Skipper

With under 10 minutes remaining in a 23-20 game that his team was trailing, graduate student Alec Morris led the North Texas offense back out onto the Apogee Stadium turf on senior day. The Mean Green knew what needed to happen – they needed to take the lead. With their season and bowl hopes hanging in the balance, North Texas knew what was at stake, just like Morris knew it would be one of the last times he would quarterback a football team at home. And in front of his friends, family and fans of just one season, Morris strung together three quick completions to get the Mean Green moving. The rust of a 1-for-6 start to the second half had been shaken off. “We weren’t doing very well and everyone knew that,” Morris said. “That’s not something you think about. Going out every single drive you have to think this is the drive where we’re going to move down the field. With that mentality, it all came together and clicked.” As Morris found his rhthym, so did the North Texas offense. A few plays later, junior running back Willy Ivery shook off defenders and scampered 11 yards past the entire Southern Miss defense and found pay dirt to bookend the game-winning drive. North Texas re-took the lead on its home field in the final game for its seniors. “We knew what was at stake,” Morris said. “We had to have that win, and I think everyone knew the gravity of the situation. I would be lying if I said it didn’t feel good.” Junior wide receiver Turner Smiley jukes a defender in the first half against Southern Miss. Colin Mitchell The lead held, and the Mean Green won 29-23. Phase one is complete. Phase two comes next Saturday against the University of Texas at El Paso. Win, and they’re in. “This was a great team win for us,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “Now we’ve got one more.” One more is all it takes. Featured Image: Junior running back Willy Ivery celebrates after scoring late against Southern Miss. Colin Mitchell View Full Article

1) Trick plays galore: Two trick plays were the highlight of the first half and jump-started the North Texas offense. With the game still scoreless. the Mean Green came out in a wildcat and junior running back Andrew Tucker took the snap, flipped it to senior wide receiver Kenny Buyers, who flipped it back to graduate quarterback Alec Morris. With no one covering him, Morris heaved the ball downfield to Buyers for a 49-yard completion. Later in the quarter, North Texas tried a flea flicker, and with the Southern Miss defense collapsed on the run, Morris found a streaking Turner Smiley for a 55-yard touchdown pass to put the Mean Green up 17-0. The Golden Eagles eventually got in on the fun before the half ended with a trick play of their own in the form of a double pass that went for 47 yards. A few plays later, Southern Miss punched it into the endzone to get on the board before halftime. 2) Tale of two halves (almost): North Texas dominated most of the first half, and was up 20-0 late in the second quarter. That’s when the wheels came off. The Golden Eagles scored 23 unanswered points and dominated the third quarter through early in the fourth quarter to put the Mean Green in a bleak position. But with their season on the line and down three points, North Texas took control of the game again and dominated when it mattered most — the last minutes of the game. Junior running back Willy Ivery (29) runs the ball against Southern Miss. Colin Mitchell 3) Backups come up big: With freshman quarterback Mason Fine sidelined with a sprained A/C joint in his throwing shoulder, Morris gave the team and ample and experienced backup. Although he did not have gaudy numbers, Morris managed the game and put the team in a position to win. He finished 14-of-29 for 267 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Also out due to injury was junior running back Jeffery Wilson, who had knee surgery last week. In his place was junior running back Willy Ivery, who had a great game with 111 yards and one touchdown on 18 carries. Featured Image: Senior quarterback Alec Morris (5) throws the ball against Southern Miss. Morris started his first game since playing the season opener against Southern Methodist University. Colin Mitchell View Full Article

With its season on the line Saturday night, North Texas football strapped its fans in for a roller coaster ride. The Mean Green (5-6, 3-4) jumped out to a 20-0 lead, blew it, allowing the University of Southern Mississippi to score 23 unanswered points, and then came back to get the win 29-23. Exhale. With the victory, North Texas is in position for a play-in game next Saturday at the University of Texas at El Paso for a bowl berth. A win, and the Mean Green will go bowling. But the game did not start well for North Texas. Graduate quarterback Alec Morris’ first pass was intercepted, which forced the Mean Green defense to make a stop. They did just that, though, and a few moments later, the Southern Miss (5-6, 3-4) kicker shanked a field goal to give the ball back to North Texas. On the ensuing drive, the Allen native shook off his early mistake and heaved a double reverse pass downfield to set the Mean Green up deep in Golden Eagles territory. Unable to find the endzone, North Texas got its first points with a 26-yard field goal by junior kicker Trevor Moore to take a 3-0 lead. Immediately after, North Texas got the ball back after sophomore defensive back Nate Brooks jumped the route for an easy interception. Morris then linked up with junior wide receiver Turner Smiley for a 17-yard touchdown pass after Morris feathered a pass into the corner of the end zone, with Smiley adjusting to make the catch and give the Mean Green a 10-0 lead. The Mean Green added another touchdown via Morris to Smiley, this time from 55-yards out after a bit of trickery. On a surprise flea flicker, Morris hit a streaking Smily for a 55-yard touchdown pass to push the North Texas lead to 17-0. Moore tacked on another field goal with 10:42 to play in the half to make it 20-0. Smiley’s first half outburst was a new career high in receiving, as he finished with six catches for 151 yards and two touchdowns View Full Article

In their second game of the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, the Mean Green women’s basketball team suffered their second loss at the hands of the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley 74-69 Friday night in Abilene. On the consolation side of the bracket after their season opening loss to Arkansas-Little Rock, North Texas (0-2) struggled on offense to open the game but stayed close with the Vaqueros (1-1), only trailing by six after one quarter. In a surprise move, head coach Jalie Mitchell did not start senior guard Kelsey Criner. Although it was sudden and unexpected, she had a good reason for it. “[It was] just a coach’s decision,” Mitchell said. “Based on practice.” Even though Criner did not start the game, the team was seven points better with her on the court – one of only two North Texas players to have a positive plus/minus. In the second quarter, the Mean Green managed only eight points, and entered the locker room at half time with ground to make up. “[It’s about] really just making shots,” Mitchell said. “I thought we had some quality shots but we have to finish better. And that’s something that we saw in the last game. We have to get our percentage up.” But the second half was a different story, on both ends. Offensively, they put up 44 points, however, they allowed 41 points. The Mean Green had chances to come within three on a few possessions early in the second half with under 30 seconds to play – but were never able to close the gap. “I think it’s really simple, we couldn’t get stops on the defensive end,” sophomore guard Terriell Bradley said. “And we let them hit back to back threes at one point.” Sophomore guard Tyara Warren had a huge night with 17 points, 5 rebounds and only 1 turnover. Bradley also put up big numbers, pouring in 21 points to contribute to the comeback effort. Even though they are just two games in, inept offense has plagued North Texas at times, so they are hoping to turn a corner soon. . View Full Article

