The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, in hopes that…

Oh, wait, that’s still three months away — exactly three months — but it feels like that, doesn’t it?

Saturday, finally, we all get to open gifts from Coach P and TCU Football and it’s been slower than Christmas coming.

Cal, no wait, Prairie View A&M, no wait. OK, Tennessee Tech, no wait. OK, SMU. Nope.

Finally we get to see what the 2020 version of TCU Football looks like under game conditions against Iowa State, albeit it’s different.

COVID-19 has changed a lot of things, and tomorrow the environment at Amon G. Carter Stadium will show the effects.

It will be a different-type game day, but it will be game day. So be ready.

Matthew Downing, a sophomore quarterback, will be leading the Horned Frogs on Saturday against Iowa State. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Here are some things to look for:

• TCU’s starting quarterback will be Matthew Downing, a transfer from Georgia, whose brother Michael played on the Frogs’ Alamo Bowl team. He’s good.
• TCU’s rebuilt offensive line will have to be ready to take a on a very good front six from Iowa State. ISU plays a 3-3-5 scheme that morphs into a 4-3 look at times. Their front is good, led by defensive ends #3 JaQuan Bailey and #55 Zach Petersen.
• You may see as many as five different running backs for the Frogs tomorrow. #3 Emari Demercado, a junior, is the old guy in the group, accompanied by redshirt freshmen #24 Darwin Barlow and #21 Daimarqua Foster. Add to the group two talented true freshmen #33 Kendre Miller and #6 Zach Evans, the first 5-star signee in TCU Football history and you’ve got a load of speed and options.
• The TCU receiving corps is deep with speed and size throughout. Watch for #4 Taye Barber, the Frogs’ leading returning receiver and big #81 Pro Wells, who splits out at 6-4 250. I’m looking forward to seeing what he does with the ball after the catch.
• Defensively, Gary Patterson rolls out another speedy group that should have no problem getting to the ball. Defensive tackle #94 Corey Bethley is one of my favorites and #30 Garret Wallow is the best linebacker in the nation.
• The secondary is deep water and will be dangerous for Frogs’ opponents. A pair of stellar safeties in #7 Trevon Moehrig and #20 La’Kendrick Van Zandt are among the best anywhere and are ball hawks. They get Nook Bradford back and Noah Daniels returns at one cornerback spot to add experience to an already sticky group.

Sure, Iowa State is coming off of a loss to Louisiana (kicking game meltdowns), but the Cyclones are talented.

Head Coach Matt Campbell has turned a once Big 8 doormat program into a contender by recruiting speed, big linemen and huge tight ends. (When Matt Campbell arrived in Ames, Iowa, there wasn’t a tight end on campus!) Watch out for #88 Charlie Kolar, who’s a top rated tight end and should go high in next spring’s NFL draft. He’s 6-6 260 and he’s a handful.

Quarterback Brock Purdy is as good as they get in the Big 12 – coming into 2020. He’s No. 1 in school history in 300-yard passing games (9), 2nd in completion percentage (66 percent), No. 3 in passing yards (6232) and No. 3 in touchdown passes in a career (43). Last year he set just about every single-season record at Iowa State. When he’s not throwing it, he’s handing it to 215-pound pile driver, #28 Breece Hall, who will stomp his way through defenses — he ran for nearly 900 yards last year and did it in eight games!

Things I need to see from the Frogs this year:

• Be bigger and tougher in the red zone on offense — last year, the Frogs were 1-6 in one-score games. Just eight more touchdowns would have meant five more wins.
• Get solid quarterback play — they don’t have to be great, they just have to be solid. Distribute the ball to play-makers and protect the football.
• The offensive line has to develop and stay healthy.
• Be great tacklers — no missed tackles, especially in the open field.
• Secondary has to create turnovers and takeaways. This group has the speed and the talent to match the Rose Bowl team’s production in the back half. (2010 saw the Frogs get five pick-6’s.)
• Turn JD Spielman loose in the return game. He’s an extreme talent with the ability to score from anywhere on the field.

We’re on the air on the Horned Frogs Sports Network at 11:30 a.m. I’ll talk to you then.

And don’t forget to hang your stocking…

Kick ‘Em High!

What else is there to say about the year 2020 that hasn’t been said or expressed already?

