UNT- Where Do The Green Go Now ?

MeanGreen61 · December 4, 2005

UNT: Where do the Green go now?

11:46 AM CST on Sunday, December 4, 2005

UNT: Where do the Green go now?

For the North Texas faithful, the holiday season just won’t be the same this year.

Christmas and New Year’s Day will come and go as usual. There just won’t be a trip to the New Orleans Bowl for the Mean Green for the first time in five years, a change that has prompted questions about the status of a program that failed to live up to expectations.

After a drop from four straight conference titles to 2-9, there should be questions.

What there shouldn’t be is a change at the top, at least not when it comes to head coach Darrell Dickey. The former Kansas State quarterback built a winner in Denton, at least in the Sun Belt Conference.

Dickey won four straight conference titles, earned four trips to the New Orleans Bowl and posted three straight winning seasons.

He deserves all the criticism that has come his way for coaching a team that failed to win a game at home this year. The decision to not recruit a junior college quarterback turned out to be a mistake, judging by UNT’s performance this season.

The lack of impact newcomers along the offensive and defensive lines proved to be costly for a team that was dominated up front.

Dickey and his staff made those decisions. After four years of receiving nothing but praise for building bowl teams, that same staff deserves to experience the other end of the spectrum.

Just don’t make the mistake of calling for the university to run off a coach who brought the Mean Green a pair of national rushing champions in Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas and more success than the school has enjoyed in years.

A bad season will put pressure on Dickey to build on that success quickly, and that’s all it should do.

Despite a down year, Dickey has performed remarkably well against his peers in the Sun Belt, a league of like-minded programs with designs of moving up in the world of college football. That has to be at least part of the standard by which he is judged.

There are not a whole lot of coaches out there who have led their teams to four conference titles, let alone four in five years.

That success and improvements in UNT’s facilities have built expectations. And UNT certainly has plenty for its football program that is planted in the middle of a recruiting hotbed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

UNT wants to win games not just against the Sun Belt and other teams stuck at the bottom of the NCAA totem poll, but also against higher-quality opponents. The Mean Green faithful want to see wins over teams they hope to see UNT count as equals, like Tulsa and Louisiana Tech.

That is easier said than done in the Sun Belt, a league that is a tough sell to recruits. The SBC was dominated in non-conference play again this season. UNT certainly didn’t help matters by failing to win out of conference for the second straight year.

To move up, UNT will eventually have to start winning out of the league. Dickey knows that better than anyone.

UNT has taken on a laundry list of the top teams in the country during Dickey’s tenure, including Texas, LSU and Oklahoma, but has also faced Memphis, Tulsa and Southern Miss the last two years. Those last three teams are the caliber of squads UNT needs to find a way to improve on a 7-39 non-conference record in the Dickey era and move up in the college football world.

There is little doubt that will be a test for UNT, which has the challenge of playing in the Sun Belt at Fouts Field, a stadium built in the 1950s.

The obstacle is one UNT will have to overcome by pointing to a new athletic center and academic center, not to mention a desirable location.

After a down year, some will question if Dickey is the right coach for the job. Those questions are inevitable following a 2-9 season. Just remember the three winning seasons and four bowl games that preceded this season’s slide.

Those milestone seasons might seem like they occurred a long time ago now, but they are landmarks in UNT football history. And they show that Dickey deserves a chance to right a ship that drifted off course this season.

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

HighlighT: Patrick Cobbs breaks school rushing record

There wasn’t much to cheer about during North Texas’ 2005 season, with the notable exception of Patrick Cobbs remarkable performance in his senior year with the Mean Green.

Cobbs came back after sitting out the 2004 campaign with a sprained knee and seemingly broke a record or set a new milestone every week. By the end of the year, Cobbs had rushed for 1,154 yards to become just the second player in UNT history to rush for more than 1,000 yards in multiple seasons.

The former Tecumseh, Okla., star also became the 69th player in college football history to rush for more than 4,000 yards in his career and finished with 4,050.

Cobbs managed all of those feats with while displaying class during a frustrating season for the Mean Green.

It is that poise that should be remembered almost as much as the way he set the tone for the Mean Green throughout his career.

