Clemson vs. North Texas Football Game Notes

Aug. 30, 2010

Clemson Overview Clemson welcomes back 51 lettermen, including 15 starters from last year’s team that won the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference and finished in the top 25 of the final AP poll. Among the returning players are six players who are on preseason Watch Lists for national position awards.

Kyle Parker returns at quarterback after starting under center in all 14 games last year. The only athlete in Division I sports history to throw 20 touchdown passes and hit 20 home runs in the same academic year was a first-round draft choice of the Colorado Rockies in June, but opted to return for another year at quarterback for the Tigers. Parker is on the Watch List for the Maxwell Award, which goes to the national player of the year.

Clemson has four returning starters in the offensive line, which is usually an indicator of good things to come. Clemson has averaged nine wins a year since 1972 when the Tigers have at least four returning starters in the offensive line. The group includes first-team preseason All-ACC selection Chris Hairston and Rimington Award candidate (top center) Dalton Freeman. Landon Walker, Antoine McClain and Mason Cloy are also top-of-the-line linemen.

The running back position features Kyle Parker passes.

DeAndre McDaniel is the most decorated member of the Clemson defense. The senior safety was a first-team All-American by the Football Writers Association last year when he had eight interceptions and 102 tackles, the only player in the nation with at least eight picks and 100 tackles. He is also a candidate for the Thorpe Award (top defensive back). Clemson figures to have a strong secondary as it also includes senior Marcus Gilchrist, sophomore Rashard Hall and senior Byron Maxwell.

The front line includes Jarvis Jenkins, a preseason candidate for the Outland Trophy, junior Da’Quan Bowers, a preseason candidate for the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award (top defensive end). Bowers, Jenkins and McDaniel are all on the preseason list for the Bronki Nagurski Award, which is given to the top defensive player in the nation.

The top tackler among the returning linebackers is Brandon Maye, an honorable mention All-ACC choice last year when he was also first-team Academic All-ACC. He has been moved from middle linebacker to weakside linebacker. He should be joined in Clemson’s second line of defense by sophomore Corico Hawkins and red-shirt freshman Quandon Christian.

North Texas Preview North Texas comes to Clemson led by Head Coach Tom Dodge, who is in his fourth year coaching the Mean Green. Dodge was one of the most successful high school coaches in the history of Texas football before he took over the program on December 26, 2006. He coached Southlake Carroll High to four state championships in five years and had a 79-1 record over his last five years, including 48 wins in a row to close his high school coaching career.

One of Dodge’s best players is his son, Riley. As a freshman, he quarterbacked the Mean Green to a productive season offensively. He completed 67.7 percent of his passes, a North Texas record, and his 122.3 passing efficiency was best in school history for a freshman. He paced the team to 4904 yards of total offense, most in school history.

But, Riley suffered a shoulder injury last year that forced him to give up his quarterback duties and he will now be a wide receiver. Nathan Tune, Dodge’s backup last year, looks to take over the signal calling duties. He does have two outstanding receivers who will contribute to the North Texas passing game. Jamaal Jackson had 71 catches for 701 yards and Darius Carey had 57 for 509.

Dodge will rely on a strong running game offensively. He has four returning starters in the offensive line that will block for running back Lance Dunbar, who gained 1,378 rushing yards last year, 15th best in the nation in 2009. He had 17 rushing touchdowns and 19 total touchdowns, just two total scores less than C.J. Spiller accumulated for the Tigers last year. He had eight 100-yard rushing games and also caught 28 passes out of the backfield for 300 yards.

Six of North Texas top eight tacklers return on defense. They are led by linebacker Craig Robertson. Three starters are back in the secondary, including Royce Hill and safeties Ira Smith and DaWaylon Cook. The defense will be aided by the addition of eight junior college players.

North Texas has a football tradition that includes NFL Hall of Famer “Mean” Joe Greene of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Between 1966-68, Green helped North Texas to a 23-5-1 record. Clemson Athletic Director Terry Don Phillips played against North Texas and Joe Green for Arkansas in 1968. Green was so beloved that the school changed it nickname to the “Mean Green” after he graduated to the NFL. They still hold that nickname today.

“I have told many people that the toughest team we played in my college career at Arkansas was Texas,” said Phillips. “The second toughest team we played was North Texas.” Arkansas beat North Texas 17-15 in 1968 when a last minute pass for a North Texas receiver in the end zone was ruled to be trapped.

Discounted tickets (adult – $16, youth – $10) are now available for the Tigers’ season opener against North Texas on September 4. Season and single game tickets are also still available for the 2010 season and can be purchased online at ClemsonTigers.com or by phone by calling 1-800-CLEMSON.

Click here to purchase tickets.