This is from the Jonesboro Sun. Local ASU paper. Gives you a pretty good feel for the game tonight.
Indians close against Mean Green
By Matthew V. Roberson
Sun sports writer
North Texas has been the cream of the crop in the Sun Belt Conference ever since the league formed.
The Mean Green’s resume is impressive.
North Texas has won 24 straight league games dating to Oct. 6, 2001. Overall, the Mean Green is 24-1 in conference play, with its only loss coming in its first league game at Louisiana-Monroe.
UNT has been to the New Orleans Bowl all three times since its inception, defeating Conference USA co-champion Cincinnati in 2002. And, Mean Green head coach Darrell Dickey has been named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year three straight seasons.
It would be fair to say North Texas has dominated its league constituents. And, no matter what happens this evening, the Mean Green will again head to New Orleans in December for their fourth straight New Orleans Bowl appearance as the Sun Belt champion.
But none of those factors seem enough to deter Arkansas State. The Indians are plenty motivated for tonight’s season finale.
Kickoff is 6:05 p.m. at Indian Stadium.
For many of Arkansas State’s seniors, this is the last chance to show what they are made of.
“This is a big opportunity for us and we’re looking forward to it,” ASU senior wide receiver Chuck Walker said. “This is like a bowl game for us. It’s our chance to knock off the conference champion and show everyone what we are capable of. The seniors are really charged up. This is our opportunity to go out and do something that hasn’t been done in three or four years.”
Arkansas State (3-7 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) has lost three straight to the Mean Green. But ASU has been tough at home, where it is 2-1 this season with its only loss a 47-35 defeat to Memphis as the Tigers scored three touchdowns in the final four minutes to rally for an unlikely victory.
Last year, North Texas torched ASU 58-14 as the Mean Green rolled up 522 yards offense and then rubbed some salt in the wound. UNT was flagged three times for personal fouls, five times for unsportsmanlike conduct and celebrated at ASU’s expense in what was a humiliating turn of events.
UNT tailback Patrick Cobbs, who rushed for 228 yards and four touchdowns, simulated the Heisman Trophy pose after one of his scores. Another UNT touchdown was punctuated with an “orchestrated celebration” according to one of the game officials.
Each drew unsportsmanlike penalties.
All left some bitter feelings on the ASU sideline, which now serves as motivation.
“There are a lot of things that happened last year that I haven’t forgotten,” ASU senior strong safety Alex Peoples said. “I’m sure a lot of players on the team haven’t forgotten either. They showed absolutely no class. It was very disrespectful. They showed no character at all, so we’re looking forward to playing them. I think it will motivate the team a little bit knowing how those guys acted last year.”
No matter how much motivation or what the motivation is, Arkansas State will have its hands full with the Mean Green. North Texas (6-4, 6-0) has won six straight after opening the season with four consecutive losses.
UNT is powered by freshman tailback Jamario Thomas, who replaced Cobbs after the second game of the season when Cobbs was injured. In nine games, Thomas has plowed through and run away from opponents at a pace unparalleled by any other running back in the country.
Thomas, whose status has been uncertain this week because of a hamstring pull, leads the nation with 1,708 yards, averaging 6.7 a carry. He has run for over 200 yards in five straight games — an NCAA record — including a school-record 291 yards last week in a 51-29 victory over Idaho. He has broken UNT’s single-game rushing record three times this season.
ASU coach Steve Roberts compared Thomas’ running style to Memphis tailback DeAngelo Williams. Roberts knows the Indians will have to slow Thomas down if he plays, but isn’t sure how.
“We’ve got some things planned and hopefully they will work,” Roberts said. “We want to force them to do some things that maybe they don’t want to do. We don’t want them to sit there and hand him the ball 40 times and be successful. ... He is like a good scorer in basketball, he is going to get his points. You just have to make sure he doesn’t get completely unleashed on you.”
UNT quarterback Scott Hall has passed for 1,484 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing just 2 interceptions. Hall’s favorite target is 6-foot sophomore Johnny Quinn, who has 33 catches for 629 yards and 6 TDs.
Roberts said although Thomas is the Mean Green’s workhorse, North Texas has other options, including pass plays to its tight ends and quarterback sprint-outs.
“They are not a one-dimensional team,” Roberts said. “Their quarterback, Scott Hall, has really played well. They don’t drop-back pass a lot but they do pass the football very effectively out of play-action and the bootlegs.”
The Mean Green appear more vulnerable defensively this year than in the past. UNT has one of the lowest-rated defenses in the conference, allowing a league-worst 433 yards a game, including 255 through the air.
North Texas is allowing 32 points a game, but leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 26.8 points a game. UNT’s numbers are somewhat skewed by a 65-0 loss at Texas and a 52-21 defeat at Colorado.
ASU junior tailback Antonio Warren needs 8 yards tonight to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season. He has 1,930 yards for his career to rank No. 10 among the Indians’ career rushing leaders.
For Arkansas State’s seniors, this will be their final game at Indian Stadium. ASU is 9-4 on its home field under Roberts the past three seasons, 10-5 when playing in its home state.
