamas to play in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. UNT will open the eight-team three games in three days tournament on Friday versus San José State. Tipoff to Friday’s game is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT. All games will be streamed on FloHoops. Contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or by emailing ticketoffice@unt.edu for more information on UNT hoops tickets. Game notes: https://meangreensports.com/documents/2022/11/21/11.22.22_UNT_MBB_Game_Notes_-_Paul_Quinn_College.pdf

If Seth beats Rice should he be extended?

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl (Dec. 24) Air Force vs. North Texas: The Falcons could land in a few different spots, but how about the Hawaii Bowl, which it has never played in? Five other MW schools have appeared in this bowl, and with Hawaii out of bowl contention, a non-Rainbow Warriors team will fill the void. North Texas is 6-5, so it's clinched a bowl heading into its regular-season finale with Rice next week. This game hasn't been played since 2019 due to COVID-19 issues. Read more: https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/reporters/mountain-west-football-bowl-projections-heading-into-penultimate-week-of-regular-season

SAN ANTONIO — Riding a seven-game winning streak and alone atop the Conference USA standings at 6-0, UTSA (8-2) will travel to Houston to face Rice (5-5, 3-3) this Saturday, Nov. 19. Kickoff is set for noon at Rice Stadium and the game will air on ESPN+ and Ticket 760 AM. The Roadrunners can secure the right to host the C-USA Championship Game for the second straight year with a win over the Owls. UTSA has won the last six meetings with Rice, including a 45-0 shutout last year. UTSA Roadrunners (8-2, 6-0) at Rice Owls (5-5, 3-3) 12 p.m. | Saturday, Nov. 19 Rice Stadium | Houston, Texas TV: ESPN+ Radio: Ticket 760 AM Series History: UTSA leads, 6-3 Last Meeting: UTSA 45, Rice 0 (10/16/21 • San Antonio, Texas) Opening drive • UTSA and Rice will meet for the 10th time on Saturday. • The Roadrunners lead the series 6-3 and have won each of the last six meetings with the Owls, including a 45-0 shutout last year in San Antonio. • UTSA is 2-2 against Rice in games played in Houston. • The Roadrunners own a 29-19 record against teams from the state of Texas including a 9-3 mark under Jeff Traylor. • UTSA is seeking its second straight 7-0 start to C-USA play. • The Roadrunners are 18-3 in C-USA games under third-year head coach Jeff Traylor. • UTSA's current seven-game winning streak is tied with Troy for the fifth-longest active FBS streak and it is the second longest run in program history behind the 11-0 start to the 2021 season. • The Roadrunners received 51 votes in this week's Associated Press Top 25 and 40 in the USA TODAY Sports AFCA Coaches Poll. • UTSA is 27-9 under Jeff Traylor, the best record for a head coach through 36 games in program history. • The Roadrunners have won 23 of their last 28 contests dating back to November 2020. • UTSA is 8-1 in the month of November under Jeff Traylor. read more: https://goutsa.com/news/2022/11/17/football-first-place-roadrunners-to-face-rice-on-saturday-in-houston

DENTON — The North Texas men's basketball team welcomes Fresno State to the Super Pit Saturday for a scheduled 5 p.m. CT tipoff. Saturday's game will be streamed on ESPN+ and the Mean Green Sports Network, presented by Learfield on The Varsity Network app. It will be UNT's (1-1) first game back at home since its home opening victory on Nov. 7 over Southern Nazarene. Saturday will be the Bulldogs' (1-2) first true road game of the year. Most recently, they fell at home to San Francisco on Wednesday, 67-60. Saturday will be just the third all-time meeting between the two programs and the first in 45 years. North Texas traveled to Fresno, California, in 1977 and won 88-81 over Fresno State. This will be the second time the Bulldogs have visited the Super Pit. The first time came in 1973, which was the arena's inaugural season. The Bulldogs won 96-95. North Texas fans are encouraged to wear green to Saturday's game. A pregame tailgate will begin at 3 p.m. CT. Fans can download the GMG Lights app on their phones, which will sync the light on their phone to the intro video song and play during the introduction to the Mean Green starting five. Additionally, UNT will honor the 2021-22 Conference USA championship team prior to tipoff and the world-famous Red Panda will perform at halftime. Tickets to Saturday's contest can be purchased here. The GMG Lights app can be downloaded from your phone here. Contact the Mean Green Ticket Office at 940-565-2527 or by emailing ticketoffice@unt.edu for more information on UNT hoops tickets.

