Saturday, October 19
Memphis, TN
6:30 PM CT
University of North Texas
at
Memphis
Photo by: Zach Del Bello / Mean Green Sports
UNT Heading to Memphis for Battle of 5-1 Teams
10/15/2024 12:34:00 PM | Football
DENTON – The UNT football team hitting the road again after a thrilling, come-from-behind road win over FAU last Saturday night, and now the Mean Green's sights are set on Memphis and Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium this Saturday with kickoff set for 6:30 p.m. The game can be seen on ESPNU with the radio broadcast set for 97.1 The Eagle/The Varsity Network/Sirius XM Channel 391.
Head coach Eric Morris and selected players spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed, among other things, the challenge a strong Memphis team presents in a battle for early-season bowl eligibility, success with second-half adjustments and the play of versatile offensive lineman Jett Duncan.
Pair of 5-1 teams playing for bowl eligibility
This week's game at Memphis kicks off a three-game stretch for UNT that will see them play three teams that enter this week with a combined total of three losses. One of those losses belongs to Memphis, which will welcome the Mean Green on Saturday night.
Morris said he's ready for what should be a great challenge for his team, as well as what should be some picture perfect football weather - finally.
"We've put ourselves in a position to play in these meaningful games on national TV at night," he said. "This is what we've worked so hard for. We just have to clean some stuff up and do a good job on traveling to Memphis. The weather will be beautiful. We're finally getting to football weather, which is a beautiful thing. It's been so damn hot. Football weather is upon us."
While the Mean Green might not be favored in any of these three games, Morris was quick to point out the records are identical entering Saturday's matchup and if his team plays to its ability, fans will be in for an exciting game.
"We're 5-1, too, and we're a good football team, too," he said. "This is why you work so hard to earn these opportunities. You get into these moments and we'll see if we're ready to go perform on these stages against these opponents. It's a huge test in front of us. These guys play with great effort and play for one another."
Whichever team wins on Saturday will become bowl eligible with five games still remaining, which is a rarity, especially for a UNT program that hasn't been 6-1 since 2018, and 1988 before that.
Last year, the Mean Green finished 5-7 – one win shy of bowl eligibility – and lost several one-score games, showing how close they were to the six-win threshold. This year, the team is on a mission, and is close to accomplishing its first goal.
"We're 5-1. We haven't been 5-1 in a long time here," said redshirt freshman cornerback Brian Nelson II. "We're just trying to be consistent and get a conference championship and a bowl game and take it one game at a time."
Second-half adjustments showed Saturday
All season long, the Mean Green have shown a tendency to make proper halftime adjustments and play much better in the second half of games this season.
In the season-opening win at South Alabama, UNT trailed 19-14 before outscoring the Jaguars 38-19 in the second half. Against SFA, the Mean Green held a four-point halftime lead before outscoring the Lumberjacks 14-3. UNT shut out Wyoming in the second half after holding a 10-point halftime lead and finally trailed by 10 at halftime at FAU on Saturday night before outscoring the Owls 24-10 in the second half.
"Going in at half, if we're down, we don't panic," senior offensive lineman Jett Duncan said. "We're not going to get our heads down. Leaders step up and make sure we're doing our jobs and keep fighting. That's what we've been doing."
While adjustments have certainly helped tremendously, Morris said the team's resiliency has also showed this year.
"Good thing is, this team would've lost that game last year," he said of last week's FAU win. "The resiliency has been building week in and week out and it travels with us. It was awesome to see us put it all together at the end. You don't want to be in those situations and be down 10 with 2 1/2 minutes left, but the execution was really good at the end."
Duncan showing versatility, leadership
After working throughout the spring and fall at center after years of playing tackle, Duncan was thrust right back into his old role early in Saturday's win at FAU when starting tackle Landon Peterson left with an injury.
Duncan is Mr. Do It All up front for the Mean Green, and he showed that once again on Saturday.
The senior from The Woodlands is tied for the team lead with 31 career starts, and he has at least one career start at center, right guard, left guard and right tackle.
"Jett's probably the best practice player in our program," Morris said. "He'd gotten two reps at tackle the week before. He's been snapping, making the calls, all those things at center, and we moved him to tackle and move (Tyler) Mercer in at center and (Duncan) was fantastic without a single missed assignment. Playing tackle and center is two completely different worlds. His ability to be multiple and go out and not make mistakes and be really good at two different positions in a game is super impressive. It's the way he prepares and his attention to detail. I wish we had more like him."
Duncan said it might have taken a couple of snaps to feel comfortable after moving down the line on Saturday, but with how much he's worked at being versatile, it was basically like riding a bike.
"I did play tackle the last few years, so that kind of helped me," he said. "But knowing what every position does on every play just helps me be a versatile offensive lineman."
As a team captain, Duncan's teammates have also taken notice of what he's done for the team, especially by filling in wherever needed, whenever needed.
