Success In The Air

[MeanGreen61]

Football: Success in the air

Meager breaking records but seeks win

11:09 PM CDT on Wednesday, September 19, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

When Todd Dodge arrived at North Texas in December, he promised to wipe the slate clean for his quarterbacks.

He didn't watch old film or look at past results.

That fresh start gave Dodge a chance to see Daniel Meager's potential to transform from the caretaker in a run-based attack to a gunslinger in the spread. That potential has quickly turned into production in the first two games of UNT's season.

Meager threw for a school record 601 yards two weeks ago in a loss to SMU, and enters the Mean Green's Sun Belt Conference opener at home against Florida Atlantic on Saturday ranked seventh nationally with an average of 354.5 passing yards a game.

"I haven't thought about being No. 1 yet," Meager said of his record-setting night against the Mustangs. "What I want to be No. 1 in is wins. I want to win more than anything else."

UNT (0-2) hasn't won a game since knocking off Louisiana-Lafayette in the 10th week of last season, and hasn't won a home game since a victory over Florida International in the sixth game of last year.

Meager's performance against SMU has given the Mean Green hope that against FAU (2-1, 1-0), it can break out of its four-game losing streak that dates to last season.

Meager threw three touchdown passes while completing 46 of 64 attempts against the Mustangs. The only drawback to the junior's performance was tossing three interceptions, including two in the fourth quarter.

Meager's first interception in the final period set up the game-winning touchdown, while SMU defensive back Bryce Hudman returned the second 49 yards for a touchdown that sealed the Mean Green's 45-31 loss.

Dodge dissected each interception with Meager, but didn't let those mistakes detract from a solid all-around performance.

"We told our quarterbacks the guy who is the most accurate and runs our no-huddle offense the most efficiently would win the starting job," Dodge said. "You go out and complete 46 of 64 passes, you are pretty stinking accurate. That is what we want Daniel to see in himself. We don't expect 601 yards and 46 completions every Saturday, but being a 65-percent passer and a guy who throws for 300 yards week in and week out are things that should happen."

Dodge's confidence is based on the abilities Meager has shown while playing in his system since the beginning of spring practice.

"He is fundamentally sound and the right guy for the job because he is a good distributor of the football," Dodge said.

Meager's performance against SMU represented a dramatic turn of events for a player who has always had a short leash while being put in and pulled out of the Mean Green's lineup.

Meager took over as UNT's starter as a redshirt freshman in 2005, when the Mean Green was aiming for a fifth straight Sun Belt title. He started every game in a 2-9 season while splitting time with Matt Phillips.

Meager was benched at the beginning of last season, came back to start five games and was then yanked from the starting lineup for the last game of the year.

Meager entered this season with 1,458 passing yards, but had thrown 14 interceptions compared to eight touchdown passes.

Those struggles didn't hurt Meager's confidence.

"Daniel worked extra hard," UNT wide receiver Brandon Jackson said. "I always came out to the practice field after class in the summer and he was out here throwing balls. He wanted to be the man and did the extra things it took to win the job."

Meager threw for just 108 yards against Oklahoma in the Mean Green's opener, but remained UNT's starter even though freshman Giovanni Vizza came on to throw for 124 yards and a touchdown.

"Winning the job gave me a lot of confidence and so did the coaches," Meager said. "They have shown confidence in me all along."

Sticking with Meager paid off for UNT against SMU, a game Meager hopes is a sign of what the Mean Green's future holds.

"I hope it's an indication of where we are going," Meager said. "We still have a lot of room for improvement both in the big things and the little things."

Spencer on watch list for Ray Guy Award

Junior Truman Spencer has been named to the watch list for the Ray Guy Award, which is presented annually to the top punter in the nation.

A committee of sports writers, college football coaches, sports information directors, past Ray Guy winners and members of the Greater Augusta Sports Council selects the winner.

Spencer averaged 42 yards per punt in UNT's first two games of the year and had a 73-yard punt against SMU. He averaged 40.8 yards a punt last season.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Meager before and after

North Texas quarterback Daniel Meager has improved his performance dramatically this season under new head coach Todd Dodge:

2007 category 2005-06

354.5 passing yards/game 66.3

67.0 completion pct. 50.9

134.6 passing efficiency 91.0

30.5 completions/game 7.0

Edited September 20, 2007 by MeanGreen61