The Horned Frogs are ranked number 6 by the pre-season Associated Press poll and the USA Today Coach’s Poll.  Oregon State will be considered a challenger for the Pac 10 Championship.  Their should be an electric atmosphere in Arlington on September 4th.

North Texas will kick off their season on the road against the always-dangerous Clemson Tigers (September 4th).  The Tigers always has exceptional talent, but will be starting over after the career of C. J. Spiller who had 3,547 yards rushing in four years for Clemson.  Could the Mean Green sneak in to Death Valley and pull off the upset?  Who will take the field at quarterback for Todd Dodge and UNT?  The Tigers have snagged a number 24 ranking in the pre-season AP poll.

SMU will start with a road game against Texas Tech and their new head coach Tommy Tuberville (September 5th).  Double T has a new meaning in Lubbock with Tuberville taking over for the departed Mike Leach.  Tech will enter the pre-season ranked 21st.  The quarterback battle is as big of a question in Lubbock as it is settled in Dallas.  Kyle Padron will start his second season as the top QB for June Jones and the Mustangs.  What kind of fireworks will these two teams shoot off  in the Lubbock sky?  Pony Up?  Guns Up?

In just a few short days, all three teams will begin Fall camp.  Of course, there is nothing Fall about the North Texas summers!  Could this be a magical year for DFW teams?  Can TCU return to a BCS bowl?  Can SMU upset Houston and go on to win the Conference USA Championship?  And, is this the breakthrough year for Todd Dodge in Denton?

Stay with Dfwfootball.net to find out!

Mean Green Outlook

Defense:

DL

The D-Line returns two JUCO transfers from last year at the defensive tackles. Seniors Kelvin Jackson (6’2” 309 lbs.) and Shavod Atkinson (6’2” 307 lbs.) bring a combined 14 starts and 49 tackles from 2009. Defensive end Brandon Akpunku (6’1” 226 lbs.) had 47 tackles in 2009 along with a team leading six sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Look for a breakout season from the other DE with K.C. Obi. Obi (6’2” 214 lbs.) is a sophomore who had 26 tackles last year. In the rotation will be; Kyle White (6’2” 309 lbs., So.), John Weber (6’3” 288 lbs., Sr.), Ryan Boutwell (6’3” 245 lbs., Fr.), and Tevinn Cantly (6’4” 301 lbs., So.).

LB’s

MeanGreenSports.com

Leading the linebackers will be yet another preseason 1st team All-SBC in 6’1” 221 lb. senior Craig Robertson. He is the leader of defensive coordinator Gary DeLoach’s 4-3 based scheme. In 2009 Robertson led the team with 107 tackles on his way to Honorable Mention All-SBC honors. Middle linebacker should be filled by A.J. Penson. The 6’1” 225 lb. senior had 51 tackles in 2009. Jeremy Phillips (6’3” 198 lbs.) registered 39 tackles last year and is slated to start at the remaining linebacker slot. Look for contributions from Daniel Prior (6’2” 215 lbs., So.), Forlando Johnson (6’0” 212 lbs., Jr.), and Brad Graham (6’0” 205 lbs., Jr.).

Secondary

The Mean Green secondary looks to improve again this year. Last year they improved from giving up 276 passing yards per game in 2008 to 217 in 2009. The corners will be guarded by Royce Hill (6’0”, 177 lbs., Jr.) who had 47 tackles and 3 int’s last year, and JUCO transfer D’Leon McCord (6’1”, 176 lbs., Jr.). Strong safety will be DaWaylon Cook (6’1”, 196 lbs., Jr.), who was second on the team in tackles with 85, and added 3 pass break ups. Ira Smith (5’11”, 183 lbs., Sr.) is returning to free safety where he contributed 53 tackles, 2 pbu, and a pick last year. Adding depth in the secondary are; Hilbert Jackson (6’1”, 176 lbs., Jr.), Ryan Downing (6’1”, 195 lbs., Jr.), Robbie Gordon (6’0”, 180 lbs., Sr.) and Chris Neal (5’9”, 168 lbs., Sr.).