"He's a great captain, in my opinion," Nelson said. "He plays such a big role on the team and is great teammate. He switched positions and moved around and has battled his own injuries, too. He's put his life on the line of the team and balled out for us."
Head coach Eric Morris and selected players spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed, among other things, the challenge a strong Memphis team presents in a battle for early-season bowl eligibility, success with second-half adjustments and the play of versatile offensive lineman Jett Duncan.
Pair of 5-1 teams playing for bowl eligibility
This week's game at Memphis kicks off a three-game stretch for UNT that will see them play three teams that enter this week with a combined total of three losses. One of those losses belongs to Memphis, which will welcome the Mean Green on Saturday night.
Morris said he's ready for what should be a great challenge for his team, as well as what should be some picture perfect football weather - finally.
"We've put ourselves in a position to play in these meaningful games on national TV at night," he said. "This is what we've worked so hard for. We just have to clean some stuff up and do a good job on traveling to Memphis. The weather will be beautiful. We're finally getting to football weather, which is a beautiful thing. It's been so damn hot. Football weather is upon us."
While the Mean Green might not be favored in any of these three games, Morris was quick to point out the records are identical entering Saturday's matchup and if his team plays to its ability, fans will be in for an exciting game.
"We're 5-1, too, and we're a good football team, too," he said. "This is why you work so hard to earn these opportunities. You get into these moments and we'll see if we're ready to go perform on these stages against these opponents. It's a huge test in front of us. These guys play with great effort and play for one another."
Whichever team wins on Saturday will become bowl eligible with five games still remaining, which is a rarity, especially for a UNT program that hasn't been 6-1 since 2018, and 1988 before that.
Last year, the Mean Green finished 5-7 – one win shy of bowl eligibility – and lost several one-score games, showing how close they were to the six-win threshold. This year, the team is on a mission, and is close to accomplishing its first goal.
"We're 5-1. We haven't been 5-1 in a long time here," said redshirt freshman cornerback Brian Nelson II. "We're just trying to be consistent and get a conference championship and a bowl game and take it one game at a time."
Second-half adjustments showed Saturday
All season long, the Mean Green have shown a tendency to make proper halftime adjustments and play much better in the second half of games this season.
In the season-opening win at South Alabama, UNT trailed 19-14 before outscoring the Jaguars 38-19 in the second half. Against SFA, the Mean Green held a four-point halftime lead before outscoring the Lumberjacks 14-3. UNT shut out Wyoming in the second half after holding a 10-point halftime lead and finally trailed by 10 at halftime at FAU on Saturday night before outscoring the Owls 24-10 in the second half.
"Going in at half, if we're down, we don't panic," senior offensive lineman Jett Duncan said. "We're not going to get our heads down. Leaders step up and make sure we're doing our jobs and keep fighting. That's what we've been doing."
While adjustments have certainly helped tremendously, Morris said the team's resiliency has also showed this year.
"Good thing is, this team would've lost that game last year," he said of last week's FAU win. "The resiliency has been building week in and week out and it travels with us. It was awesome to see us put it all together at the end. You don't want to be in those situations and be down 10 with 2 1/2 minutes left, but the execution was really good at the end."
Duncan showing versatility, leadership
After working throughout the spring and fall at center after years of playing tackle, Duncan was thrust right back into his old role early in Saturday's win at FAU when starting tackle Landon Peterson left with an injury.
Duncan is Mr. Do It All up front for the Mean Green, and he showed that once again on Saturday.
The senior from The Woodlands is tied for the team lead with 31 career starts, and he has at least one career start at center, right guard, left guard and right tackle.
"Jett's probably the best practice player in our program," Morris said. "He'd gotten two reps at tackle the week before. He's been snapping, making the calls, all those things at center, and we moved him to tackle and move (Tyler) Mercer in at center and (Duncan) was fantastic without a single missed assignment. Playing tackle and center is two completely different worlds. His ability to be multiple and go out and not make mistakes and be really good at two different positions in a game is super impressive. It's the way he prepares and his attention to detail. I wish we had more like him."
Duncan said it might have taken a couple of snaps to feel comfortable after moving down the line on Saturday, but with how much he's worked at being versatile, it was basically like riding a bike.
"I did play tackle the last few years, so that kind of helped me," he said. "But knowing what every position does on every play just helps me be a versatile offensive lineman."
As a team captain, Duncan's teammates have also taken notice of what he's done for the team, especially by filling in wherever needed, whenever needed.
"He's a great captain, in my opinion," Nelson said. "He plays such a big role on the team and is great teammate. He switched positions and moved around and has battled his own injuries, too. He's put his life on the line of the team and balled out for us."
Players Mentioned
Eric Morris Weekly Press Conference vs. South Florida | Mean Green FB
Tuesday, October 07
Glory To The Green: Recap vs South Alabama | Mean Green FB
Monday, September 29
Broadcast Highlights vs South Alabama | Mean Green Football
Sunday, September 28
Postgame Press Conference | UNT vs. South Alabama
Saturday, September 27