Texas two-step: NT, Texas face off

by Zafer Banaganapalle

Mean Green open season against nationally ranked Longhorns



September 03, 2004




The Mean Green football team's chances of winning their highly-anticipated season opener against the No. 7 Texas Longhorns might seem only slightly better than those of a kitten fighting a comet. "They all know what we're up against," said Mean Green head coach Darrell Dickey. "It's kind of a way of life here for us at North Texas. Our guys will be very excited to play.

"I think they know we'd have to play extremely well to even have a chance because everything's against us: we're at their stadium, with their fans, their officials, the great tradition they've had, the talented teams." But don't write off the Mean Green just yet. The team has pulled upsets before. Before blossoming into a mid-major contender, the Mean Green stunned Texas Tech twice in 1997 and 1999. Since then, NT's non-conference schedule has gotten considerably tougher, playing top 10 teams Kansas State in 2000, Oklahoma in 2001 and 2003, and the Longhorns in 2002.

The Mean Green lost to Texas 27-0 in 2002, despite shutting out the Longhorns' high-octane offense in the second half. The Mean Green has improved since then, and they're due for another big upset.
Despite UT's reputation, the team prepares for tough opponents just as they would any other opponent. "The way we approach each game is that we play the game," said Ramon Flanigan, Mean Green offensive coordinator. "All these budgets and how big their stadium is doesn't matter. The field is still just 100 yards long. They have eleven and we have eleven." The Longhorns' offense is led by a lethal running duo in running back Cedric Benson and quarterback Vince Young. The two combined for 2,358 rushing yards last season while Benson, a Heisman candidate, enjoyed a breakout year -- rushing for 1,360 yards and scoring 22 touchdowns.

Young might be the most explosive runner in the nation; he ripped off four runs of 50 yards or more last year, including a 65-yard touchdown against Nebraska and a spectacular 59-yard run against a speedy Oklahoma defense. The two will be a huge opening test for the Mean Green's revamped defensive front seven, which is replacing two-time Sun Belt Player of the Year, Brandon Kennedy and all three starting linebackers. Luckily for NT, the Longhorns' passing game could allow the Mean Green secondary, led by senior safety Jonas Buckles, to stack eight in the box or cheat up. UT lost three phenomenal receivers in the offseason, including the No. 7 pick in the NFL draft, Roy Williams. Young's passing ability is still a work in progress, and -- coupled with the gaps at receiver -- could provide one of the few advantages for the Mean Green.

The Longhorn's backup quarterback, Chance Mock, is a more efficient passer than Young and could ignite the Longhorn passing game. Mock was part of a quarterback rotation last year, throwing for 1,469 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only 2 interceptions. But head coach Mack Brown said earlier this week that Mock wouldn't play if Young was playing well. The Longhorn defense has also gone through dramatic changes in offseason. Brown brought in former Kansas City Chiefs defensive coordinator Greg Robinson to take over the defensive chores for the Longhorns. Robinson was the defensive coordinator for the Broncos when they won Super Bowls in 1997 and 1998, and inherits a defense with a reputation for under-achieving.

Talent isn't the Longhorn defense's problem, as the unit fields All-America candidates in senior weak-side linebacker Derrick Johnson and junior defensive tackle Rod Wright. "They've got a lot of speed and they're very talented," said Mean Green center Andy Brewster. "Both of them are very good players. I've played against Derrick two years ago and in high school.

"Rod Wright is a great person on film. We've watched a lot of them. Hopefully, as a unit, we can come up to par and try and contain them cause they're really fast." The Longhorn defense had trouble stopping the run last year, which bodes well for Mean Green running back Patrick Cobbs, who led the nation last year in yards per game with 152.7.

If the Longhorn defense doesn't swarm to the ball like they've talked about in the offseason, Cobbs could be just the spark the Mean Green needs to pull off a historic upset.