The University of North Texas (UNT) adopted the American eagle as its mascot on February 1, 1922. The intercollegiate athletics nickname, "The Mean Green," was adopted by fans and media in 1966 to describe the North Texas football defensive squad, which finished second in the nation against the rush that season. That year, Joe Greene, then a sophomore at North Texas, played left defensive tackle. Although Greene did not receive his famous nickname, "Mean Joe Greene," while at UNT, the university proudly associates itself with the moniker. University of North Texas Athletics