Mean Green

For the first time in a while, I received a question in e-mail. A blog reader was wondering what the draft prospects would be for junior wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald and if he might enter the draft early.

Fitzgerald is having a huge season with 104 catches for 1,264 yards and 12 touchdowns. The former Red Oak standout ranks third in the country in catches (9.45 per game) and fourth in receiving yards (114.91).

Fitzgerald is a great player, but like a lot of UNT players of the past, he will run into a few obstacles in his pursuit of an NFL roster spot. Fitzgerald is listed at 5-11, 186. At that size he will have to put an impressive 40-yard dash time to have a chance to be drafted.

I looked through a few NFL draft projections and there are a few prospects in this year's draft who are of a similar size, including Harry Douglas of Louisville (5-10, 178) and Dorien Bryant of Purdue (5-9, 175).

Fitzgerald will also have to overcome the stigma of playing in a league like the Sun Belt. Sorry, but it's true. Plenty of players have made it out of the league, including Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware of Troy and linebacker Cody Spencer of North Texas, but one NFL Draft expert told me when I was writing stories about Johnny Quinn's prospects last season that one of the first questions NFL types ask of players like Spencer, Ware and Fitzgerald is why are they not playing at Texas or Texas A&M. The perception is prospects in lower profile leagues lack something, whether it be size or speed.

Fitzgerald might be able to overcome that stigma and make it, but Quinn still hasn't. And remember Quinn was bigger and might be just as fast.

I hope Casey gets his chance, but it is way too early to be thinking about UNT's star receiver and the draft. Give him a year to put on some weight and he might have a chance.

The end of the season -- especially ones like UNT is in the midst of -- require some uncomfortable questions. This week I tried to ask a few.

One I directed toward quarterback Giovanni Vizza. The freshman has had an outstanding season, but is also in an interesting situation heading into next year with the impending arrival of Riley Dodge, the son of head coach Todd Dodge.

Riley is a quarterback like his father, one many will expect to start the moment he sets foot on campus. Vizza would be a hot commodity on the transfer market, but said this week he is staying put at UNT.

It should make for an interesting position battle heading into next season. Feel free to post your thoughts here. What would be the ideal situation next season when both Vizza and Dodge will be on campus?

Today was the last day of the season for media availability for UNT players and coaches, so I asked the obvious of head coach Todd Dodge:

Does he expect any changes in his coaching staff after the season or does he expect any underclassmen to leave after the season?

The answer: "No and no."

Make that an emphatic "no and no."

I can't say that I am surprised. Dodge brought several coaches from the high school level that he has a lot of confidence in and UNT has played better toward the end of the season. The question will be if the Mean Green can continue its upward climb next year.

If not, then Dodge might have to reconsider.

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal confirmed today that the school is about to finalize a contract to play a series with Army and will play six home games in 2009.

UNT has played only five home games for the last several years.

For full details, see tomorrow's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle.

Waller quarterback Jeremy Phillips has committed to UNT, Rivals.com reported Monday afternoon. The 6-3,184-pound senior is projected to play safety or linebacker in college.

Check back on the Denton Record-Chronicle Web site. We will have more when we can get Phillips on the phone.

The Sun Belt Conference will look into a scuffle between North Texas and Western Kentucky players at midfield following the Mean Green's win on Saturday night at Fouts Field, commissioner Wright Waters said Sunday.

UNT and WKU players met at midfield following a tension-filled game. UNT and WKU coaches and UNT officials separated the players.

In an interesting twist, WKU's football program is not yet a full member of the Sun Belt, which could bring the conference office's authority over the program into question.

For more on the incident and the Sun Belt's plans, see tomorrow's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle.

Of all the times for North Texas to break out of its season-long funk, Saturday had to be the best.

It was senior day and UNT bid farewell to the last remaining connections to its Sun Belt Conference title teams in a 27-26 win over Western Kentucky. It was only appropriate that a host of seniors led UNT to the win. Running back Jamario Thomas scored three touchdowns in the second half while defensive end Jeremiah Chapman and linebacker Maurice Holman finished with 16 and 14 tackles, respectively.

