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Cyril Lemon stood in front of a lot of peering eyes on Monday, when the junior filled an unfamiliar role for North Texas. UNT trotted out the monstrous offensive lineman at its media day at Apogee Stadium to model the throwback uniform it will wear during its season-opening game against Idaho on Aug. 31 as part of its 100-year anniversary celebration. The new look honored some of the programs great moments of the past on a day UNT expressed confidence that there are good times coming hopefully this season. UNT enters 2013 looking to snap a streak of eight straight losing seasons in its third year under Dan McCarney. There is a different look, a different feel around this football team, McCarney said. Its a combination of a lot of things maturity, development, leadership and a senior class that has said to the younger players: Follow us on and off the field. They know what my expectations are. When you get ownership from the players, you know you have something special. UNT returns 16 starters from a team that finished 4-8 a year ago in the Mean Greens final season in the Sun Belt Conference. UNT will play its first season in Conference USA this fall. McCarney and his players acknowledged that moving to what is considered a higher-level league will make continuing its rise under McCarney more difficult. UNT has won nine games in two years under McCarney after winning eight in the four years combined before his arrival. Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130812-football-unt-shows-off-throwback-uniforms-to-be-worn-in-opener.ece

DENTON, Texas -- In honor of the program's 100th anniversary, the North Texas Mean Green football team will wear throwback jerseys for their August 31 season opener against Idaho at Apogee Stadium. The jerseys, which were introduced at a Monday afternoon press conference at the stadium, incorporate elements from the golden eras of Mean Green football-the Abner Haynes era of the late 1950s, the Mean Joe Greene era (1966-1968), the Hayden Fry era (1973-1978) and the recent four-year bowl streak under Darrell Dickey (2000-2004). "We went back and kind of scoured through old yearbooks and looked at different uniforms from different eras and feel good about what we came up with that it's representative of the period," UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said. Junior offensive lineman Cyril Lemon modeled the retro jersey and the Marble Falls native had great things to say about the different look he and his UNT teammates will don when the Vandals visit Denton at the end of August. "I love the retro jersey. The thing I like about it the most is it's our hundred-year anniversary and it pretty much gets all the eras in one jersey," Lemon said. "I was expecting like a jersey from one era, but this gets all of them into one. That's what I like about it most." Read more: http://www.foxsportssouthwest.com/collegefootball/conference-usa/story/North-Texas-to-wear-throwbacks-jerseys-A?blockID=928703&feedID=3742

OK so here's the good and bad for me/ Let's start with the bad so we can end on a positive. The Bad - Really wanted to see Brock come out and make a statement in week one. Disheartening to hear that he didn't. Part of my desire for his progression is his his (and McNulty's ability to push #7 to play better because I really think in my heart of hearts that #7 is our starter against Idaho and will remain so until significant mistakes/losses occur. - People are right that the defense usually dominates in Spring and Fall camp but it has been my experience that it only gets worse as time goes on. As time goes on the defense will start to dominate more because frankly they know the plays and the offensive player tendencies. So I'm disappointed that the offense did not start out better given all of the preseason workouts and conditioning that they have been through. - It would be one thing if Mac was happy with one of the three QB's and it seemed in Vito's write-up that Berglund was singled out due to the question being asked about him specifically, but Mac seemed dis-satisfied with all three of our top three guys. After 1 of essentially 3 weeks of action we are "inconsistent" at the most important position on the squad. That's 33.3% of the time we have left before Idaho...ugh... The Good - defense is playing well. - Freshman QB Dajon Williams may be really special. For Chico to say he has "innate abilities" as a true freshman --- that the other three don't have is significant. - TE Marcus Smith is finally healthy and could be a big time difference maker for us. 6-4, 255 guys that can run, block and catch don't grow on trees. - Doubly good to hear nice things about Juco TE Chris Loving because it gives us more depth at the position. If you can get 1.5 years out of a juco player you are doing good and it appears that Loving could provide that. - There did not appear to be any significant injuries. - It's still early and as some have pointed out Mac may be trying to motivate the QB's and the offense in general. Break them down a bit and then build them up to a crescendo for Idaho. GMG

