MTSU game could be a trap for Mean Green

[MeanGreen61]

Brett Vito: MTSU game could be trap for Mean Green

08:22 AM CDT on Monday, September 5, 2005

Desperation can do wonders for a college football team. Just ask a few North Texas veterans who were playing for the Mean Green all the way back in 2001.

The memories have faded, but players like offensive lineman Jason May and head coach Darrell Dickey remember just what it is like to have their backs against the wall. It’s a feeling that is probably common in Murfreesboro, Tenn., this week.

Middle Tennessee might have looked good at times against Alabama on Saturday. They might have the potential to make a run later in the year.

But make no mistake, this weekend’s game against UNT could be the contest the Blue Raiders’ season is judged by, and that makes it the most dangerous conference game on the Mean Green’s schedule.

The Blue Raiders were in the thick of their game with Alabama at halftime before the Crimson Tide pulled away late.

“There is no question they are a dangerous team,” Dickey said of MTSU. “Our games are always very hard-hitting and physical. Both sides always play with great effort. We have been fortunate to be able to pull them out at the end.”

UNT has never lost a game to the Blue Raiders, winning all four games in the series, including a 24-21 victory in 2001 that started the Mean Green’s 25-game conference winning streak.

If the Blue Raiders are ever going to find a time to turn the tide, this will be the season. MTSU returns nearly all of its starters, has arguably the Sun Belt’s top quarterback in Clint Marks and an opportunity to play at home against an inexperienced Mean Green team that has yet to play a game.

Hurricane Katrina forced UNT to postpone its season-opening game against LSU on Saturday. Skipping that game with the Tigers might be better for UNT in the long run. The Mean Green didn’t take a pounding in the opening week of the season, but they also won’t have any experience heading into their game against the Blue Raiders.

Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager will take his first snap in a college game Saturday. Senior defensive back Ja’Mel Branch will play his first game on defense in years after coming over from the offensive side of the ball.

Safety Aaron Weathers will start his first game after transferring from Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College and his former JUCO teammate Willie Ransom will get a chance to see if his ability to rush the passer from his defensive end slot will translate to the Division I level.

That’s a lot of questions to answer in one night. It’s also quite a few newcomers to put on the field in what could be a match-up of the Sun Belt’s top two teams. MTSU has long had some of the best talent in the league and is under pressure to finally take advantage of it.

A few veterans like May have tried to impart on their young teammates just how tough — not to mention how important — this game will be to the Mean Green.

“They are going to be ready because it’s the first conference game of the year,” said May, a senior offensive lineman who was a redshirt freshman in 2001. “We are making sure that the young guys know that this is a conference game and we don’t lose conference games. We try to win them all.”

That is just what UNT has done since starting the 2001 season with five straight losses. The Mean Green came into their game against MTSU that season as a decided underdog against a team that was 5-0. UNT won that night 24-21 and has not looked back while winning four straight conference titles.

There have been plenty of ups and downs along the way and a few close calls during the streak. That goes with the territory when a streak is spread over four seasons.

What the Mean Green will run into this week is different then all of those previous challenges. UNT has never played a conference game to open the season during the streak and has rarely faced the challenge of starting so many young players in a key game.

Throw in the fact that MTSU will have its backs to the wall, and UNT’s first game of the season has all the makings of a trap for the Mean Green.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. For the Blue Raiders that will mean pulling out all the stops to make sure they end their four-game losing streak to the Mean Green.

UNT knows well what can happen when a team reaches that point of no return. Just a few years ago, the Mean Green were the underdogs and changed the course of the program with a key conference win.

The feat is one the Blue Raiders will aim to duplicate on Saturday.

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

[meanrob]

Honestly, how can this be a "trap" game, we might not even be favored?

[PlummMeanGreen]

No bout' a doubt it, the MUTS have more pressure on them than we do.

You know "IF" we were to flub the dub and somehow even lose this game, I still like our chances to win the SBC because IMO our team will jell and be pretty salty once they get some playing time under their belts.

I feel this game in the Boro' will be what college football is all about and just hope its a clean, well played football game on both sides of the ball.

With our offense and a developing defense, I really do like our chances on the road even if we haven't played a game yet.

If the MUTs don' win this game, I'd sure hate to be in Coach Mac's shoes post-game, because there will be gnashing of teeth and intense feelings among the MUT'sters! (Should we take a Texas Ranger to this game at the Boro'; you know "One Riot--One Ranger?"

PS: I don't look for us to be favored with this game on the road.

Edited September 5, 2005 by PlummMeanGreen

[EagleMBA]

The line in the DMN this morning is that we are a 4.5 point dog.