Emotions are mixed among Indian players as their careers come to an end.
“It’s a weird feeling, knowing this is the last game,” senior offensive tackle Matt Roth said. “I haven’t tried to think about it too much because football is a big part of my life right now. I’m just trying to concentrate on these last couple of days of practice and get us a win.”
Peoples said he’s seen the ASU program change course in his four years of playing for the Indians. Peoples originally signed with Arkansas State when Joe Hollis was the football coach.
“When Coach Roberts got here, the attitude of the players got a lot better,” he explained. “People started wanting to come out and play football. It seemed like when Coach Hollis was here, it was more of people going out there and going through the motions. Coach Hollis wasn’t really involved with the players and when Coach Roberts came here and interacted with the players I think it helped the chemistry of the team.”
The only chemistry that matters right now, though, is what the Indians can mix up this evening against North Texas according to senior defensive end Courtney Todd.
“We know that North Texas has a long winning streak. We look at it like it’s an opportunity for us to grow as a program. We know they will come hard and play hard every down. We have to come hard and play hard, too. When I walk off the field, I’m going to know that I gave it my all, my best, that I gave ASU all that I could give all four years here,” Todd said.
ASU seniors
Mike Brooks, TE, 6-1, 232, Richardson, Texas
Bryan Gauthreaux, QB, 6-0, 181, Marietta, Ga.
Steven Gibbs, OG, 6-3, 346, Bartlett, Tenn.
Chris Jones, CB, 5-9, 171, Houston, Texas
Josh Long, DS, 5-10, 207, Forrest City
Alex Peoples, SS, 6-1, 198, Texarkana
Matt Roth, OT, 6-5, 319, Roseville, Calif.
^Tab Slaughter, C, 6-2, 276, Wynne
Michael Sowell, DB, 5-9, 192, Cabot
Jerome Stegall, WR, 6-0, 196, Wynne
Courtney Todd, DE, 6-2, 233, Memphis
Steven Tookes, LB, 5-10, 229, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Sam Vegas, OG, 6-4, 312, Greenfield, Calif.
Chuck Walker, WR, 6-0, 188, St. Louis
Eddie Walker, LB, 6-2, 223, Fordyce
*Antonio Warren, RB, 5-10, 194, Wynne
Nyeem Wesley, OT, 6-1, 269, San Leandro, Calif.
Jason Wood, WR, 5-11, 175, Sheridan
Indians close against Mean Green
By Matthew V. Roberson
Sun sports writer
North Texas has been the cream of the crop in the Sun Belt Conference ever since the league formed.
The Mean Green’s resume is impressive.
North Texas has won 24 straight league games dating to Oct. 6, 2001. Overall, the Mean Green is 24-1 in conference play, with its only loss coming in its first league game at Louisiana-Monroe.
UNT has been to the New Orleans Bowl all three times since its inception, defeating Conference USA co-champion Cincinnati in 2002. And, Mean Green head coach Darrell Dickey has been named the Sun Belt Coach of the Year three straight seasons.
It would be fair to say North Texas has dominated its league constituents. And, no matter what happens this evening, the Mean Green will again head to New Orleans in December for their fourth straight New Orleans Bowl appearance as the Sun Belt champion.
But none of those factors seem enough to deter Arkansas State. The Indians are plenty motivated for tonight’s season finale.
Kickoff is 6:05 p.m. at Indian Stadium.
For many of Arkansas State’s seniors, this is the last chance to show what they are made of.
“This is a big opportunity for us and we’re looking forward to it,” ASU senior wide receiver Chuck Walker said. “This is like a bowl game for us. It’s our chance to knock off the conference champion and show everyone what we are capable of. The seniors are really charged up. This is our opportunity to go out and do something that hasn’t been done in three or four years.”
Arkansas State (3-7 overall, 3-3 Sun Belt Conference) has lost three straight to the Mean Green. But ASU has been tough at home, where it is 2-1 this season with its only loss a 47-35 defeat to Memphis as the Tigers scored three touchdowns in the final four minutes to rally for an unlikely victory.
Last year, North Texas torched ASU 58-14 as the Mean Green rolled up 522 yards offense and then rubbed some salt in the wound. UNT was flagged three times for personal fouls, five times for unsportsmanlike conduct and celebrated at ASU’s expense in what was a humiliating turn of events.
UNT tailback Patrick Cobbs, who rushed for 228 yards and four touchdowns, simulated the Heisman Trophy pose after one of his scores. Another UNT touchdown was punctuated with an “orchestrated celebration” according to one of the game officials.
Each drew unsportsmanlike penalties.
All left some bitter feelings on the ASU sideline, which now serves as motivation.
“There are a lot of things that happened last year that I haven’t forgotten,” ASU senior strong safety Alex Peoples said. “I’m sure a lot of players on the team haven’t forgotten either. They showed absolutely no class. It was very disrespectful. They showed no character at all, so we’re looking forward to playing them. I think it will motivate the team a little bit knowing how those guys acted last year.”