By Sarah Sarder “It happened.” That was what she kept saying. “And I don’t want to say it was an accident because he knew what he was doing,” Addison said. “But I don’t think he would have called it rape.” Sitting among scattered brushes and canvases in a dorm room she shares with a friend, Addison still loathes to call it rape. “I don’t want to say that he was taking advantage because that makes me uncomfortable,” Addison said. “But I don’t feel like a rape survivor.” She had recently moved into her Maple Hall dorm room, in fall 2015, when during a wing meeting, she met a funny guy named Toby. Both Addison’s and Toby’s names are concealed in this story to protect their reputations. The North Texas Daily does not publish the names of sexual violence victims. Because this case was not investigated by authorities, and there were ultimately no convictions, the alleged assaulter’s name is also concealed. One in four college women will experience some form of sexual violence, according to several studies, including a 2015 study by the Association of American Universities, in which 27.2 percent of college women reported unwanted sexual contact. New faces on campus To Addison, her relationship with Toby was simply a friendship. During the spring 2016 semester, they grew closer. And on Toby’s birthday, in March, while they ate pizza, Toby said he was romantically attached to Addison. “I thought, ‘oh my god, he’s attracted to me, but I’m not attracted to him,’” Addison said. “And I thought he was going to ask me out, but he didn’t and I was thankful for that.” Not long after, one night in late April, Addison texted Toby, saying she was drunk. The exchange went on from there, but Addison remembers very little of it. She does recall some sexual exchange but says she’s certain she did not invite him to have sex. The next thing she knew, Toby was at her door. “I was like, ‘whoa, what are you doing?’” she said. In an interview, Addison said she was highly intoxicated, but was conscious. She did not remember the details of the encounter, but she knows it involved intercourse. Addison said that while Toby did not force her into sex, she was drunk enough that he didn’t have to. “I just feel like it was an instant regret,” Addison said. “If I had the option to, I would’ve backed out.” According to UNT policy, consent refers to “words or actions that show an active, knowing and voluntary agreement” to take part in sexual activity. Consent must be given of one’s own free will and cannot be given when an individual is incapacitated due to the use of alcohol or drugs. An individual can also revoke their consent at any time. [Take this survey about sexual violence at UNT Denton] Within a few days of the incident, Addison told some friends about what had happened. They told her she had been raped. Her friends convinced her the incident needed to be reported, so Addison told a Maple Hall resident assistant. She said she was not aware that RAs must report incidents of sexual violence under a federal law, the Clery Act. RAs, like most UNT faculty and staff, are campus security authorities and must report Clery crimes like sexual assault to the police. When Addison got a phone call from her RA later that day, she was surprised to hear that she needed to talk to her hall director, and even more surprised to learn that the director would be filing a police report and a report to the dean of students office. Students can stay anonymous in the police reports. That’s what Addison chose to do. She also decided to not give Toby’s name to authorities. The dean of students categorizes students like Addison as “reluctant complainants.” That means the case cannot be investigated further, which is what happened here. “Survivors have the opportunity to tell us whatever they want to, and sometimes people choose not to tell us the respondent’s name,” McGuinness said, emphasizing survivors’ freedom to report what they decide. While the DOS office approaches complaints from an investigative standpoint, UNT’s Survivor Advocate Renee McNamara simultaneously reaches out to survivors with assistance, care and resources. For her, a student like Addison is known as a “reluctant survivor.” Featured Image: Maple Hall, built in 1964. Dylan Nadwodny View Full Article

Led by a massive performance from senior wide receiver Taywan Taylor in his final regular season home game, Western Kentucky Univesity downed North Texas football 45-7 on Saturday. Taylor finished with six catches for 166 yards and three touchdowns. The Mean Green (4-6, 2-4) now must win its final two games to become bowl eligible this season. North Texas could only muster 232 yards of offense while allowing the Hilltoppers (8-3, 5-1) to soar for 542 yards. “We’re not going to be happy or satisfied one bit with losing,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “It hurts. That’s something we don’t want to get used to.” There was not much that went right for the Mean Green in the first half, or all day, for that matter. Zero points, one fumble and two quarterbacks told the tale of the first half. Miscues between freshman quarterback Mason Fine and senior center Sam Rice led to an out-of-sync offensive rhythm. Fine fumbled early in the second quarter after a blindside hit and left the game with a sprained AC joint. “It’s not great,” Littrell said of Fine’s injury. “We’ll have to do further evaluation when we get back.” Fine finished 3-for-6 with just nine yards passing. Senior Alec Morris saw his first significant time since the season opener as Fine’s replacement and went a smooth 5-for-8 for 30-yards on his first drive. Morris’ first drive at the helm since Sept. 10 against Bethune-Cookman University put the Mean Green in position for their only points of the half, but junior kicker Trevor Moore pushed the 47-yard field goal wide. After that, things looked bland for the senior. Morris ended the afternoon 14-for-26 with 108 yards and an interception. His counterpart, junior quarterback Mike White, finished 14-for-25 with 316 yards and four touchdowns. As a result, the Hilltoppers put up 38 unanswered points through three quarters. “That’s a really good football team,” Littrell said. “We didn’t have success on all three sides of the ball.” The Hilltoppers opened with two massive plays by Taylor. He went 64 and 75 yards on two of the first three Western Kentucky drives to open a 14-0 lead. The Hilltoppers added a field goal and then another touchdown on the first play from scrimmage after Fine’s fumble and injury. Senior running back Anthony Wales tacked on one more touchdown before halftime to put Western Kentucky up 31-0 at halftime. Wales’ touchdown was the only non-passing touchdown of the half. But halftime only meant a temporary reprieve from the Hilltoppers’ onslaught, as Western Kentucky jumped right back into the action with a 24-yard touchdown catch by senior wide receiver Nicholas Norris, who finished with five catches for 90 yards and two touchdowns of his own. North Texas finally got on the board in the third quarter when junior running back Andrew Tucker streaked down the field 71 yards for his second touchdown of the season and the longest run of his career. The scoring did not stop for Western Kentucky, though. Hilltopper graduate quarterback Tyler Ferguson tossed a pass to Taylor who hauled in yet another touchdown, his third of the game and 13th of the season from four yards out to make it 45-7 with three minutes to play. That would be the final score, as the Mean Green now face Southern Mississippi University at home, 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. “We’ll focus in on this next week,” Littrell said. “We have a chance to go out and play in front of our fans and keep our dream alive.” View Full Article

