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Dan McCarney has never lost to Georgia, but it would take a monumental upset to keep that streak alive. The third-year North Texas football coach was Florida's defensive line coach under Urban Meyer from 2008 to '10, when the Gators won three straight games against the Bulldogs in Jacksonville. Georgia has won the past two meetings against Florida, but McCarney now is trying to rebuild the Mean Green in their first year in Conference USA. They could enter Saturday as five-touchdown underdogs. "I would sure like to bring some of those draft picks we had at Florida to the hotel with me this week," McCarney said Monday. McCarney was Iowa's defensive line coach throughout the 1980s when the Hawkeyes rose to national prominence under Hayden Fry, and he was Wisconsin's defensive coordinator under Barry Alvarez from 1990 to '94 before being named head coach at Iowa State. He guided the Cyclones for 12 seasons and left Ames in 2006 with 56 wins, 85 losses and five bowl appearances, which are all school records. After spending the 2007 season as South Florida's assistant head coach and defensive line coach and the next three seasons in the same roles with the Gators, McCarney got his second crack at heading a program. "I got the opportunity to come here in a state where there is phenomenal high school football, a great university and tremendous administration, and we have nowhere to go but up," he said. "It was a bottom-10 football program when we got here." North Texas had lost 16 of 17 home games before his arrival, but the Mean Green have been a more respectable 11-16 overall since. They are no strangers to stout SEC competition, having lost 41-0 at Alabama in 2011 and 41-14 at LSU last year. Read more: http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/sep/17/mccarney-knows-respects-georgia/

I saw this point mentioned in several threads. After watching the game today on DVR I couldn't agree more. We are quick to call Chico out when we don't like the plays. We should also give him credit when credit is due -- that was possibly one of the best games he has called since being at North Texas. And mark my words, that Ball State team - like Ohio - is good, they are well coached. Chico kept them off balance and mixed things up in a great way for the offense. SO -- HERE'S to CHICO! GREAT GAME COACH!! WE APPRECIATE IT!! GMG!

Read more: http://www.bsufans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2850&start=120

DT -- Buddy you had a TERRIFIC GAME tonight and your run for the TD was fantastic!! I have had my doubts but after tonight I am sorry for doubting your ability to win!! Great night and thanks for getting us the win!! As fans we have a LOT of excitement about this season and getting this win helps a LOT!!! GMG! DT= MVP of Ball State WIN!!

