The 2017 North Texas Mean Green football team represented University of North Texas in the 2017 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Mean Green played their home games at the Apogee Stadium in Denton, Texas, as members of the West Division of Conference USA (C-USA). They were led by second-year head coach Seth Littrell. The Mean Green finished the season 9–5, 7–1 in C-USA play to win the West Division. They lost the C-USA Championship Game to Florida Atlantic. They received an invite to the New Orleans Bowl where they lost to Troy.
2017 North Texas Mean Green football | |
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C-USA West Division champion | |
C-USA Championship Game, L 17–41 vs. Florida Atlantic | |
New Orleans Bowl, L 30–50 vs. Troy | |
Conference | Conference USA |
West Division | |
Record | 9–5 (7–1 C-USA) |
Head coach |
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Offensive coordinator | Graham Harrell (2nd season) |
Offensive scheme | Spread |
Defensive coordinator | Troy Reffett (2nd season) |
Base defense | 3–3–5 |
Home stadium | Apogee Stadium |
Conf | Overall | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Team | W | L | W | L | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
East Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Florida Atlantic x$ | 8 | – | 0 | 11 | – | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
FIU | 5 | – | 3 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Marshall | 4 | – | 4 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Western Kentucky | 4 | – | 4 | 6 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Middle Tennessee | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Old Dominion | 3 | – | 5 | 5 | – | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charlotte | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
West Division | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North Texas x | 7 | – | 1 | 9 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UAB | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Southern Miss | 6 | – | 2 | 8 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Louisiana Tech | 4 | – | 4 | 7 | – | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTSA | 3 | – | 5 | 6 | – | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rice | 1 | – | 7 | 1 | – | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UTEP | 0 | – | 8 | 0 | – | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Championship: Florida Atlantic 41, North Texas 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Recruiting
editPosition key
editBack | B | Center | C | Cornerback | CB | Defensive back | DB | |||
Defensive end | DE | Defensive lineman | DL | Defensive tackle | DT | End | E | |||
Fullback | FB | Guard | G | Halfback | HB | Kicker | K | |||
Kickoff returner | KR | Offensive tackle | OT | Offensive lineman | OL | Linebacker | LB | |||
Long snapper | LS | Punter | P | Punt returner | PR | Quarterback | QB | |||
Running back | RB | Safety | S | Tight end | TE | Wide receiver | WR |
2017 Commitments
editThe Mean Green signed a total of 19 recruits.
Schedule
editNorth Texas announced its 2017 football schedule on January 26, 2017. The 2017 schedule consists of 6 home and away games in the regular season. The Mean Green will host CUSA foes Old Dominion, UAB, UTEP, and UTSA, and will travel to Florida Atlantic, Louisiana Tech, Rice, and Southern Miss.[1]
The Mean Green will host two of the four non-conference opponents, Army, which is independent from any conference, and Lamar from the Southland Conference and travel to Iowa from the Big Ten Conference and SMU from the American Athletic Conference.
Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
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September 2 | 6:00 p.m. | Lamar* | ESPN3 | W 59–14 | 19,592 | |
September 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at SMU* | ESPN3 | L 32–54 | 24,638 | |
September 16 | 2:30 p.m. | at Iowa* | ESPN2 | L 14–31 | 65,668 | |
September 23 | 5:30 p.m. | UAB |
| beIN | W 46–43 | 20,142 |
September 30 | 6:00 p.m. | at Southern Miss | CUSA.TV | W 43–28 | 21,907 | |
October 14 | 5:30 p.m. | UTSA |
| ESPN3 | W 29–26 | 23,068 |
October 21 | 4:00 p.m. | at Florida Atlantic | ESPN3 | L 31–69 | 13,277 | |
October 28 | 5:30 p.m. | Old Dominion |
| ESPN3 | W 45–38 | 18,872 |
November 4 | 2:30 p.m. | at Louisiana Tech | Stadium | W 24–23 | 18,504 | |
November 11 | 4:00 p.m. | UTEP |
| ESPN3 | W 45–10 | 26,108 |
November 18 | 5:30 p.m. | Army* |
| beIN | W 52–49 | 26,392 |
November 25 | 12:00 p.m. | at Rice | ESPN3 | W 30–14 | 17,956 | |
December 2 | 11:00 a.m. | at Florida Atlantic |
| ESPN2 | L 17–41 | 14,258 |
December 16 | 12:00 p.m. | vs. Troy* | ESPN | L 30–50 | 24,904 | |
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- Schedule Source:[2]
Game summaries
editLamar
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Cardinals | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Mean Green | 17 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 59 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
Game information | ||
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At SMU
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 10 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 32 |
Mustangs | 10 | 14 | 16 | 14 | 54 |
at Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, TX
- Date: September 9
- Game time: 6:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 85 °F (29 °C) • Wind: NE 9 MPH • Weather: sunny
- Game attendance: 24,638
- Referee: Steve LaMantia
- TV: ESPN3
- Source: [2]
Game information | ||
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At Iowa
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
Hawkeyes | 7 | 3 | 7 | 14 | 31 |
at Kinnick Stadium • Iowa City, IA
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 2:35 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 88 °F (31 °C) • Wind: S 10 MPH • Weather: partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 65,668
- Referee: Jeff Servinski
- TV announcers (ESPN2): Anish Shroff, Ahmad Brooks and Roddy Jones
- Source: [3]
Game information | ||
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UAB
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Blazers | 7 | 7 | 15 | 14 | 43 |
Mean Green | 10 | 20 | 7 | 9 | 46 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
Game information | ||
