Brett Vito talks UNT Football with LSU writer

[Harry]

BATON ROUGE - Each week, we'll throw a set of questions at a writer or other media member who covers LSU's opponent to get the a take "from the other sideline."

Brett Vito

This week, longtime North Texas beat writer Brett Vito of the Denton Record-Chronicle steps to the plate.

1. Now that the storm has passed and football is a go Saturday night, give us a quick synopsis on what the expectations are this season for North Texas in year two under Dan McCarney?

"I don't think the expectations for McCarney are different than they are for any coach early in his tenure. People just want to see UNT continue to improve. The interesting question will be what constitutes improvement for this team in terms of its record at the end of the season.

"UNT went 5-7 in McCarney's first season, which was pretty astounding when you think about it. UNT won five games the previous two seasons combined.

"The immediate thought is, well, the target this year should be six or seven wins, and it is, but the schedule might make that unrealistic. UNT is at LSU, at Kansas State and at Houston this year. Arkansas State and Louisiana-Lafayette are expected to be at the top of the Sun Belt this season, and UNT just lost its best player and all-time leading rusher Lance Dunbar to the Dallas Cowboys (at last check of the waiver wire).

"Finishing 5-7 again might not sound all that great, but if UNT gets there and looks good doing it, that might be the low end of what would constitute a good year."

Read more: http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2012/08/view_from_the_other_sideline_n.html