No matter how much motivation or what the motivation is, Arkansas State will have its hands full with the Mean Green. North Texas (6-4, 6-0) has won six straight after opening the season with four consecutive losses.
UNT is powered by freshman tailback Jamario Thomas, who replaced Cobbs after the second game of the season when Cobbs was injured. In nine games, Thomas has plowed through and run away from opponents at a pace unparalleled by any other running back in the country.
Thomas, whose status has been uncertain this week because of a hamstring pull, leads the nation with 1,708 yards, averaging 6.7 a carry. He has run for over 200 yards in five straight games — an NCAA record — including a school-record 291 yards last week in a 51-29 victory over Idaho. He has broken UNT’s single-game rushing record three times this season.
ASU coach Steve Roberts compared Thomas’ running style to Memphis tailback DeAngelo Williams. Roberts knows the Indians will have to slow Thomas down if he plays, but isn’t sure how.
“We’ve got some things planned and hopefully they will work,” Roberts said. “We want to force them to do some things that maybe they don’t want to do. We don’t want them to sit there and hand him the ball 40 times and be successful. ... He is like a good scorer in basketball, he is going to get his points. You just have to make sure he doesn’t get completely unleashed on you.”
UNT quarterback Scott Hall has passed for 1,484 yards and 10 touchdowns while throwing just 2 interceptions. Hall’s favorite target is 6-foot sophomore Johnny Quinn, who has 33 catches for 629 yards and 6 TDs.
Roberts said although Thomas is the Mean Green’s workhorse, North Texas has other options, including pass plays to its tight ends and quarterback sprint-outs.
“They are not a one-dimensional team,” Roberts said. “Their quarterback, Scott Hall, has really played well. They don’t drop-back pass a lot but they do pass the football very effectively out of play-action and the bootlegs.”
The Mean Green appear more vulnerable defensively this year than in the past. UNT has one of the lowest-rated defenses in the conference, allowing a league-worst 433 yards a game, including 255 through the air.
North Texas is allowing 32 points a game, but leads the Sun Belt in scoring at 26.8 points a game. UNT’s numbers are somewhat skewed by a 65-0 loss at Texas and a 52-21 defeat at Colorado.
ASU junior tailback Antonio Warren needs 8 yards tonight to reach 1,000 yards rushing this season. He has 1,930 yards for his career to rank No. 10 among the Indians’ career rushing leaders.
For Arkansas State’s seniors, this will be their final game at Indian Stadium. ASU is 9-4 on its home field under Roberts the past three seasons, 10-5 when playing in its home state.
Emotions are mixed among Indian players as their careers come to an end.
“It’s a weird feeling, knowing this is the last game,” senior offensive tackle Matt Roth said. “I haven’t tried to think about it too much because football is a big part of my life right now. I’m just trying to concentrate on these last couple of days of practice and get us a win.”
Peoples said he’s seen the ASU program change course in his four years of playing for the Indians. Peoples originally signed with Arkansas State when Joe Hollis was the football coach.
“When Coach Roberts got here, the attitude of the players got a lot better,” he explained. “People started wanting to come out and play football. It seemed like when Coach Hollis was here, it was more of people going out there and going through the motions. Coach Hollis wasn’t really involved with the players and when Coach Roberts came here and interacted with the players I think it helped the chemistry of the team.”
The only chemistry that matters right now, though, is what the Indians can mix up this evening against North Texas according to senior defensive end Courtney Todd.
“We know that North Texas has a long winning streak. We look at it like it’s an opportunity for us to grow as a program. We know they will come hard and play hard every down. We have to come hard and play hard, too. When I walk off the field, I’m going to know that I gave it my all, my best, that I gave ASU all that I could give all four years here,” Todd said.
ASU seniors
Mike Brooks, TE, 6-1, 232, Richardson, Texas
Bryan Gauthreaux, QB, 6-0, 181, Marietta, Ga.
Steven Gibbs, OG, 6-3, 346, Bartlett, Tenn.
Chris Jones, CB, 5-9, 171, Houston, Texas
Josh Long, DS, 5-10, 207, Forrest City
Alex Peoples, SS, 6-1, 198, Texarkana
Matt Roth, OT, 6-5, 319, Roseville, Calif.
^Tab Slaughter, C, 6-2, 276, Wynne
Michael Sowell, DB, 5-9, 192, Cabot
Jerome Stegall, WR, 6-0, 196, Wynne
Courtney Todd, DE, 6-2, 233, Memphis
Steven Tookes, LB, 5-10, 229, Stone Mountain, Ga.
Sam Vegas, OG, 6-4, 312, Greenfield, Calif.
Chuck Walker, WR, 6-0, 188, St. Louis
Eddie Walker, LB, 6-2, 223, Fordyce
*Antonio Warren, RB, 5-10, 194, Wynne
Nyeem Wesley, OT, 6-1, 269, San Leandro, Calif.
Jason Wood, WR, 5-11, 175, Sheridan
