North Texas Mean Green football
Encyclopedia
The North Texas Mean Green football team represents the University of North Texas
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
Division I-FBS (formerly known as I-A) college football
and competes as a member of the Sun Belt Conference
. The Mean Green have attained several conference championships, including four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships. UNT has a 51.7% winning percentage in school history, but since Hall of Fame Coach Hayden Fry
left after the 1978 season, UNT's winning percentage has trended downward. From 1978 until 2005, UNT had a 41.9% winning percentage. From 1991 to 2005, the Mean Green had a 39% winning percentage. From 2005 to 2010, the team went 13-56, a 19% winning percentage.
left the school in 1978 with a 9-3 season, he also left it with a mounting athletics debts. The team was subsequently demoted to Division I-AA status by the NCAA. In 1982, the university recognized that the athletics program had a deficit of $1.6 million and voted to join the Southland Conference
. The program experienced little success in subsequent years, but in 1995, a coordinated campaign by donors to purchase large blocks of seats at Fouts Field
spiked the average attendance enough for the school to enter Division I-A once again in 1995.
After the school joined the Sun Belt Conference
in 2001, Darrell Dickey briefly revived fortunes in Denton, winning four straight conference championships. The team played in the 2001 New Orleans Bowl
despite having a losing record. After he went 2-9 and 3-9 in his eighth and ninth seasons, the athletic department fired Dickey on November 8, 2006.
The school then hired Todd Dodge
, who had been offensive coordinator at UNT from 1991-1992, on December 12, 2006. Dodge had been one of the nation’s most successful high school football coaches, amassing a 98-11 record overall at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas
, including a 79-1 record over his last 5 years. His teams at UNT struggled to win, however, compiling a 6-37 record overall and a 3-23 record in conference play. After a 1-6 start to the 2010 season, the school fired Dodge. He was replaced by offensive coordinator Mike Canales
as interim head coach. In 2011, the university hired Dan McCarney
as head coach.
. The first game was a 55–0 win over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux
in 1952. The final Mean Green game was a 41–49 loss to the Kansas State Wildcats
in 2010. The Mean Green posted a final record at Fouts Field of 155–100–7. From 1971 through 2001, the Mean Green played 21 home games at Texas Stadium
in Irving, Texas
, 32 miles away from the university's campus in Denton. The Mean Green posted a 9-12 record while playing select home games at the off-campus stadium. Only one season, 1972, saw the Mean Green play more games at Texas Stadium than their home field in Denton.
CW=Conference Wins, CL=Conference Losses, CT=Conference Ties, CC=Conference Championships
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
in National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Division I-FBS (formerly known as I-A) college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and competes as a member of the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
. The Mean Green have attained several conference championships, including four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships. UNT has a 51.7% winning percentage in school history, but since Hall of Fame Coach Hayden Fry
Hayden Fry
John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
left after the 1978 season, UNT's winning percentage has trended downward. From 1978 until 2005, UNT had a 41.9% winning percentage. From 1991 to 2005, the Mean Green had a 39% winning percentage. From 2005 to 2010, the team went 13-56, a 19% winning percentage.
Modern History
Though coach Hayden FryHayden Fry
John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10...
left the school in 1978 with a 9-3 season, he also left it with a mounting athletics debts. The team was subsequently demoted to Division I-AA status by the NCAA. In 1982, the university recognized that the athletics program had a deficit of $1.6 million and voted to join the Southland Conference
Southland Conference
The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision...
. The program experienced little success in subsequent years, but in 1995, a coordinated campaign by donors to purchase large blocks of seats at Fouts Field
Fouts Field
Fouts Field is the former stadium of the University of North Texas, located in Denton, Texas, United States. It was primarily used for football, and was the home field of the University of North Texas Eagles, also known as the Mean Green from 1952-2010...
spiked the average attendance enough for the school to enter Division I-A once again in 1995.