Special Teams:

Will Atterberry (5’11”, 187 lbs., So.) returns as the punter. Atterberry averaged 39 yards per punt last year with a 31.1 net, also putting 22 punts inside the 20. Incoming freshman Zack Olen (5’9”, 210 lbs.) is slotted to take over the kicking duties.

Look for Darius Carey or Tyler Stradford to take the punt returns. Jamaal Jackson and Royce Hill averaged 27.2 and 26.3 yards per kick return respectively last year and should keep their role this year.

Overall:

The Mean Green look to close out the final season at Fouts Field on a winning note. North Texas travels to Clemson to open up the 2010 season. The season and Fouts Field finale will be against Kansas State. Sandwiched in between the power conference foes will be the usual Sun Belt conference competition, along with, Rice and Army.
2010 should be a turnaround season for the mean green. With better ball control and an improving defense, last years close losses can become wins.

Look for Coach Dodge to be at the helm in 2011.

Mean Green Outlook

Author: Chase Rader

Overview

Heading into his fourth year, head coach Todd Dodge, is facing a make-or-break year. The highly touted former high school coach has yet to have success in Denton. The  North Texas A.D. has put win expectations at 7 to 8 games for the 2010 campaign, or else. Coach Dodge begins the season with possibly the best squad in his tenure. Dodge has 10 senior starters, 5 more in his two deep, and playmakers all over the field.

Dodge will switch to receiver

The biggest off-season move involved his son, Riley Dodge, moving from starting Quarterback to Wide Receiver. That move leaves the biggest void to fill in fall camp. Coach Dodge will have two QB’s to choose from come two-a-days.

Taking care of the football should be a point of emphasis for the Mean Green this season. North Texas was -14 in turnovers last year. A turnaround in ball control should equal more wins. North Texas lost 6 games by 7 points or less in 2009.

Offense

QB

UNT will be lead by either Nathan Tune (6’4”, 206 lbs.) or Derek Thompson (6’4”, 223 lbs.) in 2010. Tune, a redshirt senior, has the edge on experience, starting two games in his career including on the road at Alabama in 2009. Last season, Tune went 69 of 107 for 646 yards, five TD’s and a pair of Int’s. Derek Thompson, a big armed sophomore who burned his redshirt last year against Arkansas State, showed promise and success in the spring game going 14 of 24 for 234 yards and a touchdown.

RB

Whoever wins the QB battle will have a workhorse to hand the ball to. Lance Dunbar (5’9”, 202 lbs. Jr.), 2009 1st team All-Sunbelt Conference pick, returns to build from a solid 2009 campaign that saw him gain 1,378 yards on 200 carries producing 17 TD’s with a 6.9 average. As a sophomore in 2009 Dunbar was 14th in the nation with 114.8 yards per game. Dunbar’s presence should take a lot of pressure off the new quarterback. Adding depth behind Dunbar will be junior James Hamilton (11 att., 47 yds., 1 td., 4.3 avg. in 2009), and freshman Brandin Byrd (5’11”, 185 lbs, 50 yds. spring game).

Receivers

The receiving corps returns most of its’ 2009 unit and adds two more threats. Riley Dodge will add speed and game experience. OU transfer Tyler Stradford (6’2”, 190 lbs., Jr.) has lightning speed and had a great spring game with 3 catches for 111 yards and a big 69 yard TD grab. Senior Jamaal Jackson was picked as a 2010 All-SBC preseason 1st teamer. Jackson hauled in 71 catches for 701 yards with 6 TD’s, just shy of a first down average every time he touched the ball. He leads a solid returning core of receivers that also includes; sophomore Darius Carey (57 rec., 509 yds., 4 tds., 8.9 avg.), senior Michael Outlaw (41 rec., 473 yds., 2 tds., 11.5 avg.), junior B.J. Lewis (21 rec., 265 yds., 12.6 avg.), and senior Alex Lott (21 rec., 163 yds., 1 td., 7.4 avg.).

