The Matchup -
The Horned Frogs (3-5, 2-3) still searching
for their first WAC victory on the road, play at Tulsa (3-5, 1-4) in a 1:35pm (CST) kickoff Saturday in Tulsa's
Skelly Stadium.
Horned Frogs' Last Outing
The Horned Frogs not only snapped a two game losing streak, but they also exploded offensively last Saturday in disposing of UNLV, 42-34, in Fort Worth. In that one, the Frogs enjoyed single game scoring (42 points), total offense (506 yards) and rushing (318 yards) highs or the season. En route they received excellent performances from sophomore Basil Mitchell (21 carries for 151 yards) and redshirt frosh John Williams (11 carries for 111 yards) at running back, from Jason Tucker (seven catches for 114 yards) and John Washington (five receptions for 42 yards) at wide receiver and a combined 19-of-24 passing day from quarterbacks Jeff Dover (15 of 20) and Fred Taylor (4 of 4).
Defensively, TCU was spurred by the efforts of end Matt Harper, linebackers Scott Taft and Jay Davern, cornerback Cedric Allen and safety Chris Staten.
THE HEAD COACHES
Pat Sullivan is in his fifth campaign as TCU's head coach. Sullivan enters the Tulsa contest with a career coaching mark of 22-30-1. Tulsa's Dave Rader is in his ninth season as the head coach. Rader enters the TCU game with a career coaching record of 41-56-1.
PAT SULLIVAN SAYS -
(About the win over UNLV) "This football team badly
needed a win and the confidence that goes with it. "
(About the Horned Frogs) "The thing that probably pleased me most was
the way we responded after UNLV would get some momentum. Each time we
would tighten up a notch, and regain control of the ball game. I was
also pleased with the performances of our quarterbacks - Jeff Dover and
Fred Taylor. We were able to complete a high percentage or our passes
without suffering a single interception."
(About Tulsa) "In a lot of ways they have experienced a year like we
have. They have enjoyed two or three big, big wins - over Iowa,
Oklahoma and Colorado State - and yet, at times, they have seemed to
struggle. I am certain that Tulsa is anxious to get another win
under its belt at home."
EARLY-WEEK LOOK AT TCU INJURIES -
For the second straight week TCU lost a backup player for the remainder of the season to injury. Fullback Chad Renfro undenwent surgery the previous week to repair for his fractured right wrist, and safety Joseph Phipps is scheduled for surgical repair of his left shoulder this week. Otherwise, the day-to-day progress of those Frogs on the mend - defensive end Chance McCarty (shoulder contusion), defensive tackle Michael Janak (sprained knee) and cornerback Barry Browning (sore lower back)- will continue to be followed.
Offense -
MITCHELL AND J. WILLLIAMS SHINE -- When sophomore Basil Mitchell and
redshirt freshman John Williams each rushed for over 100 yards vs.
UNLV last Saturday they became the first TCU backfield pair to accomplish
that feat in the same game since Tony Jeffery and Tony Darthard both
topped the 100-yard plateau vs. Rice in 1987. Mitchell, in
rushing for 151 yards on his 21 carries against the
Rebels, celebrated his first 100-
yard plus outing as a collegian. It was the second century milestone
for Williams, who earlier had
gained 109 vs. Kansas. Spelling Mitchell, Williams chalked up 111
markers on only 11 attempts vs. UNLV. He also has rung up the two longest
rushing plays for TCU in 1996 - his 69-yard score vs. UNLV to go along
with his 59-
yard breakaway for a touchdown vs. Kansas. Mitchell, with his
most-recent lofty outing, upped his per-game average to 100.0 yards over
TCU's last four outings. The young duo have combined for a per-carry
average of 4.98 yards through eight games.
TCU place kicking standout, Michael Reeder, pulled out of a personal
nosedive with an eight-point contribution in the Horned Frogs' 42-34
victory over UNLV. Reeder
recorded field goals of 45 and 30 yards to go along with a pair of
PATs in that one. He also yanked a 36-yard attempt
wide left in the fourth quarter on Saturday. Reeder extended his career
string of PATs to 66 straight with his two successes vs. UNLV. The 1995
recipient of the national Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award,
last week Reeder was announced as semi-finalist for that honor in '96
Defense
Takeaways, quarterback sacks and key stops. The same handful of
Horned Frog defensive names - end Matt Harper, cornerback Cedric Allen,
linebackers Jay Davern and Scott Taft, plus safety Chris Staten -
seem to keep popping up week after week as contributors in those areas.
Staten (67 tackles), Davern (66) and Taft (64) are tightly bunched atop of
TCU's tackle charts. Staten also has a pair of interceptions to share
team-high honors with Allen, while Davern sports a fumble recovery and
two QB sacks in '96 and Harper has offered a little bit of everything -
team highs in sacks (3.5) and tackles for
losses (seven), six passes batted down (second only to Allen's eight PBUs),
two fumble recoveries and even an interception. A latecomer to that
select TCU group has been freshman safety Reggie Hunt - two sacks,
two tackles for losses and a fumble recovery.
FROGS GLAD TO SEE RECEIVING PAIR BACK HEALTHY -
After battling
nagging injuries - mostly of the hamstring variety - through much of the
campaign, TCU's veteran receiving pair of Jason Tucker and John Washington
appear to be back on track. Over the past two
games, they have combined for 20 receptions for 306 yards and
two touchdowns, more along the lines of the eye-popping pass-catching
numbers they posted in 1995. In the process, Washington, a senior,
has moved into: TCU's No. 6 all-time receiving spot with his 117 career
grabs for 1,484 yards. He also tacked on his 30th straight start in the
UNLV game. Tucker, a junior, has
joined the Horned Frogs' 1,000-yard receiving lodge with his
1,050 yards (on 59 career grabs). En route he has authored three
100-yard plus receiving afternoons. Additionally, Tucker has
averaged 19.8 yards per grab in '96 and is tied with tailback Basil
Mitchell with
three touchdown catches this season.
WEEKLY TELEVISION FOOTBALL SHOW FOR TCU -
The 1996 TCU Football Television Show, featuring Horned Frog head coach
Pat Sullivan, will debut Wednesday, September 11. The program, available
throughout the Southwest on the Prime Sports Productions (locally channel
1), airs on Wednesday afternoons at 5:00 p.m. Central Time.
THIRTEEN STATIONS TO JOIN FLAGSHIP KCLE ON THE HORNED FROG NETWORK
Thirteen stations will join flagship station KCLE (1120 am) of Cleburne on
the Horned Frog Football Network this fall:
KVLF (1240 am) of Alpine
KPUR (1440 am) of Amarillo
KFON (1490 am) of Austin
KCLE ( 92.1 fm) of Cleburne
KDFX (1190 am) of Dallas
KAHZ (1360 am) of Fort Worth
KTCU (88.7 fm) of Fort Worth
KTXQ (950 am) of Lubbock
KRIL (1410 am) of Odessa
KBOP (103.7 fm) of Pleasonton/San Antonio
KBOP (1380 am) of Pleasonton/San Antonio
KTBB (600 am) of Tyler
KBBW (1010 am) of Waco