After the school joined the Sun Belt Conference
Sun Belt Conference
The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions...
in 2001, Darrell Dickey briefly revived fortunes in Denton, winning four straight conference championships. The team played in the 2001 New Orleans Bowl
2001 New Orleans Bowl
The 2001 New Orleans Bowl featured the and the . It was the inaugural playing of the game. North Texas became the first team in NCAA history to make a bowl game, after starting the season 0-5...
despite having a losing record. After he went 2-9 and 3-9 in his eighth and ninth seasons, the athletic department fired Dickey on November 8, 2006.
The school then hired Todd Dodge
Todd Dodge
Todd Dodge is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the quarterbacks coach at the University of Pittsburgh, a position he has held since January 2011. Dodge was the head football coach at the University of North Texas from 2007 to 2010...
, who had been offensive coordinator at UNT from 1991-1992, on December 12, 2006. Dodge had been one of the nation’s most successful high school football coaches, amassing a 98-11 record overall at Carroll High School in Southlake, Texas
Southlake, Texas
Southlake is a city in northeast Tarrant and southeast Denton counties, Texas. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 26,575. A suburb of Fort Worth and Dallas, Southlake is known for exemplary public schools, Southlake Town Square, and Carroll High School's 7-time state champion football...
, including a 79-1 record over his last 5 years. His teams at UNT struggled to win, however, compiling a 6-37 record overall and a 3-23 record in conference play. After a 1-6 start to the 2010 season, the school fired Dodge. He was replaced by offensive coordinator Mike Canales
Mike Canales
Mike Canales is an American college football coach.During the 2010 season at North Texas, he was promoted from offensive coordinator to interim head coach after the mid-season termination of his predecessor, Todd Dodge. UNT averaged 33.8 points a game after Canales took over as head coach, after...
as interim head coach. In 2011, the university hired Dan McCarney
Dan McCarney
-External links:* * * * *...
as head coach.
Apogee Stadium
Since 2011, the Mean Green have played at Apogee Stadium, formerly named Mean Green Stadium. The stadium seats 31,000.Fouts Field
From 1952 to 2010, the team played its home games at Fouts FieldFouts Field
Fouts Field is the former stadium of the University of North Texas, located in Denton, Texas, United States. It was primarily used for football, and was the home field of the University of North Texas Eagles, also known as the Mean Green from 1952-2010...
. The first game was a 55–0 win over the North Dakota Fighting Sioux
North Dakota Fighting Sioux football
The North Dakota Fighting Sioux are a college football program that competes in the Great West Conference in the NCAA Division I's Football Championship Subdivision...
in 1952. The final Mean Green game was a 41–49 loss to the Kansas State Wildcats
Kansas State Wildcats football
The Kansas State Wildcats football program is the intercollegiate football program of the Kansas State University Wildcats. The program is classified in the NCAA's Division I Bowl Subdivision, and the team competes in the Big 12 Conference...
in 2010. The Mean Green posted a final record at Fouts Field of 155–100–7. From 1971 through 2001, the Mean Green played 21 home games at Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium
Texas Stadium was a football stadium in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas. The stadium opened on September 17, 1971.Built to replace the aging Cotton Bowl, it was the home field of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, and had a seating capacity of 65,675...
in Irving, Texas
Irving, Texas
Irving is a city located in the U.S. state of Texas within Dallas County. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city population was 216,290. Irving is within the Dallas–Plano–Irving metropolitan division of the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, designated...
, 32 miles away from the university's campus in Denton. The Mean Green posted a 9-12 record while playing select home games at the off-campus stadium. Only one season, 1972, saw the Mean Green play more games at Texas Stadium than their home field in Denton.
Rivalries
- SMU MustangsSMU Mustangs footballThe SMU Mustangs football program is a college football team that represents Southern Methodist University . The team competes in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision as a member Conference USA...
, in the Safeway BowlSafeway BowlThe Safeway Bowl is the rivalry between the SMU Mustangs and the North Texas Mean Green, two universities in North Texas.The schools have played 33 times dating back to 1922 in a series that is best known for the challenge former UNT head coach Matt Simon issued in 1994, after a two-year break in...
