Quick slants: UNT at ULM; MTSU vs. Troy for Bowl

[NT80]

Quick slants: North Texas at ULM

By Michael Kern

North Texas players enter this game with a heavy heart but will surely be fired up for their coach.

This is the final game for North Texas football coach Darrell Dickey, who was fired by the school after a 34-31 loss to Louisiana Tech a few weeks ago.

Dickey, who suffered a heart attack just weeks before being fired, agreed to finish out the season. His team wore all black uniforms partly in protest in last Saturday’s home loss to Florida Atlantic.

“It’s been an honor and it’s been a pleasure,” Dickey said. “I hate to see it end. My emotions and my focus will be on trying to help these kids play with one more great effort.”

The Mean Green hasn’t given up on its season since Dickey was fired. North Texas won the following game at Louisiana-Lafayette, 16-7, then lost by just a point last week.

Freshman running back Evan Robertson has emerged as a solid replacement for banged up star Jamario Thomas, rushing for more than 200 yards last week.

“(Thomas) is beat up right now,” Dickey said referring to the bumps and bruises from a long season. “Our offense has made some progress from a blocking standpoint, and Robertson has been kind of fresh. He hasn't gotten beat down.”

HAWK TALK

Dickey is concerned about defending a ULM rushing attack that has shown major signs of life the last couple of weeks.

He said the multiple sets the Warhawks use keep defenses off balance and make it difficult to get the right personnel into the game. ULM’s mixture of a power running game inside and an option game that attacks the corners also make it difficult to get defenders in the right place before the play.

“Can't hone in on one thing,” Dickey said. “They are running the option well which Coach Weatherbie has had a lot of success doing in the past.”

— Michael Kern

............................................................................................

AROUND THE BELT

THEN THERE WERE TWO

The build up to Saturday’s game between Middle Tennessee State and Troy is taking on a conference championship game type of feel.

The Blue Raiders have already clinched a share of the conference title but would win the championship outright with a win.

Troy still has another game against winless Florida International next week but would clinch a share of the title for all intents and purposes with a win.

“It's a one-game series for both of us,” Troy coach Larry Blakeney said.

Essentially, one of these two teams will be headed to the New Orleans Bowl as the Sun Belt champions.

Middle Tennessee, which is already bowl eligible with seven wins, could still get an at-large bowl berth if it loses. The only way it can guarantee it will play in a bowl, however, is with a win Saturday.

“An opportunity to go to a bowl is something everybody dreams of,” MTSU coach Rick Stocksill said. “Florida State was fighting, scratching and clawing to get its sixth win Saturday. South Carolina was doing the same thing. Every team, that's what you strive for to get in a bowl game. Both of these teams have that opportunity this weekend.”

— Michael Kern