Happy Friday! A lot going on this weekend on campus and it all kicked off last night with the TCU Lettermen’s Association’s Hall of Fame Banquet. It was the 51^st class inducted and I was honored to emcee the event. It’s always a great night full of memories and reflection among old teammates. The 2018 Class is great with former Frogs football and track star Brashant Carter, Simpson Degrate who was a part of the Frogs 1971 Southwest Conference Championship team, world-class sprinter Virgil Hodge, Mike Keathley who blocked for LaDainian Tomlinson, lineback Jason Phillips and women’s basketball star Adrianne Ross. Serious talent.

Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati (left) with the 2018 TCU Lettermen’s Association Hall of Fame inductees. Courtesy of TCU Lettermen’s Association | Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Iowa State brings an interesting team, coach and program to town this week for a 6 p.m. kickoff. The Cyclones are 1-2, coming off a win of Mid-America Conference member Akron last week 26-13.

Matt Campbell is a bright, young coach who seems to have turned the Cyclones’ football fortunes. And not just on the field. He and his staff have made inroads in recruiting and he’s stocking up on talent and big linemen. His most prized recruit is a quarterback named Brock Purdy who selected ISU over Texas A&M and… wait for it… Alabama. You might see him tomorrow as ISU’s starter Kyle Kempt recovers from injury. Zeb Noland will likely get the start in place of the injured Kempt, who seemed to beat everyone last year, including the Frogs.

Other offensive weapons that you don’t want to hear about include 6-foot-6-inch wide out #18 Hakeem Butler, who scores ever fourth catch. Running back #32 David Montgomery is an elite back who ran for 1,146 yards last year and is on pace to repeat the 1,000-yard rushing season. The Cyclones are utilizing the tight end in the passing game more, so watch out for #11 Chase Allen, a 6-foot-7-inch target. The offensive line is larger than Iowa State has had in some time.

Defensive tackles Chris Bradley and Ross Blacklock stop a play on the gridiron in 2017 in Ames, Iowa. Photo courtesy of TCU Athletics

Campbell has said he’d like to turn Iowa State into what TCU has become and he’s following the plan with defense. Last year, Iowa State held all but one Big 12 foe below their season scoring average and allowed an average of just 20.9 points per game. They’re right there this year, allowing 21 per game. Only two teams scored more than 20 points in the last 11 games in 2017. They fly around and create turnovers, so the Frogs will have to secure the ball. It starts on the defensive line where the four-man front is led by tackle Ray Lima, who was recruited by TCU. The linebackers are swift and can cause havoc. Watch for #2 Willie Harvey and #4 Marcel Spears, who Campbell calls the heartbeat of the defense. The secondary is one of the best in the Big 12. Corners #1 D’Andre Payne and #10 Brian Peavy are excellent.

It’s Family Weekend at TCU and the Frogs want to show mom and dad that they’re better than they’ve shown the last two weeks. Much has been experienced by this Frogs team and more has been learned. It’s not often that the Frogs lose three games in a row and I don’t think that will happen this weekend. It’ll be good to be home.

Watch for the Hall of Famers on the field at halftime along with Lee Greenwood’s performance. TCU golf legend Angela Stanford will be honored for her major victory at the Evian Championship at the end of the first quarter.

The weather’s going to be perfect. Get your white on — it’s a white out!

I’ll see you on the radio with Brian and Landry and our crew at 5 p.m. on the TCU Sports Network.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!