It’s been a tough news week for sure. Having spent a lot of time in Las Vegas during TCU’s stay in the Mountain West Conference (some years we would travel there five times), I knew exactly where Sunday night’s mass shooting had taken place. My heart goes out to the families of all those killed and injured as well as to all citizens of Las Vegas.

Then, out of nowhere, the news comes down Monday afternoon that the great Tom Petty had suffered a heart attack. He died later that night. Petty’s death was a shock to the music world and sparked a lot of memories. I remember the first time I ever heard Tom Petty. It was the fall of 1979, I was driving in my 1972 Buick Skylark (with a dent in the roof) to Bishop Dunne High School in Dallas one morning. I was listening to “The Zoo” (98FM, KZEW) when Don’t Do Me Like That came on. I was hooked immediately by the opening guitar riff and couldn’t wait to go to Sound Warehouse and buy a cassette copy of Petty’s new album, Damn The Torpedoes.

Tom Petty performed in Dallas at the American Airlines Center in April. Photo by John Denton

I went to see Tom Petty in April at the American Airlines Center. Glad I did. It was a great show and Petty held the sellout crowd in the palm of his hand. Even something as simple as his, “Thank you so much!” after every song got a huge reaction from the crowd.

Over the years, from high school to TCU to life after college, marriage, kids and up until last Monday night, Tom Petty was always there. Like an old friend. He’ll be there Saturday at Amon G. Carter at the start of the fourth quarter when they play I Won’t Back Down. Stand and cheer.

It sounds cliché to say that Tom Petty sound-tracked my life, but when you look back at all his hits and there’s nothing more true that I could write. He sound-tracked your life, too. What are you favorites? Here are my top 15:

Don’t Do Me Like That
Refugee
American Girl
You Got Lucky, Baby
I Won’t Back Down
Learning to Fly
Runnin’ Down a Dream
Into the Great Wide Open
Even The Losers
Runaway Train
Yer So Bad
The Waiting
Here Comes My Girl
Listen To Her Heart
Free Fallin’

We’ll talk West Virginia on Friday.

Until then, listen to some Petty.

Kick ‘Em High

Just like that we’re four games into the season and what a month it’s been. 4-0 and more fun to come.

But this is a time to heal. TCU has a chance to go into Coach Gary Patterson’s Paint & Body to get a tune up and a few dents fixed during the off week.

The team has gone at it hard for four straight weeks. Four wins have also provided some bumps and bruises along the way. Staying healthy is a key to a great year. Getting healthy during the season is another conversation altogether. It’s tough to get well on the run, which is why this week is a very important launch pad into the next eight weeks that include travel to Manhattan, Kansas; Ames, Iowa; Norman, Oklahoma and Lubbock, Texas. It’s going to be a grind. It’s very important to get running back Kyle Hicks, center Patrick Morris and several others who are dinged up extra time in the training room.

TCU has played four straight weeks and now get a break. The Horned Frogs’ back nine is EIGHT straight weeks.

It’s also a time to improve. No game breathing down the Frogs’ neck this week means time to work on “the little things” that can show up in a big way on any given Saturday in November.

Takeaways from last Saturday in Stillwater:

KaVontae Turpin, photographed in the season opener against Jackson State, shows skill and power week after week.
Photo by Glen E. Ellman

