Best Team Ever: (2) 1959 vs. (3) 1951

DENTON - There have been many great football teams in North Texas history and now is the time to decide which one is the all-time best. Over the next several weeks, fans will have a chance to weigh in with their opinions, observations, memories as we pit the best teams in school history against each other in a 16-team bracket, presented by Dos Equis. The teams have been broken up into four "regions" based on era and seeded 1-4 within those "regions". Winners of each matchup will be decided by a combination of social media voting and a special committee of UNT alums from each era dating back to the 1950's.

This is your chance to help decide if your team is the best Eagles/Mean Green team ever!

We continue with our second matchup, which pits the No. 3 seed 1951 team against the No. 2 seed 1959 team out of the Green and White Region. Earlier this week, the top-seeded 1947 team moved on to the regional final.

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(3) 1951 – Coach Odus Mitchell – 8-4, 2-0 in Gulf Coast Conference

Losses were to Carswell AFB, Pacific, UT-Chattanooga and Houston… Outscored opponents by an average of 36.2-11.0… Scored over 40 points 6 times and over 60 points three times… Held seven opponents to 7 points or less, including four shutouts… Had three first team all-conference selections and all three earned All-America honors… Had three NFL Draft picks and two more sign with NFL teams as free agents… RB Ray Renfro was drafted in 4th round of NFL Draft and spent 12 years in the league, including three as All-Pro… Renfro averaged 7.5 yards per carry for the year - a school record… The 36.2 scoring average is North Texas record as is the 64 touchdowns… The 3,207 team rushing yards and 33 rushing TDs are North Texas records… DB Bill Brashier had a school-record 10 interceptions for the season.

Points Per Game: 36.2
Points Allowed Per Game: 11.0
Offensive Yards Per Game: 403.8
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 218.1
All Conference Players: Ray Renfro, B (1st team); Quincy Armstrong, C (1st team); Kenneth Bahnsen, B (1st team); Zeke Martin, QB (2nd team); Wendell Swann, E (2nd team); Jim Brewer, T (2nd team); Bill Bishop, T (2nd team); Glen Wood, G (2nd team).

(2) 1959 – Coach Odus Mitchell – 9-2, 3-1 Missouri Valley Conference – Sun Bowl, L N.M State 28-8

Third bowl team in school history and one of only 18 teams nationally to play in a postseason bowl game… Won eight straight to start season, ranked No. 16 before losing to Tulsa 17-6… Beat Cincinnati, Houston and Louisville… School-record with only 581 passing yards allowed for the season, and only 9.4 points allowed per game… One of only two teams in school history to allow less than 2,000 yards on defense since NCAA started keeping stats... The 196.5 yards allowed by the defense is the best in school history... Three first team all-conference selections, two All-Americans and four eventual NFL draft picks… Seven players from this team are in the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame… Senior Abner Haynes led team and ranked fifth in the nation in scoring, ranked seventh nationally in rushing, and led the team in receiving and all-purpose yards.

Points Per Game: 27.5
Points Allowed Per Game: 9.4
Offensive Yards Per Game: 337.9
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 196.5
College Football Reference Power Rating: 44^th of 112 teams
All-Conference Players: Bill Carrico, G (1st team); George Herring, T (1st team); Abner Haynes, RB (1st team).

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Best Team Ever: (2) 1959 vs. (3) 1951

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