Football: It's Meager

NT80 · August 30, 2005

Football: It’s Meager

Redshirt freshman to start for North Texas

08:00 AM CDT on Tuesday, August 30, 2005

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Daniel Meager will start for the North Texas football team against LSU on Saturday night after all.

The redshirt freshman entered fall practice atop the depth chart and ended there as well, but had to go through a heated battle with freshman Matt Phillips to retain the starting job. Redshirt freshman Kellen Haynes also challenged Meager during workouts.

“Daniel will start unless something major happens the rest of the week,” Dickey said late Monday night. “Matt and/or Kellen will play. No one has separated themselves, but Daniel has done slightly better and been in our system longer.”

Dickey said he would likely rotate his quarterbacks throughout the first few games of the season until one takes hold of the job.

The decision to start Meager against LSU is just the latest turn in a quarterback battle that has taken several twists since four-year starter Scott Hall completed his career last season.

Joey Byerly served as Hall’s primary backup last season and ended spring practice as the projected starter, but was declared ineligible over the summer. Byerly’s departure opened the door for Meager who has played well at times, but received some unexpected competition from Phillips.

The former San Angelo Lake View standout entered the fall as a long shot to secure any playing time in his first season at UNT, but has quickly impressed coaches with his arm strength and poise.

Haynes also worked his way into the competition.

“I have been pleased with all of them to be honest,” Dickey said. “I realize they are going to be inconsistent and are young. Someone is going to have to grow up in a hurry to be successful.”

Dickey said he made a decision on who would start in part to ensure Meager would receive most of the practice repetitions over the last few days before the LSU game.

Rotating quarterbacks is not an entirely unfamiliar position for UNT. Andrew Smith took over after Scott Hall was hurt in the 2002 season opener and led the Mean Green to a win over Cincinnati in the New Orleans Bowl.

Smith began the 2003 season as the starter and rotated with Hall, who eventually won back the starting job and led UNT to a third straight Sun Belt Conference title.

The battle between Meager and Phillips had been one of the most intriguing of fall camp for the Mean Green.

UNT monitoring situation in Louisiana

UNT administrators and coaches are closely monitoring the situation in Louisiana, where Hurricane Katrina is battering Baton Rouge.

The Mean Green are scheduled to open their season with a game against LSU on Saturday night. As of Monday, the game was still on.

“The assumption we will go under is that the game will be played,” UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. “We are going to take a charter flight to Baton Rouge on Friday.”

The Tigers did not practice on Monday due to the weather.

The situation hit close to home for Dickey, who served as the tight ends coach at LSU from 1991-93 and still has friends who live in the area.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people in Louisiana and Mississippi,” Dickey said.

UNT could be shorthanded against LSU

UNT will likely play without two members of its defensive line on Saturday in Baton Rouge, La., when the Mean Green take on LSU.

Sophomore T.J. Raymond is still working to meet NCAA requirements to play for the Mean Green this fall.

Isaac Thomas could also miss the game. The redshirt freshman has dealt with heath issues throughout the fall that have prevented him from playing in the heat.

One good bit of news UNT did receive is that tight end Beau Davidson will return in time for the LSU game. The junior has been working to overcome a shoulder injury.

Eagle1855 · August 30, 2005

"Everyone will get a chance to hand the ball off to Jamario or Patrick until one of them proves to be the best hander-off-er"

Nt4Life! · August 30, 2005

Sophomore T.J. Raymond is still working to meet NCAA requirements to play for the Mean Green this fall.

Isaac Thomas could also miss the game.

This dosent help any...

Edited August 30, 2005 by Nt4Life!

MeanGreen61 · August 30, 2005

NT Daily article.

Starting Quarterback Competition Continues

http://www.ntdaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART...0/43140d425d19d

“Our guys are going to manage the game plan,” Dickey said. “When we do decide to put the ball in the air, they know the purpose; to get a first down and keep the drive alive or we are going for a big play.”