DENTON, Texas -- The Ball State football team built an early lead Saturday at North Texas, but five turnovers proved too much to overcome in a 34-27 road loss. Senior quarterback Keith Wenning topped 300 yards passing for the third straight game, but the Cardinals suffered their first loss of the season to drop to 2-1. North Texas improved to 2-1 with the victory and snapped Ball State’s string of eight straight regular-season wins dating back to last season. Ball State led 27-9 late in the second quarter after Wenning’s second touchdown hook-up with junior receiver Willie Snead. But that was the last time the Cardinals would score. North Texas found the end zone before the half on a 25-yard pass from Derek Thompson to Brelan Chancellor and went on to score 25 unanswered points the rest of the way. The Mean Green took its first lead on a 26-yard touchdown run from Thompson at the 9:47 mark in the final stanza, and that turned out to be the game-winning TD. Ball State racked up 366 yards of offense in the first half, including a 77-yard touchdown run from Horactio Banks, but the Cardinals were held to 130 yards after the break. The Cardinals managed to hold the halftime lead despite three lost fumbles and an interception in the opening half. Reggie Peagram of North Texas ran for a 32-yard score on the opening drive of the second half, and the Mean Green climbed within 27-24 with a two-point conversion. North Texas then tied the game on a Zach Paul field goal in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Defensively, the Cardinals were led by Jeffrey Garrett, who totaled eight tackles. Garrett caused a fumble at the end of the first quarter that led to the Cardinals’ third score of the game. Brian Jones scooped it up and ran three yards into the end zone for his first career TD. Offensively, Wenning threw for 333 yards and two scores. He tossed a pair of interceptions, the first of which ended a streak of 150 passes without a pick dating back to last season. Jamill Smith led the Cardinals in receiving with 115 yards, while Banks ran for a career-high 141 yards. Ball State had the ball twice after North Texas took the lead, but the Cardinals punted after picking up one first down on the first of those drives, and North Texas sealed the game with an interception on the second. Ball State will travel to Eastern Michigan next Saturday for its first Mid-American Conference contest of the season before returning home Sept. 28, when the Cardinals host Toledo at 3 p.m. in Scheumann Stadium. First Quarter Ball State 6, North Texas 0 11:48- Keith Wenning 2-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead. Scott Secor pass no good. 9 plays, 75 yards, 3:26 Ball State 6, North Texas 3 8:12 – Zach Paul 48-yard field goal. 9 plays, 34 yards, 3:36 Ball State 13, North Texas 3 5:28 – Horactio Banks 77-yard touchdown run. Scott Secor kick good. 4 plays, 91 yards, :52 Ball State 20, North Texas 3 :20 – Brian Jones 3-yard touchdown fumble recovery run. Scott Secor kick good. Second Quarter Ball State 20, North Texas 6 11:04 – Zach Paul 22-yard field goal. 11 plays, 70 yards, 4:16 Ball State 20, North Texas 9 6:23- Zach Paul 47-yard field goal. 7 plays, 27 yards, 3:08 Ball State 27, North Texas 9 3:26- Keith Wenning 27-yard touchdown pass to Willie Snead. Scott Secor kick good. 10 plays, 75 yards, 2:57 Ball State 27, North Texas 16 1:50 – Derek Thompson 25-yard touchdown pass to Brelan Chancellor. Zach Paul kick good. 4 plays, 71 yards, 1:36 Third Quarter Ball State 27, North Texas 24 12:37 – Reggie Pegram 32-yard touchdown run. Derek Thompson 3-yard two- point conversion to Drew Miller complete. 7 plays, 74 yards, 2:22 Fourth Quarter Ball State 27, North Texas 27 14:51- Zach Paul 19-yard field goal. 15 plays, 66 yards, 5:32 North Texas 34, Ball State 27 9:47 – Derek Thompson 26-yard touchdown run. Zach Paul kick good. 9 plays, 56 yards, 3:58 Read more: http://ballstatesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=14200&ATCLID=209260581

