Takeaways from Boise

Takeaways from Boise:

• This TCU team has heart. While it is a young team, they hang in and find a way to win.
• TCU may be the most underrated team in the nation – ranked No. 19 and 11 points from being undefeated.
• While not utilized much last Saturday, the TCU running game, and the threat of it, opened up the play-action passing game.
• TCU’s wide receivers are rock-solid. Hardly a drop last Saturday and they got open despite being held much of the game.
• Seldom-used wide receiver No. 83 Jonathan Jones made a great catch and run on the winning drive. Did you know his dad, Paul, was a starting defensive end on TCU’s 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl team?
• Casey Pachall put the ball where it was easy to catch – touch pass, hard throw or deep ball, he can make them all.
• The leaders of TCU’s offense is the offensive line. How about this “lunch pail” bunch emerging from the ashes of fall camp and taking the lead? O-Line coach Eddie Williamson does it again.
• Antonio Graves is a weapon on special teams.
• Boise is a nice town. Go visit and tell me you didn’t like it. Kinda has an Austin feel to it. (This message NOT sponsored by the Boise Convention & Visitors Bureau.)
• Just when I think I’ve found a great officiating crew, they disappoint me.
• At the end of the day Saturday, the turf wasn’t the only thing blue in Boise.
• The live bronco on display at the stadium and the dog fetching Boise State’s kickoff tee were cool. Those things are what make college football great.
• Tank Carder said the Frogs didn’t shock the world Saturday, just reminded them. Agreed.

Conference Moves
Conversations in Boise included the tremors that Boise State is indeed headed to the Big East. What a stretch.

Work to Do
TCU offensive lineman Kyle Dooley told me that he’s quickly put away the Boise State game. Says you can’t live in the moment of one game and play the next. He and his line mates are focused on the MWC Championship, as is this entire team. Two more to go.

Senior Success
With the win at Boise State, this year’s senior class now has 44 wins, tying it for the most ever with last year’s Rose Bowl seniors. Fathom this: if these seniors can win the last two games and a bowl game, they’ll finish their careers with 47 wins! Back in my day, we won 15.

Hoop Thoughts
Jim Christian and the Frogs are off to the Virgin Islands today to compete in the Paradise Jam tournament. Good luck and safe travels to this preseason tournament. The Frogs face ACC icon Virginia on Friday. And let me be the first to tell you I told you so. This Frog team is capable.

Finally, a friend of mine sent me the following. If you’re a “baby boomer,” you’ll get it. If not, Google the terms. Enjoy!

If you were raised on "Hee Haw," had a crush on any of the Dukes or Charlie's Angels, believed Captain Kangaroo was a real captain, only watched cartoons on Saturday morning, played in the dirt, got your butt whipped with a belt or had to pick your own switch, had a rotary phone, had five TV channels, school started with the "pledge," had a bedtime, rode in back of pickup trucks, recorded the Top 40 from radio onto cassette tapes, played in the creek, rode your bike all day without a helmet and you still turned out okay. Those were the good times.

Don't forget to drink from a garden hose.

Kick ‘em High!