Spring Questions

TCU’s football spring drills are right around the corner. What questions need answering for the Horned Frogs? Graham Watson thinks finding Jason Phillips’s replacement is key. She’s on to something there—sophomore Tank Carder and early-enrolled true freshman Tanner Brock likely will battle for the first-team linebacker spot next to Darryl Washington. Kris Gardner, Greg Burks, and the other touted freshmen—Isadore and Cain-- will make themselves heard, too.

Mercedes Meyer highlights offensive coaching by committee (and says Cannon starts ahead of Richmond at RT).

The Wimple thinks the right half of the defensive line is a bigger question. Cody Moore and Matt Panfill graduate in May, and it remains unclear who’ll lead to replace them. Henry Nuitei made waves on the scout team at DT, and everyone’s waiting for Braylon Broughton, now a sophomore, to break out at DE. RSFreshman Jeremy Coleman is expected to figure prominently in the mix, at either spot, also.

Senior Zach Roth is expected to challenge junior Jake Kirkpatrick for the first team spot at center, but the rest of the line appears set with returning starters, albeit not all at the same position. If the line isn’t Newhouse-Dooley-Kirkpatrick-Vernon-Richmond/Cannon going into fall, then there’ve been surprises.

The Wimple is particularly excited to see two new guys: Ed Wesley, RSF at tailback, whom the scuttlebutt says is going to make waves; and the early-enrolled freshman phenom at QB, Casey Pachall. It seems the coaches are pleased with his early progress (and RSF Yogi Gallegos’s as well) because they moved senior QB Marcus Jackson to safety.

Some Frog faithful are concerned about TCU’s lineup at safety. The Wimple is not concerned. Bledsoe and Cuba played a lot in ‘08 (Cuba started at least one game), and did well. Behind them are a gaggle of recruits and young players who’ve had time in the system, and from whom he fully expects playmakers to emerge. Chris Scott, Johnny Fobbs, Malcolm Williams, and Jurrell Thompson are his guesses.

Here's MM at practices #2, 3

Frogs ink twenty

Here they are: the 2009 true freshmen Horned Frogs-- if they all qualify. The one who's got an asterisk by his name that we know of is Dwight Smith, the do-it-all back from Carthage. (He told Smoaky he's good to go if he scores high enough on this weekend's ACT; here's to that!) Ten players in the group played tailback at least some in high school-- indicating the speed of the class generally. CGP said this is the fastest overall group he's ever signed.

By leaps and bounds, this is TCU's best recruiting class since Reagan's first term. It's impossible to narrow the list to a few headliners. Pachall is the only QB in the group; Brock and Boyce are enrolled with the signal caller already. Cain and Smith were last minute and welcome surprises. The Maud Squad probably have the biggest learning curve, coming from 1A ball, but CGP says they're all very talented. Rivals' Jeremiah says Boyce might be the biggest difference-maker in the group, but I suspect that honor will go to one of the tailbacks when it's all over-- unless Pachall does in college what he did in high school: dominate. Reports put Ty Horn most ready to contribute on the line.

The line players: Maponga, Burns, Dunbar, House, Horn, Tausch, Wooldridge, and Yendry, will keep the Frogs well stocked for years. 2009's wealth in the trenches won't fade quickly. Here's Feisty's (weird) take, DCTF's, and J/J's ($).

And, adding the cherry on top, the Frogs picked up their first 2010 commit- a very highly sought defensive tackle from Aledo.

First Prognostications

So what next, both for TCU and for the MWC agenerally? The correctest answer is that nobody knows for sure. But ignorance is never a barrier to commentary, so let's dive in.

