Still relaxing at home in the recliner, while waiting to hit the road to watch the Frogs battle Baylor in Waco on Saturday ...
At the end of TCU's game against then 16th-ranked West Virginia last Saturday, November 10, a recording of John Denver's hit song "Take Me Home, Country Roads" loudly blared throughout the Mountaineers' Milan Puskar Stadium.
That never is a good sign if you are the opposing team or a fan of the opposing team.
That's because for the past 40 years or so, that song has been played after every home football game that the University of West Virginia has won.
Yes, the Moutaineers beat TCU. Soundly. 47-10. And it could have been worse, which even TCU head coach Gary Patterson admitted after the Horned Frogs and he and his coaching staff got their butts kicked in coal-mining country.
Thankfully, I was not in Morgantown for the TCU-West Virginia game, like I was in November of 2014.
Four years ago, I didn't have to hear "Country Roads", because TCU beat West Virginia, 31-30, by kicking a field goal, as time expired.
I had never been in the midst of so many drunk, pissed off Mountaineers in my life, which flashed before my eyes when one of them sailed a 55-gallon trash can over my head on the way out of the stadium.
This time, all I had to do to keep from hearing ol' John sign about his love for West Virginia was use the remote from my recliner and turn off the TV, which, I admit, I also did several times during the game, particularly when the Mountaineers were scoring 33 consecutive points to turn a 3-0 TCU first-quarter lead into a 33-3 game early in the third quarter.
West Virginia only scored two touchdowns in the game's final 17 minutes or so because head coach Dana Holgerson mercifully called off his Mountain Men.
If Trevone still was TCU's quarterback, he would have given Holgerson a "high-five."
Patterson gave Holgerson a verbal 'high-five."
"He (Holgerson) was nice to us. The fourth quarter, he was nice to us. So, it could have been a lot worse. I respect that," Patterson said.
It's been a long, hard season for Patterson, his staff and the Horned Frogs, and much to his dismay, things got even worse in Morgantown. After the game, Patterson penned a song that pretty well sums up his feelings about the first 10 games of the season. Listen here.
Holgerson didn't have to pen a song after the West Virginia victory. He only had to push the "play" button. Listen here.
Of course, if Holgerson would penned a song, since the easy victory pushed the then-No. 9 Moutaineers' season record to 8-1 (6-1 Big 12), it might have went like this.
Despite the loss, which is the most lopsided loss of Patterson's tenure at TCU, there were some tidings of joy for the Frogs in Morgantown.
The Frogs scored first and led 3-0 going into the second quarter.
This marked the first time this season that West Virginia had not scored first.
TCU was the first team this season to hold West Virginia scoreless in the first quarter.
Jalen Reagor, the Horned Frogs' sophomore wide receiver had a career high 11 receptions for 150 yards and caught a touchdown for the fifth consecutive game. In Big 12 history (1996-present), only Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State, 2010-11) had more streaks (three) of five consecutive games with a receiving touchdown than Reagor (two). Reagor's current streak is tied for third-longest in the nation.
Quarterback Michael Collins, who started his third consecutive game since starting quarterback Shawn Robinson was lost for the season due to shoulder surgery, went 22-for-37 passing for 229 yards and the touchdown to Reagor. He had no turnovers.
TCU scored for the 330th consecutive game. It's the nation's second-longest current streak and fourth all-time in NCAA history. The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0).
Unfortunately, there were some really bad aspects of the game, in addition to the score.
TCU had a season-low 222 yards of total offense.
The Frogs had minus-seven yards rushing, on 24 attempts.
No, that is not a typo. Minus-seven yards rushing.
That's the worst rushing performance for the Frogs since a minus-26-yard rushing performance against Texas A&M in 2001.
The 10 points are a season-low. TCU has scored 28 or fewer points in eight consecutive games. That's the first time this has happened since the Frogs went 1-10 in 1997.
OK. Enough said about that ugly game. File it away.
Now it's time to wonder if things can get any worse this season?
Well, yes they can. Beginning this Saturday November 17, in Waco, Texas, when the Frogs go head to head with their bitter rival, the Baylor Bears.
TCU, at 4-6, must beat the Bears to keep its 2018 bowl hopes alive. TCU Football has qualified for a bowl trip in 15 of 17 seasons under Patterson. The last time TCU failed to qualify for a bowl was in 2013, when the Frogs went 4-8 (2-7 Big 12).
With a win on Saturday, Baylor can keep the Frogs from being able to qualify for a bowl. Having their bowl hopes extinguished would be disappointing enough, but having that happen in Waco and because of a loss to Baylor would be profoundly disappointing.
If the Frogs do happen to beat Baylor, they still would have to beat Oklahoma State in Fort Worth on Saturday, November 24, to reach the necessary six wins to qualify for a bowl. Having that opportunity would make Senior day on the Saturday after Thanksgiving that much more special. That requires beating Baylor on Saturday.
At 5-5, to qualify for a bowl in head coach Matt Rhule's second season at the Baptist school, Baylor needs a win over TCU or a win in its final regular-season game, against Texas Tech, on November 24, in AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Earning a bowl bid would be a monumental milestone for the Bears. In 2017, Rhule's first season, Baylor went 1-11. At one point during the Bears' rebuilding process they lost 17 of 19 games.
Of course, the way this season has gone, thus far, earning a bowl bid also would be a monumental achievement for the Horned Frogs.