The university unveiled Unity Plaza on Saturday, which honors the legacies of Abner Haynes and Leon King, the first black players to integrate major college football at a four-year university in Texas. The plaza was installed next to the Athletic Center and the Lovelace and McNatt Families Practice Facility. “This is a good opportunity to reflect upon the history of UNT, which is also the history of the city of Denton, and just celebrate a couple of great role models that came through this university,” Denton Mayor Gerard Hudspeth said. The unveiling took place prior to the Homecoming football game where multiple people spoke about the accomplishments of Haynes and King. The plaza itself includes two gateways with both men’s names, under which bust statues and plaques detailing their accomplishments are featured. Between the two gateways is a plaque that describes the meaning of the plaza, along with the names of both the plaza’s designer and the busts’ creator. This project has actually been in the works for years, said Jared Mosley, the associate vice president and chief operating officer of UNT Athletics. “When Wren was hired in 2016, we began discussions around the most appropriate way to honor Abner and Leon and ensure this very important part of UNT and football history within the state of Texas could be recognized for years to come,” Mosley said. Eventually, the current design of the plaza was decided upon, with the designer being Brandon Lacy, the senior project manager and design manager at the university. Lacy had submitted over 10 Unity Plaza designs before the current one was selected, with many of the designs varying from one another. Despite the Unity Plaza looking complete, it is only about 98 percent done, Lacy said. There are still little details that need to be added, such as lighting and finalized plaques. “We’ve had a lot of great moments here — great seasons, tremendous student-athletes and championships,” said Wren Baker, the vice president and director of UNT Athletics. “But the impact that Abner and Leon left her is probably the greatest legacy that anybody’s ever left here. They paved the way for opportunities for so many student-athletes after them here at UNT, but also across the state of Texas.” Haynes and King both joined the North Texas freshman team in 1956. They and their teammates faced a lot of backlash for the integration, but they showed their unity despite the retaliation. A pivotal moment for the team was their second game of the season that year against Navarro Junior College in Corsicana. Read more: https://www.ntdaily.com/university-honors-first-black-collegiate-football-players-with-unity-plaza/#share

DENTON, Texas – North Texas Athletics posted the third-best Graduation Success Rate (GSR) score in program history with an 85 for the 2015-16 cohort, the NCAA announced Tuesday. “The most important achievement of any student-athlete is leaving our campus with their degree,” UNT Vice President and Director of Athletics Wren Baker said. “That accomplishment is at the heart of Building Champions and Preparing Leaders. The sustained success announced today is a true credit to their hard work and the resources provided on our campus.” This is seventh consecutive year for the Mean Green to finish above 82%. Two UNT programs posted perfect scores of 100 (women's tennis and women's volleyball). It was the seventh consecutive year for tennis and the second straight for volleyball. Eleven of North Texas’ 12 sports scored higher than 80. Men’s basketball (93) posted the second-best mark in program history. From the time GSR data collection began with the 1995-98 cohort, UNT has improved from a score of 59 to 85 (26-point increase). The GSR was developed by the NCAA as part of its academic reform initiative to more accurately measure the academic success of Division I student-athletes by better accounting for the many different academic paths followed by today's college students. The NCAA also released the most recent federal graduation rate data in conjunction with the GSR information. The GSR holds institutions accountable for transfer students, whereas the federal graduation rate does not. The GSR also accounts for mid-year enrollees. The NCAA calculates the federal graduation rate for student-athletes because it is the only rate by which to compare student-athletes to the general student body.

The 1984 season saw North Texas State University promote its club baseball team into Division I NCAA competition as the “Eagles” joined the Southland Conference. The team lasted five seasons — a legacy some former players consider to be short-lived. Rather than let the baseball program become a distant memory in the university’s history, a group of alumni has united in hopes of reviving it. The Mean Green Baseball Project is an advocacy group seeking to bring DI baseball back as its own athletic program. The group consists of seven friends — six of whom played baseball for the university. “People didn’t act like we existed — like we were just this ridiculously horrible team, and we weren’t,” Doug Rush, former North Texas starting pitcher and MGBP president, said. “We had a bunch of really good players. We just didn’t have the scholarships and the backing [of the university] to be successful.” On Aug. 11, 2022, the men teamed up to make a change. They created MGBP social media accounts across several platforms, constructed their own website and reached out to the university Athletics Department. “Let’s put a smile on our face and let’s try to make an impact and help the community possibly bring this back,” Danny Suges, former North Texas baseball player and MGBP vice president, said. There was hope for the MGBP’s anticipated revival in 2016 when former Athletic Director Rick Villarreal proposed a plan to bring baseball back to the university. However, the plan never came to fruition, as Villarreal left the university later that year. “We’ve been waiting patiently for it to start back and it just never has happened, so we’re trying to put a rush on that,” Rush said. The MGBP has raised over $15,000 of its $50,000 goal on its GoFundMe since August 29. The group wants to use this money to advertise and promote their cause and get the attention of larger donors. Aside from using its online platform to spread awareness, the group also attended this year’s Homecoming tailgate on Nov. 5, where they handed out their “#bringitback” T-shirts and koozies. Read more: https://www.ntdaily.com/mean-green-baseball-projects-seeks-to-revive-former-division-i-program/?fbclid=IwAR18aG1osJJOun1Z0-piK-49LoDoIQfu-Kn3nmECHH_3RPpejThLhaBU-O8

