DRC Graves excited for return to field

OldTimer · October 6, 2006

Football: Graves excited for his return to field

UNT linebacker has missed first five games with knee injury

11:02 PM CDT on Thursday, October 5, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

There have been times over the last few weeks when Phillip Graves felt like running to the locker room at the Mean Green Athletic Center, throwing on his pads and jumping into the fray for North Texas.

Only common sense and the lingering effects of a strained medial collateral ligament in his left knee have kept the linebacker off the field for a tough beginning to his senior season.

Graves injured his knee in preseason workouts and will have missed nearly half the year by the time he returns Saturday when the Mean Green take on Florida International during homecoming weekend.

“It’s hard to miss so much of your senior year when you probably won’t ever play again,” Graves said. “I tried to make the best of it and cheer my teammates on. In my opinion God has a plan and things happen for a reason. I will be all right in life and football.”

One of the toughest parts about sitting out for Graves was watching the Mean Green get off to a slow start, one that has backed UNT into a corner heading into Saturday’s game.

UNT picked up a big win over SMU in the second week of the season, but hasn’t been the same since while dropping three straight. Perhaps the Mean Green’s most disappointing loss came last week when Middle Tennessee blew out UNT, 35-0, at Fouts Field.

The loss was not only UNT’s worst loss ever in a Sun Belt Conference game, it also put the Mean Green in what amounts to a must-win situation against FIU.

The Sun Belt champion has had at least one conference loss in two of the league’s five seasons, but has only had a two-loss champion once. Last year, three teams tied for the league title with two losses.

UNT has a long way to go to even think about challenging for the conference title again after losing five straight league games dating to last season, but is hoping Graves’ return will help matters.

The former Hutto standout finished second among UNT players with 93 tackles last season and is one of the Mean Green’s top special teams players.

Graves was a preseason All-Sun Belt Conference selection and is also a candidate for the Butkus Award that goes to the nation’s top linebacker each season. UNT’s players elected Graves a team captain and expected him to be one of their emotional leaders before a teammate fell into the side of his knee during practice.

“It will be a big boost to get Phillip back,” UNT inside linebacker Maurice Holman said. “He will bring senior leadership. He has been through the ups and the downs and is a very intense guy who will set a good example for the younger guys.”

Graves has helped tutor Germaine Dawson, who has filled in admirably at outside linebacker. Dawson ranks fourth among UNT players with 26 tackles.

UNT hasn’t had as much luck finding players to fill in on its kickoff and punt coverage teams, where Graves has excelled throughout his career. The Mean Green rank last in the Sun Belt in kickoff coverage and coughed up two long returns in a loss to Akron in the fourth week of the season.

“One thing about Phillip is he plays at a high intensity level every snap he is out there,” UNT head coach Darrell Dickey said. “When he first got here all he did was cover punts and kickoffs. He did it with great intensity and effort and has transferred that to playing rover.

“There is no question that Phillip will be a positive influence on the team. But just getting him back won’t solve all of our problems.”

UNT thought it would have Graves back last week after he returned to practice on Monday, but decided to postpone his season debut until the FIU game when his knee was sore and swollen Tuesday morning.

Graves could have let his knee completely heal and applied for a medical redshirt, but decided to come back this year instead.

Former UNT running back Patrick Cobbs took a year away for a similar knee injury two years ago before rushing for 1,154 yards last season.

“I could have taken a medical redshirt, but I am here now and might as well play,” Graves said. “Who is to say something like this won’t happen next year? I might as well live for the day.”

Wilson to start at QB against FIU

Sophomore quarterback Woody Wilson will make his fourth straight start for UNT on Saturday when the Mean Green host Florida International in its homecoming game, head coach Darrell Dickey said Thursday.

Sophomore Daniel Meager has come on in relief of Wilson in each of the last three weeks. Dickey said Tuesday that UNT (1-4) would consider giving more time to sophomore Matt Phillips, who started the Mean Green’s first two games, but has not played a significant role since.

Wilson has thrown for 364 yards and two touchdowns and has rushed for 72 yards and another touchdown to lead the Mean Green.

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

Graves’ impact

North Texas senior linebacker Phillip Graves is expected to return from a preseason knee injury Saturday in a game against Florida International. The following is a look at Graves career statistics:

Category 2005 total Career total

Tackles 93 151

Tackles for loss 7.0 8.5

Interceptions 1 3

Fumble recoveries 2 3