We do know that a lot of new coaches will be strolling the sidelines in '09. Brady Hoke (last at Ball State) takes over for Chuck Long in San Diego, with Al Borges (Auburn) and Rocky Long (New Mexico) as offensive and defensive coordinators. Replacing Long at New Mexico is Illinois's recruiting genius Mike Locksley, who hired Doug Mallory (LSU) for D.C. and Darrell Dickey (Utah State, UNT) for O.C. Every one of Locksley's assistants is new to the Lobos this year. Dave Christensen (the offensive mastermind from Missouri) now leads Wyoming, with Marcus Arroyo (San Jose State) and Marty English (Wyoming, linebackers) coordinating his offense and defense. Something else we don't know is who'll be coordinating TCU's offense; Mike Schultz is off to Illinois to replace Locksley. (the D-1 coaching merry-go-round has been whirling with unusual gusto this season...) Utah replaces both its coordinators-- promoting Kalani Sitake for D.C., and Dave Schramm for O.C. Remarkably, Kyle Whittingham ain't leaving Salt Lake City after outcoaching Nick Saban's Tide on national TV last week. Perhaps the MWC top spots are less like stepping stones than they used to be.

So what'll stay the same for next year? Most of the conference's offenses. SDSU, UNLV, TCU, Air Force, UNM, and Wyoming return much of their '08 crews. BYU loses 4 of its starters on the o-line, and its best receiver. Colorado State must replace its best core of skill players in years: Gartrell Johnson, Billy Farris, and Korry Sperry. Wyoming loses its backfield duo, Seldon and Moore, it's only bright spot. Utah loses much of its offense.

It's a make-or-break year for UNLV, again. The Rebels came within a torn ligament in Frank Sommer's knee early in the last game of the season of bowl eligibility; they'll come that close again-- and if they don't break through the 6-game barrier, they'll oust their coach.

Air Force now can capitalize on the experience it gave Asher Clarke, Tim Jefferson, and the rest of its true freshman that played most of the second half of the '08 season. Look for the best year in Colorado Springs since its late WAC years.

BYU looks to bounce back-- from a 10-win season! You know expectations are high when double-digit wins are a disappointment. Max Hall will work behind a largely new offensive line, but gets to face TCU and Utah at home this year.

Focusing now on TCU, the Frogs will face Wyoming, Air Force, San Diego State, and BYU on the road. BYU, particularly, will be nursing a grudge against the Frogs, and will be TCU's toughest road game. Utah in Fort Worth may be the Frog's lowest scoring matchup of the year: both teams will bring good defenses to the tilt. Expect the Frogs' offense to win the day, however, if by only a field goal... (how's practice, Mr. Evans?) The roady to Air Force might be a trap game, if sandwiched just right (or wrong).

Confidence in TCU's offensive potency next season is not misplaced. The Frogs return a terrific backfield and receiving corps for Andy Dalton to hand off and throw to for his third year at the helm.

Up front, only one of the big guys will be starting for the first time-- likely Jake Kirkpatrick at center. The right guard position is up in the air to date, with several strong contenders, including Josh Vernon, who started at left guard some of last year. Blaize Foltz, Spencer Thompson, Spencer Olson, Trevius Jones, and Zach Roth are in the mix. Look for Marshall Newhouse (LT), Kyle Dooley (LG), Kirkpatrick, (C) Josh Vernon (RG), and Nic Richmond (RT) to compose the first team, and to dominate. How Marcus Cannon fits in (well, he fits in largely-- we know that!) remains to be seen. This much we know: the Frogs are stacked at O-line.

Joe Turner, Luke Shivers, and Jai Cavness return in the backfield, and will be joined by Ed Wesley, who apparently has made waves in practice. Two true freshmen will press them mightily for PT-- Waymon James and Matthew Tucker.

Defensively, optimism requires more faith, and reasoned expectations must be for slightly less dominance than this year's stellar season. Kelly Griffin, who is now huge, will replace James Vess at left DT. The competition to start to his right, both at tackle and end, will be tremendous. Henry Nuitei, Cory Grant, Jeremy Coleman, the Maud Squad (Burns, Dunbar, House), Ross Forrest, Braylon Broughton, and Chris Leatch are all in play.

Behind them all will be Daryl Washington and Tank Carder at linebacker. Carder hasn't played a lot, but has two full years in the system already, and some experience. His step up is key to the season. Washington appears to be the emotional heir to Robert Henson, and may well end the year as TCU's best linebacker-not-named-Jason-Phillips in a long time. Kris Gardner and Greg Burks will see PT as backups.