The words that come to mind when I think about all that has taken place (or hasn’t taken place) since March are those penned by the great Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead:

What Long Strange Trip It’s Been.

The last time Brian Estridge and I were on the air was March 11th in Kansas City at the Big 12 Men’s Basketball Championship, calling the Frogs’ loss to Kansas State.

It was the last game of the season for the Frogs and, as it turned out, the last game of the season for everybody. Everywhere.

The next day, conference tournaments, NBA games, major sporting events and cultural events started pulling the plug.

Everybody go home and wait there for instructions.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the way we do everything and there’s no masking the impact that it’s had on our lives. 

We’re all learning just how flexible we can be. And what we can do without.

One thing I’m not willing to do without is college football. I’m ready. And if you’re reading this, I bet you are, too.

We’re ready to get back into Amon G. Carter Stadium. I imagine we will all look this excited. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Photo by Ellman Photography

If all goes well over the next two and a half days, the Frogs will kick off the 2020 season in almost October.

You have to go back all the way to 1943, in the midst of WWII, to find a TCU season start date that’s later. That year, the Frogs hosted Arkansas in the season opener on October 2nd! A 13-0 win.

Other opening day gems in Frogs history include:

• 1958 – a 42-0 win at Kansas
• 1972 – a 42-0 win over UTA
• 1984 – a 62-18 win at Utah State
• 1991 – a 60-7 win over New Mexico in Jim Wacker’s last opener at TCU
• 1998 – a 31-21 upset win at Iowa State in the first game of the “new” era
• 2004 – a 48-45, 2OT win over Northwestern
• 2010 – a 30-21 hard-fought win over Oregon State that started the run to the Roses

But back to this week’s business.

This altered 2020 season presents a challenge that head coaches dread: a season opener that’s a conference game.

No time to work out the kinks and the twists that go with first games. Just tee it up and go right into conference play.

They all count, but conference games “weigh” more.

The Frogs have to be ready. As a former player, I feel sorry for them in that fall camp has gone on forever.

Iowa State will be chomping at the bit to make things right after a dismal performance against Louisiana in which the Cyclones gave up a punt return, kickoff return and a long pass — all for touchdowns.

Friday, we’ll take a close look at Iowa State and the rebuilt Cyclones.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

William Morse ’71, dressed in the fatigues worn by the demining teams of Cambodian Self-Help Demining, an organization dedicated to finding and disarming landmines and unexploded ordnance in parts of Cambodia deemed “low priority” by the government’s mine-clearing efforts. Photo courtesy of Landmine Relief Fund

William “Bill” Morse ’71 gave up retirement in Palm Springs, California, and moved to Cambodia to clear landmines. Now the COVID-19 pandemic threatens his entire operation, which includes a school system and museum.

As of July 12, Cambodia had a total of 156 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus. The Cambodian government took swift protective measures at the borders, including the requirement of a COVID-19 negative medical certificate for all foreign travelers entering Cambodia and a $3,000 deposit for testing and potential treatment services. If one or more travelers on an arriving flight or vessel tests positive for COVID-19, all passengers must quarantine for 14 days “at a location designated by Cambodian authorities,” according to the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia. If all travelers test negative, travelers have to self-isolate for 14 days at their homes or lodging.

“The tourist industry has collapsed,” said Morse, whose Landmine Museum and Relief Center has been closed since March. “And it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.”

Morse’s Landmine Relief Fund also supports The Rural Schools Village Program. The organization’s schools are located in 20 villages and serve nearly 3,000 children.

The Cambodian Ministry of Education closed schools in March and announced this month that all schools will remain closed for the rest of the year. Though the Ministry of Education set up free online courses for students preparing for the national exams, as well as videos of classroom sessions available on TV and social media platforms, none of the schools in the Rural Schools Village Program are connected to the internet, Morse said.

Instead, teachers in the program are traveling to villages to teach small groups of kids.

Morse also started a small food distribution program in Siem Reap, a cultural center near popular temples, to help people who had relied on income from the tourism industry. In May Morse provided 30 tons of food, and another 30 tons the following month.

Getty Images © djvstock

I sit here coviding day after day with my circa 1978 hair missing my seasonal part-time jobs. There are no games or concerts to work. I’ve cleaned as much as I can clean. I’ve attended numerous Grey’s Anatomy cast reunions at Walmart. I have plenty of thoughts and plenty of time to think them.