Line

Paving the way for Lance Dunbar and the new signal caller in 2010 will be a very experienced O-Line. Anchoring the line at the tackle positions are two seniors with 70 starts between them. Esteban Santiago (6’3”, 296 lbs.) was nabbed preseason 1st team All-SBC, as well as, 2nd team All-SBC last year. His counterpart is 6’4” 261 lbs. Victor Gill, who is a 3 year starter. Fellow senior Kelvin Drake (6’2”, 280 lbs.) adds 26 starts and will be at guard again this year where he earned SBC Honorable Mention honors last year. The other guard will be 6’4” 305 lbs. pound sophomore Coleman Feeley who had 8 appearances as a true freshman. The center will once again be J.J. Johnson. The 6’3” 283 lbs. junior adds 24 starts at his position.

New

New offensive coordinator Mike Canalas brings successful experience to a North Texas team that needs to win. He has tutored names such as; current San Diego Charger QB Phillip Rivers, and former South Florida QB Matt Grothe, who is the career leader in total offense in the Big East. With a veteran line, an All-SBC running back, and a talented group of receivers, breaking in a new QB for the Mean Green should be smooth transition for the former South Florida offensive coordinator.

Teamwork.

It is the crux of football.  Eleven players working together for a common goal on offense or defense.  The quarterback does not score a touchdown without the help of the other players.

I am looking to build a team of contributors hear at Dfwfootball.net. This site is the only website dedicated to only football in only the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area.

Contributors

Contributors are volunteer and I only ask for one post per week.  You may do more if you want, but one is all I need from each person.

If you are passionate about football in DFW and a good writer, join the team!  It is good if you have an opinion too because opinions generate discussion and debate.  I do try to keep things “family friendly” here, so keep that in mind.

Subjects

There are several subjects to be covered this Fall beginning in August.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys is the center of the football universe in the DFW area.  I need a contributor to write about them, maybe two.  If I had two, I could do a before-game article and a after-game article.  I am not looking for game summaries and wrap ups.  The major newspapers already do that.  I want a little commentary or analysis such as what you might see from Randy Galloway or Jennifer Floyd Engel.

TCU Horned Frogs

The Horned Frogs have had two of the most exciting seasons in their history in 2008 and 2009, and 2010 might be the best yet.  They will likely challenge for a BCS bowl again, and with their high pre-season ranking, might be in the running for national title game shot.  Just as with the Cowboys, I would like to have some commentary and/or analysis.

SMU Mustangs

June Jones, it is safe to say, has turned around the Pony program.  The Mustangs made it to a bowl game since before their infamous “Death Penalty.”  The Mustangs might just take it up a notch and compete for a Conference USA title this year.

UNT Mean Green

Todd Dodge has struggled to turn around the program known more for “Mean” Joe Green than anything else.  Will Dodge finally see progress this year or will it be his last?

UTA Mavericks Club Football Team

Most people don’t know that the Mavericks have a football team, but they do.  It is club football, and UTA has been making strides every year under Coach Green.  They are more organized than ever before, and I have a good relationship with the team allowing for access for coverage.  This would be a nice job for a UTA journalism student.

High School

The only thing bigger than the Cowboys in Texas might be high school football.  This is not a priority because there is so many teams, but if someone wanted to tackle the subject, we would try to cover one game per week.  I think that a high profile matchup would be best.

I will make a nice contributor page with a bio for each contributor and a “headshot” picture.  We will archive your articles as well so that you can use them for your writing clips.  If you want to move in to a full time writing job, I will help you with that as well by helping you make connections.  I have a Linkedin account for Dfwfootball.net which you can join if you become a contributor for me.

TCU Horned Frogs

09/04/10
vs. Oregon State TV, Arlington, TX, 6:45 p.m. CT

09/11/10
vs. Tennessee Tech, Fort Worth, TX, 6:00 p.m. CT

09/18/10
vs. Baylor, Fort Worth, TX, 3:30 p.m. CT

09/24/10
at SMU, Dallas, TX, 7:00 p.m. CT

10/02/10
at Colorado State, Fort Collins, CO, 1:00 p.m. CT

10/09/10
vs. Wyoming, Fort Worth, TX, 2:30 p.m. CT

10/16/10
vs. BYU, Fort Worth, TX, 3:00 p.m. CT

10/23/10
vs. Air Force, Fort Worth, TX, 7:00 p.m. CT

10/30/10
at UNLV, Las Vegas, NV, 10:00 p.m. CT

11/06/10
at Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 2:30 p.m. CT

11/13/10
vs. San Diego State, Fort Worth, TX, 3:00 p.m. CT

11/27/10
at New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 3:00 p.m. CT

Dalton is on several watch lists including the Davey O'Brien

TCU, Fort Worth, TX–Seven TCU football players have received preseason All-America honors with six Horned Frogs appearing on watch lists for national awards.

