Why Louisiana Tech expects 'best shot' from North Texas despite struggles

Harry · November 6, 2019

As Holtz has studied film on the Mean Green, who have had a disappointing 2019 up to this point, what he’s seen hasn’t surprised him. And it doesn’t cause a fiery response. For the Louisiana Tech head coach, it’s the same concern that comes each season matching up with North Texas.

“They’re everything I thought they’d be,” Holtz said.

Saying the 2019 season has not been smooth for North Texas, the preseason favorites to win the Conference USA West division, may be a bit of an understatement. With plentiful starters back from last year headlined by senior quarterback Mason Fine, the Mean Green had their sights set on their second conference championship game appearance in three years.

read more: https://www.thenewsstar.com/story/sports/college/louisiana-tech/2019/11/05/la-tech-football-expects-north-texas-best-shot/4159061002/

ADLER · November 6, 2019

"They're everything I thought they would be, and they're having a very bad season" is the way I read this.

I too think it will ba a long shot for North Texas to upset such a dominant La Tech team with New Years Day 6 aspirations, but, like Mason said, we should give it our best try.

Edited November 6, 2019 by ADLER

UNT Texas Hooligan · November 6, 2019

We always play each other tough, up year or down year. That being said, I don't think we can slow their momentum

Mean Green 93-98 · November 6, 2019

Coachspeak for "I thoroughly expect to whip them, but I need to keep my team focused."

ADLER · November 6, 2019

1 hour ago, Mean Green 93-98 said:

Coachspeak for "I thoroughly expect to whip them, but I need to keep my team focused."

Probably so. No, almost certainly so.

Skip has been around the block a few times. and he has Marshall waiting with an off week.

MeanGreenTexan · November 6, 2019

The only thing I can think that may cause LATech to stumble is the fact they had a bye last week, and may come out slow/rusty.
Punch them in the mouth early (not necessarily the 1-2 combo we gave UTEP with 14 pts in the first 30 seconds, but that would be nice) and maybe we can get them to panic/press.

UNTexas · November 7, 2019

I read it as I don't think they are that good. They are what they are basically. He isn't going to come out and say we suck or gurantee a win but he isn't planning on losing.

Greendylan · November 7, 2019

1 hour ago, UNTexas said:

I read it as I don't think they are that good. They are what they are basically. He isn't going to come out and say we suck or gurantee a win but he isn't planning on losing.

Yeah, honestly over the course of the past couple seasons, the theme that I have picked up on over and over from CUSA coaches (when you look beyond the obligatory "coach speak") is that they do not respect North Texas. They respect Mason Fine, but they do not think the rest of the team has any talent that they need to worry about. Even last year, I kind of got that impression, and I suspect that they're seeing this year as confirmation of their talent assessment.

I don't agree with that sentiment, and I hope our players are noticing.

Sig381 · November 7, 2019

North Texas best shot misfire GIF

UNTLifer · November 7, 2019

3 hours ago, Greendylan said:

Yeah, honestly over the course of the past couple seasons, the theme that I have picked up on over and over from CUSA coaches (when you look beyond the obligatory "coach speak") is that they do not respect North Texas. They respect Mason Fine, but they do not think the rest of the team has any talent that they need to worry about. Even last year, I kind of got that impression, and I suspect that they're seeing this year as confirmation of their talent assessment.

I don't agree with that sentiment, and I hope our players are noticing.

Is that why they picked us to win the CUSA West?

Edited November 7, 2019 by UNTLifer

Greendylan · November 7, 2019

9 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Is that why they picked us to win the CUSA West?

There's a certain degree of gamesmanship in those preseason picks. But, it also does speak to just how highly they think of Fine.

Also, there's this:

https://athlonsports.com/college-football/conference-usa-coaches-talk-anonymously-about-conference-foes-2019

BardDawg · November 7, 2019

Holtz immediately followed that quote up with this one:

“I don’t put on the film and say, ‘Oh wow, they’re not what I thought they’d be.’ I am not anticipating anything other than us having to play our absolute best to have any type of chance to be competitive and win this football game.”

I don't think it's fair to say Holtz is being disrespectful. I think he respects Mason Fine and North Texas greatly.

Harry · November 7, 2019

28 minutes ago, BardDawg said:

I don't think it's fair to say Holtz is being disrespectful. I think he respects Mason Fine and North Texas greatly.

We respect you as well.

Mean Green 93-98 · November 7, 2019

2 hours ago, BardDawg said:

I don't think it's fair to say Holtz is being disrespectful.

Who said he was?

BardDawg · November 8, 2019

2 hours ago, Mean Green 93-98 said:

Who said he was?

I was referring primarily to the below post.

11 hours ago, Greendylan said:

Yeah, honestly over the course of the past couple seasons, the theme that I have picked up on over and over from CUSA coaches (when you look beyond the obligatory "coach speak") is that they do not respect North Texas. They respect Mason Fine, but they do not think the rest of the team has any talent that they need to worry about. Even last year, I kind of got that impression, and I suspect that they're seeing this year as confirmation of their talent assessment.

I don't agree with that sentiment, and I hope our players are noticing.

DeepGreen · November 8, 2019

In the eyes of many CUSA fans, there are only three teams that matter; Louisiana Tech, Marshall, and Southern Miss. Just ask them.

Mean Green 93-98 · November 8, 2019

1 hour ago, BardDawg said:

I was referring primarily to the below post.

That post does not suggest Coach Holtz said anything particularly disrespectful about North Texas. The post is just speculating that C-USA coaches in general do not hold a great deal of respect for North Texas outside of Mason Fine.

Greendylan · November 9, 2019

On 11/7/2019 at 7:54 PM, BardDawg said:

I was referring primarily to the below post.

Woah, woah, woah...

I think Holtz is a class act and a credit to the conference. I didn't mean in any way to imply that he, or any other coaches, were being "disrespectful" in an offensive, personal sense. I meant "respect" in an athletic competition context--as in "the safeties were creeping up since they didn't respect the QB's deep ball." It's not an inappropriate, hateful remark but rather an observation of one's competitive advantage in some area against an opponent.

BardDawg · November 9, 2019

10 minutes ago, Greendylan said:

Woah, woah, woah...

I think Holtz is a class act and a credit to the conference. I didn't mean in any way to imply that he, or any other coaches, were being "disrespectful" in an offensive, personal sense. I meant "respect" in an athletic competition context--as in "the safeties were creeping up since they didn't respect the QB's deep ball." It's not an inappropriate, hateful remark but rather an observation of one's competitive advantage in some area against an opponent.

I didn't take it as a hateful remark. The tenor of this thread is that coach Holtz was speaking "coachspeak" (i.e., that he's not worried about UNT today) and you implied CUSA coaches may not respect the UNT program, sans Fine. I merely added the rest of the quote from Holtz and stated my opinion that I don't think Holtz is the guy to take a program lightly, especially one that--it is clear to me--he respects. I wasn't attacking your post; just responding to it.