Dodge Stays Confident After 0-2 Start

[MeanGreen61]

Dodge stays confident after 0-2 start

12:23 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

A tough first two weeks of the season hasn't changed head coach Todd Dodge's outlook on his first year at North Texas.

When the Mean Green opens Sun Belt Conference play Saturday at home against Florida Atlantic, Dodge will aim to take the first step toward a league title in front of a packed house.

"We want to win our conference championship," Dodge said. "We have not started it yet. It starts right now. I don't know of any other way to coach other than for a championship."

UNT struggled in the first two games of the Dodge era, falling to Oklahoma and SMU. The Mean Green allowed more points than in any game in school history in a 79-10 loss to the Sooners before falling to SMU, 45-31.

UNT is hoping to turn its season around at Fouts Field in its first home game of the season.

"I hope that when I look up at the stands, I will see a packed house," Dodge said. "You have 34,000 students across the street, 10,000 of them can show up to watch us play. Denton is the ninth-fastest growing city in the nation and we have 100,000 alumni in the area. I am hoping that people will come out and jump aboard with us."

UNT has enjoyed a sharp rise in ticket sales since the Dodge arrived at UNT in December.

UNT could have new look in secondary

UNT could have a new look in its secondary when it faces Florida Atlantic this weekend.

The Mean Green has struggled in the early stages of the season against the pass and is allowing an average of 378 yards a game. UNT has played man-to-man defense extensively early in the season.

"We have quite a few zone principles in our packages, and that is a thought when you need to protect some people in the secondary," Dodge said.

UNT is also looking at giving some of its defensive backs additional playing time. Dodge said the Mean Green could give Dominique Green more time at cornerback while Roderick Cotton and Desmon Chatman could see time at safety.

Peachey will be available for FAU game

Sophomore tackle Robert Peachey will be available for UNT's game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday, Dodge said.

Peachey was projected to start at right tackle before the season began, but missed the first two games of the year with a hamstring injury. Peachey will enter the Mean Green's game against FAU as the backup at both tackle spots and is expected to play.

Dodge: UNT accomplished a lot against SMU

Dodge sees several positives in the Mean Green's offense heading into its game against Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

UNT ranks third nationally in passing offense with an average of 416.5 yards a game and had a breakout night against SMU offensively in a 45-31 loss. Junior quarterback Daniel Meager threw for a school record 601 yards against the Mustangs.

"I expect a lot out of our kids, but I have to sit back on my drive home some nights and say that we are accomplishing a lot considering we are putting in a whole new offense," Dodge said. "We taught a whole new offense with no huddle, which is a little unconventional."

[UNTflyer]

There is no reason to not have a packed house.

[Guest GrayEagleOne]

There is no reason to not have a packed house.

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons beginning with the fact that we've never done that since the seating capacity was raised to 30,500. Others are the 0-2 start, conflicting activities (especially of our kids), not attuned to attending, lesser known opponent, don't have tickets, etc.

On the positive side Dodge has created more enthusiasm, maybe ever, or certainly excluding the Hayden Fry era. I do expect at least 25,000 but I think that Navy will likely be the first packed house.

Come and enjoy and bring your friends. I hope that I am wrong on the packed house but if not this time, give it more chances. It will come.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons beginning with the fact that we've never done that since the seating capacity was raised to 30,500. Others are the 0-2 start, conflicting activities (especially of our kids), not attuned to attending, lesser known opponent, don't have tickets, etc.

On the positive side Dodge has created more enthusiasm, maybe ever, or certainly excluding the Hayden Fry era. I do expect at least 25,000 but I think that Navy will likely be the first packed house.

Come and enjoy and bring your friends. I hope that I am wrong on the packed house but if not this time, give it more chances. It will come.

Ditto...

[Mean Green 93-98]

"We have quite a few zone principles in our packages, and that is a thought when you need to protect some people in the secondary," Dodge said.

Wonderful. Where have they been?

[the real grad88]

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons beginning with the fact that we've never done that since the seating capacity was raised to 30,500. Others are the 0-2 start, conflicting activities (especially of our kids), not attuned to attending, lesser known opponent, don't have tickets, etc.

On the positive side Dodge has created more enthusiasm, maybe ever, or certainly excluding the Hayden Fry era. I do expect at least 25,000 but I think that Navy will likely be the first packed house.

Come and enjoy and bring your friends. I hope that I am wrong on the packed house but if not this time, give it more chances. It will come.

I thought we sold out the Baylor game several years ago. It surely felt pretty packed. We also declawed the bears, which made it nice.

[akriesman]

I thought we sold out the Baylor game several years ago. It surely felt pretty packed. We also declawed the bears, which made it nice.

I think that Navy is our best chance for a sellout, if it is going to happen this season. I would not expect Florida Atlantic to travel well unfortunately.

Personally, I think 20k+ would be a great start this weekend.

[GoMeanGreen1999]

"I hope that when I look up at the stands, I will see a packed house," Dodge said. "You have 34,000 students across the street, 10,000 of them can show up to watch us play. Denton is the ninth-fastest growing city in the nation and we have 100,000 alumni in the area. I am hoping that people will come out and jump aboard with us."

I love his thinking. I will only be shocked if we have less than 20,000 in attendence. Every day I think it will be higher - today I think we will have somewhere in the ballpark of 24,000.

[SCREAMING EAGLE-66]

Unfortunately, there are a number of reasons beginning with the fact that we've never done that since the seating capacity was raised to 30,500. Others are the 0-2 start, conflicting activities (especially of our kids), not attuned to attending, lesser known opponent, don't have tickets, etc.

---There is some truth in this But colleges with less enrollment have more people in attendance than we do... One of the big problems is lack of students in the stands compared to how many students we have. Also we are in a much more populated area than Tech is but they can draw twice as many people to their games even against poorly known teams.. We are more than double Baylor's size and they outdraw us as well even against lesser non Big-12 opponents. Our student support is the biggest problem... if that improved, then alum support would eventually improve as well in the future..

My solution --Move North Texas to the middle of West Texas (kidding) and we will fill those stands. Many of our HS games can draw 20,000.

Edited September 19, 2007 by SCREAMING EAGLE-66

[MeanGreen61]

I thought we sold out the Baylor game several years ago. It surely felt pretty packed. We also declawed the bears, which made it nice.

The '03 Baylor game had 29,437.

Edited September 19, 2007 by MeanGreen61

[gangrene]

Dodge stays confident after 0-2 start

12:23 AM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

UNT has enjoyed a sharp rise in ticket sales since the Dodge arrived at UNT in December.

UNT could have new look in secondary

Sounds a little 'mafioso'...the Dodge...I like it. From here forward, let it be known that Todd Dodge will simply be referred to as THE Dodge.

[KingDL1]

I thought we sold out the Baylor game several years ago. It surely felt pretty packed. We also declawed the bears, which made it nice.

We did that does not mean everyone attended, they reserve spots for the students. And I believe they will over sell general admission