1997 North Texas Mean Green football
ConferenceBig West Conference
Record4-7 (3-2 Big West)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorCharlie Hall (1st season)
Defensive coordinatorFred Bleil (1st season)
Home stadiumFouts Field
(Capacity: 30,500)
Seasons
← 1996
1998 →
1997 Big West Conference football standings
Conf Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
Utah State +   4 – 1     6 – 6  
Nevada +   4 – 1     5 – 6  
Boise State   3 – 2     5 – 6  
Idaho   2 – 3     5 – 6  
North Texas   2 – 3     4 – 7  
New Mexico State   0 – 5     2 – 9  
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 1997 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas in the 1997 NCAA Division I-A football season. The Mean Green played their home games at the Fouts Field in Denton, Texas, and competed in the Big West Conference. They were led by fourth-year head coach Matt Simon. The team finished the regular season with a 4-7 overall record with a 2-3 mark in Big West play. Simon was fired at the conclusion of the season.

"Do you believe in the Mean Green?"

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Despite a rough season in which North Texas failed to qualify for a bowl game, the 1997 team managed to pull of one of the signature wins in program history on the road over Texas Tech. The Mean Green led the Red Raiders 30-27 in the dying minutes at Jones Stadium in Lubbock. As a final desperation heave into the end zone was batted down incomplete by the North Texas secondary to secure the upset, play-by-play voice George Dunham exclaimed "Do you believe in the Mean Green?" The call became a rallying cry for Mean Green fans, and is still prominently used by the university to this day.

Schedule

DateOpponentSiteResultAttendanceSource
August 30at Vanderbilt*
L 12–2938,281
September 6at Oregon State*
L 7–3330,818
September 13Indiana State*
W 41–6
September 20at Texas Tech*
W 30–2743,620
September 27vs. No. 22 Texas A&M*
L 10–3642,224
October 4at Idaho
L 17–3010,270
October 18Boise State*
  • Fouts Field
  • Denton, TX
L 14–1715,047[1]
October 25at Nevada
L 10–6519,470
November 8at New Mexico State
W 26–15
November 15at Army*
L 14–25
November 22Utah State
  • Fouts Field
  • Denton, TX
W 51–486,750
  • *Non-conference game
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

[2]

References

  1. ^ "BSU capitalizes on miscues in 17-14 win". Lewiston Morning Tribune. (Idaho). wire services. October 19, 1997. p. 5B.
  2. ^ "2017 North Texas Facts & Records" (PDF). North Texas Athletics Department.
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