Here's some more from a Mean Green Blog. I like his attitude but have to disagree with his reasoning.
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[/FONT][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Lee Harvey Oswalt acted alone. The moon landing wasn't real. Area 51 is home to a warehouse full of aliens. ULM will go into Bryant-Denny Stadium one day and beat Alabama. I don't believe any of the following statements.....except the last one really did happen. Yes, ULM went in and before over 92,000 people in 2007 sending the football crazed state of Alabama into a whipped frenzy not seen since.....well ever.[/FONT] [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Warhawks did it. So why can't the Mean Green? Well I thought I would dissect just how ULM pulled the shocker of all shockers and apply those lessons to just see if North Texas can replicate what happened in 2007. Along the way I will be inserting names of some Mean Green players just to see what you think about it and see how nutty I might be. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]So how in the hell did it happen? Let's start on the offensive side of the ball. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]North Texas has to be able to run the ball. ULM had the best running back in the conference in Calvin Dawson (Cam Montgomery). Dawson came into the game 10<sup>th</sup> in the nation in rushing (Montgomery is 13<sup>th</sup>). [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The Warhawks took an early punch from Alabama with an early strike to go up 7-0. Most teams wobble and crumble after that. If this happens, the Mean Green doesn't need to panic and respond immediately. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ULM didn't tie the game until early in the second quarter and it was a turnover that was the catalyst. Dawson punched it in from a yard out and the game was tied. Moments after the ULM score, the Crimson Tide marched right back down the field and punched it in for seven. 14-7 Tide. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Coach Dodge has consistently preached about being able to take a punch and bow your neck. Well that has to be the mindset going in against a heavyweight.
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[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]ULM stuck to its guns though and kept running the ball. What did we see North Texas do in the upset win over Ball State? They kept to the game plan and never wavered. A strong rushing game never ceased and the Mean Green didn't panic when the game was tied. Neither did ULM. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]A 13-yard run by Frank Goodin tied the game up at 14-14 in the second quarter. Goodin was the back-up at the time to Dawson, and maybe Lance Dunbar plays that role for North Texas.
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[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]The final score came when some unsung hero's stepped up for the Warhawks. Lancaster made plays when he had to, converted third downs, and put the Warhawks in front late in the third quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, ULM allowed over 400 yards to Alabama that day but the Joker in the deck for the Warhawks was turnovers, turnovers, turnovers, and turnovers. Alabama 4, ULM 0. That's a linescore North Texas needs to see. The ULM defense bent, but it never broke. Remember Texas 2002 Mean Green fans? Same deal here. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]This is the key folks. If, if, if, if North Texas is to have a chance against No. 4 Alabama, the Tide must help. The Mean Green has been a ball-hawking defense in the early going and it must continue that same trend to think the unthinkable. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]Nathan Tune, making his first career start, can play the role of Lancaster at QB. In 2007, Lancaster wasn't going to beat you with his arm. Same goes for Tune making his first career start, don't expect a 300-yard game.
The Mean Green defense has the confidence right now to possibly create the mistakes you need. And then you need the football gods to create the right mix of fumbles, loose balls, tips, and breaks to equal the feat of ULM.
Through two games, the defense has created such mistakes. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]It's not impossible. Starting in 1999 and continuing through to 2007 with ULM, upsets have happened in Alabama. La Tech in 1999, UCF in 2000, and Northern Illinois in 2003. If you saw that coming you probably also predicted a Buster Douglas knockout of Mike Tyson. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For North Texas to pull this off they need some lifetime performances, no doubt. This 2009 Alabama teams isn't like the others. They are national title contenders. The 2007 Alabama team went 7-6. Anything less than 14-0 for this 2009 team won't do. The circumstances aren't the same, no doubt about it.
A win in Alabama would supplant the win over Tennessee in 1975 as the greatest win in school history. [/FONT]
[FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif]For this edition of the Mean Green, it's okay to dream. So why not shoot for the moon.
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