Before the game we asked if UNT was ready for this moment and if the fans would see the kind of team we have wanted for a long time. The answer: a resounding, thundering, answer in the affirmative.
The biggest first half head in program history .The most impressive aspect? The defense. If you knew anyone that turned away from this program because of the awful last placed efforts the last couple of seasons you were beckoned to return by this new-look defense that is hungry for turnovers, sacks, and stingy with points.
A box score only watcher might say that the offense isn’t as potent, and the defense is carrying the team. But close observers will notice a potent offense that is simply presented with short fields. Last week in Kalamazoo the squad was pinned back and yet scored 33 including some clutch must-score drives. In this one? Well it was one or two plays before scoring. Ideal, if you ask me. We want to keep the powder dry, so to speak and it is a desert in that arsenal. That’s an overly clever way of saying of that UNT just needed some simple offense to be effective.
4 plays 4 yards TD 3-14
4 plays 19 yards TD 3-21
6 plays 30 yards TD 3-28
1 play 12 yards TD 3-35
2 plays 20 yards TD 42
That’s taking full advantage of the opportunities. Past teams might have gotten a field goal or something. This team put points on the board. McGill walked in for the second touchdown. I mean it was ruthless. It was beautiful. Ethan Day caught a TD!
I completely understood why Morris wanted his team to get points in the second half because they simply hadn’t run many plays. In the end they had just 63 plays — as many as WSU. North Texas was just much more effective. Sure, there were a couple punts and a sack. And maybe a misthrown ball. Who cares?
This offense can play with some freedom thanks to the awesome power of the Defense.
In the preview of Cassity, we mentioned that his teams forced turnovers, got sacks, and didn’t allow points. Everything a defense could want. We wondered how the up tempo offense would change things but the answer through three games is: not much. The five first half turnovers blew the game open. Eric Morris was -6 in turnover margin last year and -5 the year before. This year it’s already +6.
Now is WSU good? Doesn’t matter. They got smacked up. Good teams win and do it in demonstrative fashion. The question could be: Is North Texas Good?
I don’t know that answer. I think they have a very good chance to do some fun things. The schedule is light, but there are some good teams on the schedule - USF! - and it all can line up for some trophies. We said the model is Army last year. They punched above their weight and won the league. It doesn’t matter that Memphis most talented and that Navy beat them or any of that other stuff. They got a trophy. We need hardware and banners. We need 10 wins. We need a bowl win. This group is good enough to do that.
Putting it all in context, this was a year that North Texas needed to win back some fans and rediscover some program self confidence. It will be much easier to sell tickets when the score line looks like it did. The loss column is still empty.
Be joyous. Be indulgent. This is what why we care so much through the hard times. It is for the chance of results like this. A 59-10 destruction of a program with NFL and college football pedigree1. That’s how you win fans and build a program.
But you know what? I couldn’t care less about the future right now2. We only have the moment and right now our favorite program is the best team in the Denton Desert.
Go Mean Green.
You can debate whether the Arkansas game was more famous or was more helpful. I think home wins are more important. That said I would put this somewhere in the Indiana category but for the fact that we kicked ass this afternoon which is a force multiplier.
I mentioned on twitter and in the chat that my family was barricaded in a mall restaurant for fear of reports of an active shooter in a mall right as the game started. The cops said it was just a fight and loud noises from stuff falling but people were running with fear in their eyes. When they sprinted past us with terror in their eyes we felt the danger. People were holed up crying and calling loved ones. It again made small things small. For 5 minutes I thought there was a real chance that we would see some tragedy. My family is safe now but the kids were scared. They saw some grown people run in fear.