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Texas opens its football season at 7:00 p.m. Saturday against North Texas. Here’s a quick scouting report of the Mean Green: 2013 record: 9-4 Key number: 7. North Texas won seven of its last eight games in 2013. 1. No Cupcake: The Mean Green have long been known as an easy in-state win for Texas gets each time they meet, but that is no longer the case. North Texas head coach Dan McCarney has turned the Denton program around, leading them to a 9-4 record last season and a victory in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, the team’s first bowl victory since 2002. 2. Fresh Faces: The core of last year’s historic team at North Texas is almost entirely gone. The Mean Green lost their starting quarterback and running back, their top two receivers, top two tacklers and top two pass rushers from last season. This team will look entirely different from the one that knocked off UNLV in January. Read more: http://collegesportsblog.dallasnews.com/2014/08/five-things-texas-fans-need-to-know-about-north-texas.html/

4. I suspect the Texas-North Texas game on Saturday will be much closer than the 26-point line originally indicated. Dan McCarney is building his foundation at North Texas, but even if this year's team brings back only nine starters (fewer than all but one team in college football), some early jitters, confusion and/or sloppiness are easy to see for Texas' opener. Look at what happened in Charlie Strong's first game at Louisville. UNT may take advantage. A couple people inside the program told me the Mean Green believe they could win this game if they returned much of last year's nine-win team, but with so many unanswered questions this time around, expectations in Denton are measured for the opener in Austin. North Texas will be inexperienced and undersized up front on defense, so if Texas does indeed roll as oddsmakers expect, it'll be because they dominate that battle and bully the Mean Green defensive line. Read more: http://www.foxsports.com/southwest/story/ubbs-pregame-huddle-college-football-week-1-082614

It's a game for North Texas. It's also a paycheck. But North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal sees the season opener at Texas on Saturday as something a bit more -- an opportunity. The road to Austin may be a new one for the Mean Green. But its a road familiar to Villarreal. Opportunity awaits. When Villarreal was an associate athletic director at Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles signed up for some big paychecks against national powers. Southern Miss, then an unheralded independent, visited Florida State in 1989 and both Alabama and Auburn in 1990. The Golden Eagles, shockingly, won all three games, whipping then No. 6 ranked Florida State 30-26 in the 1989 season opener, then toppling No. 13 Alabama 27-24 and No. 15 Auburn 13-12 the following season. Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/unt-mean-green/20140827-gosselin-north-texas-ad-an-upset-veteran-sees-austin-trip-as-game-changer.ece

FACTS & STATS: Site: Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium (100,119) -- Austin, Texas. Television: Longhorn Network. Home Record: UNT 0-0, UT 0-0. Away Record: UNT 0-0, UT 0-0. Neutral Record: UNT 0-0, UT 0-0. Conference Record: UNT 0-0, UT 0-0. Series Record: Texas leads, 9-0. GAME NOTES: The Charlie Strong era in Austin officially gets underway on Saturday night, as the Texas Longhorns play host to the North Texas Mean Green. North Texas is coming off a season in which it went 9-4, logging a 6-2 mark in Conference USA play which tied it for second place in the West Division standings. The Mean Green were rewarded for their impressive campaign with a date against UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl, which they won in a 36-14 final. Dan McCarney is set to embark on his fourth season at the helm in Denton, and will try to improve upon his 18-19 overall record with the Mean Green. Strong, the former Louisville head coach takes over the reins at Texas, where Mack Brown had ruled the roost since 1998. The Longhorns went 8-5 last season, with seven of those victories coming against Big 12 Conference foes. Having lost out on the chance at winning the league crown and a BCS bowl bid, UT settled for an Alamo Bowl clash with Oregon, and the Ducks prevailed easily in that one, 30-7. Texas has won each of its last 14 season openers, and is an astounding 101-17-3 all-time in such endeavors, which includes a 79-7-2 mark at home. Read more: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/27/6658141/north-texas-0-0-at-texas-0-0-et.html Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2014/08/27/6658141/north-texas-0-0-at-texas-0-0-et.html#storylink=cpy

