2008 Sun Belt Previews

[MeanGreen61]

FWIW Sun belt Previews. Muts board post.

North Texas

The bottom finally fell out for North Texas after a fine run with three straight miserable seasons: 2-9 SU, 3-7 ATS; 3-9 SU, 4-8 ATS; and 1-10 SU, 5-6 ATS. Last season was the first under coach Todd Dodge, who came over from Southlake Carroll High. He made the rare jump from high school to Division I-A. Four assistants also joined him from high school programs, including three of his former assistants at Southlake Carroll. Offensive coordinator Todd Ford and defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza held the same jobs under Dodge at Southlake Carroll.

This defense was horrible in Dodge's first season, but the Mean Green returns eight starters on an offensive unit that broke all kinds of records in 2007. Dodge brought in a spread offense, and they were good passing the football, averaging 24 points and 297 yards passing. Senior QB Daniel Meager struggled with 4 TDs, 8 picks, but they found a QB in sophomore Giovanni Vizza, who threw for 2,388 yards as a freshman, but had 17 TDs and 20 picks. There is plenty of experienced wide receivers in senior WR Casey Fitzgerald (1,322 yards), senior WR Brock Stickler (391 yards) and junior WR Korey Washington (377). The ground game underachieved and loses their best talent in RB Jamario Thomas. The offensive line was terrible and had the QBs running for their lives. North Texas is 3-16 SU, 7-12 ATS on the road the last three years.

The defense needs an overhaul after allowing 46 points, 230 rushing and 269 passing yards per game! They didn't have any kind of a pass rush and couldn't stop the run. The defense was 113th in the nation in yards allowed, last in scoring defense and 115th in run 'D'. On defense, there are six starters back, including all-conference linebacker Craig Robertson who is the top returning tackler and led the team in interceptions as a freshman last year. Junior cornerback Antoine Bush has been a starter for two years and will be a leader in the defensive secondary.

The Green defense has senior defensive lineman Issac Thomas, but needs some bulk up front. On the defensive line, North Texas will try to find some depth for experienced players Joseph Miller, Thomas and Eddrick Gilmore. The schedule is tough, as North Texas will begin the 2008 season at Kansas State Aug. 30th with the home opener coming against Tulsa Sept. 6th. It looks like another long rebuilding season for the Mean Green. They were 7-4 over the total with that terrible 'D'.

SUN BELT PREVIEWS

http://www.jimfeist.com/stats-previews-ncaaf-sunbelt.html

[akriesman]

Wow. No mention of the change at defensive coordinator. Obviously there was not a lot of research put into the article other than stat pulling.

[TheTastyGreek]

Wow. No mention of the change at defensive coordinator. Obviously there was not a lot of research put into the article other than stat pulling.

Not everyone puts as much hustle into analyzing other squads as CensoredByLaurie puts into previewing Sun Belt Basketball.

Just speaking from my own experience... It can be very, very tough to track down worthwhile and reliable info on other Belt teams unless you're dedicated to the chore. We're lucky to have the folks in our fan base who share the knowledge about conference opponents that comes from their passion for NT sports.

That said, this is particularly weak. I can't really fault the author for not following our staff comings and goings so closely, but I do think they could have at least gotten our win-loss record right. We were 2-10, not 1-10. Unless they're not counting our win over WKU... But even if not, that should be identified.

Also, I don't see any jokes about fluffy kittens. Why bother writing anything for internet publication if you don't include some fluffy kitten jokes??

[chrisfisher]

Wow. No mention of the change at defensive coordinator. Obviously there was not a lot of research put into the article other than stat pulling.

All the better when we whip their arse, they will not have any excuses.........

[untlynchka]

It was a weak write-up I think you are right that they didn't count the win over wku. All of that info was based on gambling stats. They don't put a line up for games against 1-a and 1-aa teams, even if they are 1-a provisionals.

[ShopMeanGreen]

I would also add that the article reminds me of 6th or at best 7th grade work.

[Charlie NT 73]

Jim Feist runs a sports gambling operation in Vegas, so

I could care less what this guy thinks or writes about!

Just more of the media hype, vegas gaming, and sports

talking heads stuff. Expect alot "reports/analysis" from

other sports experts through the off seasaon, all of which

will have the same identical type of report, regarding how

North Texas football is at the bottom of the barrel.

I can hardly wait for the 2008 season!

Coach Dodge, his staff, and his team, will have the biggest

turnaround in college football this season!

[island eagle]

Jim Feist runs a sports gambling operation in Vegas, so

I could care less what this guy thinks or writes about!

Just more of the media hype, vegas gaming, and sports

talking heads stuff. Expect alot "reports/analysis" from

other sports experts through the off seasaon, all of which

will have the same identical type of report, regarding how

North Texas football is at the bottom of the barrel.

I can hardly wait for the 2008 season!

Coach Dodge, his staff, and his team, will have the biggest

turnaround in college football this season!

Sounds to me like a lot of people want to shoot the "messenger". As much as I would love to see us improve dramatically from last year and hope for sure that we do, the bottom line is we are rolling into 2008 with paper thin OL and DL's and mediocre to average talent in those areas to boot. It will be a miracle if anyone picks us any higher coming into the season. As I said, I hope they are wrong, but when I take off my green glasses I see a lot of issues that have to be resolved for us even to make the top half of the Sun Belt, much less rack up a winning record.

[GreenAlums]

Jim Feist runs a sports gambling operation in Vegas, so

I could care less what this guy thinks or writes about!

Just more of the media hype, vegas gaming, and sports

talking heads stuff. Expect alot "reports/analysis" from

other sports experts through the off seasaon, all of which

will have the same identical type of report, regarding how

North Texas football is at the bottom of the barrel.

I can hardly wait for the 2008 season!

Coach Dodge, his staff, and his team, will have the biggest

turnaround in college football this season!

Ok, that makes sense. He's trying to create odds that make it worth him betting on UNT and winning more money!!