TCU-Can They Do It Again?

The pomp and circumstance that surrounded the TCU Horned Frogs program when it won the Rose Bowl Jan 3 2011 over Wisconsin was pretty historic when considering that TCU trailing by eight points with seven minutes left to play in Pasadena.

Last weeks 37-33 home win over Oklahoma-yes I called it-was historic in that it marked the first time that the Horned Frogs defeated a highly ranked opponent at home.

The last time TCU won a game against a highly ranked opponent was in the land of Lyndon Baines Johnson with JFK as president. 1961-a 6-0 shutout over the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns.

The Sooners were the highest ranked team ever to lose in Ft. Worth. 1st ever loss for Bob Stoops. Amon Carter Stadium was an electric place as fans stormed the field. An emotional win for Gary Patterson amongst 47,000 fans.

Even though TCU is relatively new to the Big 12 the history with their next opponent-the Baylor Bears-the history for these two teams goes all the way back to 1899.

You could not ask for a more evenly matched series. Saturday will mark the 109th time the Bears and Frogs go after it. The record reads 51-51-7.

One theme and one topic that has beem discussed by Coach Patterson is a seeming ability to finish out games. That was an issue in 2013 in five instances. Last Saturday I heard Chucky Hunter make a reference to a team motto that could get viral in the tee-shirt and hashtag fields.

#OneTeamOneHeartBeat.

In case you haven't seen it here's what was on the mind of Chucky Hunter after TCU's wild win over the Sooners.

Gary Patterson held his weekly press conference October 7 to talk about being 4-0, a great start, and of course looking to having two Top Ten teams going at it this Saturday afternoon moments after the Red River Rivalry comes to an end.

What makes Baylor so challenging 1 year after losing at home 41-38?

"They definitely create a challenge for us and anybody right now. They're awfully talented on both sides of the ball. They faked a punt, blocked a field goal and scored a touchdown. They did it in all areas last week against Texas, so you have to get ready to play. They've been very good the last two years."

Trevone Boykin has done many things well so far this season. Can you elaborate?

"I'm the one who has always believed in Trevone. I recruited him and signed him. As a redshirt freshman, he went to Baylor two years ago, threw for nearly 300 yards, four touchdowns and won a ball game. He's very athletic. Obviously, any time you can hone in on one thing it makes you better."

To say nothing about the way your receiver corps has stepped up this season. Kolby Listenbee for one.

"With our group, this has to be by committee. Each guy has his day because of the way they've played us on defense. One of the things (co-offensive coordinator) Coach (Doug) Meacham wants is to be able to distribute to a lot of people, where we have nine to 15 guys catching the ball. The defense usually dictates that. When it's your day and your matchup against the guy you're playing against, you have to make the plays.

"In two of the four ball games, it's been a good matchup on the outside. Deante' Gray was a good matchup in one game. Josh Doctson was another matchup in another. As you go forward, you make sure that the other guys need to get started."

Each game thus far we have been different players able to step up and make the key play. In essence, being able to finish out.

"In the Oklahoma game, we had to make a couple plays and we did. (Marcus) Mallet makes the fourth down stop. (Paul) Dawson gets the interception. We get a big sack on third down when they try to get a first down on the draw. Those are the kinds of things that didn't happen before. A lot of it goes back to being mentally sharp and staying healthy. Not going as hard during September has helped us.

"I reminded them that I understand how big of a ball game that is. I also understand, having been undefeated in 2009 and 2010 in the regular season, how hard it is to do that every week."

You're now in the middle of a stretch of eight straight home games after two September byes. What is the thought process looking ahead?

"Baylor plays a lot better in Waco. You're going to play just as good a team, or better, when you play in Waco as we just got done playing here. You then have Oklahoma State, who is ranked in the top 20, and a rivalry game with Texas Tech, but that's okay." 

Last week I was on record to say that I believed TCU's defense was deep enough to get the upset. This week I will go out on a limb when stating that the Horned Frogs do the impossible and win in Waco. This game will be as exciting as last years 41-38 defeat in Ft. Worth.

Gary Patterson has been a fan of his starting quarterback in 2014. Here we catch up with Trevone moments after the win over Oklahoma.

NOTABLES
TCU's new offense, averaging 516.2 yards per game under co-coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie, is the nation's most improved unit (+171.4 yards per game) from last season.
TCU is one of just three schools nationally to rank in the top 10 in total defense and the top 20 in total offense.
Trevone Boykin is second in the Big 12 and eighth nationally in total offense (359.0 yards per game). He's one of just six players from a Power Five conference to lead his team in passing and rushing.
TCU has started fast in all four games, building first-half leads of at least 14-0 in each contest.

NOT SO ROAD WEARY

Since 2009, TCU is 5-2 on the road versus Associated Press Top-25 teams.

 
The Horned Frogs' five wins in that stretch is tied for fifth nationally.

TCU was the last team to defeat Baylor in Waco, winning 49-21 behind Trevone Boykin's four touchdown passes in 2012.

The Horned Frogs are 5-5 on the road in Big 12 play since joining the conference in 2012.

TCU has won four of the six meetings with Baylor since the Southwest Conference dissolved after the 1995 campaign.

TCU is looking to go 5-0 for the fourth time in the last 12 seasons.

After defeating No. 3 Oklahoma 37-33 last week, TCU is playing back-to-back games against top-five ranked opponents for the first time in its history.

TCU is 5-2 in its last seven games versus top-five opponents with only two of those contests at home. The stretch began with a 17-10 win at No. 5 Oklahoma in the 2005 season opener.

Indeed there is a sense of irony here as this game will start as Texas-Oklahoma winds down in Dallas Texas. Is it possible that Oklahoma and Baylor made the mistake of looking ahead to their next opponents last week?

For that matter how rare is it that the two Red River rivals enter their game coming off a loss one week prior.

For all the talk about Bryce Petty being all that he has yet to get tested by a relentless defense. TCU has averaged 516 yards per game in 2014 and can score just as quickly as Art Briles kids can. 

Shock Linwood will get the lions share of the handoffs with a 5.0 yards per carry average in 2014. Bryce Petty averages 256 yards per game with nine touchdowns and only 1 interception all season. KD Cannon will be the primary receiver for Baylor. Defensively Bryce Hager and Orion Stewart have been your sack masters with a combined 56 in five games.

There has also been some words exchanged between Briles and Patterson over the style of play being less than proper. Lets see if this trend continues. 

This will be my second of four visits back to McLane Stadium in Waco along the Brazos River. So looking forward to it. Win or lose you can expect the video visits postgame.

ESPN College Gameday-if they're smart-will make Waco their home base this weekend instead of Pasadena. The same place where TCU shocked the world three years ago.

Prediction: 2014 will be the year TCU gets the breaks and the bounces. Another offensive juggernaut that the Frogs win 44-41. Three interceptions by the TCU secondary and Brice Petty experiences a rough afternoon of hits, hurries, and turnovers.

Over and out in Big D.

Mr. Will