Mean Green on the go: Homecoming parade photos View Full Article

Joe Cripps, who was originally from Denton and performed as a drummer, was reported missing after his family last saw him on Oct. 19. Cripps, who recently moved from Denton to Little Rock, Arkansas, is well known for recently playing for the Denton-born Grammy-winning polka-rock band, Brave Combo. He mysteriously fell out of contact with his family since last month and missed a gig he had scheduled for Oct. 21, according to his brother. His brother told the Dallas Morning News that his phone hasn’t been turned on since he was last seen. His social media absence has also caused concern among his family and friends. Cripps is normally a regular poster. Cripps’s brother also shared travel plans that Cripps was looking into, including a road trip to Buffalo River in Arkansas or even returning to Denton, but his car had not been running. His family is worried for his whereabouts since there has been no trace of him leaving on purpose. There have not been any updates in relation to his location since he disappeared two weeks ago. Police in Little Rock are currently searching for him and are asking for the public’s help to find him. View Full Article

Despite undergoing a complete transformation in personnel entering the 2016 season, the midfield of the Mean Green soccer team has proved to be a strength once again under head coach John Hedlund. Three seniors occupied the midfield in North Texas’ 2015 campaign, combining for 13 assists and eight goals. This year’s trio is comprised of seniors Marchelle Davis and Anna Flobeck along with usually, junior Katie Gernsbacher. The three normally reflect how the game is unfolding. If the team is winning they will drop back more, but in the occasional situation where they find themselves trailing, the three will put more pressure on the defense during play and on set pieces. “A lot of times the game is won and lost in the midfield,” Hedlund said. “It’s a little unique with us because we play two defensive mids and one attacking mid. [But] those are usually my fittest players, they have to get really back on defense but then help us on offense. When the Mean Green are at their best, the midfielders dictate the tempo with precise passing and crisp defense. With this being the first year these three have been tasked with playing together, their chemistry had to come together quickly. And with the ability to conduct both the offense and defense, they have to communicate and be on the same page throughout the game. “The midfield is where our possession starts,” Flobeck said. “So, whenever we’re able to settle the ball down and play a good through ball up, we’re able to have control of the game.” With 12 goals, Flobeck (4) and Davis (8) have surpassed the amount of goals last year’s midfield totalled by four, in five less games. Even though she is a defensive midfielder, Flobeck is tied for third on the team in goals because of her height, athleticism and knack for getting space on free kicks and corners. She is Hedlund’s most dangerous aerial threat, which results in set piece routines attempting to free her. “[Heading] is one of my strongest assets,” Flobeck said. “I think it helps the team because it’s a 50-50 ball so if we win it then we’re on the attack, so it’s a big part of my game.” Meanwhile, Davis is right in the middle as the lone attacking midfielder. Playing behind whoever the named forward is for that game, Davis has tremendous speed and field vision leading to ample chances on goal. Hedlund even placed her at the striker position in two games where she found the back of the net. Gernsbacher typically is the other defensive back with Flobeck, however, she is perhaps the craftiest of the trio with her passing, which allows her to contribute on both sides of the ball. When the offense thrives, the midfield conducts the attacking surges. “[The midfield] really have to serve those balls to the forwards, because we have a lot of speed up top,” Hedlund said. “With our type of offense, they’re looking for the through ball, so the connection between our midfield and forwards is huge.” While only Davis has significant experience starting games before this year, both Flobeck and Gernsbacher have accumulated individual experiences in different ways. Flobeck played 42.5 minutes per game as a sophomore and 52 minutes per game as a junior. As a senior, she has not only started every game, but averages over 79 minutes per contest. Gernsbacher was new to North Texas this year. Having played her first two collegiate seasons at the University of Texas at Austin, she’s gained experience in different places against top-tier competition. “[Their experience is] big for us because they play a lot of minutes,” Hedlund said. “They know each other, play off of each other and the chemistry [between them] is there.” For Hedlund, he has started Davis and Flobeck every game this season. The third midfield spot, however, has been shared between sophomore Lauryn Bruffett and Gernsbacher. They also have talent off of the bench that helps in the midfield in sophomore Sabrina Munguia and junior Kelci Slaughter. Who starts there largely depends on the opposition. “If I have to go more defensive, then I’ll bring Lauryn to start,” Hedlund said. “If I feel I can go at the team then Katie is in there because she’s almost a tweener between offensive and defensive mid, she really helps us with our possession game.” Their possession game will likely determine how far they go in the conference tournament. But this midfield is as good as any that Hedlund has previously had, and they know what they are expected to do. “[The midfield] just needs to settle [the team] down, that’s when we play our best,” Gernsbacher said. “It all starts in the midfield and it has to be from us.” View Full Article