• It was really hot at field level. Some reports measured 140 degrees on the field. Kudos to Don Sommer, TCU’s strength and conditioning coach, and his staff for having the Frogs in such great shape. TCU wore OSU down. (See Darius Anderson’s 42-yard touchdown run as Exhibit A.)
• The running game is for real. The Frogs offensive line can shove people around and control a game. The key now is to stay healthy.
• Sonny Cumbie’s insertion of the screen game into the game plan and timely play calls utilizing the same were masterful. Especially on third downs. I love the screen game!
• Kenny Hill was the most comfortable and in-control I’ve seen him since he landed at TCU. A power running game and controlled passing game will do that for a quarterback.
• TCU’s secondary did a great job of making OSU quarterback Mason Rudolph hold the ball, giving the rush time to arrive. How many times did Rudolph just have to throw the ball away? I lost count.
• The Frogs’ defensive line came away with two interceptions. Chris Bradley’s pick was an example of heads-up play and great coverage at the first level of the defense. L.J. Collier’s interception was a great example of what happens when you create mayhem for the opposing quarterback. The ball looked like Super Mario bouncing off helmets and shoulder pads on its way to Collier’s hands. I like it when the big guys end up with the ball, don’t you?
• Jonathan Song finally got tested and he passed. Nice three field goal day.
• Special teams were good, especially late in the game. Deep snapper Lucas Gravelle’s tackle on punt coverage when the Frogs had to punt deep in its own end of the field was stellar. KaVontae Turpin’s long kickoff return to set up Anderson’s 42-yard dagger was right on time. Turpin Time.
• Safety Nick Orr has a feel for the game. Great read getting the interception on the double pass by OSU. Another thought: why did OSU run that play? No need. Thanks, anyway!
• The Frogs got the “Stillwater Thing” off its back. Now Norman, Oklahoma is the only Big 12 road venue where TCU hasn’t won since joining the league.

So this week you Frog fans can relax and watch the rest of the Big 12 in action and take notes for future weekends. You can probably use the time off, too. After all, you’re 4-0.

Talk to you Friday. Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

Game four brings us to Stillwater and a spotlight matchup with the Oklahoma Aggies. That’s what they used to be called before they changed the name from OAMC to Oklahoma State and took Cowboys as their mascot.

Lewis Field, as it was known until they changed it to Boone Pickens Stadium in 2003, has not been friendly to the Frogs. A win Saturday would be the first there for TCU since 1991.

The theme for the day Saturday will be “Start Fast.” The Cowboys have outscored their opponents 59-0 in the first quarter this year. That means the offense jumps out of the gate and the defense comes out stingy.

A quick start for the Frogs, similar to the one they had at Arkansas, will be a must.

The Cowboys have not trailed in a game since they faced OU last December 2^nd.

Cowboys’ quarterback Mason Rudolph (no relation to the pro golfer from the ’50s and ’60s with the same name) is a fifth-year senior who is as accurate as he is savvy. He’s thrown 33 touchdown passes in his last 12 games against three interceptions. He throws to four wideouts who are all dangerous: Jalen McCleskey, Dillon Stoner, Marcell Ateman and the ever-pain-in-the-neck James Washington – all four had more than 100 yards receiving last week in OSU’s walk-through at Pitt.

Defensively, OSU has a crafty defensive coordinator in Glenn Spencer. He comes up with great schemes to keep offenses reeling. In my opinion, what makes OSU good on defense is the middle of the defense. Tackle Darrion Daniels is a 300-pound handful, and the two defensive ends are rangy. Look out for defensive ends #93 Jarell Owens and #82 Cole Walterscheid (they combined for 10.5 sacks last year). Middle linebacker #45 Chad Whitener holds his ground and can run. He had two interceptions against the Frogs during the last game in Stillwater. It’s a physical group that flies around, and strong safety #7 Ramon Richards and free safety #31 Tre Flowers set the tone. They’ve been around for a while and they’re fast. Keep in mind that the Frogs will have to be secure with the ball as OSU has scored a defensive touchdown in every game this year.

Where the kicking game is concerned, keep an eye on punter Zach Sinor from Castroville, Texas, just west of San Antonio. He’s a character who has his own Heisman hype website (sinor4heisman.com) and a rap song released this week promotes him for the trophy! Gotta love the attitude.

Then there’s Coach Mike Gundy’s mullet. Much has been made about his hair, but he just shrugs. At Big 12 media days last July, he gave me the story on it. A stylist named Kathy Sweeney keeps it looking good for $17 at a place called Klip It Up Salon in Stillwater. It’s a strong mullet, but I think mine was pretty good back in the day — 1984 to be exact. What do you think? Let me know. Here’s a side-by-side.

