TCU faithful enjoying season to remember
‘If you keep knocking on the door, finally, somebody’s going to open it up’
Andy Carpenean / APTCU defensive end Clarence Leatch celebrates with fans after an the No. 4 Horned Frogs defeated Wyoming 45-10 on Saturday.
By Joe Connor
updated 2:11 a.m. ET Nov. 22, 2009
LARAMIE, Wyo. - A pair of soon-to-be graduating seniors flew all the way from Washington, D.C. where they’re interning to be future Texas congressmen. Another, a true old-timer who caught his first Horned Frogs game in 1952, traveled up from Cowtown (aka Fort Worth) which hasn’t been this delirious for Texas Christian University football since well — since like forever.
They were among the Horned Frogs' faithful to witness history, as No. 4 TCU won the Mountain West title and improved to 11-0 with a 45-10 thumping of Wyoming on Saturday, keeping its BCS hopes very much alive. Matthew Tucker and Joseph Turner each scored a pair of touchdowns in the historic win.
The Horned Frogs are 11-0 for the first time since Franklin Delano Roosevelt was president of the U.S. and the attack of Pearl Harbor was still three years away. Considering how far TCU has come since an abysmal 1-10 campaign in 1997, the 11-0 mark is no small fact to TCU coach Garry Patterson who also has a photo of players from that 1938 team in his office, a team that beat Texas, Texas A&M and Arkansas, not to mention a victory in the Sugar Bowl.
“Today was about the same score that Texas beat Wyoming (41-10 this year), so I think there is a comparison,” said Patterson, in response to the proverbial BCS question. “I think we can play with a lot of people.”
Some 71 years ago, coach Dutch Meyer and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Davey O’Brien would lead the Frogs to a perfect 11-0 mark, including convincing wins. On Saturday, Andy Dalton was sporting a mini-Mohawk on the left side of his head for the first time all season, courtesy of losing a bet to teammates if TCU went 10-0.
Now that the team is 11-0?
“No more bets,” Dalton chuckled. “Our running game has been real dominating this year. The offensive line has just done a great job blocking.”
Some 71 years — and several generations later — the Horned Frogs are back in the spotlight, catching fever from Fort Worth to the steps of the nation’s capitol.
Kelly Barnes, 21, a senior at TCU had a feeling in March that 2009 would be a special year so he booked 12 flights for $1,400 total to attend all the of the team’s games, even if they meant commuting each week from the nation’s capitol.
“I really thought it was going to be a great year, but this has been just phenomenal,” Kelly said. “We’ve been taking it to teams.”
Oh, how they have.
In beating the Cowboys, TCU racked up 339 yards on the ground and another 168 in the air, not wishing to relive a 24-21 heartbreaking loss here two years ago. Barnes enjoyed the victory with classmate Nile Elam, an intern in DC for former Fort Worth mayor and congresswoman Kay Granger.
Jim Loveless has been watching the Frogs play in person since 1952, and he’s seen his shares of highs and lows since then, plus, Hall of Fame-caliber players from Bob Lilly to LaDainian Tomlinson. But he never imagined he’d see his Horned Frogs on the verge of perfection. He’s never seen downtown Fort Worth office buildings colored purple at night.
“I thought we’d get our butts kicked by Clemson or Virginia,” Loveless said. “I just didn’t realize we had this much depth at each position.”
And Loveless also didn’t realize how determined the players were either.
They haven’t tossed the word “championship” around Cowtown in generations. The 1935 national title TCU team is the also the last to win 12 games. But this summer, the defensive players came up with a slogan: family and championship.
Every time they break practice or huddle, it’s…
“1-2-3 family,” said Tank Carder whose third-quarter forced fumble was the ninth forced fumble of the year by TCU by nine different players. “3-2-1 championship.”
The Horned Frogs are also quite disciplined bunch. They didn’t commit a single penalty for the first time in two seasons Saturday, which caused “Coach Pete” as many refer to him, to bust out with another subtle championship reference.
“That’s how you win a championship,” Patterson said. “And we’re a young team, too.”
Assuming TCU beats 1-10 New Mexico, Barnes — like Patterson — isn’t sure where he’ll be traveling for a bowl game this season, but rest assured he’ll be there.
“No, question. I will scrum up the money to get out there,” Barnes said. “Wherever that may be. I think you can make a BCS argument for us, big time.”
Back in 1998, when TCU played USC in the Sun Bowl, Loveless remembers alumni failing to buy liquor for the postgame victory party.
“Because they never thought there would be one,” Loveless continued.
Of course, TCU stunned the Trojans and somebody made a major run to the liquor store.
Now, TCU is a player.
“Pretty much the whole team continues to surprise itself,” Turner said. “I knew we were going to be good.”
Said Patterson: “If you keep knocking on the door, finally, somebody’s going to open it up. Our best way of doing that is to just continue to win.”
Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the online stadium guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate NCAA Football Travel Experience,” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web site: www.mrsportstravel.com.
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More newsCFT: Alabama and Michigan announced Tuesday that their highly anticipated season opener will kick off in prime-time at Cowboys Stadium. The game is slated to begin at 8 p.m. ET on Sept. 1.