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In football, games are often won or lost in the trenches, so when coach Paul Petrino took over the Idaho Vandals, he was thrilled to have a solid core of defensive lineman already in place. "I think our strength this year is going to be up front - both offensively and defensively," Petrino said. "We have a lot of good young guys with a lot of experience already." It is a youthful group of veterans who will make up Idaho's front four. Vince Keener and QuayShawne Buckley are the lone returning seniors. They'll be joined by junior Maxx Forde and sophomores Ryan Edwards and Quinton Bradley as the other three members from last year's squad. Jesse Davis, who played defensive tackle last year, is returning for his junior year, but on the offensive line. "Right now I like our chances to make something good," defensive line coach Byron "Bam" Hardmon said. "We have some mature guys, we have a little bit of depth, but we have to make sure those guys give us great effort and work on techniques and fundamentals." Perhaps the most compelling story from the defensive line is the reinstatement of Buckley to the team. After being arrested for driving under the influence in February, the 305-pound defensive tackle was dismissed from the team and did not participate in any spring practices. However, Buckley has earned his way back onto the team and should start at defensive tackle in the Vandals' season-opener. "He brings some depth and some excitement - he is a guy who loves the game of football," Hardmon said. "We know he'll give us a lot of effort, so we want to focus on his technique and fundamentals with him not being out there in the spring. We want to continue to push him so he can be ready to help this team." Buckley's big, athletic frame caused problems for opposing offenses last year, but he also hurt his team with a handful of 15-yard personal fouls at key situations. If Buckley is going to have a positive impact, he'll have to find a way to reel in his emotions when it matters. "He's a talented player and he's quick for his size," Forde said. "He's got strong hands and a lot of tools you want on the D-line." Forde will also be an integral part of the line. The 261-pound defensive end has played in all 24 games during the last two years, making him a seasoned veteran. His tireless work ethic, both on the field and in the classroom, has earned him the respect of his teammates and coaches. "He's stepped up and accepted the leadership role," Hardmon said. "That's one of those things that not everybody can do, but he also has to hold himself accountable - which is something I think he does a good job of. It's one of those things where if you tell somebody else to get the ball, you have to do it also." As part of his leadership role, Forde spent extra time in the gym sculpting his body to prepare for a breakout season. "In the weight room, I tried to get bigger, stronger and faster," Forde said. "Out here, I'm really trying to develop my pass rush. Last year I think I had three sacks, and that's just not what I want to be at. I'm also trying to bring the group together, trying to make sure we're all moving together." Redshirt freshman Antonio Perez was Forde's understudy during the summer and will likely see significant playing time off the bench as the season progresses. Newcomers Zach Cable (freshman) and Anthony Rice (junior) have adjusted well to the defense after the first few days of practice and could both easily be in the mix for some playing time. "I think the biggest part of getting them ready is having guys like Maxx Forde, like Quinton Bradley, who can coach them up even when I'm not around," Hardmon said. "That helps them be more comfortable, and I tell them no question ins a dumb question." Read more: http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=205&f=2664&t=11760154

UNT’s players and coaches will be available to the media again tomorrow, so I should have some more info (video, a story and a blog or two) late tomorrow, but until then, here are a couple of interesting tidbits of note I have been holding to fill the dead day. I am working on a series of stories for our annual football magazine and asked about one senior who will be featured. Dan McCarney went on to mention two other seniors who have impressed so far in camp — cornerback Hilbert Jackson and defensive end Aaron Bellazin. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/08/wednesday-night-notes-2.html/