John Denton photo by Linda Kaye. Mike Gundy photo courtesy of CBSsports.com

Did You Know?

• TCU Defensive Coordinator Chad Glasgow played linebacker at OSU in the early 1990s?
• TCU Offensive Co-Coordinator Curtis Luper played at OSU from 1984-87 alongside OSU Coach Mike Gundy.
• Lewis Field was built so that the field runs east to west. Historians say it was built that way so the stands could block the strong Oklahoma winds.

See you in Stillwater.

Kick ‘Em High!

The SMU game has come and gone. Here’s what I believe we learned:

Two children (who were not yet born the last time TCU won at OSU in 1991) root for the Horned Frogs in the season opener against Jackson State. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

• TCU has a lot of team speed. Extreme speed. On both sides of the ball.
• The TCU offensive line is getting better every game, especially in the run game. Very physical. I like that.
• The Frogs need to find a way to start games faster than they did vs. SMU. Big 12 teams won’t wait.
• I like the defensive line rotation. Their best games are still ahead of them. That’s good news.
• Jonathan Song is settling is as the placekicker. Even though the 50-yarder vs. SMU was nullified by a timeout, he was in control at impact – very important.

Now, it’s time for Big 12 play and it starts with Oklahoma State.

The Frogs last victory in Stillwater came in 1991. A lot has happened in those 26 years.

Here’s what was going on in 1991:

• Operation Desert Storm began in January
• The air bag was first required in U.S. cars
• Apartheid ended
• Average annual income in the U.S. was $29,000
• Regular gasoline as $1.12 per gallon
• The Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 3,000 for the first time in 1991
• The internet is made available to unrestricted commercial use
• The number of computers on the internet reached one million
• Texas A&M won the Southwest Conference football championship
• TCU finished 7-4 and did not receive a bowl bid – it was Jim Wacker’s last season as head coach.
• TCU head coach Gary Patterson was the defensive coordinator at Sonoma State
• On September 21, TCU Football defeats Oklahoma State 24-21 in Stillwater at Lewis Field (as it was known then)

Linebacker Ty Summers, #42, reacts to a big play from Oklahoma State on the Nov. 19, 2016, game at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Photo by Leo Wesson

Hopefully the Frogs are gonna party like it’s 1991.

Friday, we’ll take a closer look at the Cowboys. They are loaded.

Did You Know?

Yesterday was National Pirates Day. Arrrrrrgh!!! I wonder what Washington State head coach Mike Leach did to celebrate?

Oklahoma State was formerly known at Oklahoma A&M College? They changed the name in 1957.

Ninety-seven times.

When it’s all said and done tomorrow at Amon G. Carter Stadium, that’s how many times TCU and SMU will have played football against each other. For SMU, there’s no other school they’ve played more than TCU. And no other team they’d love to beat more. This is SMU’s most talented and weapon-laden team since the death penalty put the Ponies out of business in 1987 and ’88. More on them later.

It is fun to think back on this series and ponder the history. They’ve been playing since 1915. In 1918, heavy rains in Fort Worth and Dallas left the roads impassable. TCU had to forfeit because the team’s bus got stuck in the mud before reaching Dallas. TCU’s own Dan Jenkins ’53 is still not over the heartbreak of that 20-14 SMU victory in the 1935 “Game of the Century,” as it was known. Facing fourth and seven, SMU punter Bobby Finely dropped back as if to punt, but threw a long pass to running back Bobby Wilson between two Horned Frogs at the goal line. The “$85,000 Pass” as it became known, sent the Mustangs to the Rose Bowl. Frog fans were stunned. SMU’s Doak Walker won the Heisman Trophy in 1948 – he’s the reason they put upper decks on the Cotton Bowl stadium. Then there’s “Mustang Mania” (the brain child of marketing guru Brad Thomas) from the late 1970s and early ’80s, when SMU moved to Texas Stadium in Irving to give the program some “splash.” Head coach Ron Meyer built a power house that featured Craig James and Eric Dickerson in the backfield. SMU nearly won the national championship before the wheels came off in the mid-’80s

