2025: Temple Preview

Oh you forgot there was a game?

Let us save our rage and indignation at the circumstances that created the urgency for Oklahoma State. They acted in their best interest. They money-whipped Eric Morris — who was maybe looking for an exit anyway — and that created a circumstance bad for North Texas. For what it is worth, MGN does not think Eric Morris was inconsiderate of the state of the North Texas program. He wasn’t quoted in the OKST press release, and any recruiting news coming out is just part of the business.

The offers that were sent out to UNT recruits are still there, and actionable. Is it a weird, undesirable position? Yes, but there are many programs in this same situation across the spectrum of footballing programs. That is for the lawmakers to fix.

This week Temple comes to Denton. As it is, North Texas remains a nearly two-touchdown favorite over the Owls.

What about the coaching situation? Well, I will say that it is a myth that people are singularly focused on the task at hand. You want to put it in perspective, and prioritize, but this contest will be between two groups of young men with a million things going on in their lives — girlfriends, parents, school, life, friends, social media, politics, religion, personal aspirations and so on and so forth.

What is one more thing? I can tell you from experience it is possible to still do a good job at your work even while going through some organizational change. If sports is good for anything, it is good at getting disparate groups unified for a purpose.

This week’s purpose? Beating Temple at football at DATCU after Thanksgiving. The squad as assembled still represent North Texas, even if the head coach signed an agreement with Oklahoma State. The quarterback is still enrolled at the University of North Texas — Denton, same as you and I were (for some of you) and as such, can still be called a Mean Green. Nothing has changed, even if everything will change.

Attacking Temple

The Owls have put up some good defensive performances in streaks. Their pass defense has some good numbers, and it is likely that the lazy, casual commentator will quote some yards-against numbers at you during the broadcast. The reality is that they’ve faced a lot of option and run-based teams, and haven’t been in games in recent weeks so teams are happy to run out the clock. Opponents have racked up over 2K yards versus this Owl squad and nearly 5 yards a carry.

That is good for Caleb Hawkins, MGN’s freshman of the year. The kid has basically laughed at the record book and started putting his name everywhere. While is is dangerous from distance, he has done most damage in the red zone. That should continue.

The Mestemaker-to-Young connection has been fruitful against the dregs of the league, and look for North Texas to continue that. Also consider that some other guys have been very dangerous all season. Cam Dorner is at nearly 700 yards receiving (remember DT Sheffield was the team leader last year with 800+) and Sides and Coleman are at 369 each. Add 313 from TE Tre Williams and you see a corps of pass-catchers that can beat you. Temple has been solid in pass defenses in stretches, but ECU, Tulane, and even Tulsa sliced them up for big important yards on the way to blowout wins.

Assuming nothing is radically different on a game day — there is surely discomfort and uncertainty during the week but on game day the sense of familiarity should bring a sense of calm and comfort — North Texas should put up points. This team is averaging 45 points a game, and even on off days that has dropped to the 30s. Thirty points should be enough to beat Temple at home.

Defending Temple

Kasey Keeler once employed Skyler Cassity at Sam Houston St and won 10-games and a New Orleans Bowl. He’s a good coach. You could see that in the effort and performances for most of the year. In the last three weeks, that has waned, as the competition has simply been too good — 22 Tulane, and 21 North Texas to end the year is rough. Army (always tough) by a point, and a very underrated ECU were in that streak as well.

Evan Simon has been sneaky good, throwing 24 scores against only one interception. He has about 1000 yards fewer than Drew Mestemaker, but he’s third in efficiency in the league to Drew and Byrum Brown. Don’t sleep on him.

North Texas has had a leaky pass defense — most obvious vs UAB that’s been hidden by teams willing to run against them. The squad has been turnover machine — except for against Rice. It seems that the ceiling for poor-to-solid teams against North Texas is about 25-30 points. Put South Alabama in that group as well.

North Texas is down a few defensive lineman and even last week Wesloski was briefly beat up. Morris said “we were at 3s and 4s there” and it was true. That depth came up big when it mattered and forced Rice to punt the ball.

Temple isn’t as great of a challenge as a USF( or Tulane) but should be respected and appropriately feared.

You can’t win the league vs Temple, but you can lose it.

The Elephant In The Room

Everything has changed but the tasks remain. Eric Morris will still coach the Mean Green and has added to his burden by distracting everyone with his new job. If he can fulfill the task AND get the team prepared and playing well, while dialing up plays, he will boost himself on the eyes of his new employers and some future employers as well.

Nick Saban famously fired Lane Kiffin for his distracted performance ahead of the CFP games when he was hired to be the head coach of FAU.

Firing Morris now would complicate things further. He’s the play-caller as well as head coach. Everyone needs this to work out for as long as possible. We’ll see if the greatest regular season in NT memory will end with a league title in the next two weeks or if we will play What Could Have Been and start a hate of Oklahoma State. That starts Friday.

Happy Thanksgiving!