North Texas To Play In Heart of Dallas Bowl
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The University of North Texas will be playing in a bowl game for the first-time since the 2004 season as the Mean Green accepted a bid Sunday to participate in the 2014 Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank on New Year’s Day at the historic Cotton Bowl Stadium.
The Mean Green’s opponent in the fourth annual Heart of Dallas Bowl is still to be determined as the Big Ten Conference has an agreement to place a school in the 2014 Cotton Bowl Stadium contest. To be televised nationally on ESPNU, the Heart of Dallas Bowl will kick off at 11 a.m. (CT) on January 1. Ticket prices range from $50 to $125, and can be selected and purchased through the bowl’s web site at www.heartofdallasbowl.tix.com or telephone 214/389-4300.
“We are excited that the University of North Texas will be competing in the game,” said Brant Ringler, the Executive Director of the Heart of Dallas Bowl. “In three seasons, Coach Dan McCarney has done a remarkable job in rebuilding the Mean Green. As one of the nation’s most improved teams, North Texas won six of their last seven games highlighted by a 28-16 come-from-behind win over Conference USA champion Rice in a nationally-televised game on Halloween night.”
With an 8-4 record in 2013, North Texas won eight games for only the
15th time in school history as the Mean Green set several offensive, defensive, special teams and home attendance records this fall. UNT’s five-game winning streak this season was also the school’s longest victory string since the 2004 season when the Mean Green won seven-in-a row enroute to the Sun Belt Conference title.
The “key” to North Texas’ success in 2013 has been defense. With one game left in the FBS regular-season (Navy vs. Army), the Mean Green are first nationally in Red Zone Defense (60.6 percent), ninth nationally in scoring defense (18.1 points per game), 27th in total defensive (355.5 yards per game), 18th in rushing defense (125.1), 29th in passing efficiency defense (117.4), 14th in first downs allowed (17.7) and 15th in turnover margin (plus-0.8).
Linebacker Zachary Orr, an all-Conference USA performer, led the Mean Green defense with 113 total tackles (51 unassisted) to currently rank 28th nationally. Among active players competing in the Football Bowl Subdivision, Orr ranks 26th overall with 355 career tackles (176 solo) for 45 games.
Aiding the Mean Green’s defense this season was North Texas’ ball control offense. The Denton school was 25th nationally in possession time (31:58) as the Mean Green’s balanced offense averaged 411.6 yards per game (184.0 rushing and 227.6 passing).
Offensive standouts are quarterback Derek Thompson (2,640 yards passing by completing 63.9 percent for 14 touchdowns), running back Brandin Bryd (1,023 yards rushing, 11 touchdowns), and wide receivers Darnell Smith (65 receptions for 716 yards and three touchdowns), Brelan Chancellor (47, 718, 4) and Carlos Harris (44, 519, 2). Chancellor is also one of the nation’s all-purpose performers as he averages 148.6 yards per game (16.8 yards per punt return and 28.1 yards on kickoff returns) to rank 17th in the country.
The Heart of Dallas Bowl will mark North Texas’ eighth post-season appearance, including four-straight participations in the New Orleans Bowl (2001-2004). By playing on New Year’s Day for only the second time in school history, the Heart of Dallas Bowl will be the Mean Green’s fourth game at the Cotton Bowl Stadium. North Texas opened the 1971 season on the grounds of the Texas State Fair against BYU. The Mean Green also met Oklahoma State and Texas-Arlington in the legendary facility in 1981.
