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Mean Green Pose Same Threat To Razorbacks As Wildcats

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Mean Green pose same threat to Razorbacks as Wildcats.By Robert Beckmann, Arkansas Traveler

September 26, 2007

(CSTV U-WIRE) FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Arkansas and North Texas have something in common. Both teams entered the season with high hopes, and both teams have watched those hopes be crippled by early-season losses.

On Saturday, the Mean Green will invade Reynolds Razorback Stadium, aiming to get their first win of the season and end a three-game slide. But despite their winless record, Arkansas head coach Houston Nutt said that his Hogs have no intention of overlooking them.

"I think that's the worst thing we can do [is] to say [teams like North Texas are] 'not highly touted teams, haven't won a game,'" Nutt said. "As you know, anything can happen on these crazy days. If you turn the ball over, don't make good decisions, [make] foolish penalties, it will be a dog-fight Saturday."

The impetus of the Mean Green fans' high hopes stems from their first-year head coach Todd Dodge. Last December, North Texas hired Dodge away from Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas. Dodge, serving as head coach, won four state championships in five seasons, amassing a 79-1 record.

"The goals and standards that coach Todd Dodge has established for his football programs are exemplary," said UNT Athletic Director Rick Villarreal. "We are confident that he is the coach to elevate North Texas' football program."

Offensively, Dodge and offensive coordinator Todd Ford employ a spread formation, usually even when rushing the ball.

Entering the season, reports indicated that the Mean Green offense would be focused on a trio of talented tailbacks revolving around senior standout Jamario Thomas.

Thomas ran for 1,801 yards and led the nation in rushing as a freshman in 2004. However, hamstring injuries have plagued him ever since.

Because of injury, Thomas ran five times for four yards in the 2007 season opener against Oklahoma and didn't play at all against SMU. After two weeks of rest, Thomas returned last Saturday against Florida Atlantic, rushing for 117 yards on 14 carries. The UNT passing game, considered the team's weak-point and a mostly a mystery in the preseason, has primarily fueled the offensive attack through three games.

Against SMU, junior quarterback Daniel Meager completed 46-of-64 passes for 601 yards and three touchdowns. His follow-up performance was for 301 yards and one touchdown on 38-of-61 passing against FAU.

These two prolific passing performances both ultimately ended in losses, highlighting another similarity between the Mean Green and the Razorbacks.

North Texas, aside from a 79-10 throttling at the hands of the Sooners, has made a habit of losing games down the stretch. The Mean Green was tied in the fourth quarter with SMU, and they held a 10-point lead in the third quarter against Florida Atlantic.

"I thought we did some things really well, but we had too many mistakes," Dodge said of the FAU game. "We couldn't put everything together in the second half."

The Mean Green's ruin in the past two games has been turnovers and poor pass defense. Against SMU and FAU combined, North Texas allowed 675 passing yards and gave up seven turnovers.

However, the deciding factor for the game Saturday might be their ability to stop the run.

The Mean Green rushing defense, considered one of the team's strengths, will have its mettle tested by Heisman hopeful tailback Darren McFadden.

When speaking of the WildHog formation, Nutt indicated that McFadden proved once again in the Kentucky game that he remains the Razorbacks' trump card. "Everyone was playing the run, playing McFadden," Nutt said. "But still, even with all that, he takes the ball and he scores. That's a big part of our offense."

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