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Mean Green On The Loose!
Defense Swallows Foes For NTSU

By Randy Galloway

     In the days of the “Lean Green” the North Texas State defense was no laughing matter…unless, of course, you happened to play for the opposition.
     The Eagles were mired in a situation where the touchdowns came easy, but so did the loses [sic] because the defense couldn’t keep up with a whirlwind offense.
     But times have changed, and so has the Eagle record.  The whirlwind offense is still as much a part of North Texas State football as always, it’s the defense that was overhauled and renamed.
     Now it’s the “Mean Green” and the group hit the Missouri Valley Conference, and Denton, with a giant impact.
     AROUND THE NTSU campus, the Mean Green, a phrase originated by Sidney Sue Graham, wife of the Eagles sports information director, has become a second nickname.
     And even the offensive-minded MVC is now beginning to notice defense, which is the way it should be, believes Eagles coach Rod Rust.
     “There’s no doubt that the first requirement to winning in football is to play good defense,” he offered.  “You’ll never see a winner without one.”
Which is a point reflected in the Eagles’ recent success.   That 8-2 record last year came on the heels of three consecutive losing seasons.  Since the offensive team was nearly intact from 1965, a principal reason for the improvement had to be in the defense.
     THEN WHEN Rust took over from the retiring Odus Mitchell last spring, he had seven defensive regulars to build around and his record is now a hefty, 5-0-1, including two conference victories.
     “Since our offense was young and inexperienced, if we hadn’t had the good defense, we would have been in trouble,” said Rust.  “It pulled us out of some tight situations especially earlier in the year.”
     The most heralded Eagle defender has been junior tackle Joe Greene, a 6-4, 280-pound All-America candidate.  But against Cincinnati two weeks ago, Big Joe was slowed by an ankle injury and wasn’t up to his usual par. Nonetheless, the potent Bearcat offense only got one touchdown against the Mean Green, that on a tipped pass that went for 60 yards.
     “WE’VE BEEN stressing the fact that the defense has had balance all season,” Rust stated.  “Our personnel matches up real well at each position and we don’t have a weak sister.”
     Henry Holland (6-2, 225) teams with Greene at tackel to make this probably the strongest spot on the unit although linebackers Johnny Mata and James Ivy are also an excellent duo.  Lindy Endsley (6-6, 260) moved over from offense to fill the middle guard vacancy and had perhaps his finest game against Cincinnati.
     Bob Tucker has done a consistently good job at right end but there’ll be a new fact on the other side of the line Saturday afternoon when the Eagles host Wichita State in the homecoming clash.
     JAMES GIBSON was sidelined for the season with a knee injury against Cincinnati and sophomore Bob Benton will get the starting call.
     Three newcomers, Ret Little, Bernie Barbour and Mike Shook, joined returning starter Charles (Hatchet) Beatty in the secondary and while this section has been under plenty of fire from the opposition because of the inexperience, it has been one of the bright spots so far.
     Shook leads the MVC in interceptions with six, while Little and Beatty have five apiece.
     Obviously, Rust has been pleased with the overall performance.
     “The things we like about defense are: No. 1, it keeps the enemy off the scoreboard; No. 2, it gets the ball for you and No. 3, it gets and holds field position.
     “These are the things that make a good defense.”
     Perhaps Mata, a 200-pound demon, best summed it up, “I’d like to establish some defensive tradition before I leave here,” he said.
     The Mean Green has taken a step in that direction.