.
- Middle Tennessee Blue RaidersMiddle Tennessee Blue RaidersThe Blue Raiders are the men's and women's athletic teams at Middle Tennessee State University. MTSU athletic teams participate in NCAA Division I in the Sun Belt Conference...
Conference Championships
| class="wikitable" | ||
| Year | Conference | Coach |
| 1932 | Lone Star Lone Star Conference The Lone Star Conference is a college athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II. Member institutions are located in the southwestern United States, with schools in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico... |
Jack Sisco Jack Sisco -External links:... |
| 1935 | Lone Star | Jack Sisco |
| 1936 | Lone Star | Jack Sisco |
| 1939 | Lone Star | Jack Sisco |
| 1940 | Lone Star | Jack Sisco |
| 1941 | Lone Star | Jack Sisco |
| 1946 | Lone Star | Odus Mitchell Odus Mitchell James Odus Mitchell was an American football player and coach. As a coach, he was successful both at the high school and collegiate levels. In 42 years of coaching, at all levels, he compiled a 289–129–17 record. In his 21 years as a high school coach, he coached at Slaton, Childress,... |
| 1947 | Lone Star | Odus Mitchell |
| 1950 | Gulf Coast Gulf Coast Conference The Gulf Coast Conference was a short-lived NCAA college athletic conference in the U.S. State of Texas from 1949 until 1957. The charter members of the conference were University of Houston, Midwestern University , North Texas State University , and Trinity University... |
Odus Mitchell |
| 1951 | Gulf Coast | Odus Mitchell |
| 1952 | Gulf Coast | Odus Mitchell |
| 1955 | Gulf Coast | Odus Mitchell |
| 1956 | Gulf Coast | Odus Mitchell |
| 1958 | Missouri Valley Missouri Valley Conference The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States... |
Odus Mitchell |
| 1959 | Missouri Valley | Odus Mitchell |
| 1966 | Missouri Valley | Odus Mitchell |
| 1967 | Missouri Valley | Rod Rust Rod Rust Rodney A. Rust is a former American football player and coach. He is best known in the United States as the coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League during the 1990 season, which ended with a 1–15 record.... |
| 1973 | Missouri Valley | Hayden Fry Hayden Fry John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10... |
| 1983 | Southland Southland Conference The Southland Conference is a college athletic conference which operates in the south central United States. It participates in the NCAA's Division I for all sports; for football, it participates in the Division I Football Championship Subdivision... |
Corky Nelson Corky Nelson Corky Nelson is a former American football player and coach. He is known for his coaching stint at the University of North Texas, but was more successful on the high school level.... |
| 1994 | Southland | Matt Simon Matt Simon (American football) Matt Simon is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He currently serves as the head varsity football coach at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio and as Gilmour Academy's seventh grade physical education teacher... |
| 2001 | Sun Belt Sun Belt Conference The Sun Belt Conference is a college athletic conference that has been affiliated with the NCAA's Division I since 1976. Its football teams participate in the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision , the higher of two levels of Division I football competition . The Sun Belt has member institutions... |
Darrell Dickey Darrell Dickey Darrell Dickey is an assistant American football coach at . Before joining the Texas State staff he was the offensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was head coach of the University of North Texas from 1998 to 2006... |
| 2002 | Sun Belt | Darrell Dickey |
| 2003 | Sun Belt | Darrell Dickey |
| 2004 | Sun Belt | Darrell Dickey |
Bowl Games
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Date | Bowl | W/L | Opponent | PF | PA |
| December 21, 1946 | Optimist | W | Pacific | 14 | 13 |
