Sun Belt Conference Report

[MeanGreen61]

Sun Belt Conference Report

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/foo...unbelt/home.htm

NORTH TEXAS

INSIDE SLANT

Todd Dodge was a high school coaching legend in Texas who plans to bring a gun slinging approach to North Texas.

UNT has long been known as a running football team, but Dodge will employ an offense featuring four and five wide receiver sets.

In fact, he signed two players from the same high school Breece Johnson and Evan Walker, who combined for more than 170 receptions last season.

The quarterback position will be interesting because neither Daniel Meager, Matt Phillips or Woody Wilson were effective. In fact, incoming true freshman Giovanni Vizza could very well be in the mix.

While a new offense will be installed, the Mean Green can still rely on senior-to-be tailback Jamario Thomas, who led the nation in rushing as a freshman.

The defense has to get much better, particularly against the run. The bulk of the roster is back, so experience should help in 2007.

NOTES, QUOTES

BUILDING BLOCKS: First-year coach Tom Dodge will put in a new offense that will feature a wide-open passing attack. However, in order to make it successful, the Mean Green still need to run the football effectively. They have senior-to-be Jamario Thomas back. He led the nation in rushing as a true freshman but was limited to less than 700 yards last season. The problem was the offensive line, which was young and underachieved. UNT needs to get Thomas untracked early and it will only benefit the new pro-style offense.

COACHING CAROUSEL: Todd Dodge, who was a nearby high school coaching legend, has taken over for Darrell Dickey. The coaching staff includes Todd Ford (offensive coordinator, Ron Medoza (defensive coordinator), Robert Drake (defensive line/special teams), Shelton Gandy (running backs), Clayton George (wide receivers), Butch LaCroix (cornerbacks), Spencer Leftwich (offensive line), Chuck Peterson (safeties) and David Rausch (defensive ends).

SCHEDULE SITUATION: The Mean Green open the season at Oklahoma and SMU, followed by the conference opener at home against FAU, which many think will contend for the league title this season. UNT also plays Arkansas on the road and Navy at home. UNT plays four home league games and three on the road, including defending co-champion Troy.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "I am extremely excited that we were able to assemble a staff with the tremendous credentials of these nine coaches. The common thread throughout all of these coaches is that they have been around winning programs and understand the dedication that is necessary to be successful. As a staff we are excited about the prospects of this program and are ready to immerse ourselves into the work that is necessary for producing a team that the University of North Texas community can be proud of." First-year UNT coach Tom Dodge.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

STARS OF 2007: RB Jamario Thomas Because the line was poor last season, Thomas was limited to 668 yards rushing and two touchdowns. However, as a true freshmen he led the nation in rushing.

DB Aaron Weathers The all-conference picked had a team-high 78 tackles in 2007. He also had an interception, fumble recovery and blocked kick.

DL Jeremiah Chapman The all-conference pick had a team-high 10 tackles for losses and was fifth on the team with 52 tackles.

LB Maurice Holman As a junior, he had 74 tackles, including seven for losses and two sacks.

TOP NEWCOMERS: QB Giovanni Vizza He rushed for more than 600 yards and threw for a whopping 3,278 yards as a senior. He threw 37 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. UNT is installing a new spread offense, and considering the Mean Green's quarterback play was so awful last year, he has a chance to make an immediate impact.

WR Breece Johnson He caught 88 passes for more than 1,300 yards at Colleyville (Texas) Heritage High School. With the new offense, Johnson will be expected to play immediately.

WR Evan Walker He had 99 receptions for more than 1,400 yards last season at Colleyville (Texas) High School, and like Johnson, has played in an offense similar to what the Mean Green will employ this season.

DB Greg Garden The junior is a transfer from Navy who could make an immediate impact in 2007.

ROSTER REPORT: North Texas used three quarterbacks junior-to-be Daniel Meager, senior-to-be Woody Wilson and junior-to-be Matt Phillips but nobody was consistent. Meager also will have to be watched closely as he has had problems with concussions.

Sophomore-to-be DB Roy Loren (knee) missed four games but returned for spring drills.

[NT80]

Sun Belt Conference Report

UNT plays four home league games and three on the road, including defending co-champion Troy.

Incorrect; UNT plays four league road games, only three at home, again.

Edited March 28, 2007 by NT80

[greenminer]

Incorrect; UNT palys four league road games, only three at home, again.

second year in a row it turned out this way. Sucks, but the previous 2 seasons we got four at home and three away.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

DB Greg Garden The junior is a transfer from Navy who could make an immediate impact in 2007.

I believe that he'll have to make an impact on the scout team since he won't be eligible to play until 2008.

[TheTastyGreek]

North Texas used three quarterbacks junior-to-be Daniel Meager, senior-to-be Woody Wilson and junior-to-be Matt Phillips but nobody was consistent.

Just a little more to throw on the pile. Writer and copy editor/fact checker here leave much to be desired.

[UNTflyer]

Writer and copy editor/fact checker here leave much to be desired.

It's USA Today... the newspaper preferred by sub-room temperature IQs.

[GreenBat]

Just a little more to throw on the pile. Writer and copy editor/fact checker here leave much to be desired.

I believe Woody will be a redshirt senior.