The "must win" factor and SMU

[JayM]

From the Denton Record-Chronicle Mean Green blog.

The "must win" factor and SMU

A year ago, North Texas pulled off arguably one of its best non-conference wins in recent years against SMU in the final season of the Darrell Dickey era. It was a magical night that UNT put together because of two key factors that gave UNT an emotional edge: The Mean Green had been pointing to the Mustangs as the key opponent of the season all year long and UNT’s players had been well versed in the school’s tradition of despising its private school neighbors.

After Texas Tech pounded SMU 49-9 on Monday, the Mustangs seem to be in the same situation UNT faced last season. Phil Bennett can't lose to UNT twice in a row and the Mustangs have a host of veteran players who felt the pain of falling to UNT last season. I would just about bet the farm on the fact former Denton Ryan standout and current SMU quarterback Justin Willis has been thinking about getting even with his hometown team for a year now.

That's not to say UNT can't or won't win the first game of the Todd Dodge era in Dallas. I just have a feeling that it will take a special effort from the Mean Green, one that would well exceed what it came up with in its first game of the season against Oklahoma.

Willis didn't have a very good night against Tech on Monday, but he was the Freshman of the Year in Conference USA last season. Junior running back DeMyron Martin was hurt early against UNT and missed five of the next six games. SMU will know its back is to the wall after losing to Tech when it comes to becoming bowl eligible this season.

Players are motivated every week, or at least they should be, but every once in a while a team can have a chip on it shoulder and take advantage of it. UNT followed that path to a win over SMU last season. The Mean Green will have to be at its best Saturday because there are a lot of factors that point to the Mustangs have that same edge this season.