| January 1, 1948 | Salad Salad Bowl (American College Football) The Salad Bowl was an annual post-season American college football bowl game played at Montgomery Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona, from 1948 to 1952. Despite the clever name, the bowl folded in 1952 and is unlikely to return, although it was a precursor to the current Fiesta Bowl.-Game results:... |
L | Nevada Nevada Wolf Pack football The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA... |
6 | 13 |
| December 31, 1959 | Sun Sun Bowl The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl... |
L | New Mexico State | 8 | 28 |
| December 17, 2001 | New Orleans New Orleans Bowl The New Orleans Bowl is a post-season college football bowl game certified by the NCAA that has been played annually at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana since 2001. The game was sponsored by Wyndham Hotels & Resorts from 2002 to 2004 and was officially called the Wyndham New... |
L 2001 New Orleans Bowl The 2001 New Orleans Bowl featured the and the . It was the inaugural playing of the game. North Texas became the first team in NCAA history to make a bowl game, after starting the season 0-5... |
Colorado State | 20 | 45 |
| December 17, 2002 | New Orleans | W 2002 New Orleans Bowl The 2002 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl featured the and the . It was North Texas' second consecutive New Orleans Bowl appearance.Quarterback Gino Guidugli got Cincinnati on the board first with a 6-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Tye Keith, to give Cincinnati a 7-0 lead. Nick Bazaldua connected on... |
Cincinnati | 24 | 19 |
| December 16, 2003 | New Orleans | L 2003 New Orleans Bowl The 2003 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl featured the and the . It was North Texas's third consecutive New Orleans Bowl appearance.Kicker Nick Bazaldua got North Texas on the board first with a 47 yard field goal to give the team an early 3-0 lead. Memphis quarterback Danny Wimprine scored on a 7 yard... |
Memphis | 17 | 27 |
| December 14, 2004 | New Orleans | L 2004 New Orleans Bowl The 2004 Wyndham New Orleans Bowl featured the and the . It was North Texas's fourth consecutive New Orleans Bowl appearance.Southern Miss quarterback Dustin Almond got Southern Miss on the board first with a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Otho Graves, to give the Eagles an early 7-0 lead... |
Southern Miss | 10 | 31 |
Retired Numbers
- 28 - Abner HaynesAbner HaynesAbner Haynes is a former college and professional football player in the United States.Haynes is a graduate of North Texas State University where he and his then teammate Leon King integrated college football in the state of Texas in 1956...
(1957–59) - 33 - Ray RenfroRay RenfroRaymond Renfro was an American professional football player. Renfro attended the University of North Texas and played in twelve NFL seasons from 1952-1963 for the Cleveland Browns. He is the father of former Houston Oilers and Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Mike Renfro. Ray died at the age of 67...
(1949–50) - 55 - Richard Gill (1968–69)
- 75 - "Mean" Joe GreeneJoe Greene (American football)Charles Edward Greene, known as “Mean Joe” Greene, is a former all-pro American football defensive tackle who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the NFL. Throughout the early 1970s he was the one of most dominant defensive players in the National Football League...
(1966–69)
Current NFL players
- Patrick CobbsPatrick CobbsPatrick Cobbs is an American football running back who is currently a free agent. He most recently was a member of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
, Running backRunning backA running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
, New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans SaintsThe New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League .... - Brian WatersBrian WatersBrian Demond Waters is an American football guard for the New England Patriots of the National Football League . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1999 out of the University of North Texas...