LowlighT: Sun Belt slide

When one looks back on it now, North Texas’ unbeaten run in Sun Belt Conference play was a remarkable achievement.

UNT went from the second conference game of the 2001 season all the way through the first conference game of 2005 without dropping a single contest in league play. By the time the streak finally came to an end this season, UNT had won 26 straight in the league.

What followed that streak is without a doubt the most disappointing aspect of UNT’s 2005 campaign.

The Mean Green didn’t just lose one Sun Belt game, they lost five and plummeted all the way to the bottom of the league standings.

The dropoff was dramatic considering UNT had won four straight Sun Belt titles and was picked to win the league title again in the preseason coaches poll.

UNT featured one of the best players the league has ever seen in running back Patrick Cobbs, but never found an effective quarterback or a way to get its defense on track.

UNT had several young players show potential, including safeties Aaron Weathers and Steve Warren.

Those newcomers helped UNT finish third in the league in scoring defense with an average of 20.3 points allowed per league game. Despite finishing among the league’s leaders in points allowed, the Mean Green couldn’t come up with the key stops they needed.

UNT’s struggles offensively and defensively proved costly when the Mean Green lost five games by a total of 21 points in league play.

The last of those losses was a 31-24 loss to Arkansas State in UNT’s season finale at Fouts Field.

The win sent the Indians to the New Orleans Bowl and left the Mean Green wondering what went wrong in a series of Sun Belt Conference losses in a season when so much more was expected, including another conference title.

Offseason dilemmA: Who’s the QB?

North Texas came into the 2005 season with several unanswered questions, including one that will linger into the offseason.

Just who should be the Mean Green’s starting quarterback?

Redshirt freshman Daniel Meager started every game, but struggled at times. Freshman Matt Phillips came on in relief of Meager and rallied the Mean Green on several occasions, but never had a chance to show what he could do as a starter.

UNT coach Darrell Dickey said there is a chance former UNT quarterback Joey Byerly could return to the team in time for spring practice, less than a year after he surrendered his chance to become the Mean Green’s starting quarterback when he was declared ineligible over the summer.

Dickey also said UNT would consider signing a junior college quarterback if the Mean Green can find one who fits their system and can compete for the starting job right away.

No matter what the Mean Green decide to do, they will need to improve their production at the position dramatically. UNT finished last in the Sun Belt Conference with an average of 129.3 passing yards a game.

UNT has never been a team that depended on a potent passing attack, but the Mean Green have proven to be efficient in previous campaigns. Former UNT quarterback Scott Hall finished with 1,818 passing yards in 2004, when the Mean Green managed 157.6 yards a game through the air.

The Mean Green need to return to that level or exceed it to get back to the level it played at just a few years ago. The challenge UNT faces in the offseason is finding a quarterback the Mean Green can depend on to spark their offense.

Roster breakdowN: Who’s back, who’s gone and UNT’s needs for 2006

Quarterbacks

Key losses — None

Key returnees — Sophomores Daniel Meager, Matt Phillips

Waiting in the wings — A possible junior college transfer

Recruiting needs — One junior college gem, one high school standout

Bottom line — UNT made the decision last offseason to go with what it had on hand at quarterback and it came back to bite the Mean Green.

Joey Byerly, the only player with any experience on the college level, became ineligible over the summer. The loss of Byerly thrust redshirt freshman Daniel Meager into the starting lineup.

Meager had his moments and finished with 941 yards passing, but didn’t prove to be the answer UNT’s coaches were looking for at quarterback. Matt Phillips came on and played well in limited action while throwing for 448 yards on just 69 attempts.

UNT had every reason to start Phillips in the regular season finale, but went with Meager.

UNT coach Darrell Dickey says he has confidence in both, but that late-season decision seemed to be a telltale sign.

Dickey said UNT would go after a junior college quarterback if the Mean Green find a player who fits their system and could contribute right away. The Mean Green went after a junior college quarterback last year and missed out.

UNT can’t afford to come up short again. Meager could prove to be the future, but the Mean Green need an insurance policy.

