5 Things We Noticed

1. Running Man

Freshman quarterback Shawn Robinson is not afraid to take the ball and punch it right up the middle. Having him under center adds a versatile element to the offense, as he is capable of tossing long balls and barreling ahead like a hefty running back. His 84 yards on the ground were a bold prediction of the TCU offense of the future, and while his passing yards were a modest 85, many of his throws were inches away from being completions. Add in the 40 mile-per-hour wind, and the first-time starter had a memorable (and successful) afternoon.

2. Second – (oh no they didn’t) – ary

Texas Tech’s offense has been on the one-dimensional side this season, relying on quarterback Nic Shimonek’s arm to score points. The Red Raiders were averaging 326.3 yards through the air, good for 10th in the country. Tech was averaging 32.9 points-per-game, good for 32nd. But the Raiders’ airborne success came to a swift end on Saturday, when the TCU secondary shut down Tech’s game plan, allowing Shimonek and company a scant 137 yards and keeping them out of the end zone entirely.

3. Colors of the Wind

If you want to test the talent of a kicker, put him in a stadium full of cowbells in windy weather and see how he fares. TCU’s kicker Cole Bunce came through for the Horned Frogs. Texas Tech’s kicker, not so much. In the words of a Fox Sports commentator in the third quarter, “Boy, did he shank it.” The Red Raiders’ kicking woes translated into scoreless after the first possession. But Bunce, who replaced the injured Jonathan Song, added six points to the board with two kicks, coloring the wind purple. His 43-yard field goal was the longest by a Horned Frog this season.

4. Glad for Gladney

The purple cherry on Saturday’s win was Jeff Gladney’s pick-six. Tech probably thought it was set up for an easy red zone score late in the fourth quarter. But the Raiders weren’t ready for Gladney’s 93-yard heist. His second career fourth-quarter interception was a thing of beauty, as were his seven tackles. Gladney’s pick also preserved TCU’s streak of second-half shutouts. Last team to score against the Frogs in the final 30? Kansas State. On October 14.

5. Carry that Weight

This late in the season, a football team tends to become the walking wounded. Or the recovering-at-home wounded, as was the case for TCU starters Kenny Hill, Jonathan Song and Niko Small. To borrow Coach Patterson’s oft-repeated phrase, it’s “next man up” time. But the starting quarterback and Travin Howard, the leading tackler in the Patterson era? Football gods, no need to be so cruel! But the rest of the Frogs were up for the challenge. Linebacker Ty Summers and defensive end Mat Boesen plugged in for the massive missing hole left by Howard and continued to plague an opponent into the backfield. Seems that no matter who wears the purple and white, the defense is going to dominate.

5 Tweets That Told the Tale

Next man up. Shawn Robinson is on the field for his first career start. #BeatTech pic.twitter.com/sgaGm7XFcH

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 18, 2017

OK, I'm sold on Shawn Robinson. #GoFrogs

— Stefan Stevenson (@StefanVersusTex) November 18, 2017

Oh no… pic.twitter.com/cKpBmAs7Ys

— Max Olson (@max_olson) November 18, 2017

This TCU defense man. Hold Tech to 3 points in Lubbock? With top 2 linebackers out? Starting safety out? Yes sir.

— Harrison Graham (@HGrahamNFL) November 18, 2017

2,000 yards and a cloud of dust. Congrats on 2K, @K_Hicks22! pic.twitter.com/AYtDKukc6p

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) November 18, 2017