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Practice Report from Friday 8/11/2023 Two quotes that stood out from my post practice interview with Coach Eric Morris were ‘Iron Sharpens Iron” and “Right now, our first level of guys is pretty damn competitive even going into the new conference.” Offensive Line Coach Morris spoke very highly of the UNT offensive line. “Our #1 offensive line is so far ahead of our #2.” The unit returns 80% of the starters from last year. The first team unit on O-line was LT 77 Kaci Moreka LG 65 Gabe Blair C 78 Daizon Carroll RG 64 Jett Duncan and RT Febechi Nwaiwu. It is clearly a strength of the team, but they are trying to develop depth at the position as the camp unfolds. Quarterback Race In my opinion the QB position is wide open now. I have always thought it would be Rogers. But now I really don’t know now. It is not that Rogers is playing badly. I just think Earle and Ruder have both improved so much and have addressed a couple of issues that held them back in the past. It will be interesting to see how this battle plays out. Coach Morris had originally stated a starter would be named after the first scrimmage. That doesn’t sound likely now. All three QBs took equal reps with the 1st team. Freshman Defensive Backs North Texas signed 5 HS Defensive backs for this class. Evan Jackson, Taylor Starling, Kollin Lewis, Jayven Anderson, and Brian Nelson. It looks like all 5 are going to be players. Each one has impressed the coaching staff so far in camp. With John Davis and Ridge Texada locked in as starting Cornerbacks it looks like there will be a dogfight for the backup spots. I am not sure any of the 5 will start right away. If they stay healthy, I can guarantee they will all see the field this year and contribute, even if that is on special teams.

“The U of North Texas “

I know this is a fan account but damn I like the way they think.

I had enough of it when I attended North Texas State Teachers College (when I first started in 1948.) We became North Texas State College in 1950. I came back to finish (BBA57) after the Korean War. I believe that it was sometime in the 60s that we became known as North Texas State University. We became the University of North Texas (I believe) shortly after Hayden Fry left to go to the University of Iowa. Unless you're more than fifty, you weren't born when we were North Texas State. It's almost enough to make me accept UNT...which I will. I never was a true fan of the Flying Worm although my friend, Rick Spears, was the creator and my favorite coach, Hayden Fry, had him design it. But I do enjoy the good memories of having a throwback year to honor that period of time. But please, no more North Texas STATE.

@Mean Green 93-98 totally valid points. That's a much better reason than mine for making that call. Reports are that Ruder has shown something different (better different) this camp compared to his previous years. Maybe he has figured something out that is giving Rodgers a run for his money.

Yes I’m being glass half empty on this but I don’t ever remember a three way battle where no one pulls away being a good thing. We’ve had plenty of no starter named til late in camp over the years and it’s never ideal. And two of them have FBS game experience.

I noticed that the football staff has been using the stylized eagle from the Hayden Fry era. It is also referred to as the flying worm. For those of you who don't know this, the art for this was created by North Texas alumns Rick Spears the second year that Hayden was here. Rick was a tremendous North Texas supporter, sports writer and went by greengrenade here on this board. I just wanted to give a shout out to Rick for his unique art that has been spotlighted again by recent coaches shirts and even on the throwback helmets. Rick passed away a few years and and I know is smiling on the recent ascention of NT athletics and their use of his artwork. Thanks Rick for your legacy.

For years now we have lamented that sportscasters can’t get our name right when they call us “North Texas State”, and hate when SMU calls us “NTSU”. But we sell this t-shirt (pictured below) at the stadium shop and love this design when we see it our head coach in an interview. 🤔 🤔

Trey Smith is a credentialed media member and covers the AAC. Everyone take a deep breath.

Been listening to way too many podcasts, but one guy referred to us as The U of North Texas several times. At least it wasn't North Texas State.

