Game by Game Breakdown of UNT's 2014 Football Schedule

BillySee58 · February 26, 2014

One thing that I think is getting underrated through all of this, is that this is Mac's 4th year here. We all love to praise Coach Wintrich and the job he has done developing the players physically, and he deserves it, but don't underestimate the job Coach Mac and his staff have done with teaching these kids the game of football. The players on our roster have either played only under Coach Mac here, or are entering their 4th season playing and learning from Coach Mac.

We were right up there with Rice last year as far as being the most technically sound team in CUSA last year. Coach Mac is a great teacher of the game, and he has made sure that his staff has been as well. Southern Miss was a team made up of much more highly regarded recruits out of high school, and we drummed them by 41 points at their place. You test those guys physical measurables (i.e. 40s, cone drill, bench max, squat max, etc) and they'd come a heck of a lot closer to our team than they would on a football field. And that has more to do with coaching, but coaching is the main reason for that.

Not to mention how well we play at home under Coach Mac, and how our road play is starting to translate into wins, and we'll be fine. We won't have as many senior starters as last year, but the coaches will make sure that whoever they put on the field they can trust. Whether they started last year or didn't play at all.

Ben Gooding · February 26, 2014

Yeah, Mac has done a solid job. But let's not crown his as the savior. 1 winning season in 3 years is not great coaching. I understand that the upperclassmen on the team when he inherited the team were not great, but he inherited good athletes and has recruited quality players. If North Texas lays an egg in 2014 who's to blame? Someone will need to be held accountable and 1 winning season in what would be 4 years is not getting the "job" done. I think North Texas has made strides under Mac, but let's not go crowning anyone just yet.

Ben Gooding · February 26, 2014

And on a side note: if the O runs into 9 man fronts for 3 quarters and loses a couple games bc of it that will also need to be held accountable. Coach Canales is an innovative offensive mind and if you think he is truly running this offense you are dead wrong. He calls the plays, but the philosophy and run/throw % is not his call. I've always been a firm believer that if you hire an O coordinator you let him fully coach for his job. If not then all the O coordinator is in reality is a cop out (see Will Muschamp). If you are a micromanager of the O do what Spurrier does, call your own plays so the accountability of the O is directly linked back to you.

emmitt01 · February 26, 2014

Never EVER underestmate culture. We won last year because we EXPECTED to, plain and simple . The kids we have this year aren't hanging their heads low because Orr, Trice, Chancellor etc. are gone...they are expected to and expect to pick up the mantle and carry it now that it's their turn.

A majority of these guys have had the bad taste of 4 and 5 win seasons in their mouth. Winning is a hell of a drug and the craving for it will make you run when it's hot, lift when you're sore compete when you're tired. Culture matters.

Ben Gooding · February 26, 2014

Never EVER underestmate culture. We won last year because we EXPECTED to, plain and simple . The kids we have this year aren't hanging their heads low because Orr, Trice, Chancellor etc. are gone...they are expected to and expect to pick up the mantle and carry it now that it's their turn.
A majority of these guys have had the bad taste of 4 and 5 win seasons in their mouth. Winning is a hell of a drug and the craving for it will make you run when it's hot, lift when you're sore compete when you're tired. Culture matters.

Absolutely

BillySee58 · February 26, 2014

Yeah, Mac has done a solid job. But let's not crown his as the savior. 1 winning season in 3 years is not great coaching. I understand that the upperclassmen on the team when he inherited the team were not great, but he inherited good athletes and has recruited quality players. If North Texas lays an egg in 2014 who's to blame? Someone will need to be held accountable and 1 winning season in what would be 4 years is not getting the "job" done. I think North Texas has made strides under Mac, but let's not go crowning anyone just yet.

There is difference between saying he's a football savior and that he is doing a great job of developing his players. Same with calling him a great teacher of football versus calling him a mastermind play caller.

You don't win at North Texas by bringing in 4-star and 5-star football players out of high school. Maybe one day, but not when Coach Mac took the job. You have to develop your players and change the culture. Obvious stuff, but Coach Mac has actually done that, rather than just talk about it.

This is becoming too much about Coach Mac, but my point is that he has put our program/team in a situation where they can be successful in 2014, despite losing the great senior class that has made everyone cautiously optimistic about this season.

cogido · February 26, 2014

Oh man, here we go Again ! I'm still going through Mean Green Fan rehab after last season's blowout year. Great write up Harry and great hot sports opinions from the guys. Now where's my therapist !?!

UNT90 · February 26, 2014

Never EVER underestmate culture. We won last year because we EXPECTED to, plain and simple . The kids we have this year aren't hanging their heads low because Orr, Trice, Chancellor etc. are gone...they are expected to and expect to pick up the mantle and carry it now that it's their turn.
A majority of these guys have had the bad taste of 4 and 5 win seasons in their mouth. Winning is a hell of a drug and the craving for it will make you run when it's hot, lift when you're sore compete when you're tired. Culture matters.

