Football: UNT have more questions than answers

Harry · August 4, 2014

At this time a year ago, Dan McCarney took a look at what he had to work with in his third season as the Mean Green's coach and found a long list of certainties.

Zach Orr would anchor UNTs defense at middle linebacker, while Marcus Trice would direct traffic from his safety spot. Wide receiver Brelan Chancellor and running back Brandin Byrd would drive UNTs offense.

The big question was who would start at quarterback, but with two-year starter Derek Thompson returning, even that dilemma had a safe answer.

Nothing is as certain for UNT a year later as it heads into the beginning of fall practice this week. UNTs players reported on Sunday and will go through their first workout today, when the Mean Green will begin the buildup toward its season opener on Aug. 30 at Texas.

Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/sports-headlines/20140803-football-unt-have-more-questions-than-answers.ece

Eagle1855 · August 4, 2014

This, combined with Ash's return at QB is why I've had a hard time buying in to this being our "best chance" to beat Texas. We're going to be a good team by the season's end. I believe that. But there will be growing pains through the entire non-conference slate.

Can anyone think of an analogous situation where a non-P5 type school has come in with so many question marks -- including QB -- and gone on the road in the first game to beat a ranked opponent? Like, ever?

foutsrouts · August 4, 2014

This, combined with Ash's return at QB is why I've had a hard time buying in to this being our "best chance" to beat Texas. We're going to be a good team by the season's end. I believe that. But there will be growing pains through the entire non-conference slate.

Can anyone think of an analogous situation where a non-P5 type school has come in with so many question marks -- including QB -- and gone on the road in the first game to beat a ranked opponent? Like, ever?

Unranked MWC TCU had a lot of question marks in '05, and opened with a win at a highly ranked OU. I believe that TT had Top 20 votes when we opened on the road and beat them as a 1AA team back in '88. It's not unprecedented.

Jason Howeth · August 4, 2014

This, combined with Ash's return at QB is why I've had a hard time buying in to this being our "best chance" to beat Texas. We're going to be a good team by the season's end. I believe that. But there will be growing pains through the entire non-conference slate.

Can anyone think of an analogous situation where a non-P5 type school has come in with so many question marks -- including QB -- and gone on the road in the first game to beat a ranked opponent? Like, ever?

NDSU v. Kansas State last year. They didn't return several starters and still play in 1-AA. Then they got paid to win at Kansas State. Whoops.

Eagle1855 · August 4, 2014

Unranked MWC TCU had a lot of question marks in '05, and opened with a win at a highly ranked OU. I believe that TT had Top 20 votes when we opened on the road and beat them as a 1AA team back in '88. It's not unprecedented.

That TCU team had a QB listed on the preseason Davey O'Brien watch list (there was no confusion as to who was going to be the starter) and had gone 42-18 in the 5 years that preceded the 2005 season. They ultimately ended up going 11-1. They came into the season being heavy favorites in most of their games. Not sure that fits here?

NDSU v. Kansas State last year. They didn't return several starters and still play in 1-AA. Then they got paid to win at Kansas State. Whoops.

NDSU had a senior quarterback who knew the offense backwards and forwards. That team went on to win the FCS championship for the third time in a row.

Eagle1855 · August 4, 2014

It seems like most upsets come from a team that is loaded with experienced players and/or extraordinary play by a QB. Even in the SEC, among peers, this seems to be the case (see: Manziel vs Alabama in 2012).

We have neither.

So I don't buy this idea that this is our "best shot." But at least with McCarney, I always feel like we've got a shot. And that's saying a lot, after watching UNT football for 15 years.

greenit · August 4, 2014

It seems like most upsets come from a team that is loaded with experienced players and/or extraordinary play by a QB. Even in the SEC, among peers, this seems to be the case (see: Manziel vs Alabama in 2012).

We have neither.

So I don't buy this idea that this is our "best shot." But at least with McCarney, I always feel like we've got a shot. And that's saying a lot, after watching UNT football for 15 years.

Based on your screen name, I would have guessed longer.

foutsrouts · August 4, 2014

That TCU team had a QB listed on the preseason Davey O'Brien watch list (there was no confusion as to who was going to be the starter) and had gone 42-18 in the 5 years that preceded the 2005 season. They ultimately ended up going 11-1. They came into the season being heavy favorites in most of their games. Not sure that fits here?

TCU was 5-6 the previous year, and they did have a huge question mark at QB simply because Tye Gunn was constantly injured during his career, and they really had no one behind him. Hey, maybe we'll end up going 11-1 ourselves after beating Texas?