Then there’s the 1997 TCU-SMU game. A 21-18 TCU win that didn’t decide anything other than SMU wouldn’t be going to a bowl and the Frogs wouldn’t end the season without a win. Freshman running back LaDainian Tomlinson ’05 popped onto the scene in that game. I point to that game because it was a pivotal point in the divergent paths that these programs would take over the next 20 years. The next year, Dennis Franchione showed up at TCU and brought a defensive coordinator named Gary Patterson with him. The Frogs beat the University of Southern California in the 1998 Sun Bowl. TCU was launched on a trajectory that, years later, landed the Frogs in the Big 12. SMU went 5-7 and won just 14 games over the next five years, including 0-12 in 2003.

Chad Morris is SMU’s fifth head coach since that 1997 game and his third edition looks like the best SMU squad in quite some time. They’ve scored 112 points in their first two wins.

On SMU’s offense, the one guy you need to keep an eye on is wide receiver #16 Courtland Sutton. He’s a tall, rangy wideout who is SMU’s version of Josh Doctson ’15. And a projected first-rounder in next year’s National Football League draft. Last week, Sutton passed SMU legend Jerry Levias on the all-time SMU receiving touchdown list. SMU’s other weapons include wideouts #15 Alex Honey (another 6-4 receiver) and #3 James Proche. Running backs #6 Braeden West and #5 Xavier Jones are capable, but the offensive line has not opened holes consistently for them in the first two games.

Defensively, SMU leads with its defensive line. Ends #40 Dimarya Mixon and #99 Jason Lawler anchor the defense and give SMU a pressure component. The linebackers are led by #11 Kyran Mitchell who plays the STAR position (hybrid linebacker/safety) in SMU’s 4-3 scheme. The secondary is young with just two upperclassmen in the depth chart.

Quarterback Kenny Hill prepares for another play in the season opener against Jackson State. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

The Frogs will need to control SMU’s defensive line and allow Kenny Hill to get off to another good start. Hill settled in last week at Arkansas and the Frog offense took over the game in the second quarter, allowing Arkansas to run just six plays in the quarter. Six! A continuation of the power running game will offset the SMU edge rush.

On defense, the Frogs need to pressure Ponies’ quarterback Ben Hicks and make him uncomfortable early. Courtland Sutton is a great wide receiver who can take over a game. Rest assured he will have a lot of passes aimed his way. He’s strong with the ball. Great coverage will be key as Hicks will work to get rid of the ball in a hurry to counter the Frogs’ pressure. Sacks will have to come as a result of great coverage in the back half that forces Hicks to hold the ball. I remind you that SMU has multiple playmakers that bear watching as well.

Did You Know:

• SMU’s head coach in that 1935 game was Matty Bell, who was in his first season at SMU. He was head coach at TCU from 1923-28.
• In 1994, TCU running back Andre Davis ran for 179 yards vs SMU– a TCU record vs. SMU. Current Frog running back Darius Anderson reminds me a lot of Andre Davis– a back who runs larger than his size, finds a way to get up field and loves to break tackles and outrun defenders.
• This is the first time since 1985 that TCU and SMU meet as undefeated teams.
• The “$85,000 Pass” was named so because that’s the payout SMU received for playing in the 1936 Rose Bowl.

See you at “The Carter.” Don’t forget to wear white.

Kick ‘Em High!

The Horned Frogs treated us all to a delicious afternoon last Saturday in Fayetteville with a 28-7 win. TCU controlled the game throughout and did what they had to do to win on the road: they got off to a hot start, played great on third down on both sides of the ball, dominated time of possession and were more physical than their opponent. The running game was especially impressive. The Frogs wore down Arkansas and finished them off in the fourth quarter. Textbook road win.