Derek Thompson could sense that something had changed, not only in himself but also in his teammates in the past few months, as they worked their way through North Texas’ offseason conditioning program. UNT’s starting quarterback could feel a higher level of energy and excitement, not to mention a feeling that this could be the year UNT finally breaks through to post a winning season, a goal that has eluded the Mean Green throughout his career. “There is not a doubt in my mind,” Thompson said of UNT having a chance to break through this fall. “The attitude every single day makes me feel that way. Last summer it was really hard to come to workouts. It was 100 degrees and it’s 15 degrees hotter on that turf. There are guys here this year who are excited. There is a lot of energy. “People are getting bigger and stronger and are doing what it takes to be successful. When Saturdays come this fall, we will be ready to step on the field and go.” Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130803-football-mean-green-to-report.ece

There were times earlier in Dan McCarney’s coaching career when he had to wait and wonder right up until the last minute how his freshmen would look heading into fall practice. Coaches would sign their players in February during his tenure as a head coach at Iowa State and as an assistant at Iowa and Wisconsin and then hope that they arrived right before the start of two-a-days in late July in shape. McCarney won’t have to worry about his newcomers heading into his third season at North Texas. All of UNT’s freshmen reported on time for summer school and went through their first session of summer conditioning on Monday afternoon. McCarney said he does not anticipate any late problems with NCAA qualifying standards that would prevent any of UNT’s incoming freshmen from being eligible this season. The question for UNT now is whether or not any of the team’s freshmen and late-arriving junior college players can help the team right away. Having all of them on campus is a good start. “We have to see how well they will learn the system, but I sure like this class,” McCarney said. “It helps a lot to have them here. When camp starts, conditioning won’t be an issue.” Read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/colleges/north-texas-headlines/20130708-football-mccarney-has-no-worries-with-newcomers.ece

We are on the verge of the most glorious time of the year. Spring football is over, the magazine deadlines have passed and the spring sports season is wrapping up. That’s right — it’s almost the college sports off-season. I’m headed out of town tomorrow for a little R&R with the wife. I might jump on the blog a little here and there, but before I bail, I thought this would be the perfect night to start the annual post-spring key questions blog series. Every team in the country has questions and concerns heading into the off-season, including UNT. Over the next few weeks, we’ll ponder some of them when we are not addressing the news of the day or some other point of interest. So here goes, No. 1 — Is Dan McCarney going to be OK? Being the head football coach at UNT roughly equates to being employed on the bomb squad or repairing power lines. It’s been proven to be a dangerous line of work when it comes to your health. And that doesn’t even take into account the fact that historically UNT has been a place where it is darn near impossible to win. UNT has posted three winning seasons since 1995, all in a row during a run of success under Darrell Dickey from 2001-04. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/05/post-spring-questions-series-no-1-is-mac-still-the-same-old-mac.html/

Chris Loving is going to get a second chance to play football on the FBS level. The Blinn College product said tonight that he is seriously considering making UNT the place he finally reaches his goal. Loving will take an official visit to UNT this weekend. “I’m pretty excited about maybe playing at North Texas,” Loving said. “The coaches made it sound like a fun place to be. I know coach [Mike] Grant and talked to the new tight ends coach they just hired [Tommy Perry]. I really like the program. They said that the program is on its way up and I can be a part of it.” Loving was an honorable mention All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference selection last season and was a standout player at Klein. The question when it comes to Loving has always been his grades. Texas A&M, Miami, Utah, Colorado State and UTEP were among the teams that offered him a scholarship when he was a senior in high school. Loving didn’t qualify and ended up at Blinn. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/01/taking-recruiting-with-chris-loving.html/

UNT put out a little note on the performance of its football team academically today that is definitely worth talking about. UNT had 45 players post a GPA of 3.0 or better this fall, the top total for the program since 2001. “I am extremely pleased with the effort that this team put in to their academic work during the fall,” head coach Dan McCarney said. “With all of the demands on their time during the season, they still took pride in showing progress in the classroom. With the help of the academic staff, football players at North Texas are beginning to understand the importance and benefits of scholastic success.” read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/01/unt-posts-impressive-performance-academically-in-football.html/