Photo by Willie Martin "Mr. Will"
Not since October 30th 2003 had I made the trek to Denton to watch some college football with the University of North Texas.
In truth, it was probably a night I sould not have gotten in. The plan was to find a cheap ticket and to enjoy some college football at Fouts Field.
For some reason the date October 30th I had into the habit of watching a game on that given day.
Year 2000 there was minor league hockey I enjoyed with the T-Birds in Seattle. That date in 2001 I saw the first Mavericks game played at the then brand spanking new American Airlines Center (Also Rick Carlisle's first game as an NBA coach for the Pistons).
2002 I was with sis to watch an overtime game go in favor of the Florida Panthers against the Dallas Stars.
No one seemed to know where the ticket booth was so I told a security guard it was my fist time at a Mean Green game. The guard let me in as he looked the other way.
Jackpot! On this Thursday night in 2003 it was televised on ESPN2. The opponent was Troy State. I saw Lincoln Kennedy collect four tackles in a 28-0 blowout of Troy State. I thought Fouts Field was an amaziong place.
I was more blown away by the many who had once attended. "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, Dr. Phil, Doug Denison, Mean Joe Greene, Don Henley to name a few.
I also remember one fine looking Ford Model T classic car from the 1920's. I took a lot of pictures and vowed to come back soon.
Life can come at you pretty fast. 11 years later and back to Denton Texas inside a brand spanking new stadium called Apogee. My second in in five days fresh from a visit to waco for Baylor football.
Back on New Years Day I enjoyed the Heart of Dallas Bowl when some 40,000 fans lined up the old Cotton Bowl in Dallas Texas. North Texas blasted UNLV. Great times under sunny skies. Coach McCarney as a hoot. The Mean Green represented nicely.
Working alongside George Walker for my first visit to Apogee Stadium my first thought was, "Wow!"
Scenic. Colorful. Environmentally sound. Compact. Sleek. Sexy. Sound. Heck of a place.
The opponent this night was the Bulldogs of Louisiana Tech led by Quarterback Cody Sokol. Both teams with a 1-1 record. North Texas five days removed from a 45-6 defeat of the SMU Mustangs here at Apogee Stadium.
Coming off the hope of a huge win over SMU after a 38-7 loss to Texas in Austin any hopes for a two game win streak would fall through the cracks very quickly.
What began as a defensive battle under windy threatening skies would soon become the Cody Sokol show. Connecting on three touchdown passes to Josh Gaston for 4 yards, Hunter Lee for 28, and Paul Turner for 5 yard scores and a theatrical catch to give the Bulldogs a 21-0 lead at the half.
All the scoring happened in the second quarter on drives of 10, 4, and 7 plays totaling 60, 67, and 53 yards for Louisiana Tech.
A first half that showcased the Bulldogs running 42 plays while the Mean Green ran 26. LaTech had 196 total yards to 26 for the Mean Green.
As the second half commenced and North Texas had possession into the wind Josh Greer was unable to generate any offense initially. A subsequent drive where North Texas looked to be on the move after a Sheldon Wade pick was dashed when a pass completion was plucked out of the air by Terrell Pinson for a return of 55 yards before Keneth Dixon ran left into the end zone for a three yard score and for all intents and purposes that was the ballgame.
It took 41 minutes before the Mean Green would find the end zone on a Josh Greer keeper to make for a 28-7 score.
Mop up time allowed for three more scores as Louisiana Tech won the game 42-21.
Mean Green Coach Dan McCarney discussed the physicality of the Bulldogs afterwards.
UNT now falls to 1-2. The Bulldogs improve to 2-1. NIcholls State comes to Denton on September 20th. Maybe you'll see me there.
This promises to be an interesting 2014 for UNT.