Running backs

Key losses — Patrick Cobbs

Key returnees — Junior Jamario Thomas, senior James Mitchell

Waiting in the wings — Redshirt freshman Evan Robertson

Recruiting needs — A high school tailback or two, plus a fullback

Bottom line — Cobbs was the Mean Green’s heart and soul for the last three seasons. He won the national rushing title in 2003, served as Thomas’ mentor in 2004 and carried UNT in 2005.

Needless to say, UNT’s all-time leading rusher will be missed.

While Cobbs is a key loss, UNT appears to be in position to replace his production with the return of Thomas. The junior won the national rushing title as a true freshman in 2004, but suffered through a hamstring injury in 2005 and never got on track.

UNT must find a way to get Thomas healthy for the 2006 season. Robertson, a 160-pound speedster, could provide an interesting option as a third-down back.

Offensive line

Key losses — OG Jason May

Key returnees — LT Josh Alexander, LG Adam Venegas, C Chad Rose, RG Dylan Lineberry, RT Joel Foster, RT Jeremy Brown

Waiting in the wings — Ajani Banks

Recruiting needs — A couple of junior college linemen and a handful of high school recruits with a shot at playing at the 290-300 pound range

Bottom line — Patrick Cobbs finished with 1,154 yards rushing, but there was no doubt that UNT’s offensive line was disappointing at times.

The Mean Green struggled to open holes for Cobbs and fellow former national rushing champion Jamario Thomas and lacked the chemistry it had with senior center Andy Brewster in 2004.

The Mean Green were also small for a Division I-A line, even by Sun Belt Conference standards. UNT’s scheduled starters for its regular season finale averaged 288 pounds a player, bringing to mind the line an old lady made famous in a burger commercial back in the 1980s: Where’s the beef?

UNT needs to get bigger and stronger to compete at the level it wants to attain. Banks, a 325-pound lineman, is an intriguging prospect because of his size and will have a chance to show what he can do in spring practice.

receivers/tight ends

Key losses — None

Key returnees — WRs Johnny Quinn, Brandon Jackson, Zach Muzzy and Joel Nwigwe, TEs Robert Harmon, Jimmy Chaney and Charles Brown

Waiting in the wings — TE Brock Stickler

Recruiting needs — A high school wide receiver or two to redshirt

Bottom line — UNT was loaded at wide receiver last season, although it was tough to notice with the way the Mean Green struggled at quarterback.

Johnny Quinn is simply one of the best wide receivers in the Sun Belt and Brandon Jackson is a potential star.

UNT’s receivers have the ability to make plays, but didn’t get enough chances.

Defensive line

Key losses — DE Eli Hutchinson, DL Chris Miller

Key returnees — DEs Jeremiah Chapman and Willie Ransom, DL Montey Stevenson, Sky Pruitt and Joseph Miller

Waiting in the wings — DT Robert Peachey, David Collins and Jonathan Stewart

Recruiting needs — Linemen with size from both the high school and junior college ranks

Bottom line — UNT didn’t have the size or strength to deal with offenses in the Sun Belt or out of conference. The Mean Green finished last in the Sun Belt in rushing defense with an average of 220.9 yards allowed a game and wasn’t much better in conference play.

UNT gave up a whopping 214.6 yards a game on the ground in league play, nearly 25 yards a game more than Florida Atlantic’s average of 189.9 yards a game. The total can be attributed in large part to UNT’s play up front.

The Mean Green desperately need to find a few big and talented interior defensive linemen.

The outlook is a little brighter at defensive end, where a healthy Ransom and a more experienced Chapman could help the team improve.

Linebackers

Key losses — None

Key returnees — Maurice Holman, Brandon Monroe, Phillip Graves, Derek Mendoza, Shawn Early

Waiting in the wings — Tobe Nwigwe

Recruiting needs — High school players to redshirt

Bottom line — UNT lacked the physical presence at linebacker it had in previous seasons, but still had some effective players. Graves had 16 tackles against Louisiana-Monroe, while Holman had 15 against Troy.

The return of Early could make UNT stronger. The senior missed the season with a knee injury and used the year off to get bigger and stronger.

UNT will also add Nwigwe to the mix. He drew interest from Colorado coming out of high school and could add a physical presence. All the returning talent could make UNT better next year.