The secondary will be a strength. Johnson, Sanders, and Priest return. Bledsoe and Cuba haven't started (much) but have played a lot and are going to make names for themselves as safeties. (clearly Sir Demarco Bledsoe has the goods on the name department already...) There's a very good crop of backups behind them, including four-star JUCO transfer Malcome Williams. Look for Greg McCoy and Jason Teague to get lots of time as well.

The biggest question for TCU will be its offensive scheme; the Frogs geared up for the spread in '07, and cashed in on all that work in '08. Hopefully the new coordinator, whoever he'll be, can up the production. He's certainly got a great cast to work with.

The biggest question for the conference will be Boise State. Have the Broncos an invitation to join the conference, as rumored? [turns out the answer is: no.] The Wimple hopes so, and looks forward to adding the Broncos' stellar decade to the conference laurels when the BCS recalibrates its autobids in a few years. The Wimple does not expect, however, for the Broncos to continue their NCAA-topping winning percentage once a part of the tougher MWC. They put in an inspiring effort against TCU this season, and came us short in the end. Boise State, if it joins the MWC, won't have the best athletes in the conference anymore.

2008 Retrospective

The season is now relegated to the past tense; the Frogs have put up their pads and helmets. Before turning our attention to the next contests, the Wimple offers this perusal of the '08 season.

In April, the Wimple correctly fingered Oklahoma and Utah as the toughest matches for the Frogs; both proved the only red marks on an otherwise remarkable season-- and the latter only by the rottenest luck of all. The Frogs' defense racked up the best ranking in the nation, and the offense improved substantially over its '07 incarnation, setting a new school record for points. The complete package garnered TCU's highest AP final ranking in generations: 7th.

But at Oklahoma and Utah, points were not plentiful. Turnovers proved the culprit in Norman, and in Utah, a more general offensive malaise. While Joe Turner's tough running was absent in Salt Lake City, the Wimple wonders why Luke Shivers or Chris Smith was not tasked to tote the rock near the endzone in that fateful fourth quarter. Shivers performed that very deed admirably at other times this season; Smith was infrequently entrusted with the same.

Gary Patterson often credited superior senior leadership when asked to point out the source of this team's success. The rollcall of those seniors is a list of fantastic Frogs indeed: Matt Panfil, Giles Montgomery, James Vess, Cody Moore, Walter Bryant, Blake Schlueter, Justin Watts, and of course the more lauded Phillips, Henson, Coleman, Hodge, Brown, etc. Replacing these leaders will be a primary concern in 2009-- but that's fodder for a future post.

This year's Frogs went a long way toward pushing TCU into the top of the conference. Plainly Utah was destined for a higher position, but the Frogs are at least as likely as the Utes to move upward next season. This is a tremendous legacy for the '08 team, and if the '09 team lives up to its potential, its more remarkable story must begin with this year's successes.

Last, while generally occuring under the surface, the 2008 recruiting by TCU's coaches and players may prove to be their greatest legacy of all. Even ESPN is noticing. The future Frogs ($) that will sign on February 4 (some of whom are already enrolled) are substantially more talented than any previous class since the bad old days when TCU paid for bluechip recruits, and then paid for those payments with the walking death penalty.

Looking now to the Mountain West, the conference had a banner year. Troy Calhoun far exceeded my expectations with his very young squad at Air Force; Steve Fairchild made remarkable hay with his CSU Rams, as did Mike Sanford at UNLV, and of course Kyle Whittingham at Utah. The MWC both assembled a great pile of football capital, and cashed in on it in grandest style, with Utah's riveting crushing of Alabama in New Orleans, and to a lesser extent, TCU's and CSU's beating WAC teams in bowls. Wyoming and San Diego State disappointed-- the latter all the more when it fired Chuck Long, whose successor will reap the rewards of Long's very good work with the Aztec program.