We know very little about North Texas starting quarterback Josh Greer, a juco transfer who spent 2012 at UAB and 2013 at Navarro College. He's seen as a guy who has some similar traits to the successful guy he replaces, Derek Thompson, and he was a 63.5-percent passer at Navarro. He's a bit of an unknown otherwise. But we do know he'll be protected by an offensive line that, on paper, looks impressive with 123 career starts among the five starters. Cyril Lemon, a first-team All-CUSA guard last year, moves from right tackle and has 37 career starts. He's one of four senior starters along with Mason Y'Barbo (37 starts), Antonio Johnson (34) and Shawn McKinney (2). Texas players think they have the best defensive line in the Big 12, if not the nation. Those boasts will be put to the test Saturday as they try to rattle a QB making his first college start. Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/88304/stats-that-matter-north-texas-texas

UNT released its depth chart this week in advance of its season-opener at Texas. The big news of the day was that Josh Greer won the starting quarterback job, which we posted some thoughts about yesterday. There was a whole lot more of interest to get to as far as the depth chart goes, so lets get to it with a few moves that stand out Shawn McKinney ended up winning the fifth starting spot on the offensive line. We hinted at this late in fall practice, but Shawn Snacks McKinney (love that nickname) edged out Ryan Rentfo for the fifth starting line spot. That means that Cyril Lemon will move to right tackle. Dan McCarney and Mike Simmonds are all about getting their five best guys on the field. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/08/looking-at-unts-depth-chart.html/

Here are a few quick-hitters from Dan McCarney’s press conference today. I will continue updating this file and will post video in the next couple of hours. – UNT will announce its starting quarterback some time this afternoon. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/08/dan-mccarney-press-conference-notes.html/

“If they go the way we expected, we'd like to get them both in the game,” said head coach Charlie Strong, who reiterated that junior David Ash will get the start and is the main man under center for the Longhorns. “We're going to go with Ash. He's our starter. He's had an unbelievable camp and then we'd like to get the other one in if we can.” The other one is Swoopes, and with him being in the No. 2 spot it would be a huge plus if he can get some reps under his belt late in the game. Read more: http://texas.247sports.com/Bolt/If-all-goes-well-against-North-Texas-then-Swoopes-will-play-30571686

Predicts a 35-10 Texas win. Doesn't think UNT will be able to stop their run. Disclaimer -- this is a Bleacher Report piece... http://deslide.clusterfake.net/?o=html_table&u=http%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Farticles%2F2175808-texas-vs-north-texas-complete-game-preview

Although Texas is 9-0 against UNT and has won the last three meetings (2002, 2004, 2006) by a combined margin of 148-7, Strong said he has a healthy respect for a Mean Green squad that posted a better record last season (9-4) than the Longhorns (8-5). Strong downplayed the significance of sending a statement to fans with a lopsided victory over a 24-point underdog in his debut in Austin. “Winning 3-0 would be good for me, just as long as I get that first win,” said Strong, who acknowledged being upbeat about his first game-day atmosphere in Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. “I’m excited about the tradition. Then, I had to take a step back and realize I’ve got to go win this football game or I might not be enjoying it very long.” Tailback Johnathan Gray, a former Aledo standout, said the Longhorns view UNT as “a great team” coming off a bowl victory, but cornerback Quandre Diggs indicated the sentiment is not universal. “We want to be tough, be physical and beat guys down,” Diggs said. “That’s what we’re supposed to do and what we plan on doing.” Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/25/6067187/texas-depth-chart-still-in-flux.html Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/25/6067187/texas-depth-chart-still-in-flux.html#storylink=cpy