I loved CBS’ Brad Nessler’s comment about Sewo Olonilua’s touchdown run at the end of the game: “That’s 13 yards of carnage right there.” I wish I’d said it.

What I left Arkansas thinking:

• This TCU team is very physical.
• Kenny Hill’s vision up-field is improved. His third down throw to Shawn Nixon in the second half was perfect.
• The offensive line was impressive in sparking the Frog’s power running game last Saturday. You have to knock people off the ball. They did.
• This defensive unit has the size and speed to be really good. And they’re physical.
• Defenders Ben Banogu, Innis Gaines and Travin Howard were especially physical against Arkansas.
• This team knows it has work to do.

Travin Howard and Coach Gary Patterson discuss a play on the sidelines during TCU’s season opener against Jackson State.
Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Games come quickly and this week it’s the Iron Skillet. SMU-TCU will play for the 97^th time. There’s a lot of history in this series and this is probably the most intriguing match-up in quite some time. SMU is improved and can score points. It’s the first time since 1985 that the Frogs and Mustangs meet as undefeated teams.

Coach Gary Patterson confirmed that he has told the Frogs the story of the 2005 game, a 21-10 SMU upset of a TCU team that has just beaten Oklahoma the week before. It was the Frogs’ only loss in that 11-1 season.

This is game three of what Coach Patterson calls the “Four Game Season” which is how he describes this first segment of the schedule. An in-depth look at SMU is coming Friday.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High

Hello, Horned Frogs fans…..It’s FRIDAY! That’s what the great Paul Harvey used to sign on with every Friday – I sure miss him.

In TCU’s season opener versus Jackson State, helmets donned a special message for Houston after the impact of Hurricane Harvey. Category Four Hurricane Irma has now ripped through the Bahamas and Cuba on its way to Florida.
Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Head for the Hills seems to be the theme for the week. Folks in Florida are heading for higher ground as Hurricane Irma approaches and the Frogs are headed to the Ozarks to take on the Razorbacks of Arkansas.

The Frogs haven’t played in Fayetteville since 1988 and TCU’s last win at Razorback Stadium came in 1984. The 32-31 upset by the ’84 Frogs set TCU on its way to that “UN-BELEEEVABLE” year and an 8-3 record. It was my senior year at TCU and many of us on the team hadn’t experienced a lot of road wins; Two, count ‘em, in four plus seasons up to that day. The win at Arkansas was one for the ages. Current TCU defensive line coach Dan Sharp caught a touchdown pass. Down 31-17, the Frogs drove into the wind for two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to draw within 31-30 with 11 seconds left in the game. Coach Jim Wacker decided to go for the win. Frogs quarterback Anthony Gulley took the snap, avoided a sack and rolled to his right on the 2-point conversion. He found wide receiver James Maness in the back right corner of the south end zone to make it 32-31 TCU. And the whiskey bottles began flying. The Frogs had made a statement.

I’m looking for another great day in Fayetteville on Saturday. Razorback Stadium will be rocking and the environment will be full-on college football. The players will have no problem getting motivated for this one. It’s a big-time atmosphere and a perfect stage for the Frogs to impress a national audience on CBS.

Arkansas is still the same as you remember. They’re still big and they like to line up on offense and run it right at you. You’ll never see the Hogs without a tight end in the formation. They like to utilize a fullback and run a lot of lead draws and straight-ahead running plays. The offensive line averages 309 and quarterback Austin Allen has a command of the offense. He should – he’s a coach’s kid and he’s the best passer in the Southeast Conference. Tailback #2 Chase Hayden is the best of the running backs and he’s a big play weapon, both running and catching the ball. (WATCH ALERT: Arkansas loves to run old-fashioned screens to the running backs – look for that). The receivers are solid with no standouts but watch out for #6 T.J. Hammonds, he’s Arkansas’s Shawn Nixon – very versatile.