In sum, the conference continues its rise. In 2008, it not only firmly planted itself as the best of the non-cartel conferences, but spent a year in considerably better limelight than the Big East, and even the ACC for stretches.

MWC > SEC

Remind me, Coach Saban: who's the team from the "real BCS conference"? Would it be the 13-0 team from somewhere out West that just beat the snot out of your pampered elite Crimson Tide? Or is it the wimps from Tuscaloosa who gave up with time still on the clock, after their QB went down for the... 6th (7?) sack of the day?

Ahh... how stereotypes suffer when the underdogs come out with better motivation, preparation, and coaching. In sum, one could call it a... quest perfected. Congratulations Utah, and Mountain West Conference.

Here's SMQ, Fiutak's gamenotes;

TCU 17, Boise State 16

Five years ago to the day, Boise State beat TCU in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl, because the Frogs missed a field goal. Today, wearing Sam Baugh's 45 on their helmets, the TCU Horned Frogs beat the Broncos by 1-- and it was Boise that missed a field goal. It was sweet revenge in a squeaker of a game.

TCU played a typical game, holding Boise State to just 28 yards rushing, and holding the ball over 36 minutes. The Frogs' offense was sluggish at times, including throwing an interception each by Dalton and Kerley. Joe Turner and Aaron Brown ran for touchdowns; Dalton and Christian were key on their feet as well (Christian hustled not only for key yards, but to a key tackle after an interception). Hughes sacked Kellen Moore, Hodge had a game-saving interception, and the Frogs' defense generally stifled the Broncos very impressively after the first quarter.

The victory is TCU's fourth consecutive bowl win-- a Frog record-- and this senior class's 41st win-- another record. The Frogs finish the season 2-2 against top-10 competition. Rumors have it Boise State will be invited to join the Mountain West this offseason; the Wimple hopes this occurs.

Here's a highlights compliation-- watch it in high quality; AP; ESPN's recap video and a short interview with CGP; Watson's first impressions; CBSsports.com; FWST special; MM Frogs Pull Rank; Washington, Hodge turn up intensity; LeBreton: Frogs take risk, earn reward; SMQ calls the Frogs more NFL-like; CFN's Five Thoughts and Instant (and overblown, generally lame) Analysis; Frogs' D; BSU wanted perfection, TCU's D demanded it; Frogs rush by committee; SD Union Tribune lead; Spitblood;

Sam Baugh, 1914-2008

Lower the team flags; fly the championship standards at half-mast; the Wimple will be draped for mourning until the Frogs win their next game. TCU's- and football's- first great passer has crossed the plane of that great endzone in the sky. Baugh was the last living member of the inaugural Pro Football Hall of Fame, and a member of the college hall of fame as well. As the FWST aptly puts it, he was the original cowboy quarterback. He was 94.

Here're clips of a interview with Baugh when he was already an old man, with footage from his NFL days; see him passing as a Washington Redskin.


The Deseret News ran a great editorial about Baugh prior to the Frogs' '06 clash with BYU. Ray Buck, Jeff Wilson, Kevin Sherrington; Washington Post; ESPN's Luksa; Baugh timeline; LATimes; AP; ESPN story, and interviews Mike Ditka (in video), Dr. Saturday; Dick Heller.

TCU Football's Most Beautiful

Shannon, guest posting:
As a follow-up to this year's Players of the Year awards, I thought it would be nice (or just humorous) to give a nod to those young men who are beautiful both on and off the field. I won't list names, but as I was selecting those who would make the cut as "Most Beautiful", I noticed more than one outstanding player that isn't exactly easy on the eyes (most of the offensive line).

-

Let's get started.

5. Jeremy Kerley

I wish I had a better photo of this guy, becasue this one just doesn't highlight all his best features. In a word: cute-as-a-button.

4. Robert Henson

It's all in the eyes with this one. Oh, and what's more beautiful than a happily married man?

3. Aaron Brown

Luscious lips. Chiseled jaw. He's got a good thing going on and off the field.

