UNT Picks Up Pace For Game Week

MeanGreen61 · August 29, 2006

UNT picks up pace for game week

Mean Green face No. 3 Texas on Saturday in Austin

10:56 PM CDT on Monday, August 28, 2006

By Brett / Vito

North Texas coach Darrell Dickey could sense a little added intensity during practice Monday, and it was no secret why.

Game week has finally arrived for the Mean Green.

UNT labored through general preparations during two-a-days, but started honing in on its opener against Texas on Saturday.

“After hitting each other and practicing against each other, it’s rejuvenating to go against someone else’s plays and get ready for a game,” Dickey said. “Our players are very excited.”

UNT has spent the offseason answering questions about how it will recover from a 2-9 season. The first step in that process will be a monumental challenge against the Longhorns, the defending national champion.

Knowing the challenge of facing the Longhorns is just days away was a boost for the Mean Green.

Texas beat the Mean Green 65-0 in UNT’s 2004 season opener.

“For a lot of us, this is our last year,” UNT offensive lineman Joel Foster said. “It will be good to go play Texas, a team that is the national champion. It’s good to go test our skills against theirs because they are a great team.”

Dickey: UNT in great shape academically

UNT has never been in better shape academically heading into a season, Dickey said.

The Mean Green will have 17 seniors playing their final year of college football this fall. Three have their degrees, six more are scheduled to graduate in December, while eight are scheduled to receive their degrees in May.

“One hundred percent of our kids who are playing their last year of college football here will have their degrees by May,” Dickey said. “You can go around the country and not find that many places.”

UNT’s players who took summer school posted a combined 3.0 GPA, while the Mean Green’s team GPA is approximately 2.6. Dickey said UNT’s team GPA is the highest during his tenure.

Dickey credited defensive coordinator Fred Bleil in part for his team’s performance in recent months. Bleil took over as the Mean Green’s academic coordinator during the offseason.

Linebacker Eddrick Gilmore did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements over the summer, but was the lone key player UNT lost for the season over the offseason.

“I credit our players’ commitment and hard work and our assistant coaches’ involvement in our players’ academic life,” Dickey said. “We try to recruit players who are capable of doing college work and are committed to getting a degree.”

Meager, Quinn miss practice

Senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn and sophomore quarterback Daniel Meager both missed practice on Monday.

Quinn, who broke his left hand on Aug. 21 was expected to return to practice Monday, while Meager’s workout schedule has been sporadic the last few weeks while he recovers from a concussion.

“Johnny is not going to be able to fit into whatever he is going to wear until Wednesday,” Dickey said Monday. “We will see what he can do on Wednesday afternoon. Two days won’t make that much of a difference.”

Quinn has led UNT in receiving in each of the last three seasons.

Meager’s status is less certain.

“Daniel is still having a little dizziness,” Dickey said. “We are not going to put him back out there until that is all cleared up. It’s day-to-day.”

Dickey said he has yet to make any decisions regarding which of his three quarterbacks would start against Texas on Saturday. Meager, junior Woody Wilson and sophomore Matt Phillips are competing for the starting job.

Gilmore returns to practice

Sophomore linebacker Eddrick Gilmore returned to practice on Monday.

Gilmore was expected to compete for a starting job this season, but did not meet NCAA eligibility requirements in the offseason. He will spend the year trying to regain his eligibility while practicing with the Mean Green.

“There is no question it’s good to see Eddrick back out here,” Dickey said.

Bomar lands at Sam Houston State

Rhett Bomar has found a new home, but it isn’t UNT.

The former Oklahoma quarterback enrolled at Sam Houston State, a Division I-AA school where he could play this season. All Bomar has left to wait for is clearance from the NCAA regarding his eligibility.

Jerry Bomar, Rhett’s father, contacted UNT assistant head coach Kenny Evans shortly after his son was dismissed from Oklahoma for violating NCAA rules by accepting payment for work he never performed at a car dealership. Jerry Bomar asked Evans for advice regarding his son’s future and inquired about the possibility of him playing for the Mean Green.

Dickey had expressed interest in Bomar playing for the Mean Green.

“Sam Houston is a great program,” Dickey said. “I wish Rhett nothing but the best.”