A friend and former teaching colleague suggested I share some thoughts about the economics of this pandemic. I’ll take the approach I used with my classes with just a brief thought or two on basic concepts.

With an abundance of caution in these unprecedented and uncertain times, here’s my take on Coronanomics.

Let’s start with needs, wants and choices. Remember the classic dilemma about being stranded on a desert/deserted/desolate island? Well, let’s substitute facing being sheltered in place.

When you went to the store or stores, what went first? What were you willing to buy/eat/use?

Where did chocolate fall?

While you are isolating you’ve probably discovered parts of your home and things in it you haven’t seen in a while. Did you use the alone time to sort, discard or create a donate pile? What did you decide was a need?

Next, supply, demand, price (curves and shifts). What was instantly in high demand? Toilet paper and hand sanitizer became economic superstars. Beyond their obvious uses, they suddenly became commodities to trade for other items.

On the plus side, there is a surplus of gas leading to much lower prices. Good for us, bad for the producers.

What about elasticity? Was price even a consideration? How much were you willing to pay for certain things?

In an instant, our markets were in disequilibrium. Demand far outpaced supply. This has created temporary shortages on the shelves, not necessarily in the supply chain. It’s out there, they just need to catch up. Thank you, Capitalism!

And factors other than price? The vast number of sellers was a blessing. If one place was out, maybe another still had it. A loss of income weighed on purchase decisions. Can it wait? Do I really need it?

Our expectations also come into play. How much money do I have left? Will I be laid off? Should I rethink this socialism thing? (Just kidding!) How long will this last? How many rolls of toilet paper is enough?

The market always recovers, eventually.

Technology has also impacted the supply and demand curves. We are able to work remotely. Kids can learn online at home (Ahhh, teachers’ revenge!). Stores are still selling and fulfilling our needs and wants online.

And speaking of selling, you’ve seen a shift in advertising to more good will, “we’re here to help” kinds of messages. Our inboxes are full of emails from every place we’ve ever shopped telling us about measures they are taking to keep our money flowing to them while keeping everyone safe.

Let’s consider every company’s best friend — brand loyalty. How often did you shop at stores you’ve never been to before? There are some who never expected to be one of the “People of Walmart” until they ran out of Charmin. Did you buy substitutes for your favorite brands? Were they as good as your favorites?

The more desperate we become, the more likely we are to compromise.

Our circular flow has become a slow drip. It now includes dominoes and snowballs. Where do you fit in? Did you lose a job and income? Are you buying less goods and services? Is a small business going to be able to survive? What about the restaurants we go to on a typical workday? What does a loss of tax revenue mean for your community? Some businesses are actually accelerating hiring, like Amazon and grocery stores.

We are seeing irrational markets. For a variety of reasons, we are in panic mode thinking we have to buy everything now. This is a rare and severe market disruption. Businesses are being forced to shut down “in an abundance of caution.”

There is now in place a host of market interventions, the most extreme of which is the shutdown by the government. Businesses have responded by rationing so we can all be Charmin clean. Stores have adjusted hours to be able to restock and to allow senior citizens to shop. The government also outlaws price gouging of essentials during an emergency. We’ve all heard about HandSan Guy in Tennessee. Normally the market would work itself out. If someone voluntarily wanted to buy hand sanitizer for $80, we would let them (and laugh). Adam Smith’s invisible hand would have eventually smacked both of them.

Don’t forget your ethics and to lend a helping (and clean) hand.

This is as good a spot as any to mention ethics or the “Is it okay to…?” Is it okay to buy up essential goods during a state of emergency in hopes of making a profit? The pure free market capitalist would say, “Of course it is.” As a society we have said, “No.” Is it okay for an employer to dump their employees out onto the street during a crisis? I think we know the answer.

The production possibilities model has been transformed. The private sector has shifted from normal production to making masks and ventilators to address shortages. Distilleries are now making hand sanitizer.

We are witnessing the business cycle in overdrive. Not long ago we were at full employment and our economy was in great shape. Within a few weeks, we now look at potentially massive unemployment and a looming recession.

As unemployment increases, we are again faced with choices. Do I pay this bill? If you don’t, how does that impact the circular flow? I might now be willing to consider a job I once considered beneath me.