So much so, that if TCU does somehow manage to win two consecutive games to close out the season, a marathon session of listening to John Denver songs might be in order.
That never is a good sign if you are the opposing team or a fan of the opposing team.
That's because for the past 40 years or so, that song has been played after every home football game that the University of West Virginia has won.
Yes, the Moutaineers beat TCU. Soundly. 47-10. And it could have been worse, which even TCU head coach Gary Patterson admitted after the Horned Frogs and he and his coaching staff got their butts kicked in coal-mining country.
Thankfully, I was not in Morgantown for the TCU-West Virginia game, like I was in November of 2014.
Four years ago, I didn't have to hear "Country Roads", because TCU beat West Virginia, 31-30, by kicking a field goal, as time expired.
I had never been in the midst of so many drunk, pissed off Mountaineers in my life, which flashed before my eyes when one of them sailed a 55-gallon trash can over my head on the way out of the stadium.
This time, all I had to do to keep from hearing ol' John sign about his love for West Virginia was use the remote from my recliner and turn off the TV, which, I admit, I also did several times during the game, particularly when the Mountaineers were scoring 33 consecutive points to turn a 3-0 TCU first-quarter lead into a 33-3 game early in the third quarter.
West Virginia only scored two touchdowns in the game's final 17 minutes or so because head coach Dana Holgerson mercifully called off his Mountain Men.
If Trevone still was TCU's quarterback, he would have given Holgerson a "high-five."
Patterson gave Holgerson a verbal 'high-five."
"He (Holgerson) was nice to us. The fourth quarter, he was nice to us. So, it could have been a lot worse. I respect that," Patterson said.
It's been a long, hard season for Patterson, his staff and the Horned Frogs, and much to his dismay, things got even worse in Morgantown. After the game, Patterson penned a song that pretty well sums up his feelings about the first 10 games of the season. Listen here.
Holgerson didn't have to pen a song after the West Virginia victory. He only had to push the "play" button. Listen here.
Of course, if Holgerson would penned a song, since the easy victory pushed the then-No. 9 Moutaineers' season record to 8-1 (6-1 Big 12), it might have went like this.
Despite the loss, which is the most lopsided loss of Patterson's tenure at TCU, there were some tidings of joy for the Frogs in Morgantown.
The Frogs scored first and led 3-0 going into the second quarter.
This marked the first time this season that West Virginia had not scored first.
TCU was the first team this season to hold West Virginia scoreless in the first quarter.
Jalen Reagor, the Horned Frogs' sophomore wide receiver had a career high 11 receptions for 150 yards and caught a touchdown for the fifth consecutive game. In Big 12 history (1996-present), only Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State, 2010-11) had more streaks (three) of five consecutive games with a receiving touchdown than Reagor (two). Reagor's current streak is tied for third-longest in the nation.
Quarterback Michael Collins, who started his third consecutive game since starting quarterback Shawn Robinson was lost for the season due to shoulder surgery, went 22-for-37 passing for 229 yards and the touchdown to Reagor. He had no turnovers.
TCU scored for the 330th consecutive game. It's the nation's second-longest current streak and fourth all-time in NCAA history. The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0).
Unfortunately, there were some really bad aspects of the game, in addition to the score.
TCU had a season-low 222 yards of total offense.
The Frogs had minus-seven yards rushing, on 24 attempts.
No, that is not a typo. Minus-seven yards rushing.
That's the worst rushing performance for the Frogs since a minus-26-yard rushing performance against Texas A&M in 2001.
The 10 points are a season-low. TCU has scored 28 or fewer points in eight consecutive games. That's the first time this has happened since the Frogs went 1-10 in 1997.
OK. Enough said about that ugly game. File it away.
Now it's time to wonder if things can get any worse this season?
Well, yes they can. Beginning this Saturday November 17, in Waco, Texas, when the Frogs go head to head with their bitter rival, the Baylor Bears.
TCU, at 4-6, must beat the Bears to keep its 2018 bowl hopes alive. TCU Football has qualified for a bowl trip in 15 of 17 seasons under Patterson. The last time TCU failed to qualify for a bowl was in 2013, when the Frogs went 4-8 (2-7 Big 12).
With a win on Saturday, Baylor can keep the Frogs from being able to qualify for a bowl. Having their bowl hopes extinguished would be disappointing enough, but having that happen in Waco and because of a loss to Baylor would be profoundly disappointing.
If the Frogs do happen to beat Baylor, they still would have to beat Oklahoma State in Fort Worth on Saturday, November 24, to reach the necessary six wins to qualify for a bowl. Having that opportunity would make Senior day on the Saturday after Thanksgiving that much more special. That requires beating Baylor on Saturday.
At 5-5, to qualify for a bowl in head coach Matt Rhule's second season at the Baptist school, Baylor needs a win over TCU or a win in its final regular-season game, against Texas Tech, on November 24, in AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
Earning a bowl bid would be a monumental milestone for the Bears. In 2017, Rhule's first season, Baylor went 1-11. At one point during the Bears' rebuilding process they lost 17 of 19 games.
Of course, the way this season has gone, thus far, earning a bowl bid also would be a monumental achievement for the Horned Frogs.
So much so, that if TCU does somehow manage to win two consecutive games to close out the season, a marathon session of listening to John Denver songs might be in order.
-- Midnite
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