TCU 10 OU 35

Sam Bradford ate the Horned Frogs for lunch in Norman Saturday, passing over blitzing safeties for 4 touchdowns-- three in the first half. OU rode the Frogs out of the polls, while raising its rank to #1.

The Frogs turned the ball over four times, and never forced a break to come their way. A lonely bright spot: TCU frustrated the Sooners' ground attack, holding it to only 25 yards.

Pre-game press: FWST Sep 22; CGP's 5 biggest wins; DMN: OU coach reminds players about '05 loss; DMN spotlights TCU DEs; USAToday: TCU's D #1; OU's offense #1; AP; Gil LeBreton;
Post-game press: DMN; FWST, Patterson's day after; FWST notes. Spit Blood.

TCU 48, SMU 7

The Frogs opened a can on the Mustangs, claiming the iron skillet for the second time in as many years, and turning in the most dominating performance for the fryer since TCU's 44-0 beat down against SMU in 2004.

It could have been even worse: several Horned Frog receivers dropped would be touchdown passes at or near the goal line. SMU's only long play was a 46-yard pass that got passed Nick Sanders, setting up the Mustang's only score.

The Frogs now prepare to face #2 Oklahoma in Norman next week.

DMN's lead; Aaron Brown returns; SMU's QB stinks against TCU; Startle-gram's lead; highlight on Jerry Hughes; Aaron Brown.
Pre-game press: June Jones will learn to respect TCU football; FWST; FWST. Spit Blood.

MWC goes 4-0 against the Pac-10

It's a banner week for the Mountain West-- the conference's teams went 6-1 against division 1-A competition, including four wins over Pac-10 foes. BYU shut out UCLA 59-0; TCU beat Stanford 31-14; New Mexico upset Arizona 36-28; and UNLV shocked #15 Arizona State, in Tempe, 23-20 in double overtime, blocking the Sun Devils' attempt to tie the game with a field goal. (in that game, Rebels' QB Omar Clayton took a hit in the jaw so hard in the second quarter that they team x-rayed him to make sure it wasn't broken. It wasn't. Clayton returned to the game, and led UNLV to the win.)

BYU, TCU, and New Mexico each capitalized on multiple turnovers by their BCS foes.

The Mountain West is 6-3 against BCS competition this year, and 10-3 against all D-1A teams.

TCU 31, Stanford 14

Beginning the Mountain West's sweep of the Pac-10 in four matches Saturday, the Horned Frogs' defense thoroughly overpowered the Stanford Cardinal, allowing only one offensive touchdown. The Frogs' offense remains tepid, but expects to feature Aaron Brown next week against SMU.

Press: San Jose Mercury News; LeBreton;

TCU 67, SFA 7

On Saturday the Frogs did what a 1-A team is supposed to do when it plays a 2-A team: beat them with its first team, and its second team, and its third team, and its walk-ons. The Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks, the 2-A team, gave TCU an exhibition game before Stanford comes calling this weekend.

Notable: TeeJay Johnson returned in the secondary; Coach Patterson says the safeties communicate "15 times better" when Johnson plays. One of those safeties, Stephen Coleman, had another interception. Senior Jason Phillips sat out this contest-- his first missed start at TCU. Marcus Jackson took more snaps than starter Andy Dalton, who we presume began watching film on Stanford at halftime. Jimmy Young had seven receptions for over 100 yards, five for third down conversions. Shea Reagan-- to whom the Frogs never threw a pass at New Mexico-- caught three. Joe Turner did the heavy lifting for the first team.

Press: FWST main article, spotlight on Jimmy Young, commentary on upset avoidance, spotlight on Joe Turner, reserves get PT.

TCU 26, New Mexico 3

There are a dozen or more newspaper stories about TCU's win over New Mexico Saturday. But I think this picture says more all of them. God bless the kid-- we all know he's a hoss. But don't put Ryan Christian in at tailback, for crying out loud!

Oh well. TCU won anyway. The game wasn't as easy as the score indicated, but it was on the road, in conference, and the opener. If the offense and the playcalling improve, the sins of this win will be quickly forgiven and forgotten.

Here're the press clippings. Fast starting Frogs dominate UNM, Satisfying but not Dazzling, GoFrogs, AP, FWST Notes

Photo: Keith Robinson