Eagle1855 · August 4, 2014

TCU was 5-6 the previous year, and they did have a huge question mark at QB simply because Tye Gunn was constantly injured during his career, and they really had no one behind him. Hey, maybe we'll end up going 11-1 ourselves after beating Texas?

If we beat Texas, I'll mark us down for an 11-1 season. But if we're following the 2005 TCU plan, that means a loss against SMU.

Jason Howeth · August 4, 2014

TCU was 5-6 the previous year, and they did have a huge question mark at QB simply because Tye Gunn was constantly injured during his career, and they really had no one behind him. Hey, maybe we'll end up going 11-1 ourselves after beating Texas?

There's a legitimate shot at 11-1 if we beat Texas. Rice will have something to say about that one loss.

untjim1995 · August 4, 2014

That TCU team had a QB listed on the preseason Davey O'Brien watch list (there was no confusion as to who was going to be the starter) and had gone 42-18 in the 5 years that preceded the 2005 season. They ultimately ended up going 11-1. They came into the season being heavy favorites in most of their games. Not sure that fits here?

NDSU had a senior quarterback who knew the offense backwards and forwards. That team went on to win the FCS championship for the third time in a row.

IN 2005, SI had TCU ranked in their opening college football poll at somewhere around 48 or so. Interestingly enough, the team ranked right behind them in the 2005 poll was none other North Texas, coming off 4 straight SBC titles and having back-to-back rushing champions in the same backfield. One went way up from there, one went way down...

greenminer · August 4, 2014

It's our best shot at beating Texas because of the transition their program is going through. We have a lot of uncertainties, but our program in general is the most stable and promising it has looked as long as I have followed it (since 1999).

It seems like any other time we played them, despite any confidence we had in our team, they were not just T25....they were T5 and not going through a coaching change or suspending 7 potential starters for our game. We also had a coach who was very vocal about just collecting a paycheck. I hated that!

If this is not our best shot at UT, when is?

untjim1995 · August 4, 2014

This, combined with Ash's return at QB is why I've had a hard time buying in to this being our "best chance" to beat Texas. We're going to be a good team by the season's end. I believe that. But there will be growing pains through the entire non-conference slate.

Can anyone think of an analogous situation where a non-P5 type school has come in with so many question marks -- including QB -- and gone on the road in the first game to beat a ranked opponent? Like, ever?

I think we have a chance because Texas is going to be bad...ASh isn't going to make it thru a full season with that weak OL they have running out there, which will also kill their running game. Then, there defense has to play in the high octane Big XII, where I see Baylor and OU just killing them. They play Tech in Lubbock, Okie State in Stillwater, and K-State in Manhattan, so I see at least two more losses from that group. Plus UCLA will run a truck on them, too, in Dallas. If they beat us, BYU, KU, ISU, WVU, and TCU at home, plus steal one of the three games I listed above in Manhattan, Stillwater, or Lubbock, they get to 7-5. But I see them going about 5-7. Its gonna take Strong a while to get rid of the Club Med mentality down there.

In 2008, Mike Sherman took over the Aggies for Franchione--and promptly lost to SBC mate Arky State, who just ran them into the ground. Same thing happened in 1996, when OU hired John Blake and he lost the home opener to a bad TCU team, who also ran it down their throats (this was a pre Franchione team under Pat Sullivan, who was terrible). If we are ever going to beat a team like this, it really would be now. If we can't, its not going to change much around here (the check just needs to cash, after all). We will still have a very good chance of doing well in CUSA play. But this Texas team looks to be the worst money team we have played in the last decade.

UNT90 · August 4, 2014

I think we have a chance because Texas is going to be bad...ASh isn't going to make it thru a full season with that weak OL they have running out there, which will also kill their running game. Then, there defense has to play in the high octane Big XII, where I see Baylor and OU just killing them. They play Tech in Lubbock, Okie State in Stillwater, and K-State in Manhattan, so I see at least two more losses from that group. Plus UCLA will run a truck on them, too, in Dallas. If they beat us, BYU, KU, ISU, WVU, and TCU at home, plus steal one of the three games I listed above in Manhattan, Stillwater, or Lubbock, they get to 7-5. But I see them going about 5-7. Its gonna take Strong a while to get rid of the Club Med mentality down there.

