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College football needs compelling storylines. Here’s an intriguing possibility, and it’s not ridiculous: As a Heisman Trophy finalist, North Texas junior quarterback Mason Fine travels to New York in December. “That would be the most surreal moment,” Fine said during a Tuesday telephone connection. “I’ve never really even thought about that.” In 1987, Holy Cross’ Gordie Lockbaum was a halfback, a defensive back and kickoff returner. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting. A former Locust Grove superstar and the most prolific passer in the history of Oklahoma high school football, Fine could be a Lockbaum or Doug Flutie type of figure in this year’s Heisman process. read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.tulsaworld.com/sportsextra/bill-haisten-an-intriguing-thought-mason-fine-as-a-heisman/article_b68aa2fc-6ca2-5e4b-b2a6-580ca01de5fd.amp.html

DENTON - “Peter Pan” is retired at North Texas, realistically, if not officially. Word is the NCAA might outlaw the sort of fake fair catch that resulted in Keegan Brewer’s wildly entertaining 90-yard punt return for a touchdown against Arkansas. Never mind that it seems like criminalizing creativity. Probably keeps a poor imitation from disaster. Also now a moot point at UNT. As good an actor as Brewer is, he’s not fooling anyone again with that Emmy-caliber performance. Not since it’s been seen on SportsCenter, Sunday Night Football, Inside Edition, College Football Live, NBC Nightly News and Good Morning America. Not to mention, Brewer’s been on ESPNU radio, a couple or three XM stations and all through the locals. If you haven’t heard of Brewer or “Peter Pan” or Seth Littrell by now, you cut off more than your cable. “I told our marketing people this morning that they were brilliant,” UNT’s athletic director, Wren Baker, said. “I can’t think of a strategy or a dollar figure that would have brought the same attention to this university.” Here’s the deal: “Peter Pan” didn’t simply join the pantheon of “Kick Six,” “Lateralpalooza,” the Stanford band and Tyler John Tyler making Mike Zoffuto want to throw up. The sheer virtuosity overshadowed the fact that UNT, now 3-0 and receiving Top 25 votes, didn’t just beat an SEC team on the road, it humbled Arkansas. read more: https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/college-sports/untmeangreen/2018/09/18/unt-college-footballs-sleeping-giant-becoming-nationally-relevant

http://amp.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article218537150.html?__twitter_impression=true All of these great moments currently being collected at North Texas exist because the school narrowly did not choose a coach who would be pushed out at TCU and is now at Kansas. In the fall of 2015, the North Texas coaching position was vacant, again, and the preference of the athletic director to fill the job was then-TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham. The UNT President wanted Seth Littrell of North Carolina.

All of these great moments currently being collected at North Texas exist because the school narrowly did not choose a coach who would be pushed out at TCU and is now at Kansas. In the fall of 2015, the North Texas coaching position was vacant, again, and the preference of the athletic director to fill the job was then-TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham. The UNT President wanted Seth Littrell of North Carolina. “I’m not going to throw (former UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal) under the bus on this because he wasn’t opposed to it,” UNT President Neil Smatresk said in a phone interview. “TCU was on fire then, and still is. I don’t think that would have been a bad decision, but I do think this was a better decision. This was a decision that arose after a conversation and a consensus pick. Did I push it? Yes. I did.” We are in mid September 2018, and college football’s It Boy is UNT’s Seth Littrell. We are in mid September and the only undefeated major college football team in Texas is not Texas but North Texas. We all saw this coming. Read more here: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article218537150.html#storylink=cpy read more: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article218537150.html .com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article218537150.html#storylink=cpy