There are implications. When a staff brings in a xfer QB, especially first year coaches, it means he's "their guy". It means they don't like what is currently on the roster and this is the one who will address the situation ASAP. When you do that - and you could apply this logic to most/all positions - and then the guy doesn't beat his competition out, people will say this is a staff failure. And yes, this implication isn't there for HS recruits. They have the luxury of redshirting/developing.

He posted the following a previous report: "Special Teams Noah Rauschenberg - Kicker North Texas has had a great run of kickers the last several years with the likes of Ethan Mooney, Cole Hedlund and Trevor Moore. There were question marks around the position headed into this fall. Rauschenberg a transfer from Baylor had been used as a kickoff specialist. But it looks like he is going to take the kicking job and run with it with confidence. That was one of my biggest concerns headed into the Cal game. But it looks like the kicking portion of the special team’s unit is in good hands (or feet)."

1. If true, Aresco would open up the American to lawsuits and damages in the tens of millions of dollars by the teams kicked out. 2. Also, Why would Aresco negotiate a deal with Oliver Luck to basically put himself out of a job?

It's catching on...

MWC exit fee not tied to an active contract (can't just wait out the contract): "The conference bylaws state that schools leaving the Mountain West must pay three times the average yearly conference distribution if they give timely notice by June 30 of the prior year, roughly $17 million. However, for a team to withdraw from the Mountain West in time for the 2024-25 season, when the Pac-12 loses eight members to the Big Ten and Big 12, the school will have to pay an exit fee double the timely notice fee, around $34 million." https://www.reviewjournal.com/sports/unlv/unlv-football/crippling-exit-fee-could-keep-unlv-from-joining-pac-12-ad-says-2883990/amp/

For me, it’s because we have tangible evidence that Rogers can produce on gameday. Add in that he’s a “Morris guy”. I still expect whoever gets the job, we’ll still see some of Earle regardless.

Gray, thanks for your service and years of Mean Green knowledge. I think we should make you the Elder of the GMG board.

First off: it’s nice to feel like you didn’t waste your time watching a press conference. Second: I need to adopt your perspective @greenminer. I’m currently in the camp of I want to like the shirt, but I can’t because it says North Texas State (though I did buy a NTSU coozie recently).

I thought we were trying to get rid if the North Texas "State" connection?

Not sure many AAC schools, other than delusional Smut, would pay $10m and wait 2 years to join 4 PAC schools that may not be there in 2 years themselves. 💰

To add to this. 1. Do you rent or buy? 2. Thoughts on helmet stickers? 3. Nilla Wafer....cracker or cookie?

@Mike Jackson, any relation to PlumMeanGreen?

I graduated NTSU. I like the retro NTSU. Do I want to change the name back....no. I have two older brothers who graduated NTSU..they lettered....and many friends who went here. We all just refer to UNT/NTSU as NORTH TEXAS. Never had a problem when discussing universities and college atheltics with others.

I'm with Jim.

Seriously! This has to be the best self-own of all time. I wish our admins would pin this to the top of the message board for eternity.

Let’s give a cheer for U of NT…

20,001, Bob. Reminding you to have your pets spayed or neutered.

I have seen similar technique at weddings, when the bridesmaids are going for the bouquet toss.

If you had to try to stop Rod Brown wouldn’t you try everything?

It's pretty pathetic that the OP thinks that his school being embarrassed and passed over is "fun".

Should be fun! Please join us at the Mean Green Kickoff tonight at 5:30pm at DATCU Stadium in the HUB Club. Don't miss your chance to hear from our new Head Football coach, Eric Morris, as he begins his first season here at UNT. We hope to see you all there! Today also marks 3 weeks until we kick off our season against the Cal Golden Bears at DATCU Stadium at 3 pm. If you haven't already, get your tickets today! To purchase your tickets today, click the button below, call the UNT Athletics Ticket Office during normal business hours at 940-565-2527, or email ticketoffice@unt.edu . We look forward to seeing you on September 2nd!

