University of North Texas Athletics
Best Team Ever: (1) 1947 vs. (1) 2013
6/9/2020 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 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
We open the semifinal round Tuesday, which pits a No. 1 seed, 1947 team (Green & White regional champion) against another top seed, the 2013 team (Light the Tower regional champion).
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(1) 1947 vs. (1) 2013
(1) 1947 – Coach Odus Mitchell – 10-2, 6-0 Lonestar Conference – Salad Bowl, L Nevada 13-6
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Second team in school history to earn a bowl bid… One of only 26 teams in the nation to play in a postseason bowl game… Only team in school history to win 10 games on the field in a season… 10 players from this team are in the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame... Beat Florida in Gainseville 20-12… Only regular season loss was 12-0 at Arkansas… Allowed 6.4 points per game, best ever by a North Texas team for 12 game season… Outscored opponents by an average of 14.9 points per game... Outscored Lonestar Conference opponents 145-27... Seven first team all-conference players… Fenton Whitlow was All-American tackle… Seven players from this team played in the NFL... Eight starters from this team served in WWII prior to this season.
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Points Per Game: 21.3
Points Allowed Per Game: 6.4
All Conference Players: A.D. Cate, G (1st team); Dick Lindsay, T (1st team); Richard Nutt, B (1st team); Jim Cooper, C (1st team); Bill Cromer, B (1st team); Joe Abbey, E (1st team); Felton Whitlow, G (1st 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 Final Four and this is your chance to help decide if your team is the best Eagles/Mean Green team ever!
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(1) 1947 vs. (1) 2013
(1) 1947 – Coach Odus Mitchell – 10-2, 6-0 Lonestar Conference – Salad Bowl, L Nevada 13-6
Â
Second team in school history to earn a bowl bid… One of only 26 teams in the nation to play in a postseason bowl game… Only team in school history to win 10 games on the field in a season… 10 players from this team are in the North Texas Athletics Hall of Fame... Beat Florida in Gainseville 20-12… Only regular season loss was 12-0 at Arkansas… Allowed 6.4 points per game, best ever by a North Texas team for 12 game season… Outscored opponents by an average of 14.9 points per game... Outscored Lonestar Conference opponents 145-27... Seven first team all-conference players… Fenton Whitlow was All-American tackle… Seven players from this team played in the NFL... Eight starters from this team served in WWII prior to this season.
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Points Per Game: 21.3
Points Allowed Per Game: 6.4
All Conference Players: A.D. Cate, G (1st team); Dick Lindsay, T (1st team); Richard Nutt, B (1st team); Jim Cooper, C (1st team); Bill Cromer, B (1st team); Joe Abbey, E (1st team); Felton Whitlow, G (1st 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
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