Saturday, October 26
Denton, TX
11 AM CT
University of North Texas
vs
Tulane
Photo by: Zach Del Bello / Mean Green Sports
Mean Green Welcome Tulane for Homecoming Saturday
10/22/2024 1:45:00 PM | Football
DENTON – The UNT football team back at home after tough road loss at Memphis last Saturday night, and now the Mean Green's sights are set on Tulane, who will come to DATCU Stadium for a Homecoming date at 11 a.m. The game can be seen on ESPN2 with the radio broadcast set for 97.1 The Eagle/The Varsity Network/Sirius XM Channel 385.
Head coach Eric Morris and selected players spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed, among other things, a hope for a good Homecoming crowd, trying to move away from losing close games to winning them, true freshmen drawing starts and still trying to get the offensive line to take shape.
Morris, players looking for strong support from Homecoming crowd
Through three games this season, UNT has seen an average attendance of 23,029 at DATCU Stadium, and several people within the program have said they've noticed the improved home attendance this season.
With Homecoming set for Saturday, head coach Eric Morris said he wants to see a good crowd on Saturday, especially those who have seen the transition from what UNT football used to be to what it is now with modern additions within the program.
"For people to come back and see this place that have been through all the eras of North Texas football, people have a misconception of this place that it's been FBS for a long time, and if you look back just 25 years ago it was a Southland Conference team playing against Stephen F. Austin. So seeing where we are now with the new field, the indoor, the production with the media team and marketing team and promotions, the band is phenomenal – maybe the best band I've been a part of as a coach. You only get six of these Saturdays a year. Our games are fun and we have to get out of this mode of people not wanting to come cheer on our kiddos."
And if you're hesitant to come to Denton for the early kickoff, he said, well, don't be.
"People complaining about 11 a.m., get over yourself," Morris said. "We don't get to pick it and we're playing for the third or fourth time on a national TV game, so get over yourself and get up a little early and come watch a game. Then, go home and watch more games on your couch. We're playing a great team on a great stage in a great conference, so get over it. That's just my two cents."
Junior defensive lineman Fatafehi Vailea II said he's definitely noticed a more raucous home crowd this season and hopes to see that trend continue on Saturday.
"It means a lot," Vailea said. "We definitely have more fan engagement this year and that means a lot to not just the defense, but the whole team as a unit."
Morris ready to win the close games
Morris made no bones about it on Tuesday when addressing his team and the media alike.
He isn't about moral victories.
That's why Saturday's 52-44 loss at Memphis was so tough to take.
UNT lost five games by one score last year en route to a 5-7 record in Morris' first season in Denton.
"We have to find a way to win one of these close ones," he said. "Being close, I'm not about at all - any kind of moral victories in this game. I'm the guy that would rather just get blown out. Quite frankly, just being close to these teams isn't our goal around here and it's not what we're shooting for. We have to find ways to win. … Close doesn't cut it in this sport. We have to find a way to push through and find a way to win these games."
True freshmen drawing starts at record rate
In Memphis, UNT started three true freshmen in tight end Brandon Young Jr., center Tyler Mercer and guard Braydon Nelson. Three others, wide receivers Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman and running back Kiefer Sibley saw significant playing time.
It's been a trend this year, and the youngsters are starting to get more comfortable in their roles.
Coleman had a career-high six catches on Saturday and drew some praise from his head coach.
"Miles continues to get better," Morris said. "When you have someone like DT (Sheffield) doing what he's doing right now, people will put emphasis on stopping him and it allows opportunities for the other guys. Landon (Sides) had a big catch down the seam for us, Wyatt did some nice things, and Miles showed he can be multiple and play inside and outside."
Senior wideout Blair Conwright said all the true freshmen have been valuable teammates this year, but there is one who stands out in his mind.
"The one, specifically, who's been gritty and down and dirty was Wyatt," he said. "We have a little pancake meter and he has the most pancakes (among the wide receivers). I'm a little hurt by that because I thought I was the best blocking wide receiver, but clearly Wyatt is, if you look at our chart."
Head coach Eric Morris and selected players spoke to the media on Tuesday and discussed, among other things, a hope for a good Homecoming crowd, trying to move away from losing close games to winning them, true freshmen drawing starts and still trying to get the offensive line to take shape.
Morris, players looking for strong support from Homecoming crowd
Through three games this season, UNT has seen an average attendance of 23,029 at DATCU Stadium, and several people within the program have said they've noticed the improved home attendance this season.
With Homecoming set for Saturday, head coach Eric Morris said he wants to see a good crowd on Saturday, especially those who have seen the transition from what UNT football used to be to what it is now with modern additions within the program.
"For people to come back and see this place that have been through all the eras of North Texas football, people have a misconception of this place that it's been FBS for a long time, and if you look back just 25 years ago it was a Southland Conference team playing against Stephen F. Austin. So seeing where we are now with the new field, the indoor, the production with the media team and marketing team and promotions, the band is phenomenal – maybe the best band I've been a part of as a coach. You only get six of these Saturdays a year. Our games are fun and we have to get out of this mode of people not wanting to come cheer on our kiddos."
And if you're hesitant to come to Denton for the early kickoff, he said, well, don't be.
"People complaining about 11 a.m., get over yourself," Morris said. "We don't get to pick it and we're playing for the third or fourth time on a national TV game, so get over yourself and get up a little early and come watch a game. Then, go home and watch more games on your couch. We're playing a great team on a great stage in a great conference, so get over it. That's just my two cents."
Junior defensive lineman Fatafehi Vailea II said he's definitely noticed a more raucous home crowd this season and hopes to see that trend continue on Saturday.
"It means a lot," Vailea said. "We definitely have more fan engagement this year and that means a lot to not just the defense, but the whole team as a unit."
Morris ready to win the close games
Morris made no bones about it on Tuesday when addressing his team and the media alike.
He isn't about moral victories.
That's why Saturday's 52-44 loss at Memphis was so tough to take.
UNT lost five games by one score last year en route to a 5-7 record in Morris' first season in Denton.
"We have to find a way to win one of these close ones," he said. "Being close, I'm not about at all - any kind of moral victories in this game. I'm the guy that would rather just get blown out. Quite frankly, just being close to these teams isn't our goal around here and it's not what we're shooting for. We have to find ways to win. … Close doesn't cut it in this sport. We have to find a way to push through and find a way to win these games."
True freshmen drawing starts at record rate
In Memphis, UNT started three true freshmen in tight end Brandon Young Jr., center Tyler Mercer and guard Braydon Nelson. Three others, wide receivers Wyatt Young and Miles Coleman and running back Kiefer Sibley saw significant playing time.
It's been a trend this year, and the youngsters are starting to get more comfortable in their roles.
Coleman had a career-high six catches on Saturday and drew some praise from his head coach.
"Miles continues to get better," Morris said. "When you have someone like DT (Sheffield) doing what he's doing right now, people will put emphasis on stopping him and it allows opportunities for the other guys. Landon (Sides) had a big catch down the seam for us, Wyatt did some nice things, and Miles showed he can be multiple and play inside and outside."
Senior wideout Blair Conwright said all the true freshmen have been valuable teammates this year, but there is one who stands out in his mind.
"The one, specifically, who's been gritty and down and dirty was Wyatt," he said. "We have a little pancake meter and he has the most pancakes (among the wide receivers). I'm a little hurt by that because I thought I was the best blocking wide receiver, but clearly Wyatt is, if you look at our chart."
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