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Date North Texas Opponent Location Time/Network Official/Fan Website 09/01/18 vs. SMU Denton, Texas 6:30PM CST Stadium SMU Official Football Site Ponyfans.com Football Fan Site 09/08/18 vs. Incarnate Word Denton, Texas 6:30PM CST ESPN+ Incarnate Word Official Football Site 09/15/18 @Arkansas Fayetteville, Arkansas 3PM CST SEC Network Alt Arkansas Official Football Site Hogville Fan Site 09/22/18 @Liberty Lynchburg, Virginia 5PM CST Liberty Official Football Site A Sea of Red Fan Site 09/29/18 vs. Louisiana Tech Denton, Texas 6:30PM CST beIN La. Tech Official Football Site Bulldawg Bark and Bytes Fan Site 10/06/18 @UTEP El Paso, Texas 6:30PM CST beIN UTEP Official Football Site MinerDigs Fan Site 10/13/18 vs. Southern Miss Denton, Texas 1PM CST ESPN3 USM Official Football Site The Perch Fan Site 10/20/18 @UAB Birmingham, Alabama 6:30PM CST beIN UAB Official Football Site Blazer Talk Fan Site 10/27/18 vs. Rice Denton, Texas 3PM CST ESPN+ Rice Official Football Site The Parliament Fan Site 11/10/18 @Old Dominion Norfolk, Virginia 2:30PM CST ESPN3 ODU Official Football Site Lion's Den Fan Site 11/15/2018 vs. Florida Atlantic Denton, Texas 8:30PM CST CBSSN FAU Official Football Site FAU Owl's Nest Fan Site 11/24/2018 @Texas San Antonio San Antonio, Texas 6PM CST ESPN+ UTSA Official Football Site Rowdy Talk Fan Site * Home games denoted in bold

#GMG

Two years ago, North Texas football went 1-11. On Saturday, the Mean Green clinched just the 18th 2-0 start in program history, and first since 1994. It’s incredible to think how this program has grown. That’s nothing compared to what the Mean Green can accomplish this weekend, as UNT travels five hours east to face off against SEC opponent Arkansas. read more: https://www.texasfootball.com/article/2018/09/13/unt-football-mean-green-can-launch-program-to-national-relevance-by-beating-arkansas

The Mean Green football team is set to face the Arkansas Razorbacks in their third straight non-conference game on Saturday, Sept. 15 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. This is the first time this season North Texas will be traveling after starting the season 2-0, the first time since 1994. Kickoff is slated for 3 p.m. at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium. The history between these two teams goes back to 1947. Since then, the teams have met a total of nine times, the most recent meeting taking place in 2007 that resulted in a 66-7 Razorback win over North Texas. Outscored by more than 250 points in those nine games, the Mean Green have their toughest challenge of the season ahead of them. The Mean Green have struggled against teams in Power Five conferences, and since 2008 the team has lost each of the last 13 meetings with Power Five opponents. The Mean Green’s 58 points against the University of the Incarnate Word are a season-high for the team, as they now average 52 points per game and look to keep the high-scoring offense going. “I think we improved from last week, and that’s all you can ask for: To keep improving each week,” North Texas quarterback Mason Fine said. “I think we need to be more physical on the perimeter — we need to watch film to see what we need to work on and get ready for Arkansas.” View Full Article

Re: SMU vs north Texas state predictions by JasonB » Sun Aug 26, 2018 9:04 am UNT favored by 4 and over under is at 70. Here are the factors I would put into play: * We were the better team last season * UNT recruiting classes are rated significantly worse over the past 3 seasons than SMU. They aren't building a great team through recruiting to plug holes from graduation. SMU has a much better talent line coming in to fill spots. * UNT has a GT kicker. They have a transfer eligible now on one of the lines. And that is it. SMU has added GTs at RT, 2 WR, DE, DT, and 2 S, all of whom are fighting for starting positions. They also have a transfer from A&M who is a starter and 3 JUCOs who are fighting for starting spot. SMU has definitely upgraded the team across the board. * UNT graduated a big player at RB, and have unknowns to fill that spot. Defensively, they graduated easily their stud in the secondary, and have unknowns to fill. SMU graduated two great WR, and backfilled with transfers from P5 schools. A great center and plugged a JUCO and KU RT. A great DE and plug in a P5 transfer. Some okay DT and plug in a P5 transfer and have highly regarded recruits coming of age. UNTs offense is going to be as good as it was last year, and their D is going to be as bad as it was last season. SMU's D is going to be much improved, and I think SMU's offense, while losing two great playmakers, is going to still be good. I'll take SMU to win straight up. I might take the under, because as the game moves along, I think SMU will run the ball a ton and eat clock. Link: http://www.ponyfans.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=86175&sid=be7ba2e9e20ba195aeae334074e5f97c

Seth Littrell, 40, HC, North Texas Littrell played his college ball as a RB at Oklahoma. His first coaching gig was a graduate assistant at KU under Mark Mangino from 2002-04. He was an offensive coordinator at Arizona, Indiana, and North Carolina before becoming the head coach at North Texas in 2016. In two seasons, he has a 14-13 record, but has been to two bowl games. Prior to his arrival, UNT went 1-11. Littrell just signed a five-year extension in March of 2018 that pays him $900k per year with incentives that could push it over $1M, but has a buyout of $3.3M per the USA Today coaching salary database. read more: https://www.rockchalktalk.com/2018/8/14/17681618/18-days-until-kansas-jayhawks-football-coaching-candidates-part-2-up-and-comers

