Is there enough change to turn around the University of North Texas’ Mean Green in 2009?

by Todd E. Jones of College Football Top Ten

The past two years have not gone the way fans at the University of North Texas expected. The administration made a bold move hiring the very successful prep coach Todd Dodge away from Southlake Carroll to rebuild the UNT football program. Dodge came to UNT with his “Dodge Ball,” as it is sometimes called, a wide open, spread offensive attack.

The first year, UNT doubled its scoring output from the previous year, but their defense gave up twenty points more. Nevertheless, UNT managed to get two wins, and with a new recruiting class, expected big improvements in 2008.

However, it never materialized. Dodge and the Mean Green suffered from injuries, disciplinary problems, players leaving the program, and other kinds of bad luck setting the program back, only getting one win in 2008.

So, where does that leave the Mean Green for the 2009 season? The expectations are still high, and some believe that winning is necessary for Dodge to keep his job. The athletic department is abuzz about a new stadium that will be built and ready for 2011, and a wind of change is blowing in Denton.

For starters, Riley Dodge, Todd Dodge’s son, is on track to be the opening day starter at quarterback. The redshirt freshman was highly recruited two years ago, turning back an offer from the Texas Longhorns to join his dad at UNT. Riley was to be the back-up to last year’s starter, Giovanni Vizza, but suffered a concussion while playing as a receiver and received a redshirt. During the offseason, Vizza transferred to Texas A&M, and Riley has begun to establish himself as the leading candidate at quarterback.

Dodge has embraced the roll and become a leader on the team. "I feel like the quarterback has to be the vocal leader out there," Dodge told me after the Mean Green scrimmage on Saturday. "I feel like I really had to step up. We have a lot of great leaders on this team, on the offensive side of the ball, the offensive line is very veteran, but I feel like I need to be pretty vocal."

Dodge could be seen during the scrimmage encouraging his teammates and congratulating players that scored a touchdown. Another noticeable difference is that Riley has bulked up. Last year Dodge was all of 182 pounds, but this year, he told me, he is up to 195 pounds. "I got on a peanut butter and jelly diet," he said laughing.

Dodge’s leadership is not the only difference this year. The Mean Green made a move on defense that was designed to put more speed on the defensive line. The coaches moved Cedar Hill’s Brandon Akpunku from linebacker to defensive end. He will combine with returning starter Eddrick Gilmore to form a disrupting duo for the Mean Green during passing situations. Gilmore, when healthy and playing, has shown flashes of being a playmaker for the Mean Green the past two seasons.

Another interesting change is the athleticism of the skill players. True freshman wide receiver Darrius Carey has been impressive all throughout fall camp for the Mean Green, catching everything that has come his way. Redshirt freshman wide receiver Desmond Brigham has also impressed as has Haltom City’s Lance Dunbar, a sophomore running back. The young players, along with some of the returning starters, have shown the ability to make tacklers miss.

"It’s really nice when the quarterback can throw a five yard route, and they take it 20 more yards for a touchdown." Riley said of the young players. "Like Darius Carey, I threw a little screen route, and the kid took it and reversed field ... that’s something nice to have." Carey scored on that bubble screen during the scrimmage drawing cheers from the crowd.

The question is, "will all of these changes result in more wins?" Well, if you believe quarterback Riley Dodge, it will. "We’re going to win some ball games," he said. "And, we’re going to shock a lot of people. I know there’s the doubters, and we put the bad stuff behind us, we bared it, and we’re going for a Sun Belt Conference Championship."

The Mean Green plays its first game on Thursday, September 3 at Ball State while their first home game will be September 10 against Ohio.

Fans can take a virtual guide of the 2009 Mean Green football team on the internet at www.meangreenvirtualguides.com/football/0809/.

Story compiled with information from the UNT Athletic Department and Phil Steel Magazine