Ball State vs. North Texas: Know the foe

Harry · September 13, 2013

Brett Vito has covered North Texas athletics for the Denton Record-Chronicle since 2003. As Ball States football team prepares to head down to the Lone Star state for a meeting with the Mean Green, The Star Press Cardinals football beat writer Ben Breiner caught up with Vito to pose a few questions and get a better sense of Ball States next opponent.

BB: In recent years explosive plays have been hard to come by for the Mean Green. Whats changed this season?

BV: To be honest, UNT played Idaho to open the season. The Vandals are one of the worst teams in college football. That game padded UNTs stats a little, but I do think UNT has shown the ability to be more explosive at times. Wide receiver Brelan Chancellor is one of the more explosive players UNT has had in recent years and can do it all. He had 283 yards in UNTs season opener and caught an 85-yard touchdown pass. Running back Antoinne Jimmerson is also an explosive player.

BB: What did this team take from a close loss at another Mid-American Conference team in Ohio?

BV: UNT showed a lot of resolve to come from 14 down to tie the game up and its defense played well in the red zone, but outside of that, not much. UNT is in the midst of a run of eight straight losing seasons, is in its third year under Dan McCarney and really needs to win now. There is a sense around the program that this season is a huge opportunity for UNT and could be a turning point for the program. This is UNTs first year in Conference USA. The point is that McCarney and his players are saying that the time for moral victories has long since past. UNT really needs to win. When a game UNT could have won like Saturdays game against Ohio gets away, UNTs coaches and players are in no mood to talk about taking something from a close loss.

Read more: http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20130912/SPORTS20/130912017/Ball-State-vs-North-Texas-Know-foe?nclick_check=1