MTSU tries to loosen Belt from Green's grasp

[MeanGreen61]

Off the muts board.

MTSU tries to loosen Belt from Green’s grasp

By Nate Rau, nrau@nashvillecitypaper.com

September 09, 2005

There’s an old college football coach’s mantra which says teams see the most improvement between their first and second games.

Middle Tennessee is hoping that rings true Saturday when the Blue Raiders host Sun Belt Conference rival North Texas at Floyd Stadium.

If the Blue Raiders are disheartened by the fact they’ve never beaten North Texas, perhaps they can gain some measure of confidence from the fact Saturday’s showdown will be the first game for the Mean Green.

North Texas had its season opener at LSU last week postponed because of Hurricane Katrina. MTSU (0-1) on the other hand, got to measure itself against a solid Alabama team. The Blue Raiders lost, but have something to build off after the 26-7 defeat. The offense, in particular, should have the chance to improve after measuring itself against an excellent ’Bama defense.

“I think it’s an advantage,” senior offensive lineman Marcus Gates said. “We have to fight to correct our mistakes from [Alabama].”

The Mean Green have beaten MTSU and gone on to win the SBC crown each of the past four seasons. North Texas is favored to do so again, but many prognosticators have the Blue Raiders hot on their trail.

“This is our conference rival and we want to play mistake-free, an almost perfect game,” Gates said.

Beating UNT means clamping down on the Mean Green ground attack, which features two solid running backs in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas.

In 2003, Cobbs led the nation in rushing with 152.7 yards per game, but missed last season because of injuries. Thomas filled in and, surprise, led the entire nation in rushing (188.9 yards per game).

"They are two great tailbacks and that is well documented,” MTSU coach Andy McCollum said. “They do a tremendous job. The unknown going into the game is how they will use them.”

Hold your hats

This game could morph into North Texas’ potent running game against Middle Tennessee’s spread passing attack. A high-scoring affair seems likely, given UNT has two rushing champs at running back and the MTSU passing attack has been tested by Bama’s defense. Until proven otherwise, North Texas deserves the benefit of the doubt.

Prediction: North Texas 38, MTSU 35

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/index.cf...s&news_id=44275