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Moments after the men charged into his apartment, Caperton Humphrey remembered the baseball bat in his bedroom. If they came at him — and Humphrey believed he saw the imprint of a pistol in one man’s jogging pants — he needed a plan to fight back. For months, four of these men had been his teammates on the Kansas Jayhawks football team. Now they and about a half-dozen others were in Humphrey’s living room, threatening him, his father Jamie, and even Caperton’s 15-year-old brother. Seconds later, Jamie Humphrey dialed 911, putting his phone on speaker before setting it on a countertop. Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article252152528.html#storylink=cpy Read more here: https://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article252152528.html#storylink=cpy

Despite going to a bowl game, last season felt like it could have been a lot better for the Mean Green. COVID interrupted their season at certain points and by the time the bowl game vs Appalachian State came around, North Texas Football looked worn down from the season and then got blown out. This program has been steadily on the rise under head coach Seth Littrell and expects to have a better ending to their season than the one they suffered last season. North Texas has been defined by high-powered offenses ever since Littrell took over as the head coach and this one might be the most complete one he has had yet. The quarterback has experience and is talented, the backfield is deep and despite losing receiver Jaelon Darden to the NFL, the receiving corps has playmakers around. The big question that has been around the program ever since Littrell started having success was if he would ever find a defense to complement his offenses? That remains to be seen, even in his sixth season as head coach. North Texas football was a program that had struggled to win at a consistent level before Littrell had arrived, but he has taken the Mean Green to a bowl game in four of the five years there and that has raised the expectations. After being one of the most sought-after coaches on the market early during his time at North Texas, some of the shine has worn off of Littrell, and now he finds himself on a bit of a hot seat after his record the past two seasons. This season could be telling on if Littrell can fix the issues that have prevented the program from being better or if it will be more of the same. Read more: https://saturdayblitz.com/2021/07/10/north-texas-football-electric-offense-should-make-north-texas-threat-in-c-usa/

The Northwestern State starting QB is Bryce Rivers who North Texas played against back in 2018. Read more: https://nsudemons.com/sports/football/roster/bryce-rivers/5883

Dana Dimel and the UTEP football program have been on a multi-year rebuild that is now at a really interesting place entering year four. The former Kansas State offensive coordinator has been extremely cautious when throwing out any guarantees for his team in the past, and since he was hired back in 2018 to help turn the squad into a winner, he's maintained a five-year plan. However, the talent across the roster has started to fill out a little faster than expected and the Miners proved in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season that they can be competitive. Year four brings a lot to the table for the Miners. Dimel is in the fourth season of his five-year contract. The team returns 11 starters on offense and about nine defensively. The schedule favors the Miners early on. They have made lots of coaching shifts over the offseason. JUCO recruits are still signing to the program. And their opener against NM State (Aug. 28) is less than 60 days away. “I think we’re right on queue where I thought we would be," Dimel told 600 ESPN El Paso. "You’re not going into a place thinking that you’re going to change it in a year. You try to build a big picture concept and we feel we’re right on track to do that. We feel like we were really close last year, but that was last year. We need to continue to get better, continue to tweak our roster; and take guys that came onto the scene from last year and push them to a whole other level." Read More: It's Time to Talk UTEP Football: 2021 Season Preview | https://krod.com/its-time-to-talk-utep-football-2021-season-preview/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

UNT - Four of the Mean Green’s starters return from last season, however apart from Jacob Brammer and Manase Mose, it’s still a bit unclear if UNT has all the answers they need upfront from a talent perspective. Even Mose struggled in pass protection last year, as his Pro Football Focus blocking grades have regressed each season. read more: https://www.underdogdynasty.com/2021/6/29/22553517/conference-usa-preseason-position-previews-offensive-line-cusa-alex-mollette-bobby-deharo

Top Challenger: North Texas Mean Green North Texas has ranked either first or second in Conference USA in passing yards per game in each of the past four seasons. Replacing Darden's 1,190 yards and 19 touchdowns from last season alone won't be easy, but the combo of Jyaire Shorter and Deonte Simpson will at least give the Mean Green a chance. Shorter missed most of last season, but he has averaged slightly better than 20 yards per reception in his career and had nine touchdowns in 2019. Simpson went for 20.7 yards per catch in 2020 as one of the top deep threats in the league. Keep an Eye on: SMU Mustangs SMU has three returning receivers who amassed at least 400 yards last season, most notably Reggie Roberson Jr., who had 474 yards in the team's first four games before suffering a season-ending knee injury. The Mustangs also bring in former Oklahoma tight end Grant Calcaterra, which should help soften the blow of losing Kylen Granson (1,257 receiving yards, 14 touchdowns over the past two seasons) to the NFL draft. He'll be reunited with fellow Oklahoma transfer Tanner Mordecai, who is (presumably) finally going to get his shot as a starting quarterback. read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/syndication.bleacherreport.com/amp/2945279-projecting-every-conferences-best-receiving-corps-for-the-2021-cfb-season.amp.html

