Pregame Jitters

It’s always fun and exciting when the college football season finally gets here. And thankfully, it is!

A few things to know before the Frogs and LSU tee it up?

• Frog Fans, you better be ready to bring it in the noise department tonight because LSU fans know how, and they’ll be there in force. Remember the Fiesta Bowl, when Boise State fans took you to school?? Don’t let that happen again.
• 85,000 – that's what they’re expecting at kickoff. Make sure you get there early as the Rangers complicate the game plan with a 7 p.m. game at The Ballpark.
• Bag it – Don’t forget the new bag rules at AT&T Stadium – and don’t test the security people. They’ll just send you back to the car with your BIG TEX-sized backpack.
• Interesting matchups and things to ponder for this early season bowl game: 
• Both secondaries trying to keep up with the wide receivers – both teams are loaded at wideout. 
• TCU’s offensive line vs. a reloaded LSU defensive front. 
• Who breaks down in the kicking game first? Always happens in openers. I have Jaden Oberkrom playing a big part in this one. 
• Surprise attacks – Don’t turn away for a single play in this one, especially if it’s close late. 
• Can the Frogs be physical enough early on defense? They’ll be tested. LSU likes to roll out 500 pounds of backfield and say, “Here we come, we’re going right there.  See if you can stop us." (For reference, watch the 2011 Rose Bowl.) 
• The first 10 minutes of the game are very important. Which team can get up to game speed first and deal with it throughout?

• Win or lose, the Frogs need to come out of this LSU game healthy. It’s a long way to November 30^th.

 Enjoy this first weekend of college football! 

 Kick ‘Em High!

Some friendly reminder before kick-off

Before we jump into the business at hand, let’s take a moment to remember “The King,” Elvis, on that anniversary of his passing.  I’m still amazed that someone who is dead can still be making that much money.  Viva Las Vegas!

Two weeks from tonight, you’ll be getting tuned up for the lid lifter on another TCU Football season. You’ll be seeing LSU Tigers in your sleep. That’s all a part of the anticipation of a season opener. 

While there’s still time, here are some things to tend to:

• If you’re among those lucky enough to have tickets for the Cowboys Classic, better check the new bag policy at AT&T Stadium (the stadium formerly known at Cowboys Stadium). Here’s the link to the info:  http://www.nfl.com/allCLEAR?hq_e=el&hq_m=499927&hq_l=7&hq_v=88b99e1948.  And no, they don’t care that you just bought that Coach bag, just for the game.
• Don’t forget that TCU Volleyball and TCU Women’s Soccer are both about to start their seasons. Both coaches will greet the approximately 1,950 incoming freshman in the Class of 2017 (can that year really be right?) tomorrow at the Frogs First Pep Rally.
• If you don’t have TCU-Texas tickets, the 3-Game Pack is a good way to get them.  Hook ‘Em, Horned Frogs!
• Finally, TCU lost a great supporter this week when James Rainbolt passed away. The founder of Tarrant Concrete was a former UNT basketball star, who claimed the Frogs as his own and was an asset and blessing to all he knew. Look around campus, and you’ll see the impact of Mr. Rainbolt’s company all over the place.

Next week, we start to dial-in on the TCU-LSU matchup.

Kick Em High!

My mind is already at midfield

Here’s hoping that all of you had a great summer and you’re ready for another year of Horned Frog Athletics. The LSU game may still be three weeks away, but know this:  it’s football season. The Frogs are busy going through fall camp and getting ready for a collision with the “Bayou Bengals.” I’m headed to practice this afternoon.

Speaking of TCU vs. LSU, here’s some late-breaking news for you regarding the Cowboys Classic game day at AT&T Stadium:

2 p.m. – AT&T Stadium parking lots open

6 p.m. – AT&T Stadium plazas and gates open

8 p.m. – Kickoff

Other thoughts as my mind turns toward midfield for the coin toss:

1. Frogs roll out at No. 20 in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll. That’s a little low in my book, but it's a good launch pad.
2. The good news for Texas A&M is they have Johnny Football. That’s also the bad news. I’ve said all along that, for a number of reasons, J-Football would have a hard time getting to the fifth week of the season. Now that looks like I was being generous.    
3. Who’d would have imagined that TAMU pre-season talk would center around a possible quarterback controversy that features Matt Joeckel from Arlington (who has thrown exactly 11 passes in his career) and true freshman Kenny Hill from Southlake Carroll?
4. Keep an eye on the Targeting Rule in college football this year. It’s been expanded beyond being a 15-yard personal foul. Now, when a player is called for targeting, he’s immediately ejected from the game. However, the ejection can be turned over by the replay official, but the 15-yard mark-off stands no matter what.
5. KEY FACT you need to know: If a player gets ejected during the first half, they’re out for the remainder of that game. If they get ejected during the second half, they’re gone for the rest of the current game AND they’re out for the first half of the next game.
6. TCU lost a valuable piece of its football history last month when former TCU head football coach Fred Taylor passed away at 93. He was the last of a breed from a bygone era. He was a guy who played for his alma mater and eventually became head coach – that seldom happens anymore. Coach Taylor had lots of foresight, but in the world of college football, even in the late-1960s, it wasn’t enough the please everyone.   As Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said at Big 12 Media Days in Dallas, “You’re never totally appreciated. I’ve never been totally appreciated, even in 2000 [when the Sooners won the National Championship.]” Count Fred Taylor as appreciated in my book.

Finally, the logo at the top of this post will be at mid-field during the TCU-LSU game.  

Kick ‘Em High!