Turnovers were North Texas’ Achilles heel on Saturday night. The Mean Green (4-4, 2-2) could not overcome two fumbles and two interceptions in a 31-17 road loss to the University of Texas at San Antonio. Freshman quarterback Mason Fine accounted for three of the turnovers, including an ill-advised pass that killed a drive approaching Roadrunner (4-4, 2-2) territory. Junior running back Jeffrey Wilson, who had 160 yards and three touchdowns last week against Army, failed to get anything going against UTSA, and finished with 43 yards on 19 carries. He also had a key fumble on third and goal from the 1-yard line to end the first half, which cost North Texas points before intermission. “We’ve got to do better things up front,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “It’s on all of us. It’s on coaches, it’s on players. We’ve got to do a much better job.” There were just two scores in the first half, both for the Roadrunners. UTSA struck first when junior quarterback Dalton Sturm fired a strike over the middle to hit junior wide receiver Josh Stewart on a slant from seven yards out to put the Roadrunners up 7-0. Despite throwing an interception and struggling throughout the game, Fine led the Mean Green on a drive that looked poised for points before halftime. But Wilson coughed the ball up on the goal line and UTSA recovered, sending North Texas into halftime with just 111 total yards of offense. The Mean Green came out of the locker room fired up, though, and on the first play from scrimmage, Fine darted 80 yards to the endzone on a designed quarterback draw to get North Texas on the board. It was the longest run by the Mean Green this season. Fine was North Texas’ leading rusher on the day, and finished 25-for-34 with 228 yards and a touchdown along with two interceptions. However, the momentum did not last. View Full Article

When I looked at North Texas’ schedule before the season started, I remember thinking the game at Army could be a win. Maybe. What happened Saturday, however, was so against the script the producers probably left it on the cutting room floor for being too ridiculous. The now 4-3 North Texas Mean Green marched right into West Point, New York, and took what was rightfully theirs. The Mean Green looked like the better team all afternoon, drubbing the Black Knights, the second best defense in the nation, in a 35-18 win. Before Saturday, some people said this group needed a signature win. This was the game people will look back on. This was the real arrival of the turnaround. The Marshall win was nice, but North Texas did not control the game as it did against the Black Knights. Army is a historically decent football program. The Black Knights sported a 4-2 record and a defense who harassed quarterbacks entering its contest with the Mean Green. But North Texas made Army look like chumps. The Black Knights coughed the ball up seven times. Its iconic triple option offense was rendered useless by a defense that has done a complete 180 from a downright abysmal 2015. Mike Ekeler and the Mean Green defense were on a mission. It was very obvious how well taught and disciplined the defense was this game. Ekeler and his crew made the most of their bye week. View Full Article

Blistry New York weather conditions and the second best defense in the nation did not do much to stop North Texas football at Army West Point. The Mean Green (4-3, 2-1) defeated Army (4-3) 35-18, marking the first time in program history the team won at West Point. It was also the first time North Texas has won back-to-back road games since 2013. “They did a great job all night,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “They’ve been working against the triple option and these coaches have done a great job with these young men.” The first half was slow for both sides, as the Mean Green managed minus two yards of rushing in the first half. But junior defensive back Eric Jenkins and junior running back Jeffery Wilson took over in the second half. Jenkins forced a fumble and recovered it, and ran back an interception for a touchdown in the first half while Wilson rushed for 160 to go along with three touchdowns. Wilson now has 12 touchdowns on the year, tied for 7th nationally. “He’s a special player, and a special kid,” Littrell said. “We need to do a better job of giving him more chances.” Army sputtered out of the gate with a turnover on its third play from scrimmage, which became a recurring theme throughout the game. The Black Knights turned the ball over seven times over the course of the game. North Texas’ defense rendered Army’s triple option offense nearly useless, as no Black Knight rusher finished with 100 yards. Army got the scoring started on a nine-yard touchdown rush from sophomore running back Darnell Wollfolk. Moments later, North Texas answered with a 34-yard touchdown pass from freshman quarterback Mason Fine to sophomore receiver Terian Goree. It was Goree’s first touchdown catch of the year. The defense continued to shine in the first half, as the defense put points on the board with a tip-drill pick-six from Jenkins, his second pick-six in as many quarters. North Texas junior defensive back Eric Jenkins (2) returns an interception for a touchdown against Marshall. Colin Mitchell The two defenses continued to control the game, as North Texas held Army to a second quarter field goal, entering the locker room at halftime leading 14-10. The Mean Green opened the second half with a bang via the legs of the offensive man of the afternoon. Wilson scampered 41 yards to the house to put North Texas on top 21-10. Army continued to struggle to protect the football, as the Black Nights fumbled, a turnover North Texas capitalized on. The Mean Green added another touchdown run from Wilson, but The Black Knights pulled to within 10 after a touchdown and two-point conversion. That was the last time Army scored, however, as the Black Knights shot itself in the foot again. Jenkins forced yet another fumble, and Wilson capped off the drive with a one-yard touchdown run to put the Mean Green up 35-18. Senior safety James Gray picked off junior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw to finish off the ballgame. With the victory, North Texas improves to 3-0 this season when scoring 21 points or more and are two victories away from a bowl game. Next up: The Mean Green travel to take on UTSA at 6 p.m. Saturday. Featured Image: North Texas junior running back Jeffery Wilson (26) runs the sideline against MTSU. Colin Mitchell View Full Article

The Denton City Council launched early stages of the process to review the city charter on Tuesday. In a previous work session, the council held a discussion regarding potential revisions to the charter and requested that a resolution be prepared for Oct. 11. The charter has not been revised since 2009, and the conversation was originally spurred by citizens’ call for an formal ethics ordinance to be adopted by Denton local government. But with only one vote for a change to the charter every two years, the prospective changes include more than provisions relating to ethics. “We’re dealing with a wholesale rewrite,” Mayor Chris Watts said. “Potentially, on the charter, on some very, very important decisions.” First assistant city attorney Aaron Leal presented the seven areas for possible modification to the current charter discussed during the prior meeting. Currently the mayor and two members of the council are elected at-large, meaning they can be voted for by all citizens of the city. Potential alterations will see the make-up Denton city government change, with six proposed single-member districts and one at-large mayoral district. But in order to make changes to the city charter, each council member must appoint three Denton citizens to a review committee. The 21 nominees will then be broken into sub-committees of seven and asked to reflect over changes formally prepared by the council. Council members also discussed the progression of recruiting a city auditor and the process of hiring a city manager. Over the next months, the council will meet with staff and give direction over a series of candidates for both positions. The brochure for the city of Denton was approved and will pursue adequate candidates for the position of city auditor. The city auditor finalists will be chosen and interviewed by council in early January. The Downtown Reinvestment Grant Program, a program that provides cash reimbursement grants to businesses for improvements to buildings in the downtown area, will also see changes. Improvements may include new awnings, signs and utility upgrades for certain businesses. The council will continue to deliberate over whether the grant should be extended to any small businesses on Fry Street, Dallas Drive and on the Interstate-35 corridor. View Full Article