NORTH TEXAS MEAN GREEN COACH: Seth Littrell, 14-13, third season at North Texas 2017 RECORD: 9-5, 7-1 C-USA POSTSEASON: lost to Troy 50-30 in New Orleans Bowl » A LOOK BACK The Mean Green made a dramatic turnaround in Littrell’s second season at the helm. North Texas won nine games for the seventh time in program history thanks to a prolific offense that featured 4,000-yard passer Mason Fine and 1,000-yard running back Jeffery Wilson. Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.newsadvance.com/sports/damien-sordelett-blog/get-to-know-an-liberty-opponent-north-texas/article_9292dbf4-96cf-11e8-b45f-df89d2c0431a.amp.html

Pete Thamel says Seth Littrell is a candidate to look for at th Kansas job: https://sports.yahoo.com/college-footbal...08676.html

Join Harry, @TheReal_jayD and @GMG24 as we discuss UNT's first Fall Camp practices of the 2018 season as well as the latest in recruiting and of course the big opener against SMU.

Now Vessels is likely the most well-known Sooner to wear the No. 35 by virtue of winning the Heisman, but another player who did the number proud was fullback/running back Seth Littrell. Littrell lettered at Oklahoma from 1997 to 2000. While it was tough to find carries when the Muskogee native shared a backfield with studs like De’Mond Parker and Quentin Griffin over the course of his career, Littrell managed to amass 715 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 170 carries. He was also a threat as a receiver once the Air Raid arrived in Norman, catching 23 passes for 179 yards and a pair of scores. Read more: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.crimsonandcreammachine.com/platform/amp/2018/7/28/17624950/2018-oklahoma-countdown-to-kickoff-35-days-billy-vessels-heisman-trophy-seth-littrell-north-texas