Included below is an updated TCU preseason honor roll, as of July 16:

Gary Patterson, Head Coach

• Preseason Coach of the Year, Playboy

Marcus Cannon, OT

• Outland Trophy Watch List
• Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
• Preseason All-American, Playboy
• Preseason Second-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
• Preseason Third-Team All-American, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
• Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
• Best Offensive Lineman in Texas, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• All-Texas Team, Sporting News
• Ranked third among offensive tackles for the 2011 NFL Draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
• Ranked fifth in the nation among offensive tackles, Lindy’s

Tank Carder, LB

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
• Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
• Preseason Third-Team All-American, Sporting News
• Preseason Fourth-Team All-American, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
• Best Linebacker in Texas, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• All-Texas Team, Sporting News
• Ranked 10th in the nation among inside linebackers, Lindy’s
• One of 12 “New stars you must know” in 2010, CollegeFootballNews.com

Andy Dalton, QB

• Davey O’Brien Award Watch List
• Johnny Unitas Award Watch List
• Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
• Ranked 12th in the nation among quarterbacks, Lindy’s
• One of 10 “Players who will take their game to the next level” in 2010, CollegeFootballNews.com

Wayne Daniels, DE

• Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
• Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• One of 10 “Fresh new faces” in 2010, CBSSports.com

Ross Evans, PK

• Preseason Honorable-Mention All-American, NationalChamps.net
• Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• All-Texas Team, Sporting News

Cory Grant, DT

• All-Texas Team, Sporting News

Kelly Griffin, NT

• Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football

Tejay Johnson, S

• Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List
• Lott Trophy Watch List
• Preseason Second-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
• Preseason Third-Team All-American, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
• Preseason Second-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• Ranked 10th in the nation among safeties, Lindy’s

Jeremy Kerley, PR

• Preseason First-Team All-American, Phil Steele’s College Football Preview
• Preseason First-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
• Preseason First-Team All-American, NationalChamps.net
• Preseason Second-Team All-American, Sporting News
• Preseason Third-Team All-American, Athlon
• Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s Texas Football
• All-Texas Team, Sporting News

Jake Kirkpatrick, C

• Outland Trophy Watch List
• Rimington Trophy Watch List
• Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List
• Preseason First-Team All-American, Sporting News
• Preseason First-Team All-American, Rivals.com/Yahoo! Sports
• Preseason Second-Team All-American, NationalChamps.net
• Preseason First-Team All-Texas College, Dave Campbell’s 2010 Texas Football
• Ranked third in the nation among centers, Lindy’s

Jason Teague, CB

• Named an “Under-the-radar difference-maker to watch” in 2010, Rivals.com

TCU Offensive Backfield

• Ranked fifth in the nation, Lindy’s

The announcement was made at Clarke Elementary in Fort Worth, where four groups of 10-to-12 students have undertaken community projects.

The Clarke Elementary student involvement includes painting over gang graffiti prevalent in the neighborhood as well as a recycling program through which SLANT 45 donates the funds to SafeHaven of Tarrant County, a women and children’s shelter. Other projects involve a campus beautification program that features planting flowers and improving the overall appearance of their school, and an anti-gang campaign inviting police officers to campus to discuss gangs in the neighborhood.

“Gary and I are excited about the SLANT 45 program because it energizes the youth of our communities,” said Kelsey Patterson, wife of TCU football coach Gary Patterson and the Foundation’s secretary and treasurer.

“Through SLANT 45, Super Bowl XLV will leave behind a legacy, something positive in our communities. I think we’ll be seeing the effects of Super Bowl XLV for years to come.”

With TCU, the Gary Patterson Foundation also introduced an incentive program for students to participate in SLANT 45. Elementary­ aged students in the Fort Worth Independent School District and throughout Tarrant County can
submit their service-learning ideas into a competition for funding and awards.