It’s the middle of October, which means we’re at the halfway mark for a few things. For one, the semester is half over and mid-terms are lurking over students like hawks. On a more positive note, North Texas football is at the halfway point of its 2016 campaign. Just as I predicted at the beginning of the season (I didn’t), the Mean Green are sitting pretty at 3-3 with a 2-1 record in Conference USA. So unlike last year when North Texas had the dreaded and inexplicable week one bye, the Mean Green now get a much-needed week off in the heart of their three-month trudge, which gives us time to answer the following question. What the heck is happening in Denton, and are we actually seeing #NewDenton? Yes, yes we are. The numbers are pretty convincing. In 2015, the Mean Green scored 182 points all year. Through six games in 2016, North Texas has scored 155 points. Go back and read those last two sentences. Really soak it in, because that is absolutely incredible. The offense is night and day better. The Mean Green are averaging 25.8 points per game this season, 10.6 points higher than their 15.2 average from last year. True freshman Mason Fine was called upon in week one to lead the offense and has been sublime. Fine has only coughed the ball up twice in six weeks, throwing an interception at Florida and fumbling last week against Marshall. You can’t ask much more from your freshman quarterback, who is probably worried about his English 1310 mid-term this week. And while the offense has improved by leaps and bounds, the real story of this team is the defense. Under first-year defensive coordinator Mike Ekeler, North Texas’ defense is holding opponents to 28.7 points per game. Last year, opponents averaged 41.2 points per contest. When you cut your opponents scoring almost in half, you’re going to win some football games. Even though the wins have come against schools with a combined record of 1-13, each victory counts exactly the same as North Texas pushes for its first bowl game since 2013. Junior defensive back Kishawn McClain has stepped up into a leadership role and has gone above and beyond. He has been crucial to the defense’s success and leads the team in interceptions with three. In fact, the defense has been what has kept them in a majority of games. Against Middle Tennessee State University, the Mean Green thwarted off the Blue Raiders for nearly an entire half before surrendering a slim seven-point lead. Against Marshall University, the defense forced The Thundering Herd to settle for field goals, which were missed on both occasions. The offense then went out and strung together a few scoring drives that put them in the driver’s seat, and the defense sealed the deal with a pick-six. Hallelujah. Light the tower, because that is how you win games. Featured Image: Junior running back Jeffery Wilson (26) celebrates after scoring against MTSU. Colin Mitchell View Full Article

Matthew pelts Fla. with rain View Full Article

Another reason the Mean Green appeared to turn a corner Saturday was the fact they were able to seal the deal and get the win. Even though the defense looked shaky giving up 17 points in the first quarter, the team battled back. If this team had a double-digit deficit last year, forget about it. You could have kept the teams in the locker room because the Mean Green were not coming back. But this is a new team, and sometimes it isn’t about how you start, it’s how you finish. The defense finished. They forced three fumbles and grabbed an interception, not to mention their effort on the final play, where they stuffed Rice on fourth and inches. Even more impressive, they did it in double-overtime and on the road. Guts. It was pure guts and determination to blow that play up and win the ballgame. When you get tested on the road and overcome, it does wonders for a locker room. The celebration was pandemonium. It meant a lot to the guys in green. They now have invaluable experience to carry with them as the season goes on. The defense did its job, and so did the offense. Ivery and junior Jeffrey Wilson pounded the ball on the ground, leading to a career day for Wilson. The receivers stepped up with 17 total catches between eight players for 224 yards. The offense went blow-for-blow with Rice in overtime. As it stands, North Texas is 2-2 at the end of September. Through four games, the Mean Green has doubled its win total from 2015. The win against Rice gives North Texas momentum before Middle Tennessee State University comes to town on Saturday, a team Littrell has called “elite.” If the Mean Green want to make a bowl game, they will have to beat two of the Conference USA powerhouses. Saturday is a perfect opportunity to catch Middle Tennessee off guard, and move one step closer to playing football in December. View Full Article

Late in the second quarter of North Texas’ game against Bethune-Cookman University, freshman quarterback Mason Fine dropped back on third down and surveyed the field. With no options open, Fine darted up the middle and quickly realized he had a decision to make: slide and avoid the safety, or lower his shoulder. All 170 pounds of him opted for the latter, as Fine levied the boom and picked up 25 yards. And he could not have done it without beef jerky. Excuse me, @Masonfine09! 25-yard run for a first down #GMG #BeatBCU pic.twitter.com/3wFAo5Dvzc — #NewDenton (@MeanGreenFB) September 11, 2016 “I always keep a bag of beef jerky [with me before games],” Fine said. “I started that when I was a freshman in high school and I’m not going to stop. That’s just one superstition that I have.” Rituals, routines and lucky items are common in every sport. When the football team runs onto the field, about half of the guys drop to a knee and say a quick prayer before heading to the sidelines. One of the football players with a unique routine is junior running back Jeffrey Wilson, who got this idea from his father. “Before every game, I walk to each goal post,” Wilson said. “I pray at the first one, then I stop in the middle of the field and pray again, then I go to the other goal post and say my last prayer there. When I get back to the eagle I look at both end zones and tell them that I’ll be back.” From a meal to a nap, most players have something that gets them mentally prepared for a game. For Mean Green volleyball, it’s as simple as jamming out to their favorite tunes. “We usually listen to music and dance in the locker room,” junior middle blocker Amanda Chamberlain said. “Everybody’s dancing and having fun, and we just get our minds off of the game so when we come out it’s time to focus.” The volleyball team is a cohesive unit, and their relationships off the court help them on it, however, the team is a little peculiar as far as pregame rituals are concerned. Junior outside hitter Alexis Wright wakes up hours earlier than usual on game days, and usually eats grilled chicken, not fried. Chamberlain prays before coming out of the locker room. But senior setter Amy Henard may have the oddest routine of them all. “This is really weird,” Henard said. “But, I shave my legs the night before [a game]. It’s a superstition that I have.” View Full Article