On Defense, the Hogs have a new coordinator in Paul Rhoads. You’ll remember him as the former head coach at Iowa State from 2009-2015. He has changed the Hogs from a 4-3 scheme to a new 3-4 scheme designed to put pressure on the quarterback and defend against spread attacks. This scheme is a “Bend, Don’t Break” scheme that will blitz when threatened. They’re big up front, averaging 309 pounds. Missing from the lineup will be the Hogs’ best corner, Ryan Pulley, who is out for the season with a shoulder injury suffered last week in the 49-7 win over Florida A&M.

Razorback Stadium has changed from natural grass to an artificial surface so it will be a fast track. The stadium, which opened in 1938, has been enlarged since Southwest Conference days when it held 44,000. It now seats over 70,000 and features 134 suites. And it’s loud.

The temperature should be around 80 at kickoff with clear skies.

If you’re going to Fayetteville, make sure to stop at Herman’s Ribhouse on College Street. There’s no sign – they don’t need one. Just look for the crowds.

See you there!

Kick ‘Em High!

The Frogs are over the first big hill on the college football roller coaster with their win over Jackson State. Now things get rolling really fast. Hold on tight!

And just like that – Arkansas and a trip to Fayetteville are three days away. I love Fayetteville – it’s a good town and the stadium along Razorback Road is a great setting. Much like at TCU, the stadium still sits on the same site. The main difference is it now seats 70,000+ instead of the 44,000 it used to seat back in the old Southwest Conference days.

Last weekend was a wild one around the state of Texas with the season in full bloom. Interesting outcomes in Austin and Waco and a heart-breaking loss by West Virginia mean that Big 12 teams need to get going in the win column, especially against early season non-conference foes.

After the Frogs defeated Jackson State, I was on my way to the Rose Bowl to see the Aggies take on UCLA in the most talked-about game of the week. And, yes, I was cheering for the Aggies – they’re from Texas. You should pull for them, too. Remember, their move to the Southeast Conference opened up a seat at the Big 12 table. Without the Aggies’ move and Chris Del Conte’s swiftness, where might TCU be today?

The game reminded me of the Alamo Bowl as the Aggies controlled the game for 35 minutes, then it started to rain and the Bruins had new life and all the luck. Leaving the Rose Bowl, I still wasn’t sure what just happened. My advice for the Aggies: RUN the football. They have three talented backs who can take over games and help keep the A&M defense off the field.

Of course, no visit to the Rose Bowl would be complete without a visit to the Rose Bowl’s Court of Champions which features the winners of every Rose Bowl. It’s special to see all that history and even more moving to see TCU’s plaque on the wall. Believe me, I showed all my Aggie friends!

Photo by John Denton

Ironically, the same two head coaches from that 2011 Rose Bowl square off Saturday in Fayetteville. Friday, I’ll preview the Frogs & Hogs.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

Before we kickoff this year of Extra Points, let me send out encouragement to all along the Gulf Coast who are trying to make it in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Our prayers are with all of you for strength. Let me also say that LaDainian Tomlinson’s suggestion of all of us becoming “Team America” in his NFL Hall of Fame Induction speech has indeed been on display. And it’s a powerful thing to see. Makes one proud to be an American and a Texan. Too bad it takes a disaster to get us all on the same page.

Ty Summers, Kenny Hill and Montrel Wilson pose at the 2017 Big 12 Media Days in August. Photo courtesy of TCU Athletics.

The long wait is almost over! TCU Football is a mere handful of hours away. Last December 3o, the date of the Liberty Bowl, seems like year ago, doesn’t it?