2. Shae Reagan

It's hard to tell from this picture, but up close (yes, I've been lucky enough to be inches away from this guy) Shae has a chest as deep as it is wide. And he's got a darn cute face to boot.

And TCU's #1 Most Beautiful Football Player is...

1. Bart Johnson

I just call him Harvard Hottie.

Poinsettia

Calling TCU-BSU the best non-BCS bowl game, CFN's Matt Zemek says "When Ball State lost the MAC Championship Game, this encounter became the undisputed non-BCS conference blockbuster of the bowl season. Bronco coach Chris Petersen—after the masterpiece against Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl—has to be given a great deal of respect. He’ll have a tremendous game plan ready for the Horned Frogs, who—though 10-2—lost to Oklahoma in Norman and came agonizingly close to beating Utah in Salt Lake City. Had kicker Ross Evans not biffed two easy kicks (and Evans was a Lou Groza semifinalist, it should be noted), TCU—and not the Utes—would have won the Mountain West Conference and found itself playing Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. Given the fire-breathing nature of TCU’s defense, led by the overwhelmingly athletic Jerry Hughes, Petersen’s going to have to have to come up with something special.
"There you have it: It’s the brainy Boise boss against TCU’s talented toughs. Offensive creativity comes up against defensive dominance. Irresistible force, meet immovable object. Yum, yum, gimme some. Let’s get it on in San Diego!"

Mandel calls this the 5th best bowl of the season; TCU lost its only contest against Boise State in the inaugural Fort Worth Bowl. , by three points. Poinsettia Bowl officially invites TCU and Boise State. FWST lead. Hype is already sprouting: the matchup; Idaho scouts TCU; Idaho finds storylines; FWST reports Frogs eyeing Boise State in the film room. Broncos say TCU is the fastest team they've ever seen; Broncos report; ESPN's Schlabach calls this the 4th best matchup this bowl season; Graham Watson; Bowl thrilled; Frogs' D is best BSU's ever seen; Frogs prepare for fundamentally strong Boise offense, trick plays notwithstanding; LeBreton; BleacherReport previews the bowl, and calls it a lose-lose for TCU and BSU; Boise wants to blanket San Diego; Kerley's back at full speed; Spitblood analyzes TCU's and BSU's QBs, RBs, USAToday on Boise State; Collegesports-fans.com likes TCU by 7; TCU and BSU like mirror images;

In the Wimple's opinion, Boise State engineered the most spectacular ending to any football game in the history of the sport, winning the '07 Fiesta Bowl with these three plays:

Here's ESPN's Todd McShay's (oddly slanted) analysis:

The funniest dig at the BCS, ever.

Seriously; it's brilliant.

MWC lands five bowl berths

Utah will face Alabama in the Sugar Bowl;
TCU will play Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl;
BYU plays Arizona in the Las Vegas Bowl;
Air Force matches up with Houston (rematch) in the Armed Forces Bowl;
Colorado State plays Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl.

18 Frogs '08 All-MWC

Defensive Player of the Year: Jerry Hughes.
First Team: Blake Shlueter, Jeremy Kerley (KR), Jerry Hughes, Robert Henson, Jason Phillips, Stephen Hodge
Second Team: Marshall Newhouse, Cody Moore, Matt Panfil, Stephen Coleman, Raphael Priest.
Honorable Mention: Andy Dalton, Jimmy Young, Marcus Cannon, Aaron Brown (KR), James Vess, Nick Sanders, Anson Kelton.

The 2nd Annual Wimple Awards

Last year the Wimple awarded several Horned Frog standouts for the '07 season. (awarded with what? ask you... With kudos, comes the answer.)