In a game that was more intense on the field than on the scoreboard, North Texas football fell to No. 23 Florida University 32-0 in the swamp. “We’ve just got to play much better than that overall,” head coach Seth Littrell said. “I think it all stems from the week of practice the offense had. I just didn’t feel like they were a week better.” The Mean Green defense came out strong though, forcing a punt on Florida’s opening possession. The Gator defense, not to be out done on its home turf, went straight after North Texas, and sacked Fine in the end zone for a safety to gain a quick 2-0 lead. Unfazed, the Mean Green defense came back out and made a red zone stand, limiting the Gators to a field goal. “The defense had an unbelievable week,” Littrell said. “The defense was a week better. When you’re playing against a team like that, they’ll expose you if you don’t execute.” Things got chippy in the third quarter when junior linebacker Joshua Wheeler hit Del Rio low and from behind, forcing him to leave the game. Littrell and Florida head coach Jim McElwain got into a verbal dispute defending their guys, and the fire carried onto the field as players tussled after the whistle plenty of times throughout the remainder of the game. “We were both fighting for our guys,” Littrell said. “That was his guy, his quarterback, and he was fighting for his team. [The hit by Wheeler] wasn’t on purpose. He wasn’t trying to cheap shot him.” View Full Article

UNT students waited a long time to see North Texas football win a game. Between the Mean Green’s lone win last season to their victory against Bethune-Cookman University this past Saturday, 315 days passed. Indeed, there was football fever around UNT, due in large part to the hiring of new head coach Seth Littrell. Many were eager to see the team back on the gridiron and how he plans on revitalizing the team. And although 2015 was a tough year to be a North Texas fan, many students have put it behind them and are excited about the new squad. Theater freshman Samantha Matamoros is intrigued by the football team due to her and Littrell sharing a common denominator. “I’m new, he’s new, so it’s like a fresh start,” Matamoros said. “Since he’s new, obviously he needs some more time to train the football players, so it’s going to take a while for us to get to where we want to be.” When it was first announced Littrell was going to be the next head coach, many people were aware of his success at the University of North Carolina. He was the offensive coordinator that helped transform a team with seven losses in 2014 to a team that lost in the ACC championship game in 2015. UNC was also well-known for its offense, finishing 12th in the nation in total yards last year. Aside from his impressive accolades, sociology senior Candice Reilly was intrigued by Littrell for something he does off the field. “I think what made me excited was all of his funny tweets that he would [send] when he first got hired,” Reilly said. “He quoted Tupac and I thought that was funny. He seems like a good guy. He seems like a family man.” View Full Article

In the Pro Football Hall of Fame sits a bronze bust of a University of North Texas alumni. Charles Edward Greene was enshrined in football history in 1987. He’s more widely known as “Mean Joe Greene,” and is easily the most recognizable football player to come out of UNT. So why is he not enshrined on the very campus where he studied and played? You can pull the nickname but not give him a statue? Joe Greene was taken with the fourth overall pick of the 1969 NFL draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers and played 13 seasons with them. He was a 10-time Pro Bowler, a four-time Super Bowl champion and a central piece of the “Steel Curtain” defense. You can’t honor this man, North Texas? It’s hard to argue against Joe Greene, considering the school’s nickname comes from him. I know the fans and other alumni want it. Just look around at some of the very serious motions by fans to make this project happen. If North Texas athletics does not want to pull from the athletic budget, I am honestly curious if they would consider getting the statue crowd funded. A lot of people would throw money into a GoFundMe. If those events transpire, then it just boils down to one thing: would the athletic department take the money for the project? The fact a statue has not been built yet is almost baffling to me. Joe Greene was such a success story to come out of this university. Why would you not want to honor that for all eternity? He was a fairly local product, who stayed in his home state to go to college, which at the time was still relatively small at the time. He went on to win Super Bowls and be a part of one of the most iconic defenses in history. In fact, he was a cornerstone of that defense! He’s one player that everyone looks back and thinks, “wow.” But not only do the people who were around during that time period remember him, all football fans remember him and most average people remember him. View Full Article

A 24-year-old man was found dead on a bench between the Wells Fargo building and the First United Methodist Church of Denton Thursday morning, Denton police spokesman Shane Kizer said. Kizer said a Wells Fargo employee called the police at 8:29 a.m. Authorities responded immediately. They found him with his cellphone, wallet, keys and jewelry on his lap. Police found no signs of trauma, foul play or theft, Kizer said. Kizer said it’s unlikely the man was homeless and it is not clear if he is a student. Police are awaiting the Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office to release the man’s name. View Full Article

Disappointment was served under the lights of Apogee Stadium on Saturday night. It was his first game in charge, but head coach Seth Littrell was not pleased with his team’s performance — a 34-21 defeat at the hands of Southern Methodist University. “I think we played awful, to be honest with you,” Littrell said. “That’s not our standards. We have higher expectations.” Despite the loss, morale in the locker room was not doom and gloom. Instead, they are looking at week two as a new opportunity. “I’m telling y’all, we’re going to win,” Goree said. View Full Article

