Drc Nt Hopes Smu Games Won't End, Info On Lineups

OldTimer · September 5, 2007

Notebook: UNT hopes SMU rivalry won't end

12:04 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 5, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

If North Texas has its way, Saturday's game against SMU won't be the final showdown between the Dallas-area rivals.

UNT and SMU signed a two-year contract to revive its series on Feb. 9, 2005. The first game in that contract was played last season, when the Mean Green beat the Mustangs 24-6 in arguably one of its biggest non-conference wins in years.

"That is something we are very interested in," UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said of extending the series. "We are working on it and hopefully we can come to an agreement in the near future."

UNT and SMU played regularly from 1922-42 before the series took its first extended break until 1974. The series continued on a somewhat regular basis until 1992 until stopping abruptly.

Former UNT head coach Matt Simon made perhaps the most memorable statement by a Mean Green coach in school history when he challenged SMU to resume the series.

"I'd like to play because I think that we could beat them," Simon said in 1994. "And my players feel the same way. If they'd like to play in a Safeway parking lot, just give us a date and time."

The schools share several ties. Hall of Fame head coach Hayden Fry worked at both SMU (1962-72) and UNT (1973-78) and several of the players on either side were either high school rivals or teammates.

SMU quarterback Justin Willis played for Ryan.

Cornerback rotation set for SMU

UNT head coach Todd Dodge has set his cornerback rotation for the Mean Green's game at SMU this weekend.

Juniors Evyn Roman and Latif Nurudeen will join sophomore Antoine Bush and freshman Kevin Ealey in the Mean Green's two-deep depth chart. All four played against Oklahoma in UNT's season-opener last week, when the Sooners threw for 403 yards and three touchdowns.

Oklahoma's starting quarterback, Sam Bradford, completed 21-of-23 passes for 363 yards, while backup Joey Halzle completed 4-of-5 for 40 yards.

UNT was not credited with a pass breakup in the game.

"We would like to play three corners a bunch a game and three safeties a bunch," Dodge said. "Ealey did some good things. As a freshman he didn't get a deer-in-the-headlights look and made some nice plays. He should have gained some confidence after going against who he went against."

Peachey day-to-day

Sophomore tackle Robert Peachey's status will be a day-to-day decision heading into UNT's game against SMU on Saturday.

Peachey was projected to start at right tackle the preseason and has missed several weeks of workouts. Senior Adam Venegas started in Peachey's place against OU, which posted six sacks among 12 tackles for losses of 74 yards against the Mean Green.

Junior defensive end Tye Rexrode also missed the Mean Green's game against the Sooners and will not be back for this week's game against the Mustangs. Rexrode had offseason shoulder surgery and was originally projected to be back by the second week of the season.

Dodge said Tuesday that Rexrode will be out for an extended period of time.

Sophomore wide receiver Korey Washington missed practice Tuesday with a sore hamstring, but is expected to play this week. Backup linebacker Bryant Seidle is also expected to be ready for this weekend's game despite missing practice Monday.

emmitt01 · September 5, 2007

Dominque Green must have a problem that we aren't being told about. How is he not a part of your two-deep?

NCMeanGreen · September 5, 2007

Dominque Green must have a problem that we aren't being told about. How is he not a part of your two-deep?

According to the roster he is still on the team...but appears to be MIA. What's up!?? :unsure:

greenminer · September 5, 2007

Dominque Green must have a problem that we aren't being told about. How is he not a part of your two-deep?

According to the roster he is still on the team...but appears to be MIA. What's up!??

From Vito's blog:

Speaking of the SMU game, UNT head coach Todd Dodge went on record Tuesday with his top four cornerbacks heading into the weekend. Latif Nurudeen, Evyn Roman, Antoine Bush and freshman Kevin Ealey will all see action. I have received a lot of questions about Dominique Green, who appeared as if he would have a chance to start this year after his performance last season. Green fell off the radar pretty quickly after a slow start in fall practice and does not appear as if he will be a factor any time soon.

Edited September 5, 2007 by greenminer