UNT picks up pre-season accolades

[MeanGreen61]

UNT picks up preseason accolades

Cobbs, Thomas share offensive player honors

08:22 AM CDT on Tuesday, July 26, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

NEW ORLEANS — The North Texas football team picked up one distinction that was expected – and another that came as a surprise on the first day of Sun Belt Conference Media Days.

The Mean Green were the overwhelming choice to win the conference title in the preseason coaches poll. That was no surprise considering UNT has won the last four and enters the season with a 25-game conference winning streak.

The mild surprise of the day came when the preseason all-conference team was released. UNT running backs Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas were named Co-Offensive Players of the Year after the coaches’ votes were evenly split.

“For us to be the preseason player of the year together is kind of crazy,” Cobbs said. “We found out that the vote ended up even between us. That is pretty unique. It’s an honor to be on any list with Jamario. I didn’t play last year and he had such a great year, so I was not expecting it.”

Cobbs won the national rushing title in 2003 with an average of 152.7 yards a game and was expected to build on that performance in 2004, but ended up taking a redshirt season after hand and knee injuries cut his campaign short. Thomas took over and went on to win UNT’s second straight rushing title with an average of 180.1 yards a game.

The pair is expected to split time and form one of the most decorated — and potentially one of the most dangerous — tandems of running backs in the nation this season.

“It’s an honor because Patrick is a great running back,” Thomas said of sharing the award.

The success both Cobbs and Thomas have had in the past and the preseason honors they picked up this year will put more pressure on both to perform this season.

“There is no question that Patrick and Jamario deserve all the recognition they are getting,” UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. “Both of them know that people are going to be keying on them this year. They are going to have to perform better than they have in the past to achieve what they want to achieve.”

UNT will look to the duo to help the team extend a pair of impressive streaks this season. The Mean Green have won the last four Sun Belt titles and enter the season with a 25-game conference winning streak.

The Sun Belt’s coaches predicted that UNT would pick up another conference title in their preseason poll. The Mean Green received seven out of eight first-place votes and finished atop the poll with 63 points. Troy was second with 50 points, while Middle Tennessee was third with 45 points.

Louisiana-Monroe picked up the only other first-place vote and finished fifth in the poll.

“It’s nice, but it is more based on our past,” Dickey said. “People’s tendency is vote the team that won the year before. It really does not matter; we still have to play the games. Our goal is to be there at the end of the season as opposed to the beginning.”

Sun Belt officials are hoping that challenge will be tougher than ever before after a landmark season in 2004.

UNT played in the Wyndham New Orleans Bowl last season while Troy played in the Silicon Valley Football Classic, marking the first time the Sun Belt has sent two teams to bowl games in the same year.

“We all need to thank North Texas for what they have done,” Sun Belt commissioner Wright Waters said. “Through Darrell Dickey’s and Rick Villarreal’s leadership they have set the standard. It is interesting because their margin of victory was pretty narrow the first year, then they took a big jump and now it is starting to get smaller. We hope that shows that the rest of the teams are becoming more competitive.”

UNT will lean on several veteran players to lead the Mean Green back to the top of the conference standings, including eight who were members of the preseason all-conference team.

Junior wide receiver Johnny Quinn was named to the squad both as a wide receiver and return specialist after racking up 1,494 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns in his first two seasons at UNT.

Senior offensive lineman Dylan Lineberry joined Cobbs and Thomas to round out UNT’s selections on the offensive side of the all-conference team.

Linebacker Brandon Monroe, who finished second among UNT players in tackles with 63, was among three members of UNT’s defense named to the team. Cornerbacks T.J. Covington and Ja’Mel Branch were also named to the team.

Covington led UNT in fumble recoveries with two last season. Branch switched positions from wide receiver to defensive back during spring practice, although he is expected to see some time on offense.

Before making the switch, Branch was among UNT’s top offensive players. The former Katy standout had 972 receiving yards in three seasons before sitting out last year.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Edited July 26, 2005 by MeanGreen61

[SilverEagle]

"The success both Cobbs and Thomas have had in the past and the preseason honors they picked up this year will put more pressure on both to perform this season."

There will be just as much pressure on the OL this year. Neither of these guys will do well until the OL gels.