Mean Green Nation, It is a great time to be a part of North Texas Athletics! Momentum is at an all-time high and we have so much to be thankful for as we reflect on the past year and prepare for the future. I am so proud of our coaches, support staff, and student-athletes who continue to raise the bar of excellence as we deliver on our mission despite dealing with the challenges of a global pandemic. In 2020-21 we saw a number of outstanding successes in the competitive arena, in the classroom, and in the community. A few notable accomplishments include: Achieved the 2nd highest overall winning percentage in the past 40 years Claimed Conference USA Championships in softball, women’s golf and men’s basketball Earned our first NCAA men’s basketball tournament win Secured Conference USA individual championships from Audrey Tan (women’s golf), Vicente Marzilio (men’s golf), and Zion Hill (men’s javelin) Posted a perfect score in the Academic Performance Rate in five sports Delivered a record Graduation Success Rate of 86% Construction progress continues on key athletic facilities that will enable us to further develop our student-athletes physically, academically, and socially. We are near the end of construction on our state-of-the-art golf practice facility made possible by a lead gift from Jerome “Bruzzy” Westheimer and support from numerous donors. Be on the lookout for details on a formal dedication of this great facility. The Lovelace and McNatt Families Practice Facility has been open for a full season, and I am amazed at how we’ve been able to utilize it to improve the experience of every UNT student-athlete. On bad and extreme weather days, the facility is abuzz with activity from daylight until dark. We recently completed work with architects to determine programming needs for an expanded Athletic Center. As outlined in the Light the Tower Facility Master Plan, we have a critical need to expand this facility in order to better serve our student-athletes in the areas of sports medicine, strength and conditioning, and academic support. We are also increasing the scope to make improvements to the facilities used by our softball and volleyball programs in the Mean Green Village. We look forward to sharing details of our updated facility plans in the coming months. Despite a chaotic year with many disruptions, Mean Green momentum remains strong and we want to thank you for the important part you play in our trajectory as an institution. Your financial support and attendance at games are vital to our continued success. We look forward to full stadiums and the return of the full game day experience, including tailgating, this fall. We can’t wait to see Apogee rocking. Finally, we launched the UNiTe Initiative, a 5-year strategic initiative to grow our donor base exponentially. To learn more about the UNiTe Initiative and to join the Mean Green Scholarship Fund, please visit http://meangreenscholarshipfund.com today. For as little as $25, you can become a member and support the scholarship and academic endeavors of our 400 student-athletes. On behalf of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff, thank you for helping us Build Champions and Prepare Leaders. North Texas, We Love! Wren Baker Vice President and Director of Athletics

I spoke to a high school coach that said UNT was very fortunate to land Scott. He was evidently a late bloomer who is every bit now at 6-8 and can run the floor. Scott had a lot of interest from p5s and UNT was able to close on the deal. Keep an eye out as I expect him to help us as a backup to Bell. MOST IMPROVED Aaron Scott, who came into Big Shots Prep Nationals with offers from the likes of Texas State, North Texas, McNeese State, and Pacific. After showcasing his full versatility during the week, Scott is walking away from the event hearing from Iowa State and Mississippi State. Scott is a lengthy skilled forward, who is comfortable toggling between each forward positions. He says he is close to wanting to make a decision; however, these Power Five schools are asking him to wait until they know what their roster will look like next season. Don't be surprised to see more programs like Iowa State and Mississippi State start making calls. read more: https://basketballrecruiting.rivals.com/news/shaw-s-takeaways-big-shots-prep-nationals

Offers from Texas A$M and La Tech: https://247sports.com/Player/Jesaiah-McWright-46117784/

Regular visitors to this region understand what writer D.H. Lawrence meant when he said, "Touch this country and you will never be the same again." Santa Fe, New Mexico -- For flatlanders escaping sizzling temperatures, summer in Santa Fe means enjoying the cool, refreshing mornings and pleasant evenings that come with the city's elevation of 7,199 feet. Welcome to the state capital with the highest elevation. Founded in 1610, this is also the oldest state capital in the United States. Summer is Santa Fe is an afternoon shower that blows in from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to bring a welcome respite from the summer sun as shoppers study the wares of street vendors in the Plaza, the heart of downtown Santa Fe. Native American artists line the sidewalk in front of the Palace of the Governors which dates back to 1610. Custom jewelry and art are displayed on blankets and vendors can describe every detail about their particular craft. Even the most ambitious visitors eventually learn to pace themselves because, if you include the St. Francis Dr./Railyard area and the loop of Paseo de Peralta, Santa Fe is home to almost 1,000 unique boutiques and shops. Along with shopping and spicy cuisine, art is another theme woven into the colorful fabric that is Santa Fe and the countless examples of public art are only a hint of what this city has to offer. With more than 250 art galleries to explore, only New York City can boast of more galleries. Santa Fe has earned a reputation as one of the world's great art cities, although the local art scene dates back to humble beginnings in the 1920s when recently relocated painters Josef Bakos, Willard Nash, Will Shuster, Walter Mruk and Fremont Ellis began assembling simple adobe structures along Camino del Monte Sol. Jokingly calling themselves "five nuts in mud huts," all five were influential artists who launched a legacy that contemporary Santa Fe artists continue to expand. read more: http://www.ntxe-news.com/artman/publish/article_125013.shtml

read more: https://3downnation.com/2021/06/23/insider-talk-cfl-revenue-sharing-player-retirements-riders-quarterbacks/

