North Texas Daily

Alex Lessard | Staff Writer

@alexlikechexmix

After losing its second straight game by 35 points or more, it’s hard to find bright spots on the Mean Green football team.

Despite the rough start, head coach Dan McCarney never misses his radio show on Monday nights at Rudy’s BBQ. If you didn’t get the chance to listen in, here are some of the main topics covered during Episode 5.

Still winless

The Mean Green is experiencing its first 0-4 start in seven seasons, and North Texas has been outscored by opponents 180-67. While there are many problems across all facets of the game for the Mean Green, McCarney said he wants the offense to start getting yardage in bigger chunks to put more points on the board.

“Whether it’s play action or a drop back or three-step, make more big plays in the passing game,” McCarney said. “Along with a really good, physical ground attack, then we’ll get back to where we have a real good chance to win football games.”

The Mean Green ran the ball 49 times compared to just 32 pass attempts against the University of Southern Mississippi, allowing sophomore running back Jeffrey Wilson to set a career-high with 136 yards on the ground. In the fourth quarter, junior quarterback Demarcus Smith got his chance to shine, but he threw for just 70 yards on 3-for-11 passing with one interception.

McCarney said offensive coordinator Mike Canales and the rest of his staff will continue to develop Smith, specifically working on his consistency.

“I saw a guy that cares. He wants to be good,” McCarney said. “On a daily basis, he’s got to pay better attention to detail, the little things that really matter at every position, but more so than any of them at quarterback.”

Additionally, the North Texas defense failed to force a turnover the entire game and still do not have an interception this season, enticing McCarney to do something he hasn’t done since the sixth grade.

“The first time we get an interception out there, I might do a backflip,” McCarney said.

Responding to adversity

Although fans have been vocal with their dismay to this point, McCarney said he will not change the way Mean Green football does things on a daily basis.

“There is a systematic approach to what we do. It has worked in the past. It will work again,” McCarney said. “If you flinch as a head coach and start changing everything that you do, you show a sign of weakness.”

McCarney said multiple players reached a new level of frustration in the locker room after the loss, wanting to go right back out there and give even more effort.

“If you just keep channeling all that, take the frustration, keep improving and keep working really hard, then some positive things could really happen as this season goes on,” McCarney said.

Homecoming

North Texas will face off against Portland State University at 4 p.m. Saturday at Apogee Stadium. McCarney said the Vikings will be another tough opponent, coming in with a stout defense, steady running game and a 3-1 record.

“They’ve lost one game by two points, and they’re going to come in here very confident,” McCarney said. “We have to match the confidence, tenacity, toughness and hunger to go win a football game on Saturday.”

McCarney stressed the importance of making sure players and coaches know how important homecoming is to the Mean Green faithful. Many alumni come back to Denton for one game a year, and McCarney said he wants to make sure they get to see a win.

“We’ve handled the adversity from the first part of the season and we’ve grown from it,” McCarney said. “We’ve matured, we’ve improved and we’re ready to give something to our fans that they can be really proud of.”

Featured Image: Head Coach Dan McCarney hosted his 5th radio show of the season on Monday. File Photo | North Texas Daily