Monetary policy considerations: Lower interest rates? Quantitative easing? How much and for how long? Will it be coordinated with fiscal policy?

Fiscal policy considerations: Is a stimulus plan appropriate? How much? Who should get help? Should businesses be bailed out (again)? Can we afford it? Can we afford not to?

We are seeing wartime-like public/private partnerships in an effort to produce goods and to save lives. Thank you, Capitalism!

And while we’re on the subject, this is a sneak peek at socialism. The empty shelves and long lines should have gotten our attention. Venezuelans experience this on a regular basis. The shortages we are seeing are temporary. Our shelves will be restocked in a matter of days if not hours. Our needs will be met along with many of our wants. Thank you, Capitalism!

As of this writing, the stock market (there’s more than one) is down approximately 30 percent from its all-time highs earlier this year. Saving and investing involve understanding risk, reward, and opportunity. You’ve probably learned a great deal about your personal risk tolerance over these past few weeks. I understand it but I have a financial advisor to handle it.

Don’t panic. The market is unforgiving to those who do.

I don’t know when and by how much but I do know certain things. Invest early and often. The market has had more ups than downs historically. Bull markets last longer than bear markets. The market always comes back. It did after the Great Depression. It did after 9/11. It did in spectacular fashion after the Great Recession. It will again, eventually. Buy low, sell high.

This wouldn’t be complete without a word about globalization and international trade. We have become globally interdependent and are now seeing the ugly side of it. We have known for decades about the substandard food safety and health practices and standards in China. We’ve gambled with risk/reward for a long time. Is it time for us to rethink our dependence on this market? Take a look around your house (you’re not going anywhere) and see how many items have “Made in China” on the label. Maybe we should practice social and economic distancing.

I’m optimistic. We will survive the virus. We will survive the Great Hoard of 2020.

Robert Jacobs is the author of My Thoughts, Exactly (independently published, 2019).

On a day for fate, Acropolis opened its whirly gate
Then out of the fog, emerged the mighty purple frog
Sending its seers, prophets of magic starling the years
Their words of justice would soon be what blessed us
Thus rang out a clarion call, “twas a day for Baylor to Fall.”
Atavars smile, angels ascend, “tyranny now: sure to end.”
Hence came of what belies, a piddling half of no surprise!
The demons gave praise of rankings from recent days
Memories leapt from furtive zeal, giant frogs became real!
Thus therein foggy fog, Green people were lost in a bog
Dunks, defense and deadly threes, knocked bears upon their knees!
No Mason at hand, the court belonged to the Dixon band
As Drew fell in sorrowful weeping, Frogs upheld to upset keeping.
Be ye of wisdom and charm, These are days for Worth’en storm!

— Jim Stovall ’65 (BDiv ’68)

TCU’s victory against No. 2 Baylor on Feb. 29, 2020, marked the Frogs’ highest ranked home win in school history. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Photo by Gregg Ellman

Defensive tackle Corey Bethley leads the 2019 TCU Football team with 8.5 career sacks. (Photo by Glen E. Ellman)

A lot of governments and corporations have proving grounds. They’re a place where products, weapons and theories are tested to see if they hold up. For Goodyear, it’s where tires go to be tested and stretched to the absolute limit. Some end in blowouts; some perform without incident and pass the test on their way to the open market, where they’ll be lauded as the greatest thing since the inner tube.

For the Frogs, the proving ground this weekend is Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, where No. 9 Oklahoma (9-1, 7-0 Big 12) hosts TCU (5-5, 3-4 Big 12). And for TCU, there’s a lot to prove.

The Frogs are ready to prove that they can beat OU — their last win over the Sooners was in 2014.

The Frogs need to prove they can compete with OU — the last three OU victories over TCU have been by an average of 22.3 points.

The Frogs have to prove that the are better than their 5-5 record indicates — in my book, TCU is 13 plays away from being a one-loss team.

But plays have to be made.

I can sit here and tell you all about Jalen Hurts, the juggernaut quarterback who is on his way to being a legend at Alabama and OU. But what don’t you already know about him? I can tell you about the Sooners’ defensive front, which sacked UT’s Sam Ehlinger nine … yes, nine times back in October. I can go on and on about OU — they’re fast, they’re powerful, and they’re a card-carrying Big Boy program in college football. The fact is that this game is about TCU and what it can do to acquit itself as a team that is better than it looks.