The Arizona women’s basketball program announced Thursday the hiring of Ashley Davis as its new assistant coach. She joins the Wildcats after spending the last six seasons as an assistant coach/recruiting coordinator at Oklahoma State. Before that, Davis spent two seasons as the associate head coach and recruiting coordinator at North Texas and four seasons as an assistant coach at Georgetown. read more: https://www.azdesertswarm.com/basketball/2021/6/24/22548997/ashley-davis-new-assistant-coach-arizona-wildcats-womens-basketball-oklahoma-state

SAN ANTONIO — New UTSA Women's Basketball Head Coach Karen Aston was upfront about fans assuming her time in San Antonio will be nothing but the standard stepping stone to her next opportunity. "I just wanna be clear that I'm committed to UTSA," she said. Athletics Director Lisa Campos made the hire in the spring, and Aston and her staff have wasted no time putting their early mark on the program. "We've hit the ground running, enormously, as far as recruiting is concerned," Aston said. "I think in particular the three junior college transfers are going to help us lots." But the new hire knows those transfers are only a temporary hold for her much-bigger plans for the future. "There is no question about it. We've got to get some local players to sort of take the plunge with us and say, 'OK, we wanna build this program with you,'" Aston said. "I tell them all the time, 'Why don't you be on the (UTSA) billboard?'" Obviously the working list for any new NCAA Division 1 head coach will be quite busy, but Coach Aston is seeing action happen with the support of Campos. read more: https://www.kens5.com/article/sports/meet-karen-aston-utsa-basketball-roadrunners-sports/273-6645b801-43fc-42c0-8c17-cf5f6cb1eb0b

112. North Texas After winning 18 games from 2017-18, the Mean Green have slipped to an 8-14 record over the last two years. Scoring points won’t be a problem for coach Seth Littrell’s team in ’21. However, the defense has to show marked improvement to get back to a bowl. Offensive Strength: The Mean Green led Conference USA in scoring (34.4 ppg), yards per play (6.6), and most gains of 40-plus yards (19) last season. Littrell has to sort out an intriguing quarterback battle between Austin Aune and former North Carolina signal-caller Jace Ruder, but this unit should be explosive once again. DeAndre Torrey and Oscar Adaway III lead a strong backfield, and four starters return from one of the top lines in the league. A healthy Jyaire Shorter at receiver will help replace the production left behind by Jaelon Darden. Offensive Concern: Can Aune or Ruder claim the job and play with enough consistency to keep the offense on track all year? Shorter’s return is huge, but North Texas needs a couple of other playmakers to emerge at receiver. The offense has to do a better job at managing turnovers after losing 15 in 2020. Defensive Strength: Littrell’s hire of veteran coordinator Phil Bennett was a strong move to get a struggling defense pointed in the right direction. Tackle Dion Novil and linebackers Tyreke Davis and KD Davis are three key players among nine returning defensive starters for North Texas in 2021. Defensive Concern: This unit allowed a whopping 42.8 points a game and surrendered 6.94 yards per play last season. Even with a new play-caller and help through the transfer portal, major improvement might be a year away. read more: https://athlonsports.com/college-football/college-football-top-130-team-rankings-2021

Updated at 1:45 p.m. to include more reaction.The University of North Texas has declined to sponsor its concert stage at the upcoming Denton Arts & Jazz Festival, citing a reallocation of money and the time and energy required by UNT staff to run the stage. In a statement to the Denton Record-Chronicle, Jim Bersheidt said the Division of Brand Strategy and Communications had paid the sponsorship for the popular stage that featured student ensembles throughout the free three-day festival. read more: https://dentonrc.com/news/unt-pulls-jazz-fest-sponsorship-for-october-event/article_2d17e6de-296d-5550-bee7-5f12a54cf9cc.html

Big accomplishment for the conference as UTSA running back Sincere McCormick landed on the Phil Steel All American list second team. Last week, McCormick was named a Walter Camp Preseason Second-Team All-American. He also was named Best Running Back and first-team All-Texas College by Dave Campbell's Texas Football earlier this month, as well as a preseason first-team all-conference selection by Athlon Sports in May. Read more: https://goutsa.com/news/2021/6/24/football-mccormick-collects-second-preseason-all-america-nod.aspx