The Mean Green football team is currently in their open-week, but preparing for a heavy road schedule with next week’s return.
So far, the Mean Green has only played in one road game and that was a loss against the University of Texas in week one. Next week kicks off a portion of the schedule where they will only play at Apogee Stadium three more times this season.
Since 2011, the Mean Green has been 14-6 at home, but 6-15 on the road. The challenge starts next week when the team faces off against Indiana University Oct. 4 at 1:30 on the road. Indiana is a Big Ten school and just upset No. 18 Univerity of Missouri. The players know that the open-week doesn’t mean the work stops for the team.
“It’s not a week off, it’s to get everyone healthy. But, as far as practice goes, it has to stay intense,” senior offensive lineman Mason Y’Barbo said.
Y’Barbo said he isn’t concerned too much about the possibility of a loud environment next week against Indiana. He said that the sign of a good team is being able to win in those kinds of places.
“A good team knows how to win on the road. Last year we were able to go out there and get on a winning streak,” Y’Barbo said. “It is easier to win at home, but a good team wins on the road and becomes road warriors.”
Some of Y’Barbo’s teammates said that a road game needs to be treated just like any other game. Senior linebacker Derek Akunne said it is all about concentration during the game.
“You just need to tune it out, concentrate on the field. You need to know what our mission is,” Akunne said.
As far as all of the travel, Akunne said he isn’t concerned about feeling fatigued, even if they have to travel all the way to Indiana.
“We are just going to play a game, it doesn’t matter where the venue is,” Akunne said.
Junior running back Antoinne Jimmerson said the road is a perfect place for the team to bond and grow stronger.
“Whoever is in that white line is family, because we don’t have as many fans coming with us,” Jimmerson said. “Everyone one on the football team needs to grind together and get the win.”
Jimmerson said one thing that happens for teams when playing on the road is that the team’s concentration is high.
“When you are home, you know you need to protect your house, but when you are playing away games, you need more focus, because you want to ruin their home streak,” Jimmerson said.
Featured Image: The Mean Green cheerleaders trot behind the endzone after UNT scored a touchdown on Saturday against Nicholls State University. Photo by Ryan Vance – Staff Photographer
This article was written by Ehsan Azad and sourced from http://ntdaily.com/mean-green-football-hitting-the-road-for-five-out-of-eight-games/