UNT wanted to leave Fouts Field for the year on a high note and accomplished the task while building momentum for Saturday's game at Florida International.

The win was a nice way to see Thomas and the rest of UNT's seniors go out. The group contributed a lot to the team and the university during their careers.

Chapman and several other seniors said they wanted to set the tone for the future of the program in the Mean Green's last home game of the season and took a step toward that goal.

Of their accomplishments during their careers, helping build the Mean Green's future might not be the most memorable, but it is significant none the less. Head coach Todd Dodge has said all year long that his seniors have helped him take the first step in building his program.

If UNT manages to get to the level it aspires to attain, Mean Green fans will look back on players like Thomas, Chapman and Holman as key figures in the growth of UNT in the Dodge era.

Be sure to check out tomorrow's edition of the Denton Record-Chronicle for a column about UNT's win.

UNT is going to escape with a win.

WKU kicker Chris James shanked a 38-yard field goal with 1:06 left in the game. UNT leads 27-26.

Jamario Thomas scored his third touchdown of the game, breaking out to the left sideline and going 42 yards for the score. It's nice to see Jamario get his due in his last home game. It's been a rough ride for Thomas since his freshman year, dealing with injuries and playing in an offense that's not suited for him this year.

UNT failed on the 2-point conversion, but took its first lead of the game, 27-26.

UNT almost got the big break it needed when defensive lineman Eddrick Gilmore hit quarterback David Wolke, who lost the ball and Gilmore had an easy touchdown. The refs called an incomplete pass however and Chris James hit a 44-yard field goal to give WKU a 26-21 lead.

The play brings back memories of the infamous tuck rule, when New England quarterback Tom Brady very obviously fumbled but refs ruled it an incomplete pass. The Pats should have lost in the playoffs on that play, but instead went on to become a dynasty.

Note to Brady: stop wearing those designer hats at press conferences. They make me want to spin your overrated head 360.

We're headed to the fourth quarter here at Fouts Field. UNT trails 23-21, but given how the game started and the weather, I bet UNT is happy with where it is.

The Mean Green did get a scare just before the end of the third. Center Kelvin Drake limped off the field and was replaced by Chad Rose. That's not good news as the Hilltoppers have been blitzing Giovanni Vizza regularly, and has done so effectively. WKU ended UNT's last drive with a sack.

That's the kind of burst that led Jamario Thomas to the 2004 national rushing title.

Thomas moved toward the line of scrimmage, stopped on a dime and blasted up the middle for a 30-yard touchdown run. I haven't seen him with that kind of acceleration in years. Good for him.

The Mean Green trail 23-21 with 4:17 left in the third.

After fumbling the opening kickoff and surrendering seven points to the Mean Green, Western Kentucky moved down the field and capitalized on a 26-yard field goal to give the Hilltoppers a 23-14 lead.

Fouts Field is a sad sight right now. Many fans left at halftime and the cold has stunted any enthusiasm about the game. My toes are breaking off one by one as the basically useless vents at my feet continue to blow freezing air on me. Please send a heater care of Jeff Andrews to Fouts Field press box.

Jamario Thomas showed why he will be remembered at UNT for years to come.

The senior playing in his last game at Fouts Field scored from eight yards out, pushing through Western Kentucky defenders before strolling into the end zone.

UNT trails 20-14 with 13:52 left in the third.

Official attendence was 5,027, to which UNT sports information director Eric Capper joked 2,000 of which were in the press box, as random people have made their way up here due to the cold.

UNT has made it into Hilltopper territory six times and come away with zero points. Dodge Ball hasn't slowed down with the weather as the Mean Green have passed 34 times with just 16 rushes. The Mean Green offense definitely doesn't have the vertical ability it normally does. Vizza passes over 10 yards haven't been pretty. It's too cold to be alive.

Western Kentucky fumbled the opening kickoff and the Mean Green are set up at the Hilltopper 29.