The 2008 Purple Wimple Player of the Year: Jason Phillips
This year's TCU team has an embarassment of riches; how do you pick just one of them for this award? Phillips led the team in tackles, gets credit for teaching Robert Henson how to watch film (and that from Henson, a short-list second for this honor, himself), is invariably the coach's first answer to why this year's team has succeeded so well, and the senior linebacker won't be around to pick next year. He'll be in the NFL-- perhaps a first day draft pick-- terrorizing offenses just like he's been doing for four years in the Mountain West.
Photo: M. Walters

Offensive Player of the Year: Andy Dalton
Statistically, the 2007 and 2008 Horned Frog offense was nearly identical, except in one glaring way: interceptions. In '07, the freshman Dalton threw 11 INTs and 10 TDs, and in the process, probably accounted more for 4 of the the Frogs 5 losses than any other player. Enter Andy Dalton, the sophemore. In 2008, prior to the bowl, Dalton has thrown for 11 scores, and only 4 interceptions, and one of those turnovers came as a forgivable hail-Mary pass for the final play in Salt Lake City. Add smart rushing (and 8 TDs with his feet) and Dalton's improvement under center accounts more much of the Frogs' improvement in the win column over last year.
Photo: M. Walters

Defensive Player of the Year: Jerry Hughes
What hasn't been said about Jerry Hughes' dream season? He's a finalist for much more prestigious awards than this one; he's been the step-up player the Frogs needed on the line; his best game was the Frogs' grudge match against BYU on a Thursday, to a national audience; at Utah, he commanded double teams on nearly every play. In short, Hughes stepped into the very large shoes that Chase Ortiz left for a Frog DE, and filled them to overflowing. Hughes will be the only returning starter on next season's front four, and will perhaps be the key defenseman to keep pressure off a new linebacker, defensive tackle and end.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Drew Combs
While the Frogs broke in two freshmen kickers, it was Drew Combs who modeled consistent performance for the youngsters. The senior never made Frog fans nervous as he lined up to for kickoffs.








Seniors of the Year: James Vess, Walter Bryant
Two seniors deserve particular recognition here, because they seem not to get it elsewhere. Walter Bryant turned in his best year in 2008, delivering one clutch catch after another. James Vess returned to the line after a year's suspension, and dominated. Vess's absence last year was palpable, and this year Jerry Hughes was always quick to credit Vess with attracting blockers and paving the way for his own success.
Photos: M.Walters





Freshman of the Year: Kyle Dooley
Sure to be unnoticed in next year's pre-season analyses of the Frogs will be Dooley's status as a returner at left guard. This walk-on freshman beat out two older players, including senior starter Preston Phillips, to guard Dalton's blind side this season. Dooley injured his knee late in the season, but will be an experienced-- and likely scholarship-- force on the interior line next season.
Photo: Texas Football/Jim Thompson


Can't Wait to See Next Year:
Turner, Hicks, Kerley, Washington, Bledsoe, Foltz, Dooley, Caveness, Carder, Broughton. . . just to name a few!

TCU 44, Air Force 10

The Horned Frogs ate Air Force for lunch on Saturday, topping the Falcons by almost 5 touchdowns. TCU held AFA to 161 yards-- its lowest this season; 113 of those yards came on two big plays.

Air Force likely returns to Amon Carter Stadium for the Armed Forces Bowl on New Year's Eve. TCU likely returns to San Diego for its second Poinsettia Bowl in 3 years; Boise State be TCU's opponent. The Broncos beat TCU in the '03 Fort Worth Bowl.

pre-game press: Frogs prepping for AFA; Frogs motivated for AFA; AFA calls TCU a tough test; FWST Monday notes; Denver Post notes; CGP's press conference FWST, excerpts; Calhoun's comments; CBS preview; Hughes a finalist for the Nagurski, Turner at full speed, Calhoun says TCU is NFL-fast; AFA has lots of Texans; FWST focus on DTs; LeBreton on senior night; AFA run v. TCU D; RockyMtnNews notes.
post-game press: FWST lead; tribute to seniors; FWST notes; RMN; DMN; Spitblood (beware the vulgarity)

photo: M.Walters

bowl chatter

TCU is just a few days into a very long break before its last game of the regular season. How shall we pass the time? By speculating about bowl bids, of course!

