Best Team Ever: (1) 1967 vs. (2) 1977

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 the quarterfinal round Tuesday, which pits the No. 1 seed 1967 team against the No. 2 seed 1977 team out of the Mean Green Region.

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(1) 1967 vs. (2) 1977

1967 – Coach Rod Rust – 7-1-1, 4-0 in Missouri Valley Conference

Undefeated until last game of the season with one tie along the way… Defense allowed just 1,821 yards for the season (202.3 per game), still the fewest total yards allowed in a season by any North Texas team since stats were kept… Allowed just 79.1 rushing yards allowed per game, the second-best in school history... QB Steve Ramsey led the NCAA with 21 passing touchdowns and Ron Shanklin led the NCAA with 13 receiving TDs... Total of 10 all-conference selections, including 3 first team... Team had 11 players that were drafted by the NFL from 1968-70... 12 players from this team in the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame… Joe Greene junior season... Rod Rust named MVC Coach of the Year.

Points Per Game: 30.8
Points Allowed Per Game: 15.8
Offensive Yards Per Game: 332.9
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 202.3
College Football Reference Power Rating: 29^th of 118 teams
All Conference Players: Charles Beatty, CB (1st team); Ed Brantley, OT (1st team); Paul Draper, OC (1st team); Lindy Endsley, NG (2nd team); Joe Greene, DT (2nd team); Johnny Mata, LB (2nd team); Steve Ramsey, QB (2nd team); James Russell, WR (2nd team); Ron Shanklin, WR (2nd team); Bob Tucker, DE (2nd team).

1977 – Coach Hayden Fry – 10-1 (includes a forfeit to Mississippi State)

Went 9-2 but awarded a forfeit due to Mississippi State use of ineligible player… The official 10-1 record is best single-season winning percentage in North Texas history... Only team in school history that finished the season ranked (No. 16 by UPI)... Both losses came to ranked opponents, 17-15 to No. 16 Mississippi State and 35-14 to No. 20 Florida State… Outscored opponents by an average of 14.3 points per game… Team ranked 26^th nationally in scoring offense… DL Walter Chapman was third team All-American... RB Mike Jones was 3rd in NCAA in TDs and 4th in points scored... One of only six teams in school history to average over 30 points per game... QB Ken Washington set the school record for passing efficiency at 159.93 (later broke by Mitch Maher)... Three players from team played in NFL and six are in the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.

Points Per Game: 30.5
Points Allowed Per Game: 16.2
Offensive Yards Per Game: 356.5
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 287.8
College Football Reference Power Rating: 28^th of 145 teams
All-Conference Players: NA

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Best Team Ever: (1) 1967 vs. (2) 1977

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