OU is beatable. They’ve skated on thin ice much of the last six weeks. Sooner insiders will tell you they don’t know what they’re going to get from one half of football to the next. Like every team in the nation, they spent the week with a can of Bondo, patching up holes and covering blemishes. They’ve had close calls and escaped all but one — Kansas State. Baylor jumped on OU early last week but hit the wall in the second half when the effects of a triple-overtime game with TCU took hold. I think Baylor did TCU a favor. There was a lot of fuel, both emotional and physical, used up by the Sooner Schooner last week in the harried comeback win against Baylor. A hangover effect for OU could be the door of opportunity the Frogs are looking to jump through.

The Frogs need a hot start. It’s hard to play from behind, especially on the road. If Max Duggan and Company can get rolling early, it’d be a huge leg up for TCU. I think the Frogs need to work the edge against OU. Kansas State had great success running and throwing outside. A steady dose of the run will eat the clock and minimize Jalen Hurts’ opportunities with the ball.  Third downs will be huge. I love Jonathan Song, and I hope he wins the Lou Groza Award, but the Frogs need TD’s — not field goals — to beat OU.

The TCU defense will do its regular lunchpail job, but they can’t give up big plays or big pass plays to OU. (The Frogs have been guilty of that over the last several games.) Opponents already have 24 plays of 30 yards or more versus TCU this season, as many as the Horned Frogs allowed in all 13 games last year. The secondary will have to be alert for new playmakers to emerge as one of OU’s best receivers, tight end Grant Calcaterra, retired from football this week due to recurring concussions. All American wideout Cee Dee Lamb is also questionable  — he missed the Baylor game last week.

Chilly weather and a chilly reception from Sooner fans await the Frogs. Temperatures are expected to be in the low 40s at kickoff at 7:05 p.m. CT.

We’re on the air on the Horned Frog Sports Network at 6 p.m. CT.  Join us as the Frogs shoot to get bowl eligible.

The proving grounds await.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

It’s the exact middle of November in college football and it’s the Time of the Season (see The Zombies, 1964) when the outcomes of games decide big things — like bowl games and the College Football Playoff.

Such is the situation with your TCU Horned Frogs. For the Purple and White, it’s a three-game season that starts tomorrow at Texas Tech. Time to saddle-up, head to Lubbock and win “The Saddle Trophy.” Lubbock has been good to the Frogs of late as they’ve won the last two matchups with Tech at Clifford B. and Audrey Jones Stadium (that’s what it was called when I was playing at TCU, long before AT&T put their name on it). This is one the Frogs need to get if they hope to go bowling. OU awaits in Norman next week, and West Virginia comes to visit the day after Thanksgiving. Plenty of work to do .

TCU will wear purple helmets, white jerseys and purple pants on Saturday in Lubbock. Tech and TCU are both 4-5 going into the late-season contest. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

It’s the 62nd meeting between these two teams … and maybe the most urgent in the history of the series for both teams. A pair of 4-5 programs each looking for their third Big 12 win in seven tries. Both teams dealing with injuries roster-wide and on thin ice at the QB spot. Tech expected to be thick where signal callers were concerned with sophomore Alan Bowman  and junior Jett Duffey competing for the job at the start of the year. Bowman emerged as the starter until a shoulder injury suffered against Arizona ended his season. Duffey’s been good, completing 69 percent of his throws for 1,774 yards and 10 TDs, while throwing just two to the other team. Pretty stout. New head coach Matt Wells has changed the look of Tech’s offense — they go fast. And for the first time since Spike Dykes ran the show, there are tight ends on the depth chart, and they are large — watch for #11 Donta Thompson and #15 Travis Koontz. (Jim Carlin is smiling!). By the way, does anyone remember a tight end at Texas Tech in the 70s named Andre Tillman? He was good.

I digress.

Receivers are plentiful, and the best of the bunch is #9 T.J. Vasher.