TAMPA — As the USF football coaching search unfolds over the coming weeks, every Bulls candidate will confront the same question. How good is the USF job? The answer being pitched this week at the Lee Roy Selmon Athletics Center: better than it was 35 months ago when the Bulls hired Jeff Scott. “A lot of things that Jeff helped pave the way for will be a great benefit to whoever comes in here and takes the baton from here,” athletic director Michael Kelly said Tuesday. Related: Forget about sexy hires, USF is looking for a long-term relationship The foundation Scott laid will be a crucial selling point as USF hunts for his successor. Because for all of USF’s inherent advantages — starting with its location in one of the nation’s top recruiting areas — its history is full of unrealized potential. But USF has also never won a conference title or played for one. Since 2000, only four other Group of Five programs have played every year without at least appearing in a conference championship: Eastern Michigan, UNLV, New Mexico and Tulane (which might get there this year). read more: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2022/11/09/usf-football-coaching-search-bulls-jeff-scott-michael-kelly/

Coastal Carolina coach Jamey Chadwell: His offense is one of the most exciting in the country but won’t look as sharp this week against Southern Miss, as star quarterback Grayson McCall is out with a foot injury. If Chadwell doesn’t get a Power Five offer, USF could double his salary ($850,000 last year). Indiana coach Tom Allen: The former USF assistant (and Hillsborough County high school coach) takes a six-game losing streak into No. 2 Ohio State. USF would be an excellent landing spot for him, if he needs an exit strategy. Penn State co-offensive coordinator Ja’Juan Seider: The Belle Glade native and former Gators assistant coaches one of the nation’s top freshman running backs, Nicholas Singleton, and should be able to put up good numbers against a mediocre Maryland defense. Florida A&M coach Willie Simmons: He told the Tallahassee Democrat this week he hasn’t “heard any rumblings or gotten any contract” from USF, but he’d be an attractive candidate. His Rattlers have won seven in a row entering Saturday’s game at Alabama State. Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bulls/2022/11/10/usf-football-coaching-search-jamey-chadwell-tom-allen-willie-simmons/

Quarterback Jacob Zeno has performed admirably the last three weeks since being thrust into action on the road against Western Kentucky, but Dylan Hopkins has been a full participant in practice this week and was named the starter by UAB interim head coach Bryant Vincent. Zeno could still see some action this week considering the progression during his time as the starter. Before sustaining a concussion against the Hilltoppers, Hopkins led the Blazers to a 4-2 record while passing for 1,233 yards, 7 touchdowns and 2 interceptions, adding 119 yards and 2 scores on the ground. In his time subbing for the former, Zeno has completed 60 percent of his passes for 557 yards, 4 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. North Texas quarterback Austin Aune is one of the oldest players currently in C-USA, due to playing a few years of minor league baseball, and is as experienced as any play of the team. The junior has completed 58.2 percent of passes for 2,753 yards, throwing for 28 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, and leads the Mean Green’s 24th-ranked passing offense (285.2 ypg). Backup Grant Gunnell has taken few snaps this season and Stone Earle is a threat in running packages, rushing for 90 yards and a score on 16 carries. Advantage: Even Read more: https://www.al.com/uab/2022/11/position-by-position-breakdown-for-uab-vs-north-texas.html

