Best Team Ever: (2) 1977 vs. (3) 1966

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 sixth first round matchup, which pits the No. 2 seed 1977 team against the No. 3 seed 1966 team out of the Mean Green Region. Tuesday saw the top seed, the 1967 team advance to the quarterfinal round, where it awaits the winner of today's matchup.

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1966 (3) vs. 1977 (2)

1966 – Coach Odus Mitchell – 8-2, 3-1 in Missouri Valley Conference

Two losses by a total of seven points 30-27 to Tulsa and 17-13 to Drake… School-record 513 yards rushing allowed 51.3 per game... Joe Greene sophomore year… Seven first team all-conference selections, one All-American (WR John Love)… Team featured 10 players who were eventual NFL draft picks from 1967-69… Odus Mitchell was MVC Coach of the Year... John Love set school records for receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns... Bill Woods had school-record 3 punt returns for TDs, including a school-record 91-yarder and added an 80-yarder... Team led the NCAA in rushing defense, allowing 513 total rushing yards and 1.3 yards per attempt... First time in school history passed for over 2500 yards, WR Love set school record with 1,130 receiving yards.

Points Per Game: 29.8
Points Allowed Per Game: 14.1
Offensive Yards Per Game: 309.4
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 270.6
College Football Reference Power Rating: 34^th of 119 teams
All Conference Players: Ed Brantley, OT (1st team); Paul Draper, OC (1st team); Joe Greene, DT (1st team); Burkley Harkless, NG (1st team); John Love, WR (1st team); James Russell, WR (1st team); Billy Woods, CB (1st 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: (2) 1977 vs. (3) 1966

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