Any team that registers for the program by July 2 will be entered for a chance to receive a private tour of the TCU campus, a meet and greet during practice and a Horned Frog football game-day experience.

More than 5,000 elementary school students in the North Texas region have signed up for SLANT 45. The goal is 20,000.

To learn more and register, visit www.slant45.org or call (469) 621-8989.

Ryan Christian eludes the tackle and scores

A four-year letterman for the Horned Frogs who also saw significant time at tailback, Christian totaled 74 career receptions for 750 yards (10.1 average) and three touchdowns. He added 777 career yards rushing on a 4.0 per carry mark with six scores.

Christian averaged 23.6 yards on 14 kickoff returns. He played in 47 career games with eight starts.

Christian was the 2009 recipient of TCU football’s Davey O’Brien Fightin’est Frog Award.

An Aledo, Texas, native, Christian recorded his first career 100-yard receiving game with three catches for 106 yards in a 55-10 win at San Diego State. He also had his first career receiving scores with touchdown grabs of 44 and 29 yards. Christian came back the next week with a 16-yard scoring reception against Utah. It was part of a season-best five grabs for 48 yards
against the Utes.

As a junior, Christian tied a career-high with six catches for 53 yards in the Poinsettia Bowl victory over Boise State. He rushed for a career-best 82 yards on 19 carries while adding four receptions in a 31-14 win over Stanford.

Photo Credit: Dirk Hansen

Courtesy of www.sportslogos.net

Southlake Carroll graduate Garrett Hartley became the first kicker in Super Bowl history to hit three 40+ yard field goals.  The former Oklahoma Sooner kicked field goals of 44, 46 and 47 yards.  Hartley was on the money all night keeping the Saints within striking distance.

Former SMU Mustang punter Thomas Morestead punted twice averaging 44 yards and pinning the Colts at the 4 yard line on one of the kicks.  The Saints rolled the dice a couple of times on fourth down choosing to keep Morestead on the sideline.  However, when called upon, the former Mustang was on target with his punts and his kick offs landed in the endzone routinely.

Former South Grand Prairie High Remi Ayodele and former Soutlake Carroll Chase Daniel were reserves for the Saints and will both get Super Bowl rings as well.  The Saints won the first-ever Super Bowl in their first-ever visit to the Super Bowl.  Drew Brees, from Austin, TX, won the Super Bowl MVP.

(TCU Athletics, Fort Worth, TX)–TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes was a first-team selection. Jeremy Kerley was a second-team choice at punt returner, while center Jake Kirkpatrick, offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse and linebacker Daryl Washington were third-team picks.

Seven Horned Frogs have been named All-Americans this season. Quarterback Andy Dalton was cited by SI.com with cornerback Rafael Priest garnering honors from Sporting News.

Hughes is only the second two-time consensus All-American in TCU history (Darrell Lester, 1934-35). Hughes is the 2009 recipient of the Ted Hendricks Award and Lott Trophy. He has 15 tackles for loss, including 11 1/2 sacks, among a career-high 54 stops this season.

Kerley has returned two punts for touchdowns. He tops the Mountain West Conference in both punt return (14.3 yards) and kickoff return (26.9 yards) average. He’s one of only two players in the country (Javier Arenas,
Alabama) to rank in the top 20 nationally in both categories.

Kirkpatrick and Newhouse help anchor a TCU offensive line that paves the way for the Horned Frogs to rank in the top five nationally in scoring offense (40.7 points per game), total offense (469.1 yards per game) and rushing offense (256.5 yards per game). The Horned Frogs have set single-season school records for points scored (488) and total offense (5,629 yards).

Kirkpatrick was one of six finalists for the Rimington Trophy, awarded to
the nation’s top center.

Washington tops TCU with 99 tackles, the most stops by a Horned Frog since 2004 (Martin Patterson, 131). A senior from Irving, Texas, Washington was a Dick Butkus Award semifinalist. He has 7 1/2 tackles for loss and is tied for the TCU lead with three interceptions.

A signature play for Washington was catching Clemson’s C.J. Spiller from behind to make a touchdown-saving tackle in TCU’s 14-10 win in Death Valley.