DENTON, Texas – North Texas senior kicker Ethan Mooney has been named one of 20 semifinalists for the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, given annually by the Orange Bowl. A native of Fort Worth, Mooney is North Texas’ all-time leader in career extra points and ranks second all-time in points kicking with 310. He has connected on 49-of-63 field goal attempts in his career good for 77.8 percent, the second-best mark in the UNT record book. Mooney, a preseason All-Conference USA honoree, currently ranks ninth in FBS with 15 made field goals this season. He ranks 12th in FBS with a 93.8 percent rate on field goals this season and also with 42 made PAT’s. Semifinalists will be voted on by a panel of more than 100 FBS head coaches, SIDs, media members, former Groza finalists, and current NFL kickers to select the three finalists. These finalists will be announced on November 29th and honored at the 31st annual Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Banquet on December 5th in Palm Beach County. The same panel then selects the winner, who will be announced live on ESPN during the Home Depot College Football Awards on Thursday, December 8th. The Award is named for National Football League Hall of Fame kicker Lou “The Toe” Groza, who played 21 seasons with the Cleveland Browns. Groza won four NFL championships with Cleveland and was named NFL Player of the Year in 1954. Although an All-Pro offensive lineman as well, Groza ushered in the notion that there should be a place on an NFL roster for a kicker. Since the first Lou Groza Award was handed out in 1992, 28 finalists, including 16 winners, have gone on to appear in the NFL, earning 13 trips to the Pro Bowl and taking home 7 Super Bowls. That list includes 2022 NFL kickers Rodrigo Blankenship, Randy Bullock, Daniel Carlson Mason Crosby, Jake Elliott, Ka’imi Fairbairn, Graham Gano, Matt Gay, Zane Gonzalez, Dustin Hopkins, Younghoe Koo, and Cairo Santos. For more information regarding the Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award, please visit LouGrozaAward.com, or follow @LouGrozaAward on Twitter for updates as they happen. Additional information can be obtained by contacting Jared Fleet, Director of Event Operations at the Palm Beach County Sports Commission at (561) 233-3120 or jfleet@palmbeachsports.com. National College Football Awards Association The Lou Groza Award is a member of the National College Football Awards Association. The NCFAA encompasses the most prestigious awards in college football. Founded in 1997, the NCFAA and its 25 awards now boast over 800 recipients, dating to 1935. Visit ncfaa.org to learn more about our story. About the Palm Beach County Sports Commission The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a private, not-for-profit organization contracted by Palm Beach County to promote and market the County as a sports and sports tourism destination. The Commission brings sporting events and activities to the County, enhances economic impact, stimulates bed tax revenues (primarily in the off-season), and maximizes utilization of County facilities. The Commission offers a full range of event service support, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and a local membership program that support its goals. Local, regional, national, and international marketing efforts are ongoing by the Commission with sports organizations and event owners. The Commission also produces sports-related programs for the residents of Palm Beach County including the annual Lou Groza Award program, the Palm Beach County Sports Hall of Fame, the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches, and the annual Holiday Basketball Classic of the Palm Beaches. For more information on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission, go to www.palmbeachsports.com.

1 UNT_FB_Game_Notes 2022 11_UAB MON.pdf GMG

For FIU Panthers fans who wanted to see coach Mike MacIntyre more upset after a loss, Saturday was your moment. FIU lost 52-14 at North Texas in a game that was not as closely played as that score indicates. The Panthers trailed 38-0 after just 20 minutes, and North Texas emptied their bench in the second half. “North Texas kicked our butts,” MacIntyre said. “They are a really good football team. They are a mature team. You can see why they beat Western Kentucky so bad. “We did not play well. I’m really disappointed in our coaching staff and myself and our players. It’s the most disappointed since I’ve been here.” read more: https://amp.miamiherald.com/sports/college/conference-usa/florida-international-university/article268364832.html

Brashier was born in Eastland, Texas, on May 30, 1929. Following a highly-successful high school career, Brashier was a three-year starter at North Texas as a defensive back, quarterback and punter (1949-51). He collected 10 interceptions in 1951 and had 19 career thefts. Both are school records that still stand. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from North Texas. read more: https://cbs2iowa.com/amp/news/local/former-university-of-iowa-assistant-football-coach-bill-brashier-passes-away

Good Sunday Morning Uni Watchers, and welcome to Week 10 of the Sunday Morning Uni Watch. I hope everyone is enjoying their “extra” hour of sleep today. While there was plenty of uni shenanigans yesterday (it’s S&S/GI Jokevember after all), today’s splash photo is of a team that doesn’t get much coverage ’round these parts: the University of North Texas, aka the “Mean Green.” The team looked more like the neon green yesterday, as they wore throwback uniforms and helmets, with the logo lovingly referred to as the “Flying Worm.” I wouldn’t quite call the “neon” green chartreuse, but it’s close…and chartreuse is a color that is sorely lacking in sports. When it’s done right, like these are — the simple block numbers outlined in black, the green helmet with classic striping — it’s all good. It would have looked even better with pants stripes matching those on the helmet, but other than that, I have no complaints. It didn’t hurt that UNT’s opponents, Florida International, went mono-blue, rendering the matchup both high-contrast and pleasing to the eye. A nice little mid-to-late season break from the usual “icy whites” and “blackout” uniforms so prevalent these days. read more: https://uni-watch.com/2022/11/06/sunday-morning-uni-watch-148/