What We Noticed about the Win

1. Refueled and Reloaded

The biggest question in the minds of Frog fans going into the 2016 season was who would replace the offensive superpowers? With Josh Doctson on the Washington Redskins, Aaron Green with the Rams and Trevone Boykin in Seattle, who would execute the Meacham-Cumbie air raid? Those questions can now be considered answered after new quarterback Kenny Hill threw for 439 yards and rushed for three touchdowns. Newcomers Taj Williams and John Dairse both had strong debuts in the receiving corps, reeling in 158 and 38 yards worth of catches, respectively.

2. Turpin Time Never Ends

Sweet dreams of “Daylight” KaVontae Turpin led to many restful nights of sleep over the offseason across Horned Frog Nation. Kavontae, too, found a way to recharge in the eight months since the Alamo Bowl. In the second quarter, he showed that he hasn’t lost a step by juking and dazzling all the way to the end zone with a 81-yard punt return for a touchdown. And the best part of the Turpin dream? The young man just played the first game of his sophomore year.

3. Steady as He Goes

A big uncertainty to start the season was whether anyone could replace the consistency of record-setting kicker Jaden Oberkrom, who spurned his shot at the NFL to strike out in the world and make a difference with his smarts. When sophomore kicker Jonathan Song hurt a toe in preseason workouts, an injury that will cost him at least several early season games, those concerns turned into tremors. But no worries, Ryan Graf was perfect on the night, nailing eight extra points and one goalpost-thumping field goal.

4. Dirty Laundry

Saturday must have been Throw Your Flag at Work Day, but the referees were the only ones who got the message. Yikes, Frog footballers. 12 penalties for a whopping 125 yards? Not your best look, but you won by one, so all is well in the land of the purple. Still, let’s make next Saturday #NoMistakes day, or else our visitors from Arkansas might wonder if the Camden Yards of College Football has an echo: “Flag on the play / flag on the play / flagontheplay.”

5. Football Fans Need Conditioning Drills, too

College football fans don’t get the same kind of conditioning the student-athletes do. This is unfortunate, as the ride through the Big 12 can get harrowing down the stretch. We need a few warm-ups to steel our nerves and build those fluttering heart muscles. So nice of Coach Patterson and the gang to keep the contest versus the Jackrabbits of South Dakota State a nail-biter through three quarters. Don’t know about you, but we at TCU Magazine are now feeling better prepared to face the next game in the gauntlet.

Kyle Hicks rushed for 59 yards and two touchdowns.

Five Tweets That Told the Tale

TCU football is back and my fam is like …😉 #Godislove pic.twitter.com/tZOBNkTEYQ

— JD (@JDoc_son) September 3, 2016

TCU has 10 50+ pt games since 2014 (t-2nd most in FBS in that span – Baylor has the most with 11)

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/AlexApple_/status/772427243909947392

For all you worry-worts out there:

Last night = 2015 SMU game.

Not pretty, but we got a W and we'll be fine.

— Lyle (@Lyle_MF_Lanley) September 4, 2016

These boys enjoyed their 1st Frog game together last night! #RiffRam pic.twitter.com/QisyT24OS6

— Sonny Cumbie (@SCumbie_LaTech) September 4, 2016

Co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham discusses schematics on the sideline.