The Mean Green looked like it could make a push to tie the game, but Giovanni Vizza's pass was interception at the line of scrimmage by Terald Clark -- the only player on Western Kentucky's roster from Texas -- and he rumbled 56 yards for a touchdown. Excessive celebration penalties caused the Hilltoppers to miss the extra point, but they lead 20-7 with 0:28 left in the half.

UNT's offense can't seem to finish the job today, but the Mean Green special teams can.

Aaron Weathers blocked a Hilltopper punt deep in their own zone, and Chris Neal took it in the end zone to cut Western Kentucky's lead to 14-7.

There is 6:13 left in the half.

WKU used a 31-yard pass to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by quarterback David Wolke. The drive went 83 yards in six plays in 1:40.

UNT trails 14-0 with 9:30 left in the second. The rain is picking up again and it looks like some discouraged fans are heading out early.

The Mean Green got a short field and drove into Hilltopper territory for the fourth time in the game. On fourth-and-9, North Texas was going to go for it but was whistled for a false start, forcing it to punt.

Western Kentucky will start deep in UNT territory.

North Texas caught a break when Hilltopper running back Stephen Willis fumbled and the Mean Green recovered, setting UNT up at the Western Kentucky 25-yard line. But the Mean Green went three-and-out and missed a field goal. That's the third Mean Green drive that went into Hilltopper territory that didn't score.

It's the end of the first quarter and Western Kentucky leads 7-0.

In other news, the lights are slowly coming back on. At first it was one little bulb of 18 in three stadium lights. Then another. Then another. Then -- holy cow! -- let there be lights! They're all on now. It's so dark that if there had been a serious problem, I don't think we could have played this game.

So here we were, sitting here enjoying this game when the power at Fouts went off for a split second. The jumbo-tron is all sorts of confused and the stadium lights have yet to come back on.

There was a brief delay, but we're playing again. I don't know for how long though if they can't get the stadium lights going. I just hope the heat and Internet stay up.

The Mean Green have the ball again.

North Texas had another promising drive, pushing all the way to the Western Kentucky 21-yard line. But on fourth-and-one, the Mean Green went for it, and quarterback Giovanni Vizza was sacked hard by two Hilltoppers led by Dusty Bear.

Western Kentucky leads 7-0 with 5:32 left in the first quarter.

I want to take a moment to send a shout out to my homeboy and die-hard Mean Green fan Steve Hammond. Steve tickles the ivory better than Brad Pitt tickles the ladies. Hope you're keeping warm out there, Steve.

It didn't take long for the Hilltoppers to convert on the interception. Western Kentucky running back Tyrell Hayden went 23 yards for the touchdown to make it, 7-0, after starting with a short field.

The Mean Green showed an unusual commitment to the running game on its first drive, possibly because of the weather. We'll see if Dodge Ball stays on the ground on the next drive.

I can't feel my toes because the vents under the bench are blowing air from outside. There are roughly 200 people at this game and the intercom in the press box is periodically blowing static at full blast into the speaker just above my head.

While things aren't starting well for this UNT alumni, they didn't for the Mean Green. Brock Stickler caught a tipped pass while barely keeping his feet inbounds to convert on the third and long. On the next series, Marcus Minor pulled in a pass one-handed on slant route to keep the chains moving.

Despite the momentum, Mean Green quarterback Giovanni Vizza hung a deep ball in the air that Western Kentucky defensive back Rashad Etheridge pulled down and returned deep into Mean Green territory.

It's less than a half an hour before kickoff and there are less than 200 people in the stands. A few people might filter in during the next few minutes, but this is going to be one of the worst games for attendance in recent memory at UNT.

That's too bad for a group of seniors who have done a lot for the program, including running back Jamario Thomas, linebacker Maurice Holman and wide receiver Brandon Jackson.

All three will make their final appearance at Fouts Field today.

So over the past week while pondering my assignment to blog at this battle of titans between North Texas and Western Kentucky, I thought about my last outing on the blog, which apparently didn't go over well.