AUSTIN – Texas quarterback David Ash had a message to fans worried about his health going into Saturday’s season opener against UNT. "Don't hold your breath for too long,” Ash said today. “If I get hit, I'll be fine." Ash had his 2013 season ended by the lingering symptoms of a concussion and his spring practice curtailed by a broken foot. He still leads all returning Big 12 quarterbacks with 21 career starts. More than a few times during his recovery from the concussion, fans asked about quitting. Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/texas-longhorns/20140825-qb-david-ash-tries-to-calm-texas-fears-if-i-get-hit-i-ll-be-fine.ece

http://www.texassports.com/news/2014/8/23/FB_0823141608.aspx

Texas quarterback David Ash has heard the comments and filtered through the feedback on social media. He knows lots of well-meaning individuals believe he should have punted his favorite sport after missing 10 of the Longhorns 13 football games last season because of concussion-related issues. A lot of people told me, You need to give it up. You need to quit, said Ash, who acknowledged having multiple heart-to-heart talks with his mother about his return to the Longhorns this season. In my mind, I always knew I was always going to play again. That is because every time someone urged Ash to become a former athlete, he reflected on the story of an Olympic gold medalist he admires: Eric Liddell, the son of Scottish missionaries who represented Great Britain in the 1924 Summer Games in Paris. Liddell, a devout Christian whose story is depicted in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, won medals in the 400-meter dash (gold) and 200-meter dash (bronze). But he refused to compete in his best event, the 100-meter dash, because one of the qualifying heats fell on a Sunday. Liddell declined to run on the Sabbath because of his religious convictions. Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2014/08/24/6064497/david-ash-focused-on-quieting.html#storylink=cpy

In other news and notes of the day … – Dan McCarney said that he has not settled on a quarterback and talked a little about where UNT stands. The battle is still down to Andrew McNulty and Josh Greer. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/08/unt-practice-notes-video-coming.html/

Tyrone Swoopes has cemented his role as the backup to starting QB David Ash, beating out freshman Jerrod Heard. "Tyrone is the clear No. 2 quarterback," said Strong. "I don't know when he's going to play. It's going to depend on the flow of the game and how we're playing offensively and how well David [Ash] is playing... Read more on UT starting lineup for North Texas: http://www.texassports.com/news/2014/8/21/FB_0821142343.aspx

For the Texas Longhorns, adapting to new head coach Charlie Strong‘s way of doing things could mean some temporary discomfort in 2014. And unfortunately for the Longhorns, there will be no easing into the college football season with the North Texas Mean Green coming to Austin in Week 1. Now, an upset is very unlikely. For all the challenges that might lay ahead for the Longhorns, they should easily best the Mean Green in the talent department. But that doesn’t mean that the Longhorns won’t be in for a game. The Mean Green are a team on the rise under head coach Dan McCarney. After winning eight games in the four years before he arrived, the Mean Green topped that number by a win in his first two season. Then, last year, the Mean Green won nine games. The season culminated in a 36-14 thrashing of the UNLV Runnin’ Rebels in the Heart of Dallas Bowl that put North Texas on the national radar. Read more: http://www.rantsports.com/ncaa-football/2014/08/21/texas-longhorns-wont-get-an-easy-win-over-north-texas-mean-green/

The Mean Green are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games and 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games overall. The Longhorns are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 vs. the C-USA. The Texas Longhorns have mismatches all over the field when playing the North Texas Mean Green. I usually avoid the huge spreads, but it’s tough to back North Texas with any confidence when going up against a college football powerhouse that is hungry for success. Randy's Pick: Texas Longhorns -24 Read more at http://sportschatplace.com/cfb-picks/2014/08/30/texas-longhorns-vs-north-texas-mean-green-ncaaf-pick-odds-prediction#F6vSvBm7g7fBO0By.99

-- After being listed as a wide receiver/tight end on the initial fall roster, a remnant from last season no doubt, senior John Harris said that he's working exclusively at wide receiver this fall following the dismissals of junior Kendall Sanders and redshirt freshman Montrel Meander. The 6'2, 218-pounder is still waiting to make his first major impact across an entire season after several flashes last year that included his long touchdown catch in the opener against New Mexico State and the Hail Mary catch just before halftime at Iowa State. Read more: http://www.burntorangenation.com/football/2014/8/21/6051235/texas-longhorns-press-conference-wednesday-desmond-jackson

