Hello Celebritys

TCU held on to defeat San Diego State 40-35 Saturday afternoon and clinched at least a share of the Mountain West Conference championship. Even though TCU got the victory, I left the final game at the current Amon Carter Stadium feeling like the Frogs had just lost. After letting it all digest and writing this, I don’t feel near as bad about this game. Good teams sometimes struggle, but they always find a way to win. That what TCU did. Let’s break this one down.

- The Frogs started this one out horribly. They were down 14-0 before the crowd could even settle. There was a lot going on and they bounced back, so I can let this slide. Part of the reason could have been because offensive line coach Eddie Williamson had chest pains on the sideline and was taken to a hospital. (All reports indicate that he will be ok)

- Andy Dalton was solid outside of one interception. Dalton finished 21-of-36 for 240 yards and threw four touchdowns for the fourth time in his career.

- Jeremy Kerley with 3 touchdowns on the day continues to show why he is one of the most electrifying players in college football. Kerley is the 13th player in TCU history to reach 50 receptions in a season and has tied Mike Renfro’s TCU single-season record with 10 touchdown receptions

- TCU became too conservative down the stretch. I know Patterson’s mindset was to just chew up the clock and get out of there with the win, but the offense became too predictable. I wonder if TCU letting off the peddle in most every game this season has anything to do with the poor 4^th quarter performance? If you never have to actually finish out a game, it would make sense that the team would struggle when they actually do have to play out a full game.

- Matthew Tucker (131 yds.) and Waymon James (102 yds.) became the first TCU tandem to rush for 100 yards in the same game since Lonta Hobbs (117 yds.) and Brandon Hassell (110 yds.) against Boise State in the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl.

- What is going on with Ross Evans? He has struggled at times throughout his career at TCU, but he had been 8-of-8 this season on field goal attempts coming into this game. He missed 2 Saturday against San Diego State. He has had problems with extra points also. Evans has missed an extra point in 3 straight games now and has 5 total misses on the season. This trend CANNOT continue, there were 7 points left on the field from the kicker alone.

- Speaking of points left on the field, I can’t believe Curtis Clay did not score on his punt return in the 4^th quarter. He was off to the races before tripping himself up. All of the returners had a good game.

- How about Tanner Brock’s hit on the 2^nd half kickoff? Wow!

- TCU wore purple jerseys with white pants to honor teams from the past since it was the last game in the current Amon Carter Stadium. It looked better than I thought it would, but it’s my least favorite uniform combo the Frogs have worn this year.

- TCU has clinched at least a share of the Mountain West Conference championship. The Horned Frogs can win the outright title with either a victory in its season finale at New Mexico or a Utah loss in one of the Utes’ final two conference games. TCU has now won three MWC championships since beginning league play in 2005.

- Congrats to all the seniors on this team. TCU’s seniors won their 42nd game, tying last year’s senior class for the most victories in program history over a four-year period. With one more victory, the Horned Frogs will see their seniors graduate as the all-time winningest class for a third-straight season. I thought last season’s group was special, but this year’s might be even better. This season isn’t over yet though.

- It will be interesting to see how this game affects the rankings. It wasn’t a good Saturday for the Frogs. Utah got stomped by Notre Dame and the Frogs non-conference opponents went 0-3. The positives are that San Diego State is 7-3 so that won’t hurt the schedule that bad, the computers don’t factor in margin of victory, and Oregon struggled with a team ranked lower than the Aztecs and won by less.

The Frogs are off this week and then take on 1-9 New Mexico on the 27^th. I guess they are off until the bowl game really. There were a lot of minor injuries coming into and resulting from this game, so the break comes at a good time. TCU needs to get everyone healthy and finish out the season undefeated.

GO FROGS!!!

TCU extended their regular season winning streak to 17 games as they took down SMU in Dallas 41-24 Friday night. It wasn’t pretty, but I will take a 17 point win on the road any day of the week. Let’s break it down…

- Andy Dalton wasn’t great in this one. He got the job done, but it was probably his worst performance of the season in my opinion. Dalton now has 3 multiple interception games in his last 5 dating back to the Fiesta Bowl. If the Frogs turn the ball over like that against Utah or Air Force, they will easily be beat.

- The TCU RB’s looked good once again. Ed Wesley left early in the game with an injury, but redshirt freshman Waymon James was able to step in and play his part. James had 41 yards and 2 touchdowns on 8 carries. Matthew Tucker finished with 63 yards and a TD, the 12^th of his career.

- Speaking of running backs, SMU has a pretty good one in Zach Line. He is a big Mike Alstott type runner and is physical. Line had 17 carries for 139 yard and a touchdown. SMU was killing the Frogs defense with the draw play all night long.

- Jeremy Kerley is an absolute BEAST!! His 83 yard kick return was a huge turning point in the game, and the guy just continues to come up big for the Frogs. Kerley set a career high with 234 all-purpose yards. He had 172 yards on kickoff returns, 23 on punt returns, 33 yards receiving and six yards rushing. He had a pass for 11 yards also. This is back-to-back games where Kerley has racked up over 200 all-purpose yards. If anyone on this team deserves a Heisman campaign, it’s Jeremy Kerley. He is clearly the best player on the team, and one of the most electrifying players in college football.

- I was very pleased with the pressure TCU was able to get on Kyle Padron. It seemed like Stansly Maponga and Wayne Daniels were hitting him all night long.

- I thought the new white uniforms looked pretty good. I still prefer the purple or Pro Combat jerseys, but the all white looked good.

- Could the announcers have been any worse? I am pretty sure those two were watching a completely different game then what I was watching. They were constantly wrong on everything they said. I hope BYU enjoys those Friday night ESPN games…

All in all, it wasn’t the best game the Frogs have played, but they got a 17 point win on the road against a bowl team so you can’t be completely disappointed. I am not trying to hype up the Ponies because TCU struggled against them, but June Jones is turning that program around and SMU has a legit shot at winning Conference USA. Don’t forget, this SMU team scored more points on Texas Tech than the Longhorns did. They aren’t a pushover any more.

Before I go, I have to say that if I hear any more people talking about “style points” I am going to throw up!!

GO FROGS!!

Gary Patterson has a monster on his hands at the running back position and in less than ten days, it will be unleashed. Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley have both been named to the Doak Walker Award Watch List for this upcoming season. The Frogs are one of only five schools to have more than one player on the list. When you add in Waymon James and Aundre Dean also, that creates a nightmare for opposing teams.

From TCU Media Relations:

TCU's Matthew Tucker and Ed Wesley have been named to the watch list for the Doak Walker Award, presented to the nation's top running back.

Tucker and Wesley ranked second and third, respectively, on TCU in rushing as freshmen last season. Tucker ran for 676 yards and eight touchdowns on a 6.4 per carry mark, while Wesley totaled 638 yards and four scores with a 6.3 average per rush.

Tucker had the fifth-most single season rushing yards by a TCU freshman, while Wesley's total was sixth.

A Tyler, Texas, native, Tucker was named the Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year by Sporting News. Wesley, from Irving, Texas, was an honorable-mention All-MWC selection.

It will be interesting to see how Coach Patterson incorporates all the backs this season. I expect Tucker and Wesley to get the large majority of the action, but Aundre Dean and Waymon James have showed that they can push for playing time also. It is a problem that Patterson and the offensive coordinators are going to have to figure out, but it’s a good problem to have.