FW*Telegram NT gets a bad Sun Belt whuppin

OldTimer · October 1, 2006

UNT gets a bad Sun Belt whuppin'By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Chart: Game statisticsDENTON -- The present reached up and slapped North Texas silly Saturday night; its rapid descent as the Sun Belt Conference's dominant football program is all but complete.

With six league contests remaining, UNT can accept the past as the past and start charting a new future -- since Middle Tennessee State probably ended all of UNT's looking back.

The Mean Green (1-4, 0-1 Sun Belt) suffered its worst home defeat in conference play by falling to Middle Tennessee 35-0 in front of 16,986 at Fouts Field.

The Blue Raiders (3-2, 2-0) were thorough, from a defense that rendered UNT kitten-meek to an offense that missed few beats on third down (10-for-15) or in the red zone (5-for-5).

In league play, UNT last experienced such lows in the Big West Conference: a 59-0 defeat at Boise State in 2000 and Utah State's 34-7 rout in Denton in 1999.

"We have to look forward," UNT coach Darrell Dickey said. "That's our only choice. Looking back, that doesn't help you anymore. Those players aren't here. It's a new year, with a new team."

Middle Tennessee ended an 0-5 mark against UNT since the Sun Belt's 2001 formation. The Raiders had 366 total yards (212 rushing), forced three turnovers and nearly held UNT to its third game this season with under 100 total yards. UNT gained 52 of its 103 yards in the fourth quarter.

"I don't think you can dump [gaining] 103 yards on just the quarterbacks," said Dickey, who used starter Woody Wilson (4-for-12, two interceptions) and backup Daniel Meager (3-for-4). "There's a whole lot of us, including me, who are to blame."

A year ago, UNT's five conference losses were by a combined 21 points. Two years ago, the Mean Green won those close games.

"That was that team, and this is our team," offensive tackle Joel Foster said. "We've got to come out and do this team's thing and not worry about four years or two years ago."

UNT had a good start (two first downs), but it was brief to the point of being forgettable. UNT even opened both halves on offense. That oddity occurred when UNT won the coin flip, deferred, and MTS mistakenly chose to kick off, leaving UNT the choice to receive again after halftime.

So much for that gift. UNT's opening drive ended when unblocked MTS linebacker J.K. Sabb hit Wilson, forcing a fumble. Four plays later, MTS led 7-0 on Eugene Gross's 15-yard run.

"I'm a fifth-year senior, so beating North Texas is real big for me," MTS quarterback Clint Marks said. "We've been up on them in the past, only to see them come back and beat us."

meangreensports.com

MIDDLE TENNESSEE 35, NORTH TEXAS 0

In the know

BREAKDOWN

Why Middle Tennessee won: The Blue Raiders ran the ball effectively, forced turnovers and frustrated UNT's offense at every turn.

Why North Texas lost: The Mean Green had eight or fewer first downs for the third time this season. An anemic offense put too much pressure on the defense.

Notable

In the first half, UNT had minus-4 yards rushing and 31 total yards.

Safety Roy Loren, a junior-college transfer, made its first start for UNT and had four tackles.

UNT's Johnny Quinn caught a pass in his 41st consecutive game, tying the nation's second-longest streak.

Up next: Florida International at UNT, 6 p.m. Saturday; Louisville at Middle Tennessee, 7 p.m. Friday

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com

John Hancock · October 1, 2006

Woody is a great QB.

It was obvious to me that he had bad coaching and bad play calling last night.

That's a coaching problem when a guy who has proved himself throws 2 interceptions and every throw is nowhere near a reciever.

I'm am so sick of the toss option. Who does DD think we are? We're going to get 10 yards on a 3rd down with the flick to the outside 5 yards from the line of scrimmage? They ran that play all night.

We need a coach with some balls who can call plays without second guessing his team.

Fire Dickey.

gksmith · October 1, 2006

That is a bit of a stretch saying Woody is a GREAT QB. He is a good QB. He got rushed a lot against MT and had little protection.

College football is becoming more like the NFL when it comes to 3rd down plays. You can’t run the ball on 3rd and long and expect to pick up the yardage. You can’t throw short and expect to catch and run for the yardage.

As little as 10 years ago, teams that are somewhat even could open the playbook more and run a draw or throw a screen/short pass on 3rd and 7+ and get the first down. No more. Players are faster and defenses are better to stop things like that.

If you need 10 yards for a 1st down, you throw 10 yards. Anything less and you are giving up that series.