The early skuttlebutt puts TCU in either Las Vegas to face a mid-level Pac-10 team (Arizona or Oregon), or in Fort Worth to face a low-level Conference USA team (perhaps Rice). For the Las Vegas Bowl to pick the Frogs, it must not have the chance to pick Utah-- which means the Utes must win out and take the non-cartel autobid. The Wimple always prefers to watch the Horned Frogs beat a cartel team, so here's to the Las Vegas Bowl.

Link to this post in the future through the "BOWL" item on the schedule block on the left sidebar.

November 13 update: The MWC bowl picture is slightly less blurry. UNLV beat Wyoming lastnight, to go 5-6 with one game remaining at the very bad SDSU Aztecs. Wyoming is now the third MWC team to become ineligible for a bowl, joining the hapless Aztecs and New Mexico. Colorado State must win both of its remaining games-- New Mexico and at Wyoming to clinch eligibility. Best case scenario, UNLV and Colorado State win out, and the MWC finds bowl berths for a record six teams: Utah, TCU, BYU, Air Force, UNLV, and Colorado State.

Five conferences look unlikely to fill all of their tie-ins: CUSA (St. Petersburgh/New Orleans); Big 10 (Motor City/Champs Sports); Big 12 (Independence/Texas); Pac 10 (Poinsettia/Hawaii/Emerald); and the SEC (Independence/PapaJohns/Music City). Along with the Mountain West, the MAC, Sunbelt, and WAC will be vying to put a conference member into these slots.

November 20 update: Bowl officials are going on record with their preferences, in this or in that scenario. The Las Vegas Bowl has indicated it's not interested in UNLV, but wants one of the MWC's ranked teams; the Poinsettia Bowl says it wants Utah if the Utes fail to make the BCS. I see this to mean TCU goes to the Poinsettia Bowl if Utah wins on Saturday, and like BYU is going to Las Vegas for the... fourth year in a row?

November 22 update: Utah pulled it off; behind sensational performances from their D and Brian Johnson, they reached 12-0 this season, and will receive an autobid to a BCS game-- likely the Sugar or Fiesta. Elsewhere in the MWC, Colorado State topped Wyoming to become the conference's fifth bowl eligible team. UNLV lost to SDSU (who promptly fired their coach-- a regrettable move, methinks), ending its season with only 5 wins.

November 24 update: The MWC bowl picture is pretty clear now. Utah gets the non-cartel autobid; BYU and TCU will go to Las Vegas and Poinsettia (likely in that order). Air Force and Colorado State likely go to the Armed Forces and New Mexico bowls (likely in that order, as well.) Each team's opponent is very much unclear.

December 3 update: The BCS helped college football fans everywhere understand a nuance in the at-large eligibility rules, when it did not oust TCU from its "might pick 'em" list yesterday. The Frogs are outside of the cartel, and did not win their conference-- and now we understand that any top-14 ranked team is eligible for an at-large berth. This is nice news-- but there's precisely a 0.00% chance that a BCS bowl will pick TCU over the ticket-selling behemoths also elilgible, like Texas and Ohio State. But it's nice to know we're allowed to play the game.

Utah 13, TCU 10

The Horned Frogs paved the Utes' way one giant step closer to a BCS berth with a litany of mistakes-- most glaringly true freshman Ross Evans' two missed field goals late in the fourth quarter. Both of Evans' kicks capped failed bids to score only a few yards from the endzone. TCU extended the Utes' next drive with a pass interference penalty on a 3rd down. A couple plays later, Brian Johnson passed for a touchdown, and the Utes' first lead in the game. Down 3 points with less than a minute to play, Dalton drove the Frogs halfway down the field before throwing his second interception of the game. Then it was curtains for the game-- and for TCU's third attempt to jump over the brink of almosts, and jubiliant celebration for the blacked out Utes.

The Frogs have two Saturdays off, before concluding the season against Air Force, in Forth Worth.