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The win over UAB is the 500th overall victory in program history for the Mean Green.[3]
At Southern Miss
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 7 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 43 |
Golden Eagles | 14 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 28 |
Game information | ||
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UTSA
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Roadrunners | 7 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 26 |
Mean Green | 16 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 29 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 89 °F (32 °C) • Wind: S 16 MPH • Weather: sunny
- Game attendance: 23,068
- Referee: Justin Elliot
- TV: ESPN3
- Sources: [6]
Game information | ||
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At Florida Atlantic
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 0 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 31 |
Owls | 24 | 17 | 21 | 7 | 69 |
at FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
- Date: October 21
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 86 °F (30 °C) • Wind: ESE 10 MPH • Weather: partly cloudy, 76% humidity
- Game attendance: 13,277
- Referee: Jon Noli
- TV: ESPN3
- Source: [7]
Game information | ||
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Old Dominion
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Monarchs | 10 | 13 | 15 | 0 | 38 |
Mean Green | 14 | 21 | 0 | 10 | 45 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 5:30 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Temperature: 59 °F (15 °C) • Wind: SSW 10 MPH • Weather: sunny
- Game attendance: 18,872
- Referee: Steve LaMantia
- TV: ESPN3
- Source: [8]
Game information | ||
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At Louisiana Tech
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Bulldogs | 3 | 14 | 3 | 3 | 23 |
Game information | ||
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UTEP
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Miners | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Mean Green | 7 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 45 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 26,108
- Referee: Justin Elliot
- TV: ESPN3
- Source: [10]
Game information | ||
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With the victory, the Mean Green won the C-USA West division and will play in the conference championship game.[4]
Army
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Black Knights | 7 | 13 | 8 | 21 | 49 |
Mean Green | 14 | 14 | 7 | 17 | 52 |
at Apogee Stadium • Denton, TX
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 5:30 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Temperature: 57 °F (14 °C) • Wind: N 18 MPH • Weather: partly cloudy
- Game attendance: 26,392
- Referee: Rodney Burnette
- TV: beIN
- Source: [11]
Game information | ||
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The Mean Green outlasted the Black Knights with a 52–49 victory, with Trevor Moore kicking a game winning 39-yard field goal for North Texas. With the win, the Mean Green finished the 2017 season with a home record of 6–0, their first undefeated record at home since the 2003 season.[5] Army only completed one pass during the entire game, with Ahmad Bradshaw throwing a 27-yard pass to John Trainor in the 3rd quarter.
At Rice
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 7 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 30 |
Owls | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Rice Stadium • Houston, TX
- Date: November 25
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: S 6 MPH • Weather: humidity 56%
- Game attendance: 17,956
- Referee: Jonathan Noli
- TV: ESPN3
- Source: [12]
Game information | ||
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At Florida Atlantic – C-USA Championship Game
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Mean Green | 0 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 17 |
Owls | 10 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 41 |
at FAU Stadium • Boca Raton, Florida
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 11:00 p.m. CST
- Game attendance: 14,258
- TV: ESPN2
Game information | ||
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Troy – New Orleans Bowl
editQuarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
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Trojans | 15 | 7 | 21 | 7 | 50 |
Mean Green | 7 | 13 | 3 | 7 | 30 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome • New Orleans, LA
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (domed stadium)
- Game attendance: 24,904
- Referee: David Alvarez
- TV announcers (ESPN): Jason Benetti, Kelly Stouffer and Kris Budden
Game information | ||
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Awards
editCoaching changes
edit- linebackers coach Mike Ekeler has left for North Carolina[7]
- OL coach Brad Davis has left for Florida[8]
Players moving to NFL
edit- The following players signed as free agents following the 2017 NFL Draft
Name | NFL Team | Position |
---|---|---|
Jeff Wilson | San Francisco 49ers | Running back |
Kishawn McClain | Oakland Raiders | Safety |
Trevor Moore | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Kicker |
References
edit- ^ "North Texas Releases 2017 Football Schedule" (Press release). University of North Texas Department of Athletics. January 26, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ "2017 North Texas Mean Green Football Schedule". FB Schedules. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
- ^ Vito, Brett (September 23, 2017). "Football: Moore, UNT come up big on special teams, beat UAB". Denton Record-Chronicle. Archived from the original on September 25, 2017. Retrieved September 24, 2017.
- ^ "Fine tosses 4 TDs, North Texas cruises past UTEP 45-10". The Washington Post. November 11, 2017. Archived from the original on November 21, 2017. Retrieved November 11, 2017.
- ^ "North Texas Edges Army In Thriller, 52-49". University of North Texas Athletics. Retrieved November 19, 2017.
- ^ "Conference USA FB: 2017 Preseason Awards coach". Retrieved July 17, 2017.
- ^ Ekeler, Mike (February 24, 2017). "UNC hires North Texas' Mike Ekeler as linebackers coach". Eleven Warriors. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
- ^ Davis, Brad (January 21, 2017). "OL coach Brad Davis has left for Florida". Retrieved January 21, 2017.