UNT making big noise up front on defense

[Harry]

In the heat of the summer, when the temperature soared into triple digits and times were at their toughest during workouts, Aaron Bellazin kept reminding his fellow North Texas defensive linemen about the perception of how they would impact the Mean Greens season.

UNT had a veteran quarterback in Derek Thompson, a stable of good running backs, a veteran offensive line and potentially one of the best linebackers in Conference USA in Zach Orr.

What it didnt have was a lot of certainty on its defensive front.

Defensive end Brandon McCoy and defensive tackle Ryan Boutwell missed spring practice with injuries, while Richard Abbe, the anchor of UNTs defensive front, was suspended most of the summer after he was charged with DWI.

Those players were part of a unit that lost its best player in end K.C. Obi to graduation following last season, when the Mean Greens line was considered average at best.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20131117-football-unt-making-big-noise-up-front-on-defense.ece

[BillySee58]

Bellazin has been maybe the most unsung hero on the whole team all year, along with the defensive line as a whole. He has played like a first-team all-conference defensive end and he's leading the conference in sacks. Really having a great senior season.

[golfingomez]

maybe Vito is making up for the 88 loss by declaring us winners over UT in 2002

[ragpicker]

If I remember correctly, Bellazin transferred from SMU which makes it even sweeter. No, we did not beat Texas in 2002 but we kept them scoreless in the second half while most of the game was played by our freshman quarterback. Andrew Smith. The only old SWC teams we have never beaten in football are Texas, Arkansas and A&M, but, gosh. we came so close to beating the first two in '88 and '68. Those two losses (we really won both) will always hurt).

[Harry]

If I remember correctly, Bellazin transferred from SMU which makes it even sweeter. No, we did not beat Texas in 2002 but we kept them scoreless in the second half while most of the game was played by our freshman quarterback. Andrew Smith. The only old SWC teams we have never beaten in football are Texas, Arkansas and A&M, but, gosh. we came so close to beating the first two in '88 and '68. Those two losses (we really won both) will always hurt).

Bellazin wasn't an SMU transfer. He committed and signed with Todd Dodge at UNT.

[ADLER]

Bellazin was the subject of a recruiting battle between North Texas and SMU which North Texas won.

http://ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=42953&sid=a1b6e30a0a1799573bd624de6407832e

[BillySee58]

Found this article on the Bellazin thread on that SMU message board. Blast from the past. Check out the recruits mentioned in this article.

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2010/01/recruiting-update-3.html/

[foutsrouts]

If I remember correctly, Bellazin transferred from SMU which makes it even sweeter. No, we did not beat Texas in 2002 but we kept them scoreless in the second half while most of the game was played by our freshman quarterback. Andrew Smith. The only old SWC teams we have never beaten in football are Texas, Arkansas and A&M, but, gosh. we came so close to beating the first two in '88 and '68. Those two losses (we really won both) will always hurt).

We haven't beaten old SWC members Southwestern, Phillips, or Oklahoma, but we have beaten OK State. Pardon my smartassness.