, GuardGuard (American football)In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
, New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
Head coaches
| Years | Coach | Seasons | W | L | T | % | CW | CL | CT | % | CC | Postseason |
| 1913-14 | J. W. Pender J. W. Pender -External links:... |
2 | 3 | 4 | 0 | .429 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1915-19 | J. W. St. Clair J. W. St. Clair -External links:... |
5 | 20 | 10 | 3 | .652 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1920-24 | Theron Fouts Theron J. Fouts -External links:... |
5 | 23 | 14 | 2 | .615 | 10 | 2 | 1 | .846 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1925-28 | John Reid John B. Reid -External links:... |
4 | 16 | 18 | 3 | .473 | 10 | 8 | 2 | .600 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1929-41 | Jack Sisco Jack Sisco -External links:... |
13 | 74 | 37 | 10 | .653 | 44 | 8 | 8 | .867 | 7 | 0-0 |
| 1942 | Lloyd Russell Lloyd Russell -External links:... |
1 | 3 | 5 | 0 | .375 | 1 | 2 | 0 | .333 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1946-66 | Odus Mitchell Odus Mitchell James Odus Mitchell was an American football player and coach. As a coach, he was successful both at the high school and collegiate levels. In 42 years of coaching, at all levels, he compiled a 289–129–17 record. In his 21 years as a high school coach, he coached at Slaton, Childress,... |
21 | 122 | 85 | 9 | .586 | 43 | 26 | 2 | .634 | 9 | 1-2 |
| 1967-72 | Rod Rust Rod Rust Rodney A. Rust is a former American football player and coach. He is best known in the United States as the coach of the New England Patriots of the National Football League during the 1990 season, which ended with a 1–15 record.... |
6 | 29 | 32 | 1 | .476 | 16 | 14 | 0 | .533 | 1 | 0-0 |
| 1973-78 | Hayden Fry Hayden Fry John Hayden Fry is a former American football player and coach. He served as the head coach at Southern Methodist University , North Texas State University, now the University of North Texas , and the University of Iowa , compiling a career college football record of 232–178–10... |
6 | 40 | 23 | 3 | .629 | 6 | 4 | 2 | .667 | 1 | 0-0 |
| 1979-80 | Jerry Moore Jerry Moore Gerald Hundley "Jerry" Moore is the current head football coach of the Appalachian State University Mountaineers located in the town of Boone in Watauga County, North Carolina. He has filled the position since 1989. Moore has had a winning record in 19 out of the last 20 seasons. He led the... |
2 | 11 | 11 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1981 | Bob Tyler Bob Tyler Bob Tyler is a former American football coach. He coached in the high school and collegiate ranks.A native of Water Valley, Mississippi, Tyler was a star athlete at Water Valley High School before entering military service. Following his term of duty at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, Tyler achieved... |
1 | 2 | 9 | 0 | .182 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1982-90 | Corky Nelson Corky Nelson Corky Nelson is a former American football player and coach. He is known for his coaching stint at the University of North Texas, but was more successful on the high school level.... |
9 | 48 | 52 | 1 | .480 | 24 | 20 | 1 | .556 | 1 | 0-3 |
| 1991-93 | Dennis Parker Dennis Parker -External links:... |
3 | 11 | 21 | 1 | .348 | 7 | 14 | 0 | .333 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 1994-97 | Matt Simon Matt Simon (American football) Matt Simon is an American football coach and former player in the United States. He currently serves as the head varsity football coach at Gilmour Academy in Gates Mills, Ohio and as Gilmour Academy's seventh grade physical education teacher... |
4 | 18 | 26 | 1 | .411 | 10 | 5 | 1 | .688 | 1 | 0-1 |
| 1998–06 | Darrell Dickey Darrell Dickey Darrell Dickey is an assistant American football coach at . Before joining the Texas State staff he was the offensive coordinator at the University of New Mexico for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He was head coach of the University of North Texas from 1998 to 2006... |
9 | 42 | 64 | 0 | .396 | 31 | 20 | 0 | .608 | 4 | 1-3 |
| 2007–10 | Todd Dodge Todd Dodge Todd Dodge is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the quarterbacks coach at the University of Pittsburgh, a position he has held since January 2011. Dodge was the head football coach at the University of North Texas from 2007 to 2010... |
4 | 5 | 31 | 0 | .139 | 2 | 20 | 0 | .091 | 0 | 0-0 |
| 2010 | Mike Canales Mike Canales Mike Canales is an American college football coach.During the 2010 season at North Texas, he was promoted from offensive coordinator to interim head coach after the mid-season termination of his predecessor, Todd Dodge. UNT averaged 33.8 points a game after Canales took over as head coach, after... |
1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | .400 | 2 | 2 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 0-0 |
| Total | 16 Coaches | 94 | 467 | 442 | 34 | .514 | 204 | 143 | 17 | .588 | 24 | 2-9 |
CW=Conference Wins, CL=Conference Losses, CT=Conference Ties, CC=Conference Championships