Defensively, the Red Raiders have gone to a three-man front, much the fashion these days. They are an attacking group with a solid line, and the linebackers are stellar. #1 Jordyn Brooks is the Big 12’s leading tackler, averaging 11 tackles per game. He makes a lot of plays behind the line with 18 tackles for loss on the year. The secondary is another story — the worst in the Big 12, allowing a whopping 309 yards per game through the air. The middle of the field will be wide open. Rumor is they’ll name everything between the hash marks “Jalen Reagor Boulevard.” I hope so.

The Frogs will need to start fast. That’s a must on the road. The weather will be perfect on the fast artificial surface with the forecast calling for cloudy and 55 degrees at kickoff.

The Frogs go for their third straight win on the South Plains. Did you know TCU did not lose in Lubbock from 1979-1983, tying Tech three times? In 1979, a snowstorm was the big winner in a 3-3 tie. In 1981, a sellout homecoming crowd at Tech welcomed the Frogs. TCU, down 24-7 at the half, came back to tie 39-39 in a game that took 4 hours and 30 minutes (a long game at the time).  In 1983, a Thursday sand storm followed by heavy Friday rains left the game to be played in a chocolate milk-like surface. It was a slippery, turnover-plagued game. The game ended in a 10-10 tie.

Here’s to hoping the Frogs make it three-straight wins in the Hub City.

We’re on the air at 10 a.m. on the Horned Frog Sports Network. Join us!

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!!

Into the final 33-1/3 percent of the football season. After eight games, the Frogs are 4-4. Some nice wins. Disappointing losses. Homecoming heroics against Texas. And injuries that have left the Frogs in patch-up mode this week as they prepare for Baylor.

Last week’s loss at Oklahoma State hurt. Literally.

The game against the Cowboys was a physical one that left the Frogs searching for depth when it was all said and done. The game cost the Frogs health at quarterback. Max Duggan hurt a hand, Michael Collins took some big hits on his way to being injured and Alex Delton left the team. The Frogs’ QB cupboard is suddenly bare. Word is that Duggan will give it a go and Georgia transfer Matthew Downing took the express elevator from the scout team end of the practice field to working with the first team. College football is the land of opportunity and that’s never more true than this week at TCU.

Opportunity for young players to step up and make plays. Opportunity to prove that this TCU team really is just 14 plays away from being a one-loss team. Opportunity to flex its defensive muscle and keep a battered offense in the game. Opportunity to take down a Top 10 team in a hated rival.

Baylor.

Last year’s victory against Baylor marked four-straight wins. We can do it again this season. Courtesy of TCU Athletics | Photo by Ellman Photography

The Baylor-TCU series is a storied one. Saturday’s tussle will be number 115 between the two schools and the two have shared many-a historic moment through the years. 1899 was the first game: a 0-0 tie. There have been some good, some sad, some silly. TCU owned Baylor from 1964 – 71 when the Frogs rattled off eight straight wins. That 1971 win in Waco, Texas, was also the game in which TCU Head Coach Jim Pittman died of a massive heart attack on the sidelines during the game. Then there’s the game in 1980 when the Frogs were giving the 11^th-ranked Bears, led by Mike Singletary a tussle. It was 7-6 in the 3^rd quarter when the PA Announcer at Amon G. Carter Stadium decided he would announce that SMU had just defeated Texas in Austin, wounding the Bears’ biggest obstacle to the Southwest Conference crown. Baylor went on to win 21-6. The announcer was fired the next day. In the mid-90s, the Southwest Conference broke up. Baylor had Governor Ann Richards behind it and TCU didn’t. Baylor got in the Big 12 in 1996 and TCU was off to wander through the WAC, Conference USA and the Mountain West. The two schools didn’t play football against one another from 1996- 2005. Finally, in 2006, the series was rekindled and the Frogs have gone 8-3 vs. Baylor since.

This year’s edition of the Baylor Bears has been a surprise. Undefeated into this second week of November and on a roll. The defense is solid. A 3-3-5 scheme, adopted last spring, has netted huge results. BU is No. 1 in scoring defense in the Big 12 at 18.5 points per game, No. 2 in Rushing Defense at 122 yards per game and 3 in pass defense and No. 3 in total defense. They do a great job containing offenses and the linebackers are very fast. The secondary may be a little soft as they’ll be missing safety Chris Miller, who’s out for this game thanks to his third targeting violation this year.

Offensively, Baylor is loaded.