Defensive backs

Key losses — CB T.J. Covington and Ja’Mel Branch

Key returnees — SS Aaron Weathers, FSs Steve Warren and Roderick Cotton

Waiting in the wings — S Kartay Agbottah, CB Antoine Bush, Dominique Green, Korey Washington

Recruiting needs — A junior college cornerback

Bottom line — UNT has a pair of solid safeties in Weathers and Warren, but needs help at cornerback.

Weathers and Warren were pleasant surprises last season in their first seasons with the Mean Green. Weathers finished among the Sun Belt Conference’s leaders in tackles with an average of 10.3 a game while Warren showed potential after making the switch from playing quarterback in high school.

UNT lost both of its starting cornerbacks in Covington and Branch and will look to a freshman class loaded with defensive backs to fill the void. Bush and Green could be the future for UNT, but a junior college player to provide experience wouldn’t hurt.

Specialists

Key loses — K Nick Bazaldua

Key returnees — P Truman Spencer

Recruiting needs — UNT needs to find a replacement for Bazaldua

Bottom line — UNT featured one of the most consistent kickers in Bazaldua the last few years and needs to find a replacement for the former All-Sun Belt Conference selection

— Brett Vito

Edited December 4, 2005 by MeanGreen61

ntmeangreen11 · December 5, 2005

So, we have 17 starters returning to this team, thats good, when does spring ball start?

Mean Green 7 wins in 06'

Cooley · December 5, 2005

I know you can't address all the needs in one recruiting class but I'd like to replace most of the returners.

We have seen better football before the Dickey era!

I'm sorry but I am not impressed winning the Sun Belt anymore.

Just my opinion

MeanGreenBuzz · December 5, 2005

My biggest concerns are at K and DL. Between Byerly and Phillips I think we will be OK at QB. We need to get pressure on opposing QBs next year and be able to stop a running back AT or BEFORE the line, not 5 yards downfield at he LBers. Cross your fingers that there are JUCO kickers around that are good because I have seen those that are waiting for our starting job and its just plain scarry.

NT80 · December 5, 2005

UNT wants to win games not just against the Sun Belt and other teams stuck at the bottom of the NCAA totem poll, but also against higher-quality opponents. The Mean Green faithful want to see wins over teams they hope to see UNT count as equals, like Tulsa and Louisiana Tech.
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The SunBelt bunch should be warm up games for us each year like they are for all other 1-As. We have fallen further than most realize because of the 4-Championships hoopla. 7-39 is our real record the past 8 years in 1-A.

meangreendork · December 5, 2005

I know you can't address all the needs in one recruiting class but I'd like to replace most of the returners.
We have seen better football before the Dickey era!
I'm sorry but I am not impressed winning the Sun Belt anymore.
Just my opinion
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Most of us aren't, either. With a SunBelt sending a 6-5 or 5-6 team to a bowl game as its representative, the Belt is just awful.

SilverEagle · December 5, 2005

My biggest concerns are at K and DL. Between Byerly and Phillips I think we will be OK at QB. We need to get pressure on opposing QBs next year and be able to stop a running back AT or BEFORE the line, not 5 yards downfield at he LBers. Cross your fingers that there are JUCO kickers around that are good because I have seen those that are waiting for our starting job and its just plain scarry.
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I've never seen a program bring in a Juco kicker (I'm sure someone will bring up an example ........however obscure it might be), but I've seen programs regularly replaced their kickers with walk-ons during spring practice.

I'm more interested in bringing in an "impact" (double entendre intended) mid-term JUCO D-man...or two if possible. As well as some JUCO beef in the OL. I have no idea why we have someone on our roster that is listed as a 6'2" X 244 O-lineman. And while I'm at it, I don't know why we have a 5'11" X 267 O-lineman on or roster.

Edited December 5, 2005 by SilverEagle

bison · December 5, 2005

Fouts was built in the 1950's; when was Memorial Stadium in Austin built and please don't say they have upgraded -- they have added seats because of demand but the basic facilities are just like Fouts, Amon Carter, etc.

FACILITIES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM -- IMAGE IS AND DD IS NOT HELPING THE IMAGE!!

