Colleges: Unt Holds Annual Football Banquet

Harry · January 28, 2007

http://www.dentonrc.com/sharedcontent/dws/...8.27ac8963.html

Colleges: UNT holds annual football banquet

WR Quinn named team's MVP

<H5 class=vitstorydate>11:51 PM CST on Saturday, January 27, 2007</H5>

By Todd Jorgenson/Sports Editor

As much as the 2006 Mean Green football banquet was about providing a postscript to the past season, it was more about a prelude to the future.

It had the usual tributes to seniors and team leaders, and reflected some of the positives from North Texas’ 3-9 season in 2006. But the primary reason for the enthusiastic, capacity crowd at UNT’s Gateway Center on Saturday night had nothing to do with UNT’s recent football past.

University officials spent much of the night praising new coach Todd Dodge, hired in December to replace Darrell Dickey, as the catalyst for increased early season ticket sales and booster club memberships. And they hailed the highly decorated former Southlake Carroll coach as their primary reason for optimism about the program’s future.

“I think he’s going to make a tremendous impact here,” said athletic director Rick Villarreal. “We wanted somebody who was not only a proven winner, but we wanted somebody who had a proven track record in building great young men.”

Besides Dodge, the other star of the hour-long program was senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn, who last season became the leading receiver in UNT history. Quinn received three of the team’s 10 postseason player honors, the first player ever recognized with three awards in the same season.

In addition to the Odus Mitchell Award for team Most Valuable Player, Quinn was named the top offensive player and the top offensive back, an award he has won each year since 2003.

“It’s really a team record,” Quinn said about breaking the school receiving mark this season against Louisiana Tech. “For a receiver to catch a ball, all 10 of your teammates have to be doing their jobs. This is a team accomplishment.”

Dodge, who received a standing ovation upon his introduction at the banquet, talked about his excitement in returning to the school where he served as the offensive coordinator for two seasons ending in 1993.

“I know the potential of this university, and I know the potential of this university’s football program,” Dodge said. “[The senior class] has proven that it can be done, and now it’s our job to build on that.”

He talked about creating a sense of loyalty and family among his players and coaches, about his expectations for players in terms of accountability, and also about breeding an atmosphere of encouragement rather than criticism among players and fans.

“We’re going to play full speed for seven seconds each time the ball is snapped,” he said, adding the foundation is in place for immediate success at UNT. “We can win. We can win big, and we can do it the right way.”

Besides Quinn, a few other 2006 players were repeat award winners from 2005, including Aaron Weathers (outstanding defensive player), Maurice Holman (linebacker), Dylan Lineberry (offensive lineman) and Jeremiah Chapman (defensive lineman).

TODD JORGENSON can be reached at 940-566-6871. His e-mail address is tjorgenson@dentonrc.com.

North Texas banquet award winners

The following were the award winners at the North Texas football team's annual banquet on Saturday:

Odus Mitchell (Team MVP) -- Johnny Quinn

Steve Ramsey (Outstanding Offensive Player) -- Johnny Quinn

JaQuay Wilburn (Outstanding Offensive Back) -- Johnny Quinn

Phillip Armour (Outstanding Offensive Lineman) -- Dylan Lineberry

Abner Haynes (Outstanding Special Teams Player) -- Zach Muzzy

Shawn Kramer (Most Inspirational Player) -- Denis Hopovac

Joe Greene (Outstanding Defensive Player) -- Aaron Weathers

Byron Gross (Outstanding Linebacker) -- Maurice Holman

Bill Brashier (Outstanding Defensive Back) -- Antoine Bush

Bill Bishop (Outstanding Defensive Lineman) -- Jeremiah Chapman

ForneyGreen · January 28, 2007

“We’re going to play full speed for seven seconds each time the ball is snapped,” he said, adding the foundation is in place for immediate success at UNT. “We can win. We can win big, and we can do it the right way.”

Music to my ears...