As the 2018 North Texas football season inches closer, there is no disputing the level of excitement and anticipation is reaching a fever pitch. Optimism abounds and it’s not just from the die-hard fans who frequent the GoMeanGreen.com fan website. The Mean Green were picked to place first in the Conference USA Western division in the league’s 2018 preseason poll and junior quarterback Mason Fine was selected as the league’s most valuable offensive player. UNT returns 17 starters, and pretty much it’s entire coaching staff including head coach Seth Littrell who led the program to bowl games in both of his first two seasons. They also can boast the #1 ranked 2019 recruiting class in Conference USA according to 247 Sports. North Texas had struggled for most of the past decade prior to Littrell’s hiring in 2015, notching only one winning season in 2013 under then coach Dan McCarney. In 2016, Littrell took a 1-11 team he inherited from McCarney to a bowl game in his first season as head coach. Later, in the summer of 2016 UNT hired athletic director Wren Baker and after solid 2017 performances in all three major revenue sports the future could not look brighter. Yet, despite good signs, as a long down trodden North Texas fan, there is always that chip on your shoulder, and concern that even the best of expectations can be derailed. It's just not that easy being green. If that admission means I fall into the #OLDDENTON category so be it. I could not help but think back to a similar place we – as North Texas fans – found ourselves just four short years ago back in 2014, after an amazing Heart of Dallas bowl win on New Years day against UNLV. Dan McCarney was hired as head football coach by North Texas in November 2010. This hire was the culmination of a prior disastrous hire of high school coach Todd Dodge made by then athletic director Rick Villarreal. McCarney seemed to be everything Dodge wasn’t. He had experience, having been a player at Iowa under former North Texas legend Hayden Fry and the head coach at Iowa State in some of their glory years. Oh, and by the way, he also won a national championship ring as a defensive coordinator at Florida. McCarney immediately played the “major rebuild” card that newly installed coaches like to play, and quite honestly, he was probably right as Dodge had run this thing into the ground. His first season at UNT (2011) in the Sun Belt conference earned him a 5-7 record; in 2012 he regressed to 4-8. Alumni and boosters were antsy. How long and could he ever get things on track? 2013 was the season that it all came together and in hindsight unfortunately extended McCarney’s stay an additional 2-years. North Texas went 9-4, and despite not winning their division were able to secure a rare bowl win in front of a good crowd. Suddenly, the whispers of who would replace McCarney became a chorus of demands to renew his contract as quickly as possible although very few will admit this sin today. There are certainly some similarities between how North Texas fans felt heading into the 2014 season and how they feel now. Int 2014, North Texas was picked to win the West division of Conference USA and Marshall was expected to win the East. UNT returned seasoned offensive coordinator Mike “Chico” Canales and talked defensive wizard John Skladany out of retiring. They returned 5 offensive starters and 4 defensive starters from their 9-4 squad and recruiting had been solid. The season started off roughly on the road at the University of Texas as hopes for a major step forward against a P5 program were dashed. UNT would lose the game 38-7 despite a good defensive showing in the 1st half. In week two, UNT bounced back in a big way, defeating arch rival SMU in Denton by a score of 43-6 and the bandwagon started back up. Fans were bleeding green again. Then reality sunk in after a disastrous home loss against Louisiana Tech by a score of 42-21. After a cupcake win against out-manned Nicholls State, the Mean Green would go on to lose four straight conference games. McCarney would only manage two more conference wins that season against the bottom tier Florida C-USA schools and finished the season at 4-8. Much of the issues UNT faced in 2014 revolved around the quarterback position. They tried several options during the season, including Iowan Andrew McNulty, juco-transfer Josh Greer, and Dajon Williams. None of them seemed to work, with junior, and McCarney favorite McNulty earning the most game reps. UNT hoped this setback season was just a blip on the radar screen but the worst was yet to come. In 2015, McCarney would start out 0-5 and was summarily fired after a disastrous 66-7 loss to FCS program Portland State at home. One could argue that the North Texas program is under solid footing with Coach Littrell and his staff heading into the 2018 season. The biggest difference appears to be the return of junior quarterback Mason Fine. One cannot question the importance of the quarterback position and UNT appears miles ahead of where they were in 2014 both in terms of talent and depth. Mason Fine will go down as one of the most prolific quarterbacks North Texas has ever had on the field. But he is a not a big guy, and with a porous offensive line, he has had some injury issues in his first two seasons. If you lose Fine, it could put you in a similar situation that McCarney faced in 2014 where he had no significant experience at the most important position on the team. A look back at North Texas’ 2017 season reveals that Littrell won a fair amount of close games, especially in conference. UNT beat UAB by only 3 points at home and just bested UTSA by 3 at home with seconds left on the clock. They beat Old Dominion by only a touchdown, and La. Tech by only 1-point. Turn those around and throw in an Army non-conference 3-point win and the season could have looked a whole lot different in terms of the record. UNT also benefitted from some lucky breaks, for instance Southern Miss losing their starting quarterback. And you have to factor in that they lose all-time great field UNT goal kicker Trevor “Ice” Moore. The loss of Moore makes the parity in the conference more concerning heading into this important season. The other factor is the strength of the league. In 2013, many feel McCarney caught Conference USA in a down cycle. In 2013 opponent Tulsa went 3-9, UTEP 2-10, Southern Miss was 1-11 and La. Tech went 4-8. SMU is always a nice win, but that was one of the worst seasons they had in a long time. In 2018 you know the Western division won’t be easy. La. Tech will likely be back strong after beating SMU in the 2017 Frisco bowl. Southern Miss returns a bowl team, UTSA is always tough, and UAB may have some of the best returning talent in the west. The non-conference slate includes a powerful Florida Atlantic squad, a rising Old Dominion program and Arkansas from the SEC. Recruiting is another factor to consider, as 2014 unveiled the stark reminder that in his fourth season Dan McCarney’s recruiting abilities – with a few exceptions - had been abysmal. In 2018, Littrell will have more of his players that fit his system in place. He has proven that he and his staff can identify and develop good offensive players such as Fine, and receivers Jalen Guyton, Michael Lawrence and Rico Bussey. As to whether this skill translates to the defensive side of the ball remains to be seen. If anything, the 2014 season reminds us that expectations can be misleading. There is a real momentum that is being felt around 1301 Bonnie Brae right now. Can Littrell take this program to another level? Or will he fall victim to the curse that North Texas coaches before him have fallen? A solid season could catapult an already amazing recruiting haul into one for the record books and cement Littrell’s legacy as a head coach at the G5 level.

North Carolina head coach Larry Fedora blew up ACC Media Day by saying the future of the United States of America hinges on football and questioning CTE research. Could, should and will North Carolina fire him? If so, what precedent would it set for other programs? And who could replace him as head coach in 2019? Seth Littrell, Neal Brown and Blake Anderson are among the possibilities. Read more: https://herosports.com/college-football/larry-fedora-north-carolina-fired-candidates-cte-ahah