2001 North Texas Mean Green football team

2001 North Texas Mean Green football
Sun Belt co-champion
ConferenceSun Belt Conference
Record5–7 (5–1 Sun Belt)
Head coach
Offensive schemePro spread
Defensive coordinatorGary DeLoach (2nd season)
Base defense4–3
Home stadiumFouts Field
2001 Sun Belt Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team   W   L     W   L  
North Texas +   5 1     5 7  
Middle Tennessee +   5 1     8 3  
New Mexico State   4 2     5 7  
Louisiana–Lafayette   2 4     3 8  
Arkansas State   2 4     2 9  
Louisiana–Monroe   2 4     2 9  
Idaho   1 5     1 10  
  • + – Conference co-champions

The 2001 North Texas Mean Green football team represented the University of North Texas as a member of the newly-formed Sun Belt Conference during the 2001 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by fourth-year head coach Darrell Dickey, the Mean Green compiled an overall record of 5–7 with a mark 5–1 in conference play, sharing the Sun Belt title with Middle Tennessee. North Texas was invited to the New Orleans Bowl, the program's first bowl game appearance since the 1959 Sun Bowl. With a losing record of 5–6, the team usually would not have been be considered bowl-eligible, but the Mean Green were able to play in a bowl game by virtue of their conference title. Previously, the most recent bowl appearance by a team with a losing record had been William & Mary in the 1970 Tangerine Bowl. The Mean Green lost the New Orleans Bowl to Colorado State. North Texas played home games at the Fouts Field in Denton, Texas,