QB Charlie Brewer is a tough kid who keeps coming at you. The offensive line is athletic and has protected Brewer to the point that he’s completing 67 percent of his passes. Running backs JaMycal Hasty and John Lovett are working well, having strung together four straight games in which they’ve run for more than 100 yards per game combined.

To win this one, the Frogs have to:

• Get very creative on the offensive side.
• Be sound on the defensive side, limiting big plays.
• Defense and special teams have to be great and one of those units will need to score.
• Avoid turnovers; the Frogs are +3 in turnover margin in wins, minus-7 in losses.

Look for another storied battle tomorrow. We’re on the air on the Horned Frogs Sports Network at 10 a.m. CT.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

The Frogs (and all of us) got a breath of fresh air last Saturday with that Homecoming win over No. 15 Texas. The Frogs needed it. And they earned it.

They earned it by playing their most complete game of the year. The defense confused and intercepted Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger four times (three in the second half). And the offense, led by Max Duggan, got it done on the ground — and in a big way through the air — as Taye Barber and Jalen Reagor made it hard for Texas’ secondary to keep up. The addition of the complementary deep threat Barber brings may be the key to this offense in the last month of the season. (The regular season ends four weeks from today.)

Gary Patterson and Mike Gundy chat before the TCU vs. Oklahoma State football game on November 24, 2018. The Frogs won, 31-24. (Glen E. Ellman photos)

Now it’s on to Oklahoma State and Stillwater, home of Boone Pickens Stadium. It’s one of the toughest, coziest stadiums you’ll ever visit. The  fans are loud, the stadium holds in the noise, and the area between the sideline and the stands is less than 15 feet in some places — the fans are right on top of the field.

Oklahoma State is a team that looks a lot like TCU, except for its defense. Like TCU, OSU features a first-year starter at quarterback in Spencer Sanders. The redshirt freshman from Denton Ryan has thrown for 1,739 yards and 13 touchdowns, but he’s also thrown 10 interceptions (hello, TCU secondary). The Cowboys’ run game is good, and they lean on sophomore running back Chuba Hubbard, who is a sensational player. Hubbard currently leads the nation in rushing  at 173 yards per game and specializes in runs over 50 yards in length. Tackling on first contact will be the key, as Hubbard has amassed 814 of his rushing yards after contact. He has at least one run of 20, 30, 40, 50, 70 and 80 yards this year. He’s a machine that OSU head coach Mike Gundy is concerned is getting over-worked at 30 touches per game.

The Cowboys may have to lean on Hubbard more, however, as major news came down around noon Friday that All-America wide receiver Tylan Wallace (a Fort Worth native from South Hills HS) is out for the season with a knee injury suffered Wednesday in practice. That takes 53 catches and 903 yards — along with a major scoring threat — off the field. Wallace is one of the best in the nation and was on his way to winning the Biletnikoff Trophy as the nation’s best wideout. The injury to Wallace means that #17 Dillon Stoner will be getting more passes thrown his way — he’s pretty good, too. Also, look for #89, giant tight end Jelani Woods, to be a “bailout” target for Sanders.

Defensively, the Cowboys have struggled. Run defense is an area of concern as the Cowboys have given up big numbers in recent games. Baylor averaged over six yards per carry, and Texas clicked off five yards every time they ran it. The linebackers are solid — look for #20 Malcolm Rodriguez and #11 Amen Ogbongbemiga — they can get to the ball if the defensive line helps them. If not, Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua could have a fun day.

Oklahoma State’s secondary is porous. They are in the bottom five in the nation in pass defense, and they’ve given up an average of 372 air yards over the last three games, including a monstrous 424 yards to Texas Tech.

I think balance is the key to this one for the Frog offense — get the run game going and work the clock. Then have fun with some deep shots. Containment is the word of the day for the TCU defense. And great tackling.

This is the 30th meeting between these two schools. They first played in 1915 when Oklahoma State was known as Oklahoma A&M College. Boone Pickens Stadium (formerly know as Lewis Field) runs east-west and is one of the few college stadiums situated on an east-west line. Most outdoor stadiums favor a north-south alignment.

The Saturday weather in Stillwater calls for sunny and 58 degrees.

