Quick Takes: North Texas

[Mike Roach]

Who: Texas Longhorns 8-5 (7-2) (2013) vs North Texas Mean Green 9-4 (6-2) (2013)

When: August 30, 2014 7 PM.

Where: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin TX

Odds: Texas -24, O/U 51

The Good: The Mean Green return four starters from last season's offensive line.  The Mean Green defense also returns three quarters of their starting secondary with Kenny Buyers, James Jones, and Laramie Lee all back this season.

The Bad: Outside of those postions, Dan McCarney has a lot of holes to fill.  North Texas will be replacing starters at quarterback, running back, and several receiver positions on offense, while breaking in a brand new defensive line. 

The Uncertain: The quarterback battle is still up in the air with no timetable set for the announcement.  McCarney told the Dallas Morning News "I don't feel like I have to announce it at the press conference Monday. We will announce it at the right time".  North Texas will use part of this week to evaluate the continuing battle between Andrew McNulty and Josh Greer for the right to be the Mean Green signal caller this season. 

What's at stake: The Mean Green see this season as an opportunity to take the next step as a program coming off of a winning 2013 season complete with a bowl game victory.  Defeating Texas in game 1 of the Strong era would make quite a statement in their battle for legitimacy.  The Mean Green will also try to make a bit of history with a win as they are currently 0-9 lifetime against the Horns. 

 

[Matt Cotcher]

Thanks, Mike.

FYI, every Monday throughout the season, Mike Roach will be giving you a macro view of the upcoming opponent to help us get the discussion started.

 

[Lukus Alderman]

Good information, Mike! I've always been a fan of McCarney. I think he's really helped that program improve.

 

[Mike Roach]

I really like McCarney and I think he's in line for a step up soon.

 

[Matt Cotcher]

ISU made a mistake when they fired McCarney. Don't get me wrong, I like Rhoads too. 

I just think ISU is a nearly impossible job and when they let McCarney go, I'm not sure it was justified.

 

[Mike Roach]

Update: Despite his comments it looks like McCarney has picked a starter according to this video and it looks like it will be Josh Greer who transferred in from Navarro.  Former Longhorn Darius Terrell will also be in the mix at WR

 

[MikeV73]

McCarney had a stroke a few years back, a step up to a bigger time program might not be good for his health. Do like him as a coach.

 

[chilly52]

McCarney says this is his last stop!

 

[Coleman Feeley]

McCarney had a stroke a few years back, a step up to a bigger time program might not be good for his health. Do like him as a coach.

If you've ever spoken to Coach McCarney you know that his stroke, a VERY serious medical condition, was about the same severity to him as the flu. (suffered the stroke in 2012)  He was quoted three days after his stroke as saying "I've got too much Irish in me to stay down long." Also adding that his stroke wasn't anything a "little Grey Goose can't fix!"

 

[beevomav]

This is going to be the toughest game of the season. so far.

I see a real nail biter, until they take the field.

The Mean Green has a real chance to win, their next game.

 

[J.B. TexasEx]

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011

 

[Juan]

— Twitter API (@twitterapi) November 7, 2011




Here is an infograph of the most in demand home games this season, according to Ticket City

 

[Juan]

Someone made a lego DKR

 

[Mike Roach]

That Lego DKR is badass

 

[Juan]

 

[Juan]

Here is a Mike Finer piece today about Horn walk-ons and meritocracy

UT walk-ons signal dawn of a meritocracy
By Mike Finger  August 27, 2014 | Updated: August 27, 2014 10:27pm

http://www.expressnews.com/sports/columnists/mike_finger/article/text-5716713.php?cmpid=twitter-premium&t=9821d1b542a2c336e3

"....... At a place like Texas. This, after all, was the program that used the recruiting star system to return to national prominence more than a decade ago. The Longhorns amassed more agreed-upon elite talent than just about anybody, then generally ensured that each of those preordained stars got their turn.

If that meant that a four-star senior offensive lineman sometimes started over a more effective sophomore? So be it. That was the natural order of things, and the old regime won a lot of games that way.

Then came Charlie Strong, purveyor of meritocracy. When spring practice began in March, every position was up for grabs, and no one was excluded from the competition.

Not Templin, the third-year walk-on from Granbury with a knack for catching everything Ash threw his way. Not Dylan Haines, the third-year walk-on from Lago Vista who hit just as hard and carried out as many assignments as any other safety on the roster. Not Taylor Doyle or Marcus Hutchins, two three-star offensive linemen who were written off by the previous staff years ago.

And in August, when the freshmen were given their chances, there was no hierarchy in that group, either. According to recruiting evaluators at Rivals and ESPN, Jason Hall was the lowest-rated of four defensive backs to sign at UT this year.

Saturday against North Texas, Hall will beat the other three to a spot in the secondary. Hutchins and Doyle will play on the offensive line. But no two players will illustrate the Longhorns' change in philosophy like Templin and Haines.

During the previous 16 years at UT, the only walk-ons to play regularly at a spot other than special teams were either a star player's brother (Marcus Griffin), a former Marine in his mid-20s (Ahmard Hall) or on a professional baseball contract (Ricky Williams).

Neither Templin nor Haines fit into any of those categories. But they'll be on the field, right there with blue-chippers, because they gave Strong no reason to think they couldn't handle it.

“Why hold them back?†Strong said. “If they're good enough, they're going to play.â€

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