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DENTON, Texas - A new chapter in the history of North Texas football will be written Saturday night as the Mean Green open Apogee Stadium by hosting the Houston Cougars at 6 p.m.
The first game in Apogee Stadium features a battle with one of the nation's best quarterback's in Houston's Case Keenum while North Texas tries to rebound from a season-opening loss at FIU.
The game can be heard on the Mean Green Radio Network and seen on ESPN3.com. Grammy award winning singer and legendary North Texas alum Pat Boone will sing the national anthem.
The two-teams are meeting for the first time since 1998 and for only the fourth-time since 1975. North Texas leads the overall series with Houston 7-5, but the Cougars have won the last two meetings.
The last win for the Mean Green over Houston came in 1975, a 28-0 win at Texas Stadium. Despite seven wins in the series, North Texas hasn't beaten Houston in Denton since 1958.
North Texas is 55-23-2 all-time in home opening games. However the Mean Green has lost six of the last seven home openers with the only win during that time coming in a victory over SMU in 2006.
Running back Lance Dunbar moved into third place on the all-time rushing list at North Texas against FIU. Dunbar passed Ja'Quay Wilburn for third and trails Jamario Thomas by 344 yards for second. He needs 898 yards to pass Patrick Cobbs and become the all-time leading rusher in school history.
North Texas scored in unconventional ways against FIU, with a safety, a fumble return, and a fumble recovery in the end zone. The last time North Texas had a safety and a fumble recovery in the end zone for a TD came back on November 15, 2003 against Arkansas State. Brandon Kennedy had a safety and Randy Gardner a fumble recovery in the end zone.
Sophomore Brelan Chancellor had another big day in all-purpose yards against FIU, but he nearly had another record breaking day on special teams. He had 197 yards in kickoff return yards, which was just one-yard shy of the school record 198 yards he set last season against FIU.
The Mean Green has averaged 29 points in the last three home openers. North Texas has scored 20 or more points in five straight home openers and topped 30 in the last two home openers.
