Morris Named George Munger Coach of the Year Semifinalist

PHILADELPHIA - UNT head football coach Eric Morris was named to the George Munger College Coach of the Year semifinalist list, the Maxwell Football Club announced on Wednesday.

Morris is one of 24 coaches to make the semifinalist cut and is one of five coaches from G5 programs, as the third-year coach has led the Mean Green to a banner season.

UNT has the nation's top scoring offense and is No. 1 nationally in turnover margin. The last team to lead FBS in scoring offense and turnover margin was Oklahoma in 2008, when the Sooners played for the BCS National Championship.

The Mean Green are off to a 9-1 start and a No. 22 ranking in this week's Associated Press poll - both last accomplished in 1959.

The award's finalists will be announced on December 8 with the winner being announced on December 30.

Morris has cemented a reputation as one of the great offensive minds in college football and as one of the top quarterback mentors in the country with players such as Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield and Cam Ward having played under him. Now, he has redshirt freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker, who famously hadn't played quarterback since he was a freshman in high school before starting last year's bowl game, as one of the top quarterbacks in the country.

So far this season, Mestemaker has thrown for 3,000 yards and 23 touchdowns to go with just four interceptions and ranks inside the top 10 nationally in six passing categories.

George Munger Award Semifinalists
Kalen DeBoer, Alabama
Kalani Sitake, BYU
Kirby Smart, Georgia
Brent Key, Georgia Tech
Willie Fritz, Houston
Curt Cignetti, Indiana
Bob Chesney, James Madison
Jerry Mack, Kennesaw State
Brian Newberry, Navy
Eric Morris, North Texas
Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame
Ryan Day, Ohio State
Brent Venables, Oklahoma
Lane Kiffin, Ole Miss
Dan Lanning, Oregon
Pat Narduzzi, Pitt
Sean Lewis, San Diego State
Mike Elko, Texas A&M
Joey McGuire, Texas Tech
Jon Sumrall, Tulane
Lincoln Riley, USC
Clark Lee, Vanderbilt
Tony Elliott, Virginia
Jake Dickert, Wake Forest

-- GMG --

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