Careful here. La. Tech players obviously did not pick up that mantle this past year. And they were a top 25 team the year before.

Different teams react differently. Are we reloading or rebuilding? That is the question.

BillySee58 · February 26, 2014

Careful here. La. Tech players obviously did not pick up that mantle this past year. And they were a top 25 team the year before.

Different teams react differently. Are we reloading or rebuilding? That is the question.

New coach. Can't compare that situation to ours for that reason. At least as it relates to the team culture.

MeanGreenTexan · February 26, 2014

Careful here. La. Tech players obviously did not pick up that mantle this past year. And they were a top 25 team the year before.

Different teams react differently. Are we reloading or rebuilding? That is the question.

They lost coach Dykes on top of all those seniors though. At least we're keeping the coaching staff in tact, for the most part.

untjim1995 · February 26, 2014

I think 7+ wins this upcoming year is very reasonable. The CUSA schedule isn't that tough, we play a bad FCS team at home, and then have a fellow non-AQ at home. Plus, the game at Indiana is very winnable. I see us being 2-2 in OOC (wins over SMU and Nicholls St.) then wins in CUSA play over UAB, Southern Miss, La Tech, Florida Atlantic, UTEP, and FIU. That gives us 8 wins right there. I see games at IU and UTSA as winnable, but we will probably lose somewhere besides at UT and at Rice, so those two places are my guess, as of now.

Look, I think that there's not a game ont he schedule that isn't winnable, even Texas. They probably win easily, but maybe not. I watched Arky State go down and whip Mike Sherman's Aggie team in his first game there because they couldn't stop the run. Is it that out of the realm of possibility that this same thing could happen in Austin for Charlie Strong's first game with a new QB and a whole new system to learn? Not at all. Not expecting the game to be close, but this is the first bodybag game that we will play in years that I think we could at least compete in. The rest of the schedule is not filled with any great teams. Obviously, Nicholls State is our bought win, but SMU is not going to be good next year. Indiana is getting the benefit of the doubt because they are in the Big Ten, but this is the exact kind of AQ team that you want to play. Rice was good last year in conference play, but they weren't that good outside of CUSA play. No one else on our schedule even scares me a little bit. I think USM and La Tech have at least another year to go before they are competitive again. I think the Florida Airports are about what they have been in the last few years, capable of winning games at home, but not very good on the road. UTEP and UAB are terrible. UTSA is probably with Rice as the teams that I worry most about on our schedule in conference play, only because Coker and Bailiff are good coaches and knwo how to develop players, just like Coach Mac does.

I bet we play in the No Bowl, Independence Bowl, or bowl game in Mobile next year, with a record of 8-4.

Green P1 · February 26, 2014

I know. We need to carefully select someone to throw 14 INTs a year. At least 2 must be a pick-6 and cost us 2 wins.

I fully believe Mini-Mac can accomplish this... AND MORE.

SilverEagle · February 26, 2014

Never EVER underestmate culture. We won last year because we EXPECTED to, plain and simple . The kids we have this year aren't hanging their heads low because Orr, Trice, Chancellor etc. are gone...they are expected to and expect to pick up the mantle and carry it now that it's their turn.
A majority of these guys have had the bad taste of 4 and 5 win seasons in their mouth. Winning is a hell of a drug and the craving for it will make you run when it's hot, lift when you're sore compete when you're tired. Culture matters.

Totally agree with this post.

So imagine what would take place at our football games this fall if someone(s) worked as hard in changing the culture in the stands just like the culture has been changed on the sidelines.

IT CAN'T JUST BE THE FOOTBALL TEAM THAT CHANGES IT'S CULTURE. WHERE IS THE "COACH MAC" OF PROMOTIONS..... AND SPIRIT...... AND TRADITIONS?

I'd love to see something like this....

or this......

My only comment about the schedule is....train trip for UTSA?

Edited February 26, 2014 by SilverEagle

Wag Tag · February 26, 2014

Never EVER underestmate culture. We won last year because we EXPECTED to, plain and simple . The kids we have this year aren't hanging their heads low because Orr, Trice, Chancellor etc. are gone...they are expected to and expect to pick up the mantle and carry it now that it's their turn.
A majority of these guys have had the bad taste of 4 and 5 win seasons in their mouth. Winning is a hell of a drug and the craving for it will make you run when it's hot, lift when you're sore compete when you're tired. Culture matters.

Mac is really the one for establishing that culture and he has done a great job.

PlanoGreen · February 27, 2014

Smwho had hundreds of students camp out for basketball tickets a few days before they started giving em out. We can develop that culture for football, but on a larger scale

Ben Gooding · February 27, 2014

I think the culture within the student section starts with fraternities and sprites getting far more involved pre-during-post game. With 37k students there is not a reason in the world that Apogee couldn't be a place opposing teams fear to play in. Big student body, big (but not active) Greek organizations, large alumni base within an hour from Denton. Apogee could be a very, very fearful destination if everyone would simply show up consistently and show legitimate support. I am stoked to see what the future holds.