The buzz Apogee Stadium had at kickoff was diminished by the time the clock ran out, as North Texas was defeated by Southern Methodist University 34-21 on Saturday night. The game was the debut for head coach Seth Littrell. SMU (1-0) got the party started two minutes into the game when sophomore running back Xavier Jones streaked down the field for a touchdown to put the Mustangs up 7-0. SMU continued to dominate the first quarter when sophomore receiver Courtland Sutton broke free for an 88-yard touchdown reception from freshman quarterback Ben Hicks. Sutton had a big game, and finished with four catches for 162 yards and three touchdowns. Senior quarterback Matt Davis ran circles around the Mean Green (0-1) defense all night, constantly escaping the pocket and avoiding pressure. He was a pivotal reason the Mustangs converted 57 percent of their third downs. The big play of the first half came when SMU converted a third and 45 near midfield. After eluding pressure once again, Davis rolled out and heaved a prayer to the end zone that Sutton came down with. The catch put SMU up 24-7 as intermission neared. North Texas’ senior quarterback Alec Morris threw three interceptions in the first half, but also connected for two touchdown passes. Morris answered the bell before halftime though, hooking up with freshman tight end Kelvin Smith, who somersaulted over the goal line to narrow the deficit to 24-14. The play capped a well-executed two-minute drill and gave North Texas momentum for the second half. But SMU came out of the locker room swinging, as Sutton etched his name onto the score sheet again when Davis found him in the corner of the end zone. He hauled it in one-handed with a Mean Green defender draped over him for the score. That was the turning point, as North Texas’ offense stalled throughout the third quarter, unable to put any points on the board. The Mustangs jumped out to their largest at 34-14 on a field goal later in the third quarter, which virtually extinguished any hope of a Mean Green comeback. Morris was benched in the fourth quarter in favor of freshman quarterback Mason Fine, who led North Texas on its only touchdown drive of the second half. By playing in the game, Fine is unable to be redshirted, and will not gain an extra year of collegiate eligibility. Next up: The Mean Green host Bethune-Cookman University at 6 p.m. on Saturday. View Full Article

Editor’s Note: The North Texas Daily sports staff has weighed in on the upcoming North Texas football season. Here is our first round table discussion of the year. Our staff: Reece Waddell (RW), Clay Massey (CM), Matt Brune (MB), Courtney Anderson (CA), Austin Jackson (AJ), Tyler Lucius (TL) Q1: Can Seth Littrell experience success in his first year? RW: Well, I suppose it depends on how we’re defining success. In my opinion, after sitting through every agonizing game of the 2015 season, success is simply improving on last year’s train wreck — which shouldn’t be difficult. That said, I’m inclined to say yes, Littrell will experience success in his first year. He will win a few games, and should do enough to keep students and fans engaged. CM: If we’re defining success as having a better record than last year, then yes, absolutely. Littrell will put this team in position to make a bowl game with the pieces he has brought in and with his coaching philosophy. MB: I’m sure that everyone and their mothers have heard about Littrell’s “Let it Fly” slogan for the team this year. And yes, he does have a spread quarterback in a spread offense which will mean 40+ passes a game. However, the other end of the passing connection, the receivers, are largely unknown and most likely not great. That, along with a shaky offensive live will put constant pressure on an equally shaky defense. So to answer your question, Littrell probably won’t have success. CA: I think it depends on what your definition of success is for this first-time head coach, especially since he’s coming in during the first year of a rebuilding period. Do I think North Texas will be conference champions and go to a bowl game like in 2013? Absolutely not. Do I think the Mean Green will win more than one game and not get blown out on homecoming 66-7? Yes. AJ: Success is a relative concept and with the parade of tragic and historic new lows in the rear-view mirror, a season that’s just a smidge better than historically bad will put Littrell’s year-one campaign in the successful column. That said, Littrell could go 0-12 this year and still be a success. I think the true mark of a successful inaugural season won’t be evidenced in wins and losses this year but by creating a culture and system that pays dividends down the road. After all, Bill Snyder led Kansas State to a McCarney-sequel 1-11 record his first year. TL: The Mean Green are returning from a one-win season and will hit the gridiron with a vengeance. Seth Littrell and the crew plan to make the student body actually care about North Texas football again, since they can’t do much worse than their 1-11 mark last year. The team will also feature a new-look spread offense that should add excitement, and hopefully points, to the scoreboard. Q2: What will be the team’s biggest strength? RW: Without question the secondary is the group that possesses the most talent. Ashton Preston, KiShawn McClain, Nate Brooks and others will man the back end of an otherwise shaky defense. If the front seven are able to get after the quarterback, look out. This unit could surprise some people. CM: Defense. That secondary will be much better than they were last year. There will absolutely be struggles, but this team will one day pride itself on a strong defense if these guys can lay the ground work in these first two years under Littrell. MB: The head coach. Litrell has come off as a fresh new personality that connects with players and instills confidence. A good coach can get their players to compete regardless of situation or opponent, and I believe (somewhat blindly) that Litrell can get the team to compete on every down. Quarterback Alec Morris will also keep the team in games as well, as he appears to be comfortable with the scheme and play style. CA: The fresh coaching staff and multiple options for quarterback can both be seen as strengths. We have the elder Alec Morris transferring from Alabama who will start on Saturday against SMU, and freshman Mason Fine, the only two-time Oklahoma Gatorade Player of the Year. AJ: With Alec Morris at the helm of Littrell’s high-octane offense that averaged nearly 500 yards per game for North Carolina in 2015, I think the offense, and more specifically quarterback play, will represent an exciting and much needed improvement that can keep the Mean Green competitive. TL: Graduate transfer from Alabama Alec Morris will be leading the fast-paced air raid offense. Having a quarterback with the talent to go to Alabama starting for a team that lost 11 games is always going to be an upgrade. He will be the biggest factor that plays into Littrell’s success this year. Q3: What will be the team’s biggest weakness? RW: There’s too many to choose from, but I’m going to go with maturity. This team has not been “there,” with the exception of Morris, who won two national titles with the Crimson Tide. I’m worried about the grind of a 12-game season, and especially worried if they get off to a slow start. Will the team respond and band together, or pack it in? CM: Depth at offensive line and wide receiver will be a very big concern, especially down the road. Managing downs played will be massive with both of those positions in a fast tempo offense like Littrell will want to run. If the o-line cannot be managed, this team will not succeed. They lost a big center piece in Kaydon Kirby, and it will be interesting if Sam Rice can settle in. MB: The offensive line worries me, largely because depth is crucial in a high tempo offense and there seems to be a sparse supply of it. The receivers will need to run precise routes and get open fairly quickly to keep Morris upright. The team lost 208 yards last year on 27 sacks allowed and could have even worse numbers after this season. CA: The unpredictability of having many transfers and freshman is what concerns me. Will they all have the maturity and intensity it takes to work as a team and win football games? Will they have a solid offensive line after a handful of guys left the team last season? We will have to wait to find out what truly is North Texas’ biggest weakness. AJ: With just 68 players on scholarship, a number more comparable to an FCS, depth looks to be a big hurdle this team has to clear, especially at the pace they want to play offensively. TL: Depth will be the biggest weakness for North Texas on both sides of the ball. Many offenses in today’s college football run fast tempo, which is always a challenge for any defense when it comes to keeping guys fresh. The air-raid offense runs through many receivers and running backs, and with the Mean Green struggling with depth this year, it could really cost them. Q4: Final record prediction RW: Contrary to what some people believe, I do not sit in a dark lair playing North Texas football bloopers on a loop hoping for failure. Instead, I consider myself a realist. And after watching every game last year, sometimes against my better judgement, I know what this team is up against. They were 1-11 in 2015, and just have not added enough talent to make a big jump record-wise. Final record: 4-8 CM: Some readers, general public and students of the University of North Texas were not pleased with my recent column. Look, I said they would be better than last year, but not good. Will they push for a bowl game? Maybe. We’ll have to see. It is doubtful they do, but if all the pieces line up, a bowl game could be possible. Final record: 5-7 MB: In this rebuilding year, the Mean Green have a lot of unknowns, but they also have a lot of potential. They will struggle on both sides of the ball this year as Litrell was limited on what he was able to do to improve this team’s personnel. According to ESPN’s College Football Power Index (FPI), North Texas is only favored in one game this year — week two against Bethune Cookman. I think they win that game and defeat either SMU in week one or UTSA in week nine. Final record: 2-10 CA: I’m basing this prediction off what our scores were against teams North Texas played last season and teams North Texas didn’t play last season. I can see North Texas beating Bethune-Cookman, Marshall, Army, UTSA and UTEP. I hope North Texas proves me wrong and dominates, but I think there is too much uncertainty to expect anything more at the moment. Final record: 5-7 AJ: After North Texas beats SMU, I predict we see #NewDenton finish out the season with games we’re more accustomed to seeing. The depth will be an issue, especially after going down to play Florida, but the offense will #LetItFly, keeping the team competitive. Final record: 3-9 TL: The Mean Green will without question be better than what they were a year ago, especially with Littrell and Morris behind the wheel. They won’t win the conference but they’ll finish somewhere in the middle. Final record: 5-7 Featured Image: The most recent redesign of the Scrappy costume debuted in the fall of 2013 at the Homecoming bonfire. Dylan Nadwodny View Full Article

