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Saturday, January 9, 2010
With the release of the 2009 final NCAA statistics, TCU topped the nation in total defense for the second straight year and fourth time in 10 seasons.
Despite losing seven starters to graduation, including three to the NFL, off last year's No. 1 defense, the Horned Frogs again led the nation by allowing just 239.7 yards per game. National champion Alabama was second at 244.1.
In 2010, TCU will return seven defensive starters and nine on offense.
Since the NCAA began tracking statistics in 1937, TCU is tied with Alabama and Auburn for the most No. 1 rankings in total defense at four. All four of the Horned Frogs' top marks (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009) have come under Gary Patterson. He was TCU's defensive coordinator from 1998-00 before being named head coach prior to the 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl.
Since 2000, TCU's first of four team defensive titles, Virginia Tech is the only other school to finish first more than once (2005, 2006). The Horned Frogs, Hokies and Miami, Fla. (1989, 1994) are the only teams to win the crown at least twice since 1989.
The Horned Frogs also led the nation in kickoff returns with a 29.2 average. All-American Jeremy Kerley had a 26.6 average on a team-best 18 attempts, while Greg McCoy had a 35.9 mark on 10 returns, including an 81-yard touchdown at Wyoming.
TCU and Florida were the only schools to rank in the top 10 nationally in total offense and defense. The Horned Frogs were seventh offensively at 456.7 yards per game.
TCU finished third in run defense (80.2 yards per game), fourth in pass efficiency defense (92.3 rating) and sixth in scoring defense (12.8 points per game) and pass defense (159.5 yards per game).
The Horned Frogs were fifth in rushing offense (239.5 yards per game) and scoring offense (38.3 points per game).
Individually, Kerley was seventh in punt returns with a 14.4-yard average. He returned two punts for touchdowns. Quarterback Andy Dalton was eighth in pass efficiency with a 151.8 rating, while two-time consensus All-American Jerry Hughes tied for ninth in sacks with 0.9 per game.
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