Although Saturday’s matchup between Liberty and North Texas will mark the first between the two programs on the gridiron, Liberty Head Coach Turner Gill is no stranger to the Mean Green.

Gill reflected on his ties to North Texas in his weekly press conference earlier in the week.

“I think probably the number one thing that probably stands out is that our oldest daughter was born in Denton, Texas, ” Gill said. “Had an opportunity to be there, obviously get my Bachelor’s Degree there at North Texas.”

Gill, a Fort Worth native, was raised around 30 miles from the University of North Texas campus. As fate would have it, Gill would also spend a chunk of his adult life in the Denton area. After starring at the University of Nebraska and a brief stint as a professional athlete, Gill began his coaching career at UNT.

“I had been playing baseball, and my wife had traveled with me, for four years, around all over the country,” Gill said. We moved like, 25 times.”

“So I told her once I decided to give up baseball, ‘You choose wherever you want to get your Master’s degree.’ That’s where she chose to go, and that’s where I ended up finishing my degree,” Gill said of North Texas.

Additionally, Gill served as a graduate assistant for the Mean Green in 1989.

“Corky Nelson was the coach, gave me a chance to be a volunteer coach there. Got a chance to coach some good players, we had some good teams. I only spent one year there. ”

That one season in Denton was the beginning of a four-decade-long coaching career for Gill.

“But again: it’s a good environment we had there,” Gill continued. “Good institution.”

Gill’s description of the 1989 North Texas football team as, “good” would be, to say the least, an accurate assessment of this year’s Mean Green. Last week, the C-USA powerhouse romped SEC foe Arkansas in a lopsided 44-17 victory.

“I can definitely say up to date, they’ll definitely be the best team that’s come in here to Williams Stadium, there’s no question about that at this point in time,” Gill said of North Texas.

“It should be a great football game, and I want our fans to come out and support us.”