The University of North Texas plays its first conference football game since joining the American Athletic Conference in July as it faces Navy on the road this Saturday.
The Mean Green (2-2) enter the game on a two-game winning streak after losing games to Cal and Florida International amid inconsistent play from all sides of the ball to open the season.
“Obviously, it’s always good to have that momentum going into conference play,” linebacker Kevin Wood told the media this week. “We didn’t start the season too hot or the way we wanted to. Just to be able to pick up those two wins at such a critical time will really propel us the rest of the season.”
While the team has a significant opportunity this week, head coach Eric Morris said they still have plenty to improve if they want to become a contender entering conference play.
“As you move into the American, these games obviously mean something to us moving towards our goal of being a conference champion,” he told the media. “But I think, just for us, buying into getting one week better [and] buying into the details and the little things and doing the right things on and off the field has really shown up the last two weeks. It’s going to be a big week that we’re going to emphasize finishing. That’s something I don’t think that we’ve done particularly well, even in the last two wins.”
Paying attention to the details is especially important when facing Navy, which runs a triple-option style offense that slows things down and relies on reading particular keys, both as an offense running it and as a defense trying to stop it.
“When you play an offense like this,” Morris said, “one missed key, one missed read, they’ll turn those things into some yardage in a hurry. … Everybody doing their job is the most important piece to it. … Once you don’t cover one of those bases, then this style of offense is going to pop one on you, and it’s going to go a long way.”
UNT has reached the conference championship game in two of the last six seasons, but the move to the AAC brings more competition and requires even more improvement. The Mean Green play three of the top teams in the conference after facing Navy and Temple over the next two weeks, so a fast start to conference play will be necessary as the schedule becomes more difficult.
“I think everyone knew going into this thing that our schedule looked like it was backloaded, but you look at it, there’s not going to be an easy conference game where you just feel great about it,” Morris explained. “We’re going to continue to grind this thing out and work on the things that we’re insufficient at and continue to get better.”
Regardless of the result, this week and this season will raise the profile of the North Texas football team as it reaches a bigger stage.
“It’s a great opportunity for us, this university, and everyone else involved to showcase what we’re doing here in Denton, Texas,” Wood said. “Hopefully, we can kick it off the right way.”
