Search the Community

For the last eight years there’s been a slumbering giant in the Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex that has finally stretched its arms, let out a big yawn and started stomping around a little. The North Texas Mean Green, led by former Iowa State Cylcones head coach Dan McCarney, took home an impressive 36-14 win over the UNLV Rebels on Wednesday in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, showing they’re back on the map in the Lone Star State. In the early 2000s North Texas had a solid run of success under former head coach Darrell Dickey, winning four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships from 2001-2004 and playing in four consecutive New Orleans Bowls over the same stretch, but winning only one. The stretch of 2005-2012 was a disastrous one for the Mean Green as things regressed under a number of new coaches, and the program floundered to a 13-58 record overall, effectively negating any momentum created by the success of the early 2000s. Plenty of optimism surrounded the arrival of McCarney to Denton, and with just cause. The energetic and fiery Iowa native is slowly moving things back in the right direction, and has compiled an 18-19 record in three seasons for North Texas. Obviously, these aren’t earth shattering numbers, but the 9-4 finish this season and a noted dedication to recruiting local high school talent over the traditional focus on junior college fill-ins has several implications for the program, and the overall balance of power in college football in the state, going forward. Read more at http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football/2014/01/03/north-texas-mean-green-are-lone-star-states-waking-giant/?55T68xmC5hDVB3uf.99