AUSTIN - Charlie Strong changed the culture. With swiftness and fanfare, he trimmed the roster and rewrote the rulebook. He overhauled practice and removed off-campus living privileges. He ripped out the smoothie bar and peeled off the helmet decals. What the new football coach at the University of Texas couldn't change, however, was a simple, unmistakable truth. No matter how much discipline Strong could mete out or how much toughness he could instill in eight months, the Longhorns' hopes for success in his first season still fall inordinately on the shoulders of one man. Quarterback David Ash knows this. If he didn't before a candid meeting this summer with Strong's top offensive assistant, Shawn Watson, he does now. "As you go, our team goes," Watson told Ash. "If you're right, we're right." Read more: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/longhorns/article/UT-s-success-hinges-on-Ash-s-injury-prone-body-5702110.php#/0

6. With returnees like Cedric Reed, Malcom Brown and Desmond Jackson, this Texas defensive line has a chance to be the best in the Big 12 and one of the best in the country. Based on what they've shown in camp, not only are they dominating the line of scrimmage at times – especially in the most recent scrimmage – but they're looking like a special group to defensive coordinator Vance Bedford. “This is one of the best defensive lines I've been around and I've been around a few,” Bedford said. “I think we can match up with anyone in the country any place, any time, anywhere. If you're going to run the football at those guys I think you're soft in the head.” Bedford was on a staff that won a national championship at Michigan in 1997 and was with Strong when Florida won the BCS title in 2008. That Michigan defense allowed a mere 222.8 total yards per game and 9.5 points per game while the 2008 Gator defense finished in the top 20 nationally in ten defensive statistical categories, so Bedford knows good defensive line play when sees it. If this defensive line can live up to the lofty billing then the results should help kickstart a defensive turnaround on the 40 Acres that's been expected with this staff's arrival. read more: http://texas.247sports.com/Article/Texas-Longhorns-SiriusXM-camp-tour-Charlie-Strong-David-Ash-30441089

Texas' wide receiving corps lost three players to discipline and one starter to an injury. Who's left? Who's going to make an impact in the Longhorns' opener against North Texas? Here's a closer look. Contenders: Junior Marcus Johnson, sophomore Jacorey Warrick, redshirt freshman Jake Oliver, freshmen Armanti Foreman, Dorian Leonard, Lorenzo Joe, Roderick Bernard, Garrett Gray, sophomore Ty Templin, senior John Harris Not contenders: Jaxon Shipley is sidelined indefinitely with a hamstring injury. Daje Johnson is suspended for at least one game. Kendall Sanders and Montrel Meander were dismissed from the program before fall camp. Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/big12/post/_/id/88015/position-battle-update-texas-wr

We are getting closer and closer to UNT’s opener at Texas in a couple of weeks. While we sit and wait for UNT to officially announce its starting quarterback, let’s look at one of the key matchups when it comes to the Mean Green’s opener. There might not be a bigger challenge for UNT than having its defensive line hold up. Let’s look at the lineups: This is what Texas’ lineup could look like on its offensive line: Center – Dominic Espinosa, 6-2, 308 Guard — Sedrick Flowers, 6-3, 320 Guard Taylor Doyle, 6-5, 300 Tackle — Kent Perkins, 6-5, 330 Tackle — Kennedy Estelle, 6-6, 285 Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/08/key-questions-for-texas-game-can-unts-defensive-line-hold.html/

Prediction: Texas 38, North Texas 10 In Charlie Strong’s first game as the head coach of the Texas Longhorns, I see him winning the game easily. The Horns have much more experience, and that should show, especially against a conference USA team. North Texas having to replace so many starters is just too much to overcome when facing a team like Texas. Read more: http://longhornscoop.com/2-weeks-until-texas-football-north-texas-preview/