U S A Today Mean Green Report

MeanGreen61 · September 10, 2007

INSIDE SLANT

First-year coach Todd Dodge promised to bring an exciting new brand of football to North Texas when he replaced Darrell Dickey in the offseason.

Even though the Mean Green (0-2) lost 45-31 at SMU last week, he delivered.

Employing a new four-receiver offense, the Mean Green put up record numbers in the loss. Junior quarterback Daniel Meager threw for a school-record 601 yards and three touchdowns, while junior wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald also set school records with 18 receptions for 327 yards.

"I think we can learn a lot of things from this ball game," Dodge told the Denton Record-Chronicle. "We need to make sure we just keep getting better. I told the kids tonight, my opinion of this team, to achieve its goals, are not any different than what they were three weeks ago. We're not near as good as we're going to be."

Unfortunately for the Mean Green, their defense was overwhelmed for the second straight week. After allowing 79 points at Oklahoma, UNT gave up 45 points and more than 530 yards in total offense to SMU.

The Mean Green, who are off this week, play their Sun Belt opener at home Sept. 22 against Florida Atlantic.

NOTES, QUOTES

GAME BALL GOES TO:

QB Daniel Meager and WR Casey Fitzgerald. Meager, a junior, threw for a school-record 601 yards, while Fitzgerald, a junior, set school marks with 18 receptions and 327 yards receiving.

KEEP AN EYE ON:

WR Korey Washington. The sophomore and first-year starter caught eight passes for 70 yards against SMU.

QUOTE TO NOTE:

"It's just disappointing. We got off to a real hot start. We put ourselves in position, but just weren't able to finish the deal." — UNT coach Todd Dodge, to the Denton Record-Chronicle after the Mean Green's 45-31 loss at SMU.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

LOOKING GOOD:

The Mean Green passing game was obviously working last week when junior QB Daniel Meager put up a school-record 601 yards.

Junior WR Casey Fitzgerald has 25 receptions in two games.

Senior P Spencer Truman averaged more than 44 yards a punt and had a 73-yarder against SMU.

STILL NEEDS SOME WORK:

Meager — While the junior did set a school record with 601 yards passing against SMU, he did have three interceptions. Meager needs to continue to improve in the new offense and be more consistent.

RB Jamario Thomas — The senior, who led the nation in rushing as a true freshman, didn't play against SMU due to a hamstring injury. However, he had just four yards rushing against Oklahoma. The Mean Green need his presence in the backfield.

UNT's defense has been awful the first two weeks, allowing 79 and 45 points. The secondary, in particular, must improve.

ROSTER REPORT:

True freshman RB Micah Mosley started against SMU in place of senior starter Jamario Thomas, who is struggling with a hamstring injury.

Sophomore OL Robert Peach (undisclosed injury) did not dress against SMU and was replaced by senior Adam Venegas.

Senior OL Josh Alexander (knee) will not play this season.

Mean Green Report

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/foo...belt/ntexas.htm

UNTflyer · September 10, 2007

Just keep improving, every week. Man, this off week is going to be tough to endure. We should be able to beat FAU, and we're all itching for that first W.