How bad will saturday really be?

ntsumgspe · October 25, 2005

Offense responds after halftime with consecutive touchdowns

Rian Johnson

Staff Writer

October 25, 2005

The Mean Green played its best football of the season in the third quarter of Saturday’s 40-14 loss to Louisiana Tech.

After entering the half trailing 27-0, then surrendering an early second-half field goal, NT found itself facing a 30-point deficit. Then the offense found some life.

Following a Jamario Thomas kickoff return to the NT 43-yard line, the Mean Green drove the ball 57 yards for a touchdown, capped by a 15-yard pass from Daniel Meager to Brandon Jackson. The Mean Green defense then held Louisiana Tech to a three-and-out, forcing a Bulldogs punt.

On its next offensive possession, NT managed to take the ball 69 yards for its second touchdown of the game. Mean Green running back Patrick Cobbs hooked up with Johnny Quinn on a halfback pass for the Mean Green touchdown, marking the first time this season the NT offense has scored multiple offensive touchdowns in a single game.

“Our offense finally got something rolling in the third quarter,” Cobbs said. “We just have to do that for four quarters.”

NT coach Darrell Dickey was impressed with the way his team came out in the third quarter, facing such a large deficit.

“Our guys came out in the second half and really played hard,” Dickey said. “We were down [a lot], and they didn’t give in and didn’t quit. They kept playing hard.”

While he was pleased with the effort in the third quarter, Dickey said the Mean Green has to learn how to perform at the level more consistently.

“I want them to do that from the first kickoff to the last,” Dickey said. “We were not as intense in the first half as we need to be, but … we came back and fought back.”

The Mean Green is also pleased with the ability of its running game to get the ball moving. Dickey said he was glad to see the running game average over five yards a carry for the game, something it had not done so far this season.

“That is the first thing you have to do to get your offense going,” Dickey said. “We are a long ways off, but I am seeing some strides.”

GrandGreen · October 25, 2005

You know its bad. When getting blasted by a bad La Tech team is viewed as a positive. I was at the game and imo the third quarter rally was more a factor of La Tech disinterest and huge lead than anything UNT did.

You can make all the excuses you want. Young team, uninspired coaching,etc; but imo the problem is that this is just not a very talented team. You can't continually depend on recruiting hidden gems to make up for the fact that DD rarely recruits anybody to adversity U that has offers from any other IA Texas schools.

Why DD keeps talking about a young team is beyond me. He starts 6 seniors, 10 juniors, 4 sophs, and two redshirt freshmen. Obviously, with the level of play we have seen from this group the fact that very few young players actually play any significant time does not support the contension that there is a lot of talent at UNT.

untbowler · October 25, 2005

This would probably be more directed for Cerebrus, Harry, or Illuvius

We keep hearing about our awesome Freshman class and with what many consider to be disappointing play, would it not be wise to maybe throw some of the true freshmen into the mix and see how they do?

I know Steve Warren has been playing Safety due to injury and he seems to hold his own.

Why not then Banks, Washington, etc... getting a shot? or will this just be what everyone is saying a rebuilding/reloading year and get ready to dominate next year?

GoMeanGreen1999 · October 25, 2005

LSU has been a little suspect at times this year, and they are definately not the same team with Miles as their coach as they were with Saban. That being said, I think we will hold them under 45, though we probably will not score.

UNTSportsGuy · October 25, 2005

45 in the first half would be nice

untStein · October 25, 2005

45 in the first half would be nice
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45 in the first quarter isnt out of the question either.

VideoEagle · October 25, 2005

Scottie on the other board pointed out the line is 44 and the over/under is 48.

It looks really bad.

GoMeanGreen1999 · October 25, 2005

wow, I didn't realize the line was 44.

MootPoint · October 25, 2005

wow, I didn't realize the line was 44.
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Time to bet the farm boys

H-towngreen · October 25, 2005

That's my question too. With the O-line play so poor why not put in Banks. His would be the biggest body on the line.

Coffee and TV · October 25, 2005

We keep hearing about our awesome Freshman class and with what many consider to be disappointing play, would it not be wise to maybe throw some of the true freshmen into the mix and see how they do?
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I think once a Sun Belt title is out of contention that would be wise, but we know Dickey is pretty loyal to his seniors.

meanrob · October 25, 2005

The last time we went down there that LSU team went 3-8 that year.

We lost 52-0.

I bet the farm.....the cows and the chickens too.

Eagle-96 · October 25, 2005

Guys and Gals, this one could get UGLY. We are playing the #7 team in the country in the toughest place to play in all of college football. The line is 44 points and that may not be high enough.

NT 7

LSU 59

ntsumgspe · October 25, 2005

The line is 44 points and that may not be high enough.
NT 7
LSU 59
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Back up the cash truck ! BEEP BEEP BEEP

GoMeanGreen1999 · October 25, 2005

I question whether or not this team can get close enough to kick a field goal, yet alone a touchdown.

UNT 0

LSU 59

pollock · October 25, 2005

70-0.

THOR · October 25, 2005

lsu - 20

NORTH TEXAS - 10

What's the point of predicting a blowout???? Even the sun shines on a dog's butt every once in a while

UNTLifer · October 25, 2005

I think once a Sun Belt title is out of contention that would be wise, but we know Dickey is pretty loyal to his seniors.
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Why burn red-shirts on this season?

GabeGMG · October 25, 2005

LSU 70

UNT 3

Green92 · October 25, 2005

LSU > 50

UNT < 10

Please let me be wrong, Please!

NT91 · October 25, 2005

LSU-62

NT-14

ThinkGreen21 · October 25, 2005

lsu - 20
NORTH TEXAS - 10
What's the point of predicting a blowout???? Even the sun shines on a dog's butt every once in a while
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Not today my friend..

LSU- 124,679

NT- 2

Stan R · October 25, 2005

We're kind of like that poor Knight in "Monty Python and the quest for the holy Grail" with both arms cut off and both legs cut off screaming "COME BACK YOU SISSY, I"LL BITE YOUR KNEES OFF"!!

res1dg16 · October 25, 2005

LSU 63, UNT 0

IslandEagle · October 25, 2005

Why burn red-shirts on this season?
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Precisely....and to the point. Play the recruits who have already given up their redshirts, but for heaven's sake don't burn redshirts on those who could benefit from an extra year in the program, both from a conditioning and maturity point of view and from a learning the system aspect. That would be throwing good money after bad.

Let's endure this year and get rolling on turning this ship around next year.