On Saturday afternoon, the No. 2 Horned Frogs will put their 11-game winning streak on the line against a revitalized Texas Tech squad. Both teams will be taking the field for the Big 12 opener with unblemished records and limitless possibilities.  To throw an extra iron into the fire, the Horned Frogs have not won in Lubbock since 1991.

“It’s what you want in the ballgame,” TCU coach Gary Patterson told a large assembly of national and local sports media at his weekly press conference.

Game strategy should be consuming the coach’s focus, but he said he has lost sleep “putting out fires.” On Monday, Fort Worth police arrested two football student-athletes for participating in a Sept. 4 altercation near campus. For Patterson, who mentors his team in the protective manner of a parent, setting the story straight needed to be first priority.

The local NBC affiliate incorrectly reported that defensive lineman Davion Pierson was involved and arrested. Patterson did not have much patience for the error. “Hurts his draft status, hurts everything else … when you do something like that to a kid,” he said.

“We trust them”
Ty Slanina about new starters on defense

Patterson said he managed to carve out time to devise a game strategy, even if doing so meant burning the midnight oil. “I have a responsibility to the rest of those kids to work my tail off.”

Off-the-field drama and injuries, which have plagued the Frogs so far in 2015, are part of the unpredictability of coaching college football. “If you don’t like the fire, get out of the pan,” he said.

Texas Tech won’t turn the heat down any on Saturday. The Red Raiders are brimming with confidence after a 35-24 takedown of Arkansas.

Texas Tech also might be seeking payback for last year’s 82-27 shellacking in Fort Worth, a game where quarterback Trevone Boykin threw for a school-record seven touchdowns. Running backs Aaron Green and Trevorris Johnson each gained 105 yards to help pave the way to 82 points, also a TCU record.

Patterson complimented Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury for reversing fortunes from a four-win season in 2014. He said he saw the writing on the wall when the Red Raiders took Baylor to the wire in last year’s regular season finale.

So far in 2015, Tech has yet to trail and is scoring an average of 54.3 points per game. Sophomore quarterback Patrick Mahomes is averaging 343 passing yards per game – more than Heisman hopeful Boykin, who has been good for 328.3. The young Frog defense, especially linebackers Montrel Wilson and Travin Howard, will face a test in Tech’s run game, as DeAndre Washington ranks ninth in the nation in yards per carry. Patterson compared Tech receiver Jakeem Grant to TCU’s speedy freshman sensation KaVontae Turpin.

“I have a responsibility to the rest of those kids to work my tail off.”
Gary Patterson

Player representatives expressed confidence that the Frogs are ready to do battle on both sides of the ball. Mounting injuries are not a cause for worry, said wide receiver Ty Slanina. “We don’t rebuild at TCU. We reload.”

Questions about injuries and a defensive unit that struggled at times against an improved SMU team did not faze the businesslike Slanina. Concerning the seven unanticipated starters, “We trust them,” he said.

Patterson pointed out several reasons to be optimistic about slowing Tech down. He said safeties Derrick Kindred and Denzel Johnson, who own a pivotal role in the Frogs’ defensive scheme, “are playing unbelievable.” He also praised the development of defensive ends Josh Carraway and Bryson Henderson.

Falsely accused defensive lineman Davion Pierson, who has been suffering from a concussion, might see some playing time in Lubbock, the coach said. Pierson’s return to the locker room has been “a big positive” in terms of leadership.

The Frogs, without injured starters Pierson, Terrell Lathan, Ranthony Texada, Kenny Iloka, James McFarland, Deanté Gray and Sammy Douglas, took another hit this week when the football program announced the suspensions of starter Mike Tuaua and upcoming receiver Andre Petties-Wilson. The university will deliberate about their eligibility while Fort Worth police sort out the details of the Sept. 4 fracas.

Mike Tuaua entertains reporters at a preseason press conference.

Patterson called the affable Tuaua “the most-liked kid on the team” and cautioned media members to be patient while facts about the incident emerge. In the past, the coach has doled out tough love to athletes in hot water, but he reiterated his support for Tuaua, even if the facts eventually show the young man made a mistake. “You’ve never heard me ever speak up for a kid when he screwed up … if he did … but you do now.”

The coach also shared that Tuaua, who has not practiced since the incident, played in the season opener at Minnesota with a partially torn ligament and might have used a redshirt year to recuperate.

Patterson described his team “proud” and assured everyone that its goal is to be undefeated.

Going into conference play with a perfect record means the future is wide open for both TCU and Texas Tech. “Everybody has the same aspirations right now,” Patterson said. “To win the conference and [be] one of the playoff teams.”