Post-game press: FWST lead; Dalton pressured; bowls attending; CGP doesn't blame Evans; LeBreton; CGP staying at TCU, and ain't the type to leave; Graham Watson 1, 2, 3, 4, 5; Dr. Saturday; Spitblood; DMN;

In the meantime, here's a theraputic visual for recovering Frog fans, and any aspiring kickers:

Waiting for Thursday

Thursday's game against Utah is as big a game as TCU has played since its revival in the late 1990s. Frankly, it's as big a game as TCU has played since the 1950s. Not since then has a late-season conference game meant as much as this-- a win in Salt Lake City tomorrow makes TCU the frontrunner for an autobid to the BCS, with only two off weeks and one game left to play.

The football stars do not align very often to create a matchup for cartel outsiders with this much riding on the outcome. In 2000 and '03 the Frogs confronted very similar situations, and lost each time. If TCU can pull off the win (bettin' money is split almost evenly), its strength of schedule and media notoriety very likely will push it ahead of Boise State, to lead the non-cartel teams that are eligible for a lucrative BCS bid. The leader gets the only autobid reserved for the cartel outsiders.

A win tomorrow night would mark a new height for the modern Horned Frogs, who have not ascended to eligibility for a January bowl since two-squad play began. (Ironically, it was TCU's last triumph over Texas in 1962 that provoked the 'Horns' coach to support the switch to two-squad play, hastening its arrival.) Gary Patterson's teams have camped out in the BCS rankings, but have never finished a season eligible for a bid. (Although under current rules, the 2000 and 2005 teams would have received the non-cartel autobid, which wasn't created until '06.)

Pregame Press: Kragthorpe says the Utes are lucky UNM ain't TCU; November is the Utes' defining month; SI looks at the four non-cartel teams still vying for a BCS bid; Utah-TCU winner likely will lead cartel outsiders in BCS poll; BCS elimination game; Brian Johnson is inconsistent; Utes' defense (6th nationally) shut down Lobos; Utes rise in BCS poll; BYU wants Utah to win; FWST on top defenses, lots of penalties, Kerley likely to travel; some Ute fans don't like the blackout; focus on Utes' D-ends; SLTrib notes; SportsIllustrated takes note, and says the MWC oughtta have two BCS bids this year; Stewey Mandel ranks both teams in his top ten; Gordon Monson calls the Utes overrated; SLTrib Wednesday notes; focus on McCain; quotes from Whittingham's presser; Patterson's; FWST's Wednesday notes; DMN on the non-cartel leaders' interest in each others' games;

a little shameless sentimentality from a Ute:

TCU 44, UNLV 14

TCU pounded UNLV in Las Vegas Saturday, adding both a fifth win to its own current streak, and a fifth loss to the Rebels' current streak. Andy Dalton threw touchdowns to three different Horned Frogs-- Justin Watts, Jimmy Young, and Evan Frosch. Luke Shivers, Aaron Brown, and Jai Caveness added scores on the ground. Jerry Hughes sacked the Rebel QB twice; Stephen Hodge once.

Joe Turner sat out much of the game due to a possible concussion-- and a likely critical absence for the Frogs' next game. All eyes turn to the Mountain West's premier matchup on Thursday in Salt Lake City, when the Frogs face the undefeated Utes. Between them, TCU and Utah bring 18 wins and one loss to the gridiron this season. Utah escaped Albuquerque with a 13-10 win over the Lobos.

The only teams ranked higher than TCU that lost this weekend were #1 Texas and #6 Georgia. The Mountain West's three ranked teams all won; Air Force also won, and will add to its vote tally. The Falcons are 6-2.

The eight touchdowns in Las Vegas:

Pre-game press: USA Today on MWC leaders' upset avoidance; LVSun preview; focus on Clayton; LVRJ Preview; FWST: Frogs getting long drives this year; Frogs get ready for UNLV; ESPN-StatsLLC preview; Sports Network; Rebel fans think TCU's headed for an upset; focus on Henson and Phillips.
Post-game press: LVSun blog and recap; LV R-J recap; analysis, notes; DMN lead; WFAA sportsblog; FWST Frogs good on third down; Mercedes Meyer's lead, notes;