Edited December 5, 2005 by bison

j0nat8an · December 5, 2005

My biggest concerns are at K and DL. Between Byerly and Phillips I think we will be OK at QB. We need to get pressure on opposing QBs next year and be able to stop a running back AT or BEFORE the line, not 5 yards downfield at he LBers. Cross your fingers that there are JUCO kickers around that are good because I have seen those that are waiting for our starting job and its just plain scarry.
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who have you seen? the one time i stopped by i saw some skinny guy kicking, but he made like 30 in a row (maybe that's an exageration, but not by much)

SilverEagle · December 5, 2005

who have you seen? the one time i stopped by i saw some skinny guy kicking, but he made like 30 in a row (maybe that's an exageration, but not by much)
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from how far out was he kicking?

j0nat8an · December 5, 2005

from how far out was he kicking?
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i don't remember exactly, but i think he started where an extra point would be kicked (10 yard line ?)and then moved back five yards each time. he'd kick a round of like 5 balls at each spot and then move back, so if 30 was what i saw, then he made it back to the 35 yrd line. i obviously wasn't watching too intently, but he looked pretty good.

Coffee and TV · December 5, 2005

I thought I read a friend of Baz's family posted here and the Bazaldua's said there was a Div II kicker transferring in and was supposed to be really really good. Maybe I daydreamed this but someone here can probably confirm.

SilverEagle · December 5, 2005

I thought I read a friend of Baz's family posted here and the Bazaldua's said there was a Div II kicker transferring in and was supposed to be really really good. Maybe I daydreamed this but someone here can probably confirm.
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Now if someone will just tell us that a DT like Michael Pruitt or Evan Cardwell has transferred to North Texas.........

SilverEagle · December 5, 2005

UNT: Where do the Green go now?
To move up, UNT will eventually have to start winning out of the league. Dickey knows that better than anyone.
SINCE WHEN?

j0nat8an · December 6, 2005

Now if someone will just tell us that a DT like Michael Pruitt or Evan Cardwell has transferred to North Texas.........
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that'd be really nice

LongJim · December 6, 2005

Fouts was built in the 1950's; when was Memorial Stadium in Austin built and please don't say they have upgraded -- they have added seats because of demand but the basic facilities are just like Fouts, Amon Carter, etc.

DKR was completed in 1924.

Since then: (from MBTF.com) here are some major improvements/additions--which are a bit more than just "added seats"--and far outstrip "basic facilities...just like Fouts":

A product of University of Texas and state pride, the stadium was financed through donations from both students and alumni. The estimated cost of the structure was $275,000.

The first stages of the ambitious ($90M+ DKR remodeling) project were completed in 1996. They included the installation of a sophisticated grass playing field in the stadium, the addition of a Jumbotron video system and retrofitted scoreboard and the completion of the Frank Denius Practice Fields.

Progress continued in 1997 with the addition of 14 stadium suites on the west side of the stadium. The first major construction to the facility since the upper deck was added in 1972 also included a total remodeling of the underside of the stands, including a new concession plaza and a visitors locker room in the northwest corner of the stadium.

The dramatic changes that took place at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium for the 1998 football season included the addition of a 5,000-seat upper deck on the east side. The massive construction included 52 new stadium suites and a 13,000 square-foot private club room.

FACILITIES ARE NOT THE PROBLEM -- IMAGE IS AND DD IS NOT HELPING THE IMAGE!!
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Facilities are improving, and need to keep improving in order for UNT to compete successfully at 1A level.

FirefightnRick · December 6, 2005

Fouts was built in the 1950's; when was Memorial Stadium in Austin built and please don't say they have upgraded -- they have added seats because of demand but the basic facilities are just like Fouts, Amon Carter, etc.
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LOL! If I had to guess I'd name U of Oregon, the Houston Texans, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins and possibly a few others might have outspent tU in facility upgrades. Oklahoma State might be in there too, not sure, but their new place isn't completed yet.

Rick

NT91 · December 6, 2005

Will Joey Byerly be back next year?

Got5onIt · December 6, 2005

Will Joey Byerly be back next year?
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Let's hope he has his grades in line to make a comeback. Lineberry has been a force since he's been back and I think Byerly will do the same. This team needs all the athletes it can get.