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Knudson: Under Frogs

By Mark Knudson, The Mtn. Insider
November 7, 2011
 
Imagine the feeling of playing the role of “favorite” in pretty much every single game you play.

You’re supposed to win every time you step out on the field.
 
That’s how Gary Patterson’s TCU Horned Frogs have felt just about every week they’ve had a game scheduled the last four or five seasons. On the rare occasion they’ve been the underdog, such as last season’s Rose Bowl match up with Wisconsin, they’ve been able to use it as a rallying cry. And in Pasadena, it worked big time.
 
So now the Frogs, fresh off a hard fought 31-20 win in Laramie that was both impressive and unimpressive at times, prepare to head to Boise for another match up with the Broncos. The two teams have met three times in bowl games in the past eight seasons, but never before in the regular season. In 2008, TCU handed Boise State its only loss, 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl. In 2009, Boise State won the Fiesta Bowl match-up with TCU 17-10 to finish 14-0. Last year, it was the Frogs that made it to the BCS after Boise State’s improbable loss to Nevada in November. This will be the only scheduled regular season meeting between the two, at least for a while.
 
After turning the ball over five times against Wyoming, TCU head coach Gary Patterson will have no trouble getting his team’s attention during practice this week.
 
“I don’t know why we got on the plane,” Patterson said as he left frosty Jonah Field at War Memorial Stadium. “You can’t go on the road and turn the ball over five times and expect to win.”
 
He heaped praise on the Broncos’ program as he rightfully will all week. “They don’t lose games up there; we just have to score one more point. We’ll get back home and go to work on them.”
 
I’ll bet if you asked Patterson privately, he would say he’s very happy with the way the Wyoming game unfolded. It was the perfect dress rehearsal for next Saturday, complete will numerous teaching moments that will be valuable during preparations. The day featured frigid temps at high altitude, a tough opponent who played the Frogs on even terms for almost three quarters of the game and, most importantly, a lesson in how to overcome your own mistakes and close out your opponent.
 
TCU rushed for almost 400 yards en route winning for the seventh time in nine games. The Frogs’ three-headed tailback monster of Ed Wesley, Waymon James and Matthew Tucker were all ripping off big chunks of yardage in the second half as the TCU offensive line began to dominate the line of scrimmage. On defense, they held the Cowboys to just three second half points and knocked Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith out of the game. They needed all of it to overcome four fumbles and an interception.
 
An 11-point win over Wyoming will probably not sway the odds makers too much when it comes to naming a favorite for the Horned Frogs first visit to play on the infamous blue turf. They’re the decided underdogs against the fourth ranked Broncos – just as they were in the Rose Bowl against Wisconsin. The question is, will the extra motivation be enough to spark this team to pull another big upset?
 
On paper, it’s tough to make a case for TCU beating the Broncos. Boise State is a complete team, with quarterback Kellen Moore among the nation’s best passers. While the Frogs are among the national leaders in third down conversions, Boise State is among the best in stopping teams on third down. Don’t count on the Frogs running up the middle at will against the Broncos stalwart defensive front, led by Shea McClellin. If TCU does have an edge, it would be in the speed department.

Can they exploit that edge enough to win?
 
Because they’re an underdog so rarely, the “nobody thinks we can win” speech is still a fresh one in Fort Worth. You can bet Patterson will be glad to be able to dust off his “us against the world” material during this week’s team meetings.
See all of Mark Knudson's blog entries HERE.