DENTON, Texas - It took a half for the North Texas defense to solve an explosive Ball State attack, but the Mean Green pitched a shutout in the second half while Derek Thompson led the offense to the biggest NT comeback in over a decade for a 34-27 victory Saturday at Apogee Stadium. North Texas trailed 20-3 in the first quarter before starting the long climb back. Thompson, who turned in another efficient, effective performance, capped the rally by scrambling 26 yards for the go-ahead touchdown with 9:47 to play, and the defense then clamped down on Ball State's final possessions. "You could just feel that we were going to win the game," North Texas coach Dan McCarney said. "Believe, believe, believe." Despite forcing a season-high four turnovers in the first half and getting a strong performance from Thompson, North Texas trailed at halftime, 27-16. North Texas scored just three points off those four turnovers. Dropped passes and penalties forced the Mean Green to punt or settle for field goals, while the North Texas defense surrendered 366 yards to a Ball State team that came into the contest undefeated and averaging 45.5 points per game. Ball State's lead was fueled by big plays, and the Cardinals were not forced to punt until the fourth quarter. But North Texas finally slowed Ball State in the third period, holding the Cardinals to a missed field goal then stopping them on a crucial fourth-down play deep in Mean Green territory. In the fourth quarter, North Texas completely shut down Ball State, allowing just one first down. Will Wright's interception with 1:12 to play ended the Cardinals' final possession and clinched the win. "We don't have a chance if the defense didn't bow its neck like it did in the second half," Thompson said. What They Said "That's the difference between this team and the last couple of years. We're never out of it" --Quarterback Derek Thompson on the rally from 17 down "That's the fastest I've ever seen him run." --Coach Dan McCarney on Thompson's 26-yard scoring run " I run pretty fast when I'm scared." --Thompson on his go-ahead touchdown scamper "We kept clawing away at it and came up with the win." --Linebacker Zach Orr "There's a lot of grit on this team. The seniors want to be remembered for turning this program around." --McCarney on his team's resiliency Quick Hits • Will Wright had his second career interception, a game-clinching pick with 1:12 to play. It was the fifth turnover for the North Texas defense. • Zach Paul made a 48-yard field goal in the first quarter, the first field goal of his career. That matches the longest field goal North Texas made a year ago. Paul made four field goals, including a game-tying 19-yard kick early in the fourth quarter. • North Texas is 7-0 under Dan McCarney when the Mean Green scores 30 or more points. The win lifts McCarney to 11 career victories in his 27th game, making him the fastest to 11 wins at North Texas since Hall-of-Fame coach Corky Nelson in 1984. • North Texas junior defensive back Lairamie Lee forced a fumble and had his first interception of the year (second of his career) in the first half. The Mean Green forced a season-high four turnovers in the first half. • The Mean Green is 2-1 for the first time since 1994. North Texas is 9-4 at home under Dan McCarney, and is guaranteed of finishing September no worse than .500 for the first time since 1994. • Derek Thompson moved into fifth place all-time at North Texas in career passing yards, surpassing Giovanni Vizza. • Ball State scored a touchdown on its opening drive, the third-straight game the Mean Green has surrendered a TD on the opponent's first possession. • Drew Miller became the 14th different receiver to catch a pass this year for North Texas when he pulled in an eight-yard pass in the first quarter. It was the first catch by a Mean Green tight end this year. North Texas completed passes to 15 different receivers in all of 2012. Miller had a career-hhigh three receptions and caught a two-point conversion • Ball State's 77-yard TD run in the first quarter ws the longest play surrendered by North Texas this year. • The opposing defense has scored in two-straight games. Ohio scored on an interception return and Ball State scored on a first-quarter fumble return. • The North Texas defense administered some jarring hits Saturday afternoon. James Jones, Lairamie Lee and Zach Orr forced three fumbles in the first half, all of which were recovered by the Mean Green. • Running back Reggie Pegram had a career-high 32-yard run in the third quarter, good for his second touchdown of the season. • Sophomore defensive back Kenny Buyers had a career-high eight tackles go along with a fumble recovery. Up Next North Texas finishes the non-conferece portion of its schedule with a Sept. 21 contest against the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia. Read more: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/091513aad.html

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Brett Vito has covered North Texas athletics for the Denton Record-Chronicle since 2003. As Ball States football team prepares to head down to the Lone Star state for a meeting with the Mean Green, The Star Press Cardinals football beat writer Ben Breiner caught up with Vito to pose a few questions and get a better sense of Ball States next opponent. BB: In recent years explosive plays have been hard to come by for the Mean Green. Whats changed this season? BV: To be honest, UNT played Idaho to open the season. The Vandals are one of the worst teams in college football. That game padded UNTs stats a little, but I do think UNT has shown the ability to be more explosive at times. Wide receiver Brelan Chancellor is one of the more explosive players UNT has had in recent years and can do it all. He had 283 yards in UNTs season opener and caught an 85-yard touchdown pass. Running back Antoinne Jimmerson is also an explosive player. BB: What did this team take from a close loss at another Mid-American Conference team in Ohio? BV: UNT showed a lot of resolve to come from 14 down to tie the game up and its defense played well in the red zone, but outside of that, not much. UNT is in the midst of a run of eight straight losing seasons, is in its third year under Dan McCarney and really needs to win now. There is a sense around the program that this season is a huge opportunity for UNT and could be a turning point for the program. This is UNTs first year in Conference USA. The point is that McCarney and his players are saying that the time for moral victories has long since past. UNT really needs to win. When a game UNT could have won like Saturdays game against Ohio gets away, UNTs coaches and players are in no mood to talk about taking something from a close loss. Read more: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20130912/SPORTS20/130912017/Ball-State-vs-North-Texas-Know-foe?nclick_check=1