Football: Quinn, Lineberry earn SBC honors

Harry · December 7, 2006

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...-7.319fa46.html

UNT duo named to all-conference first team

11:27 PM CST on Wednesday, December 6, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Wide receiver Johnny Quinn and offensive lineman Dylan Lineberry, two key cogs in North Texas’ reign as Sun Belt Conference champions, ended their careers with one final honor on Wednesday when they were named first-team All-Sun Belt Conference.

A total of six UNT players were named to the team.

Junior defensive lineman Jeremiah Chapman and sophomore punter Truman Spencer were named to the second team, while junior defensive back Aaron Weathers and junior linebacker Maurice Holman were both honorable mention selections.

"Johnny and Dylan have been around since 2002 and have been involved in some great teams," UNT assistant head coach Kenny Evans said. "They helped us get to the point we reached at North Texas. … Both Johnny and Dylan could still have a future in football. It was a well-deserved honor for those two."

Both Quinn and Lineberry were team captains their senior seasons and helped guide UNT through a pair of down seasons, including a 3-9 finish last year that led to the dismissal of head coach Darrell Dickey.

The duo began its career at UNT during the Mean Green's run as Sun Belt champions from 2001-04.

Quinn led UNT in receiving in all four of his seasons with the Mean Green and finished as the school's all-time leader both in receptions (187) and receiving yards (2,728).

The former McKinney standout's totals are all the more impressive because he played in a run-based offense throughout his career that produced national rushing champions in two of his four seasons at UNT.

"What Johnny has done at North Texas might never be matched again," Evans said. "He is a player that UNT won't be able to replace easily."

Lineberry earned first-team all-conference honors in each of the last two seasons and graded out as UNT's top offensive lineman in all 12 of the Mean Green's games last season.

"Dylan has been one of the most consistent offensive linemen we have had," Evans said. "He had a lot of offers coming out of North Shore High School. We knew he would be a great player, and he hasn't disappointed us."

Chapman was a second-team all-conference selection for the second straight year after finishing with 10 tackles for losses and 4.5 sacks. Spencer averaged 40.8 yards a punt and had 15 attempts downed inside opponents' 20-yard line.

Weathers led UNT with 78 tackles, while Holman had 74 tackles, including 5.5 for losses.

Troy quarterback Omar Haugabook was named the Sun Belt's Player of the Year, Offensive Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year. Florida International linebacker Keyonvis Bouie was named the Defensive Player of the Year, while Middle Tennessee coach Rick Stockstill was named the Coach of the Year.

Regents to consider delegating authority to Villarreal, Bataille

The UNT board of regents will consider a proposal on Friday that would delegate authority to sign a contract with a new football coach to athletic director Rick Villarreal and university president Gretchen Bataille.

UNT policy states that the board must approve contracts for employees that include a base salary that exceeds $500,000 for the length of the contract. A deal with a new football coach would surpass that total.

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