Best Team Ever: (1) 2002 vs. (1) 2013
6/16/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
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 past several weeks, fans have had the 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 were broken up into four "regions" based on era and seeded 1-4 within those "regions". Winners of each matchup are decided by a combination of social media voting and a special committee of UNT alums from each era dating back to the 1950's.Â
A pair of top seeds are vying for the title, as the 2002Â team (Scrappy regional champion) faces off against the 2013 team (Light the Tower regional champion).
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(1) 2002 vs. (1) 2013
2002 – Coach Darrell Dickey – 8-5, 6-0 in Sun Belt Conference
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Losses were to No. 4 Texas, Alabama, TCU, Arizona and South Florida… Outscored conference opponents 159-59… Had 10 first team all-conference selections and six second team… DT Brandon Kennedy was 3rd team All-American, conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year... Darrell Dickey was conference Coach of the Year... One of only three bowl championship teams in school history... Ranks sixth for most rushing yards in a season by a North Texas team with 2,372... Kennedy had 24 TFL, ranking second all-time and 10 sacks, the best since that year... Team had 45 sacks, best in North Texas history still a Sun Belt Conference record... Ranked 3rd nationally in scoring defense and 9th nationally in total defense… Five players from this team signed as NFL free agents and three (Spencer, Cobbs, Awasom) had multiple year NFL careers… Seven players from this team currently in North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.
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Points Per Game: 19.2
Points Allowed Per Game: 14.8
Offensive Yards Per Game: 284.5
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 287.2
College Football Reference Power Rating: 63rd of 117 teams Â
All Conference Players: J.R. Randle, OT (1st team); Nick Zuniga, OG (1st team); Jeff Muenchow, TE (1st team); Kevin Galbreath, RB (1st team); Brandon Kennedy, DL (1st team); Darrell Daniels, DL (1st team); Taylor Casey, LB (1st team); Cody Spencer, LB (1st team); Craig Jones, DB (1st team); Don McGee, DB (1st team); Matt Turney, OL (2nd team); Adrian Awasom, DL (2nd team); Chris McIver, DL (2nd team); Jonas Buckles, DB (2nd team); Brad Kadlubar, P (2nd team); Ja'Mel Branch, ST (2nd team).
2013 – Coach Dan McCarney – 9-4, 6-2 in Conference USA
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Tied with No. 9 Georgia until late in 3rd quarter and other three losses by one score or less… Only third bowl championship team in school history, and largest bowl win in school history… Six first team all-conference selections... WR Brelan Chancellor was conference Special Teams Player of the Year... The 414 points scored was fourth-best in school history, and the 5,336 yards of offense is third-best in school history... WR Brelan Chancellor still holds school record for all-purpose yards with 1,964 and punt return yards with 386... 39 sacks by team ranks as second-best at UNT... Ranked in the top 10 nationally in 11 team statistical categories… Six players from this team signed NFL free agent contracts.
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Points Per Game: 31.8
Points Allowed Per Game: 17.8
Offensive Yards Per Game: 410.5
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 348.7
College Football Reference Power Rating: 59th of 125 teams Â
All Conference Players: Brelan Chancellor, KR (1st team); Brelan Chancellor, PR (1st team); Cyril Lemon, OL (1st team); Zach Orr, LB (1st team); Marcus Trice, DB (1st team); Aaron Bellazin, DE (1st team); Brelan Chancellor, WR (2nd team); Mason Y'Barbo, OL (2nd team); Richard Abbe, DT (honorable mention); Derek Akunne, LB (honorable mention); Brandin Byrd, RB (honorable mention); Kenny Buyers, DB (honorable mention); Lairamie Lee, DB (honorable mention); Darnell Smith, WR (honorable mention).
Updated Bracket
We are down to the championship and this is your chance to help decide if your team is the best Mean Green team ever!
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(1) 2002 vs. (1) 2013
2002 – Coach Darrell Dickey – 8-5, 6-0 in Sun Belt Conference
Â
Losses were to No. 4 Texas, Alabama, TCU, Arizona and South Florida… Outscored conference opponents 159-59… Had 10 first team all-conference selections and six second team… DT Brandon Kennedy was 3rd team All-American, conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year... Darrell Dickey was conference Coach of the Year... One of only three bowl championship teams in school history... Ranks sixth for most rushing yards in a season by a North Texas team with 2,372... Kennedy had 24 TFL, ranking second all-time and 10 sacks, the best since that year... Team had 45 sacks, best in North Texas history still a Sun Belt Conference record... Ranked 3rd nationally in scoring defense and 9th nationally in total defense… Five players from this team signed as NFL free agents and three (Spencer, Cobbs, Awasom) had multiple year NFL careers… Seven players from this team currently in North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame.
   Â
Points Per Game: 19.2
Points Allowed Per Game: 14.8
Offensive Yards Per Game: 284.5
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 287.2
College Football Reference Power Rating: 63rd of 117 teams Â
All Conference Players: J.R. Randle, OT (1st team); Nick Zuniga, OG (1st team); Jeff Muenchow, TE (1st team); Kevin Galbreath, RB (1st team); Brandon Kennedy, DL (1st team); Darrell Daniels, DL (1st team); Taylor Casey, LB (1st team); Cody Spencer, LB (1st team); Craig Jones, DB (1st team); Don McGee, DB (1st team); Matt Turney, OL (2nd team); Adrian Awasom, DL (2nd team); Chris McIver, DL (2nd team); Jonas Buckles, DB (2nd team); Brad Kadlubar, P (2nd team); Ja'Mel Branch, ST (2nd team).
2013 – Coach Dan McCarney – 9-4, 6-2 in Conference USA
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Tied with No. 9 Georgia until late in 3rd quarter and other three losses by one score or less… Only third bowl championship team in school history, and largest bowl win in school history… Six first team all-conference selections... WR Brelan Chancellor was conference Special Teams Player of the Year... The 414 points scored was fourth-best in school history, and the 5,336 yards of offense is third-best in school history... WR Brelan Chancellor still holds school record for all-purpose yards with 1,964 and punt return yards with 386... 39 sacks by team ranks as second-best at UNT... Ranked in the top 10 nationally in 11 team statistical categories… Six players from this team signed NFL free agent contracts.
Â
Points Per Game: 31.8
Points Allowed Per Game: 17.8
Offensive Yards Per Game: 410.5
Defensive Yards Allowed Per Game: 348.7
College Football Reference Power Rating: 59th of 125 teams Â
All Conference Players: Brelan Chancellor, KR (1st team); Brelan Chancellor, PR (1st team); Cyril Lemon, OL (1st team); Zach Orr, LB (1st team); Marcus Trice, DB (1st team); Aaron Bellazin, DE (1st team); Brelan Chancellor, WR (2nd team); Mason Y'Barbo, OL (2nd team); Richard Abbe, DT (honorable mention); Derek Akunne, LB (honorable mention); Brandin Byrd, RB (honorable mention); Kenny Buyers, DB (honorable mention); Lairamie Lee, DB (honorable mention); Darnell Smith, WR (honorable mention).
Updated Bracket
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