Happy Friday!

I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for this week to be over so we can get on to game day.

What a week it’s been for Frog fans. Hit from every angle with bad news.

TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson passes in the second quarter as TCU hosts Oklahoma University for the 2018 Homecoming Game in Amon G. Carter Stadium, Saturday, October 20, 2018. Photo by Rodger Mallison

First we learn that quarterback Shawn Robinson is done for the year and will have his shoulder surgically repaired. Then KaVontae Turpin goes down a path that no one should go down and he’s gone. Just like that.

My old coach, FA Dry, used to say, “Don’t ever fall in love with a football player or coach, ‘cuz they’re here today and gone tomorrow.” He told me that in 1982, right after he’d been relieved of his duties at TCU. That same line rings as true this week as it did in November of ’82.

That being said, we must all move on. Set our jaw. Put on our big Frogs pants and get ready to tee it up tomorrow in Lawrence, Kansas, a place that has always been tough on the Frogs since TCU joined the Big 12. The Frogs eeked out a 4-point win in 2014 and a one point victory in 2016. Weird things happen there.

Michael Collins will get the start at QB for the Frogs. Patience will be the key for this offense against a Kansas team that will take chances.

Kansas is a pesky team that is led by its defense. Defensive Coordinator Clint Bowen has been at KU for 19 years. He runs a scheme that’s hard to define but it’s basically a three-man front with a lot of guys moving around. Kind of like Lou Holtz ran at Arkansas when he had Billy Ray Smith (millennials can Google Billy Ray Smith). They fly around to the ball and they create a ton of turnovers. Not good news for the Frogs’ offense, which has had the Turnover Flu this year.

Ball security will be key. The Jayhawks are ball-hawks.

Daniel Wise, KU defensive tackle, is an all-conference caliber player who spends a lot of time in the backfield. Kellton Hollins, TCU center, may not play against a better one all year. Other Jayhawks to look out for: Linebacker #29 Joe Dineen, Jr. is the leading tackler and is a great player. The secondary is led by safety Hasan Defense (yes, you read that correctly) who has three interceptions.

Head Coach Gary Patterson prepares to lead the Horned Frogs onto the field as TCU hosts OU earlier this month. The Horned Frogs travel to Kansas to meet the Jayhawks on Saturday. Photo by Rodger Mallison

Offensively, the Jayhawks have struggled. They want to throw the ball to Stephen Sims, their best wide out, but they’re still looking for an arm. Kansas has huge issues on offense and are still searching for a quarterback. Head Coach David Beaty fired Doug Meacham, offensive coordinator/QB coach, two weeks ago and took over the play-calling and the QB mentoring. Last week at Texas Tech, the KU offense didn’t show much improvement. Three times in that game, the KU defense gave the offense the ball inside the Tech 20-yard line and the Jayhawks failed to cash in with just three points out of the three short field possessions. Kansas is last in the Big 12 in yards per pass attempt and they are leaning on a freshman running back, Pooka Williams and his 7 yards per carry to give the offense some spark.

The Frogs will be looking to notch win No. 1 of 2 in their two-week quest to win the “Sunflower Championship” by sweeping both Kansas schools. Next week it’s K-State at The Carter for a 2:30 p.m. kickoff.

The Frogs have not lost to KU since TCU joined the Big 12. Let’s keep it going.

We’re on the air at 1 p.m. tomorrow from Memorial Stadium in Lawrence on the TCU Sports Network. Lend an ear.

Kick ‘Em High!