The assumption when North Texas made the move to Conference USA a couple of years ago was that life would get easier for the Mean Green.
That only made sense considering UNT would play more Texas rivals that fans and — more importantly high school players in the state — care about.
Throw in a beautiful new venue in Apogee Stadium and an experienced coach like Dan McCarney and it seemed like the pipeline to the treasure trove of talent across the state would finally start to open.
Following the events of the last week, and particularly a 30-20 loss to Southern Miss that dropped the Mean Green to 2-5 on the season, one has to wonder why UNT isn’t cashing in like it hoped.
UNT knew coming into the season that this would be a rebuilding year to a certain degree. But no one anticipated the way the Mean Green have struggled this year while trying to fill some glaring holes.
UNT has started three quarterbacks, none of whom have taken the job and run with it, while also struggling to find wide receivers to complement Carlos Harris or playmakers other than linebacker Derek Akunne in its front seven on defense.
The obvious question is why UNT is struggling to bring in impact players, despite all it has to work with now. There are too many glaring holes the Mean Green can’t seem to fill not to wonder.
McCarney addressed that question this week before the Mean Green took on Southern Miss.
“This isn’t the easiest place in the world to recruit to,” McCarney said. “This isn’t the easiest place in the world when you have a track record and a lot of years of losing. Just because you put up some cement and some bigger stands, that doesn’t make it easy.
“Is the job tougher than I thought it was going to be — and have I been in some really tough situations? Hell, yes.”
There isn’t a bigger challenge facing UNT than finding a solution to that dilemma, one that has plagued the program during a run of eight losing seasons in nine years. UNT’s 9-4 finish last season was the exception to the rule.
The Mean Green struggled to recruit top players when they were playing in the Big West and the Sun Belt and now in Conference USA.
A new set of circumstances with a new stadium and a new league hasn’t completely solved that all-too familiar problem.
That’s not to say that UNT doesn’t have talented players. Carlos Harris is a terrific wide receiver, which was pretty obvious after seeing him light up Southern Miss for 15 catches and 216 yards. Derek Akunne is one of the best linebackers in Conference USA and finished with 14 tackles against the Golden Eagles.
“I always feel like I need to make plays,” Harris said. “I was brought here to make plays. Whenever the opportunities present themselves — like I say all the time — I do my best to go grab the ball out of the air.”
More often than not, that’s just what Harris does. Akunne does the equivalent for UNT’s defense.
The Mean Green just desperately need more players who can complement the difference-makers out there.
McCarney knows it. So does everyone else.
“What we’ve got is what we’ve got,” McCarney said after the Mean Green lost their third straight. “We have to keep coaching the heck out of them and they have to get better. We have to coach better and play better.”
The question for UNT now is how to go about getting better, not just this year with what it has, but in terms of bringing in some new, not to mention better talent, as well.
That’s what UNT is going to have to do to be a consistent force in C-USA, which has been the goal all along.
McCarney talked in the preseason about doing what it takes to prove the UNT’s nine-win season of a year ago wasn’t an aberration and ensure the Mean Green won’t disappear off the map for another decade.
UNT’s chances to reach that goal aren’t completely dead this year, but they are looking dim at best. One way or another, UNT will turn its attention to 2015 in the next few weeks.
One of the key questions UNT must address is if it is taking the best route to upgrading its talent across the board, but particularly at quarterback. UNT started Josh Greer and Dajon Williams before turning to Andrew McNulty against Southern Miss.
McNulty did some good things while throwing for 287 yards without turning the ball over, but didn’t give UNT the jolt it hoped.
McCarney wasn’t ready to say who UNT will turn to at quarterback next week after a slide that points to a talent deficit across the board continued.
UNT signed some quality players coming off its bowl win, including safety Kishawn McClain, who looked the part while finishing with nine tackles and an interception in his first start against Southern Miss. The Carthage wide receiver duo of Tee Goree and O’Keeron Rutherford isn’t ready yet, which is why both players are redshirting, but both are expected to play a big role down the line.
Is UNT just going to have to wait a year for those young talents and others to deliver and fill the voids left by the departure of so many key players like linebacker Zach Orr and defensive end Aaron Bellazin, players this team clearly misses?
Or does UNT have a larger issue when it comes to selling its best assets to the recruits this team needs to be successful, and convincing them the school isn’t a football wasteland?
McCarney has always emphasized coaching ability over recruiting prowess in assistant coaches. Is that the best approach?
Those aren’t questions anyone saw coming just a few months ago, when it appeared as if UNT could at least challenge for a second straight bowl berth.
A big part of the issue is clearly talent, how UNT ended up with so little in the way of it this year and how to turn the tide quickly next season.
Those are some questions UNT will have to address. How McCarney and his staff go about answering them could have a big impact on the future of the program.
BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870 and via Twitter at @brettvito.