We’re on the air on the Horned Frog Sports Network at 1:30 p.m. CT. Catch us on WBAP 820 AM, KTCU-FM 88.7, the Riff Ram App, TuneIn App  and on XM389.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

Jalen Reagor celebrates a touchdown during TCU Football’s 31-24 victory over Oklahoma State on Nov. 24, 2018. (Glen E. Ellman photos)

Happy Homecoming, everyone!

The Frogs and Texas will kick it off for the 90^th time Saturday in a storied series that dates back to 1897. While UT holds a 63-25-1 advantage, the Frogs won five of the last seven and dominated the series in TCU’s Big 12 tenure.

From Dana X. Bible to Dutch Meyer to Abe Martin to Darrell Royal, there’s tons of history in this one:

• Darrell Royal called the Frogs “cockroaches” after TCU’s 6-0 upset win in 1961.
• TCU’s 1967 win in Austin when Frog Hall-of-Famer Bubba Thornton returned a punt 67 yards for the win in a 24-17 triumph.
• Then there’s the long streak of dominance by Texas that saw the ‘Horns win every year from 1968 through 1991. It wasn’t pretty. Many Frog fans still bristle at the memory of an 81-16 loss in 1974 when Texas poured it on. Bristle.

The Horned Frogs and their fans need to carry that same rage against UT into Amon G. Carter Stadium Saturday.

It really doesn’t matter who the opponent is – the Frogs need a win. This opportunity just happens to be Texas.

And I like the Frogs’ chances.

TCU defense has given up some big plays at inopportune times, but is capable of throttling and offense. The stats bear that out. Containment is the biggest component this weekend, along with finding a way to generate a pass rush. Head Coach Gary Patterson has been in the laboratory and the test tube is bubbling. Pass the beaker.

Max Duggan is coming into his own and is beginning to blossom. His gutsy performance last week against Kansas State was amazing. And reassuring. When he gets his arm sighted-in, it’ll be open season on secondaries. The run game gives the Frogs two key components for this one: 1. Opportunity to control the line of scrimmage and, thereby, the game and, 2. The ability to control time of possession and limit UT quarterback Sam Ehlinger’s chances with the football. Kansas ran for 259 yards on UT last week. There are more yards to be yielded. Darius Anderson, Sewo Olonilua and Duggan are all capable of doing great damage and TCU’s offensive line needs to be in sync from the start.

Mac Duggan breaks tackles against Kansas State Oct. 19. So far this season the Frogs are 3-3, but Duggan is improving. Courtesy of TCU Athletics

Texas likes to rack up points. The Longhorns post an average of 41 points per game and 481 yards per contest. It’s a run-pass option scheme that loaded with talent. Aside from Ehlinger, keep an eye on #6 Devin Duvernay, a multi-purpose weapon who can take over a game. Duvernay doesn’t get enough credit — he kept Texas in the game with OU for a while. #9 Collin Johnson should be playing WR in the NFL right now but he elected to come back to UT for one more year. The secret weapon on this side of the ball for Texas may be #2 Roschon Johnson who has rushed for 409 yards and has come on of late, swerving for 121 yards against West Virginia and ripping off a 57-yarder against OU on his way to 95 yards.

Defense is where Texas struggles. The team’s last two outings against OU and Kansas exposed some trouble spots. Injuries and underperformance have not helped. The ‘Horns lead the world in missed tackles. Texas’ 3-3-5 scheme features three huge down linemen including nose tackle Keondre Coburn at 340 pounds. The linebackers are led by #46 Joseph Ossai, but it’s a beat-up group. The secondary is athletic, but young. Safety Brandon Jones is the best player in the back half.

This would be a huge, re-railing win for the Frogs but they need to get off to a fast start – the Frogs have shown that they don’t play well when they’re behind. Losses to SMU, Iowa State and Kansas State all saw the Frogs trip coming out of the blocks. Big plays early could light the fire. On defense, it’s about containing Ehlinger and playing field position. TCU has to keep UT out of the Red Zone. (UT is 26-28 in Red Zone scoring opportunities.)

Chilly weather is supposed to give way to a beautiful day on Saturday with highs in the upper 60s at kickoff.

We’re on the air at 1:30 p.m. CT on the Horned Frogs Sports Network. Join us on WBAP 820 AM, KTCU-FM 88.7, the Riff Ram App (Google Play, Apple), TuneIn App, Sirius 111 and XM201.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!