It’s all new, and as I begin my 38th year around Horned Frog Football, the anticipation of a new season of big plays and elevated heart rates begs a few questions for which we will soon have answers:

• Kenny Hill — The quarterback always get the focus. I’m anxious to see the improvement he’s made over the off-season. He has all of the tools. I’m pulling for him. You should, too.
• How will the offense look under new offensive coordinator Sonny Cumbie and co-coordinator Curtis Luper?
• The difference in the offensive line under new o-line coach (and former Frog) Chris Thomsen.
• What impact will offensive analyst Sonny Dykes have on this offense — will the Frogs feature the run more in certain situations?
• Which of the wide receivers will emerge as the “go to” guy?
• Will the Frogs top their 2016 total of 43 sacks, which led the Big 12? Ty Summers at defensive end will have something to say about that.
• Will the old adage: “Older Defenses tend to be better Defenses” hold true?  I think it will. Just stand and watch.
• Can the Frogs continue their road success and take wins at Arkansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State? My hunch: Get to Stillwater.
• Will the Frogs’ kicking game rebound? I think it already has. Coach P has three kickers that, in my assessment, any program would like to have.

The Jackson State Tigers come in off of a 3-8 record last year. The Tigers lost five games that were decided by one possession.

Defense is the calling card for the Tigers, with two great defensive linemen leading the way. Jackson State runs a 4-3 set, and there’s speed aplenty. Look for defensive end  #14 Keontre Anderson, who led the FCS with 26 tackles for loss. His line mate is recent Mississippi State transfer,  #55 Deion Pope. Linebacker #9 Andre Lloyd is a playmaker.

The Tigers run a multiple offense that relies on lots of formations and a stable of running backs led by #17 Jordan Johnson. He averaged 6.4 yards-per-carry last year as a freshman.

Quarterback is still a bit of a question for Jackson State, and the Frogs will see two quarterbacks tomorrow. Sophomore Brent Lyles will start, but Jackson State coach Tony Hughes is waiting to discover a long-term answer at the position.

Hughes told the Jackson Clarion-Ledger Wednesday that the game plan is for junior college transfer Jarrad Hayes to see some playing time as well.

Did You Know?

Jackson State is home to three NFL Hall of Famers? Walter Payton of the Chicago Bears, Jackie Slater of the Los Angeles Rams and Lem Barney (Detroit Lions) all honed their skills at JSU.

It’s the season opener. Feels like Christmas Eve, doesn’t it! Get there early and be loud as Coach P goes for win number 150.

Kick ‘Em High!

Junior guard Kenrich Williams leaps over UCF’s 7-6 center Tacko Fall in the Frogs’ 68-53 win in the NIT semifinals at Madison Square Garden.

Tonight’s NIT Championship final vs. Georgia Tech is the last game in a “Season of Firsts” under new head coach Jamie Dixon.

Jamie Dixon’s 2016-17 Horned Frog basketball team is competing for a NIT championship.

Consider these tidbits, submitted for your perusal:

• TCU has reached the 20-win plateau for the first time since its 21 wins in the 2004-05 season.
• TCU won a postseason game for the first time since 2012 and obtained its first NIT win and postseason road win since 2005.
• TCU defeated an AP No. 1 team for the first time in school history when the Frogs beat No. 1 Kansas on March 9.
• TCU advanced to the semifinals of the Big 12 Championship for the first time in school history.
• TCU had a representative on the All-Big 12 team for the first time since 2015.
• TCU won three consecutive conference games for the first time since the 2007-08 season when it was in the Mountain West.
• TCU’s win over Iowa State was its first in 20 years.
• TCU’s win at Kansas State was its first win in Manhattan in 18 years.
• TCU won at Texas for the first time in 30 years, back when Jamie Dixon was a senior.
• TCU swept the season series over Texas for the first time in 30 years.
• TCU’s six conference wins are its most since joining the Big 12. TCU is in its fifth season in the league.

TCU guard Alex Robinson maneuvers around UCF’s Tacko Fall.

And tonight the Frogs can win a post-season tournament for the first time in school history … Not to mention ending a season with a win for the first time in the “tournament era” (45 years).

Brian Estridge and I will be there for Game No. 39, just as we have been all year. It’s been quite a ride. You can find us on KTCU and on ESPN 103.3 FM at 6:30 CT.

Kick ‘Em High!

TCU freshman Desmond Bane blocks a UCF shot in the second half of the Horned Frogs’ NIT semifinal victory.