University of North Texas Athletics
George's Gems: Texas Tech, 1997
2/27/2015 12:00:00 AM | General
In our final look back at the career of George Dunham on the Mean Green Radio Network, we remember what is perhaps George's most famous call.
In 1997, North Texas football resumed its series against regional foe Texas Tech, traveling to Jones Stadium in Lubbock for a meeting on September 20. The Red Raiders of the Big 12 were heavily favored over the Mean Green, who were still playing in Division I-AA's Southland Conference.
What ensued was a stunning upset and one of North Texas play-by-play man George Dunham's most memorable calls.
North Texas fell behind, 10-0, before rallying to take a surprising 24-13 lead in the fourth quarter before Tech came back for a 27-24 advantage.
The Mean Green, however, rallied again. Quarterback Jason Mills hit Jay Young with a 36-yard completion on fourth and 14, setting up a 15-yard touchdown pass to Bo Harrison with 1:04 to play for a 30-27 lead.
But Tech responded by returning the ensuing kickoff to the North Texas 30-yard line, and with 25 seconds to play, the Red Raiders lined up for a 45-yard field-goal attempt, leading to Dunham's unforgettable call when the kick was no good, giving North Texas had its third win over the Red Raiders in four meetings.
A year later, Tech beat North Texas at Texas Stadium, but the '97 loss left a festering wound. It was labeled "embarrassing" by Tech players and coaches alike, and in 1999, the Red Raiders sought revenge in another meeting with the Mean Green at Jones Stadium. Tech, which entered the 1999 game as a 30-point favorite, prepared for the game with the 1997 score plastered on the wall of its lockerroom.
Imagine the Red Raiders' chagrin when North Texas won in Lubbock again, 21-14.