My poor attempt at a joke left some of you wondering "Who is this guy and where is Brett Vito?" Well, Brett is sitting right beside me, trying to console me over my realization that trying to call North Texas "Southlake North" was not only uncalled for, but in extremely poor taste.

After all, this is college football, which is a venue for only analytical minds and a serious, business-like atmosphere. Fun at college football games is an unfortunate side effect and jokes are strictly forbidden. What was I thinking? In the depths of my guilt, I wondered how I could make amends. I decided to apologize to the masses who were so justly offended by being called "Southlake North."

I'm sorry. It was totally uncalled for. And just because North Texas hired Southlake's head coach and assistant coaches, brought in Southlake's offense and defense, recruited Southlake heavily, recruited District 5-5A heavily and changed their uniforms to look exactly like Southlake Carroll's to a T doesn't mean there is any resemblance between Southlake Carroll and North Texas. In fact, there's as much connection between North Texas and Southlake right now as there is between Dick Cheney and Haillburton -- none. Zero. Zip. Zilch. End of story.

So here I am. Ashamed of myself, and ready to make amends with the Mean Green Nation and correct my mistake of calling North Texas Southlake North.

Sorry, I meant to say Southlake Northeast.

I'm terribly sorry. It will never happen again.

Ok, so Fouts Field isn't frozen over. By Texas standards it is still pretty cold. It doesn't look like many North Texas fans are coming to this one. The parking lot was pretty empty when I arrived at about 1 p.m.

But fear not. The Mean Green Blog is here in full force and will be filled with notes, tidbits and wisecracks throughout the day.

Today, we welcome back a Mean Green Blog favorite in Jeff Andrews. Jeff won the undying love of the Mean Green Nation the last time he blogged from a UNT game and is back again to lend his opinions while I try to crank out a few stories for tomorrow's editions of the Denton Record-Chronicle and The Dallas Morning News.

I am no Willard Scott, but it doesn't look good as far as the weather goes. It just started to rain even harder at Fouts.

If you are not going to brave the elements and are staying home to listen on the radio, be sure to stop by the blog and send us your comments and thoughts. This is your second to last chance to let your feelings be known on the Mean Green Blog before the end of the season.

Amber Jackson finished with 19 points and Brittney James added 15 for UNT, which beat Midwestern State 70-60 on Friday. UNT has won five straight, its longest winning streak since in won the Sun Belt Conference West Division title two years ago.

Yea, it was only Midwestern, a Lone Star Conference team, but UNT did what it needed to and improved to 5-2 on the season.

UNT had a soft schedule early, but will now face a key stretch in its season beginning with a game at Oklahoma on Tuesday.

North Texas has started the second half on a 9-0 run and is out in front of Midwestern State 46-37. Brittney James started the Mean Green's surge with a 3-pointer and scored five points during the run.

UNT is on a 9-0 run and has taken its first lead against Midwestern State at 20-17 midway through the first half. Amber Jackson scored the last four points in UNT's run.

As I mentioned earlier, I am at the UNT-Midwestern State women's game. The Mean Green is off to a slow start here in the first half.

Midwestern scored the first eight points of the game. UNT has started to heat up on a cold day and is within 15-10 with Lyza Koubiteb heading to the free-throw line at the 11:56 mark.

I am sitting here in the Super Pit waiting for the start of the UNT women's game against Midwestern State.

As long as I had a few minutes to kill, I thought I would pass along a tidbit I picked up late this week. Safety Kartey Agbottah might play Saturday against Western Kentucky, despite an ankle injury that has hampered him the last few days.

UNT's defense has struggled throughout the season and could use Agbottah, one of the leading tacklers on the team.

UTA's 2-3 zone gave the Mean Green fits in the first half. Keith Wooden hit 4-of-6 shots from the field in the first half, but UNT went 10-of-31 as a team.

UNT hit just one of its 11 shots from behind the arc. The Mean Green's strength is usually its offense. UNT will need to get on track quickly in the second half to make a comeback.