After receiving a donation of $350,000 from UNT alumnus Steven Holmes, the UNT Criminal Justice Department will be opening a new cellphone cyber security lab at the UNT Frisco campus by late September 2016. The cyber laboratory, the first for the area, will be dedicated to assisting police departments and federal agencies in investigations by analyzing cellphone data from devices used in criminal activities. “One of the issues we have found with law enforcement is the analysis of cellphones and cellphone data,” cyber lab director Scott Belshaw said. “So what our lab is going to do, [since] we purchased the equipment and hired the personnel, is we’re going to analyze cellphones for law enforcement. The police department will come in and give us a cellphone and say, ‘We need all the information extracted from this cellphone and put into a format that the prosecutor as well as a police officer can use for their investigation.'” Holmes funded the new lab through connections with the UNT Kuehne Speaker Series, stating that he wanted to fund the project for the impact it will have on all of North Texas. Holmes also wanted to facilitate the investigatory need to help solve crimes. The new cyber crime lab will allow students in the College of Criminal Justice to attain experience with law enforcement and the justice system, as well as offer them training with more advanced technology. “Right now, the research department has already begun,” Belshaw said. “They’ll develop new technologies, as well as examine in two, three, five years from now, what the technology will be like in cyber-forensics. We’re also working with other entities such as the North Texas Crime Commission, which is the consortium of law enforcement agencies in North Texas.” The Frisco satellite campus is located on 2811 Internet Drive. Colin Mitchell Students who wish to become a part of the new crime lab will be selected after applying. Undergraduate and graduate students, depending on what role they will have in the lab, will be assisting the senior analysts, Director Belshaw and the law enforcement. “It’s no different than if you went down and did an internship at a police agency. It’s the same thing,” Belshaw said. “It won’t be where anyone can come, [though] because of the sensitivity of the information and what we’re gathering. We’re handling very sensitive cases when dealing with cellphones.” The Frisco location was chosen for the new crime lab since it acts as a hub for technology for UNT. It also offered UNT a close proximity to the future partners and companies that will work with the crime lab. “The president’s goal has always been to have technology down in Frisco, and he has this vision to be able to grow Frisco as UNT’s Technology hub,” Belshaw said. “I saw it as a perfect marriage. We could put our facility down there and we had the space for it. Space here in Denton is very hard to get when it comes to on campus, but down in Frisco, it was great because we that space.” Involvement in the Frisco crime lab will come at no cost for students thanks to the initial donation which covered the cost of its creation. The lab will also receive additional funding from the classes it will offer for UNT students, as well as from law enforcement and federal agencies who pay the lab for its service in assisting in criminal investigations in the years to come. “There are a couple of labs in the North Texas area, and the problem is that right now, when a police officer brings a cellphone to one of these labs for analysis, it takes between eight and nine months for a cellphone to get back to them,” Belshaw said. “What we’re trying to do at UNT and at the Frisco cyber lab is that we’re trying to take some of that pressure off some of these labs to help prosecute and put more bad guys in jail.” Featured Image: A back view of Talon 2.0. Ranjani Groth View Full Article