I don’t know… SMU has made it *VERY* clear they don’t value the American and are willing to do everything the can to get out—including foregoing conference revenue for up to seven (!) years. SMU has money, but they haven’t done anything impressive with that money recently. They’ve fielded okay football teams and really bad basketball teams. If I’m Aresco, I want the DFW market, and I’m probably annoyed with SMU publicly discrediting my conference recently. I probably see that North Texas has done more with less recently and will bring more eyeballs given the size of the school enrollment and alumni. There’s a chance he sees more potential value in UNT over SMU.

I remember the state club, beer and burger.

I graduated from North Texas State. I wish we were still North Texas State. I think it looks good (better) and was more recognized then people want to admit. Hence the years it has taken to distance ourselves from the name and not all of those past references over the years were negative or meant to degrade the university. We should have stayed with NTSU! But not a big fan of the flying worm.

Smart planning by the MWC. Someone had the foresight to plan for getting poached.

This is a great article. Now I wonder if the author can explain how Texas, who has every possible advantage, has a perpetual mantra of “this year we’re back…no, for real this time”

We can't dismiss Ruder because of what happened with the previous staff. That staff isn't here for multiple reasons. We can't hold past performance in a different system with different coaches against these guys. Ruder is clearly very talented. If he wins the job, we're going to have a very dangerous offense. Not that we won't with Rodgers but I think the downfield threat is better with Ruder and with our receivers, I'm looking forward to some deep throws.

I took it to mean major conference foes; maybe that wasn't the intent? We hosted Florida St and Oregon St in Denton. But NT also hosted major programs at Texas Stadium and the Cotton Bowl: Okla St, Miss St, Texas A$M, Kansas, BYU, etc. We are not a program with a meaningless history.

I agree that this is probably the case, but not for the reasons @greenminer mentions. If I'm Coach Morris and I can't make a decision based on practice and scrimmage performance, then I look back at what they have done on gameday. Rogers has proven that he can do it on gameday as the starting QB and under adverse circumstances. If I compare game film and game stats between Ruder and Rogers, there really is no comparison. Earle is a little different story, but I still think Rogers gets the edge.

If we somehow end up in a conference with Stanford, I sure hope we find a way to hit the gas pedal on the AC expansion and new basketball/volleyball arena. Could you imagine a volleyball team at the level Stanford plays at coming to our volleyball gym?

No, we are okay honoring our past. Especially one that, IMO, is really really unique and cool. What we are trying to do is educate the uninformed in the media/public that think we are still going by that name. If you're concerned or frustrating that this throwback will only perpetuate that misunderstanding, I totally get it. My takeaway from this: we need to make these uninformed groups feel pretty guilty (and they should be) about confusing us with a name that is so long-gone, it is on a throwback/vintage line of clothing.

Great report, thanks! Did you notice any kickers or punters in action? Do we have concerns in those areas this year?

The only thing SMU does that could be deemed attractive is that it's in a perfect location for media revenue. Other than that, there really isn't that much of a divide between UNT and SMU. Sure the student body at SMU is vastly more wealthy and definitely more suitable for appealing towards college athletics, but as seen through attendance, that factor has failed to benefit SMU. The campus may be much more beautiful and prestigious than UNT, however I wouldn't consider UNT an "ugly" campus, so the benefits are very limited to this regard. Lastly, while SMU definitely has an edge in recruiting, it's not the massive separation between UNT that you'd imagine they'd have at first glance. If this trend continues through the 20's and 30's, I have no doubt that UNT will surpass SMU in athletic and overall appeal on a national level. Sure, UNT will likely never be able to rival SMU in regards to financial aspects, but at the end of the day, who gives a sh%t? UNT's diversity and appeal towards "the university for all" kinda goes against SMU's aspect and I think great things are ahead for UNT.

This Mario?

Virginia Tech is breathing a sigh of relief right now

Surely you have missed where everyone is proclaiming they represent the city of Dallas and bring the Dallas Market