In 2008, Mike Sherman took over the Aggies for Franchione--and promptly lost to SBC mate Arky State, who just ran them into the ground. Same thing happened in 1996, when OU hired John Blake and he lost the home opener to a bad TCU team, who also ran it down their throats (this was a pre Franchione team under Pat Sullivan, who was terrible). If we are ever going to beat a team like this, it really would be now. If we can't, its not going to change much around here (the check just needs to cash, after all). We will still have a very good chance of doing well in CUSA play. But this Texas team looks to be the worst money team we have played in the last decade.

If only last year's UNT team played this year's UT team, your entire post would be dead on. ;-)

untjim1995 · August 4, 2014

If only last year's UNT team played this year's UT team, your entire post would be dead on. ;-)

All I'm saying is that I won't be surprised if we run the ball for good yardage against UT. I think our gameplan is one that will play well against them, from time of possession to pitting our strength against their defensive weakness. Plus, I think they aren't going to score a ton of points on our defense. I may be 100% wrong and they will just massacre us like every other AQ powerhouse we play for a paycheck. I just feel like we have a decent chance to be competitive in this one, even more than we were against Georgia last year. Yes, our team last year is probably better than ours this year, but that UGa team is waaaaayyyyyyy better than this Texas team. That may not mean a thing and we will just get crushed, as usual, in this game by 7 TDs or more. But my gut tells me this one will be closer than any Longhorn wants to admit it will be. It wouldn't surpirse me to see UT win by less than 2 TDs, with one of them coming late to seal the game. Or it could be closer than that, too. Heck, if we get turnovers in this game and can run the ball like I think we will, I can actually see us pulling off the upset, too. But that's a dream scenario, too, so I am not predicting that to happen. I just think we can compete with this pampered bunch--they haven't even been to practice yet and already guys are getting kicked off the team. I bet fall camp sees more players leave, as well. That whole program has been a country club for a long time--that major change isn't going to get accepted easily. Its gonna be a rough year for them.

Eagle1855 · August 4, 2014

If only last year's UNT team played this year's UT team, your entire post would be dead on. ;-)

Exactly.

I also think this idea that Texas is going to be "bad" is very likely little more than wishful thinking, but we'll see how it all plays out. They've got a proven defensive-minded coach with enough talent on defense to win some games.

A good defense goes a long way towards covering up other issues -- something to which we are quite attuned at NT.

GOMG2013 · August 4, 2014

All I'm saying is that I won't be surprised if we run the ball for good yardage against UT. I think our gameplan is one that will play well against them, from time of possession to pitting our strength against their defensive weakness. Plus, I think they aren't going to score a ton of points on our defense. I may be 100% wrong and they will just massacre us like every other AQ powerhouse we play for a paycheck. I just feel like we have a decent chance to be competitive in this one, even more than we were against Georgia last year. Yes, our team last year is probably better than ours this year, but that UGa team is waaaaayyyyyyy better than this Texas team. That may not mean a thing and we will just get crushed, as usual, in this game by 7 TDs or more. But my gut tells me this one will be closer than any Longhorn wants to admit it will be. It wouldn't surpirse me to see UT win by less than 2 TDs, with one of them coming late to seal the game. Or it could be closer than that, too. Heck, if we get turnovers in this game and can run the ball like I think we will, I can actually see us pulling off the upset, too. But that's a dream scenario, too, so I am not predicting that to happen. I just think we can compete with this pampered bunch--they haven't even been to practice yet and already guys are getting kicked off the team. I bet fall camp sees more players leave, as well. That whole program has been a country club for a long time--that major change isn't going to get accepted easily. Its gonna be a rough year for them.

Im hoping UT gets it together right after a UNT victory. its gonna hurt some, but win or lose, we will need UT to have a good season. Not too many chances for quality wins on the schedule.

SilverEagle · August 4, 2014

It's our best shot at beating Texas because of the transition their program is going through. We have a lot of uncertainties, but our program in general is the most stable and promising it has looked as long as I have followed it (since 1999).

It seems like any other time we played them, despite any confidence we had in our team, they were not just T25....they were T5 and not going through a coaching change or suspending 7 potential starters for our game. We also had a coach who was very vocal about just collecting a paycheck. I hated that!

If this is not our best shot at UT, when is?

This!

I've said this twice already. It's not just the coaching change and the suspensions. But the players for Texas that will line up on 8/30 have not yet gone to war with their new coach, and therefore have not experienced his communication style under fire.

Our players have experienced "game day" with coach Mac and most of his assistance. And coach Mac has already made it clear that everyone wearing green uni's on 8/30 will (symbolically speaking) have their "I didn't come here to lose" t-shirts on underneath.

We haven't gone to Austin with that mind set since the days of Corkey Nelson.

Edited August 4, 2014 by SilverEagle