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| -- Photo by Bob Dixon |
As TCU’s 2020 pandemic football season spirals out of control, let’s look on the bright side of things.
Last Saturday, October 24, the Frogs broke their string of losing football games by one score or less.
Unfortunately, they did that by losing to Oklahoma by 19 points, 33-14 (Midnite had predicted a 34-31 TCU victory), in front of a socially distanced and disappointed crowd of 12,440 at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
But, wait. There’s even better news.
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| Tom C. "Midnite" Burke |
Oklahoma should have won by only 16 points (30-14).
However, with only seconds remaining in the game, the Sooners were able to tack on an additional three points via a field goal, compliments of TCU head coach Gary Patterson.
With less than a minute remaining in the game and Oklahoma having the ball at the TCU 15-yard line and the game won, Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley, out of respect for Patterson and the Frogs, was having his team run out the clock by taking a knee from the traditional victory formation.
Such a scenario is customary, even traditional, and happens a thousand times a season, at all levels of football.
Matter of fact, after a second down play and with just 37 ticks remaining on the game clock, Riley about to head across the field to extend the obligatory handshake and condolences to Patterson.
However, as the Big 12’s elder statesman, Patterson had no desire to again see Riley and the Sooners execute the victory formation in front of him, or to shake Riley’s hand any sooner than absolutely necessary.
After all, this was to be Patterson’s seventh consecutive loss to Oklahoma, and his fifth consecutive loss to Riley.
You see, Patterson has never beaten Riley.
Even worse, Riley is the only head coach who has beaten Patterson twice in one season (2017 regular season and 2017 Big 12 Championship game).
So, what’s a well-beaten coach to do?
Patterson chose to throw a tantrum and deprive the Sooners of running out the clock on a 16-point victory.
After the second-down play, Patterson called a timeout, after which Riley threw up his arms in disbelief as he began to walk to midfield for the customary handshake between opposing coaches.
After the Sooners’ third-down play, Patterson again called a timeout.
Patterson’s peculiar behavior resulted in Oklahoma’s Gabe Brkic kicking a 30-yard field goal on fourth down, with 26 seconds remaining in the game.
After Oklahoma’s Stephen Johnson kicked off, the Frogs had the ball at their 19-yard line, with 21 seconds remaining in a game that they now trailed by 19 points.
Four short passing plays later, Oklahoma had a 33-14 victory, TCU was 1-3 and the few remaining Horned Frogs fans were bewildered and embarrassed by Patterson’s actions, which, as far as anybody could remember, were unprecedented, and made another woeful performance by the Frogs in 2020 that much harder to stomach.
After his team's victory, an exasperated Riley wrote a song. Listen: here
Patterson responded with a song of his own. Listen: here
Patterson said he used the timeouts because his offense needed some more work and to get true freshman running back Zach Evans into the game.
Yes, as hard as it is to believe, Patterson actually offered up that answer to a reporter’s probing question.
Did Patterson really think that Horned Frogs fans were naïve enough or so beholden to him that they would believe such a nonsensical explanation?
As if 21 seconds of mop-up work was somehow going to be meaningful to the TCU offense.
As if it was the offensive coaches’ game plan to use Evans, a five-star running back, solely in the final seconds of the game, no matter the score.
More than likely, Patterson’s confusing actions were the result of his frustration in realizing that the gap of where he wants TCU to be, and where the team is today, is as wide as ever.
And we won't even get too far into Patterson's decision to punt on fourth-and-inches, with the Frogs down by 23 points and under nine minutes remaining in the game.
Granted, TCU was its own 19-yard line, but its disconcerting when you concede because you lack faith in your offense being able to gain a few inches.
Luckily, neither Evans nor any other player suffered a serious injury in the prolonged final seconds of the Oklahoma game.
Unfortunately, two impactful Frogs did suffer season-ending injuries in the Oklahoma game.
Junior cornerback Noah Daniels suffered an unspecified injury to his right leg.
Junior offensive guard Wes Harris suffered a broken jaw.
Also, since the Oklahoma game, senior tight end Artayvious Lynn has announced that his season is over because of an unspecified injury.
Junior cornerback Tony Wallace has "opted out" of the rest of the season. Because of the pandemic, scholarship athletes were given by the NCAA an option to sit out the season or any part of it. Those who opt out, as well as all other athletes, do not use a year of eligibility this season, because of its uniqueness and challenges.
Three-star freshman quarterback Eli Williams and four-star junior wide receiver Tevailance Hunt are on their way out of Fort Worth. Both players have entered the transfer portal.
A native of Sapulpa, Oklahoma, Williams, a three-star recruit, signed with TCU as the No. 11 overall prospect from Oklahoma and the No. 25 dual-threat quarterback in the 2020 recruiting cycle.
Hunt came to TCU from Texarkana, Texas, ranked as the No. 267 overall prospect in the 2018 class.
Williams and Hunt are the third and fourth players the Horned Frogs have lost to the transfer portal this season. Wide receivers Dylan Thomas and Al’Dontre Davis previously entered the portal.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, October 24 was the beginning of a new season for the Big 10 and Mountain West Conferences and their athletes, whose fall sports seasons were delayed after originally being canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Wisconsin opened the Big 10 season on Friday, October 23, with a mundane 45-7 victory over Illinois.
Saturday, October 24, produced the fireworks in the Big 10.
Indiana upset then eighth-ranked Penn State, 36-35, with a successful two-point conversion in overtime. It was the Hoosiers’ first win over a top 10 opponent since 1987.
Rutgers defeated Michigan State, 38-27. Rutgers forced seven Michigan State turnovers in getting its first Big 10 win since 2017 and ending a 21-game Big 10 losing streak.
In Lafayette, Indiana (where TCU has won), Purdue beat Iowa, 24-20. It was Purdue’s first season-opening win since 2016.
In the Mountain West Conference, Boise State beat Utah State 42-13. It was Boise State’s 19th-consecutive home-opener win.
New Hawaii head coach Todd Graham won his first game, 34-19, over Fresno State.
San Jose State snapped Air Force’s nine-game win streak with a 17-6 victory. Air Force’s streak was the nation’s second-longest active streak.
New San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke won his first game, 34-6, over Nevada-Las Vegas.
In the Big 12, Texas beat Baylor, 27-16, to avoid the first three-game losing streak under head coach Tom Herman. For the game, the Longhorns wore throwback white uniforms, to pay tribute to Texas’ 1970 National Championship team.
Kansas State blasted Kansas, 55-14, for the Wildcats’ 12th straight win over the Jayhawks.
Texas Tech, with quarterback Henry Colombi making his first start of the season, slipped past West Virginia, 34-27, in coronavirus-laden Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech, with more than 2,200 virus infections, reportedly has the most virus infections of any college campus in the country.
Now the Red Raiders have something else to be proud of, in addition to being excellent throwers of tortillas and water bottles.
Army, an independent, ran its record to 6-1 with a 49-3 victory over Mercer. Army celebrated by becoming the first team of the 2020 season to accept a bowl bid. The Black Knights will play a Pac 12 team in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, on a date to be announced. The Pac 12 is scheduled to begin its season on November 7.
In Conference USA, Rice lost to Middle Tennessee, 40-34, in two overtimes. In the first overtime, Rice kicker Collin Riccitelli missed a 45-yard field that would have won the game for the Owls.
Riccitelli’s missed kick has been described as a quadruple doink. The football glanced off of the right upright of the goalpost, skipped across the crossbar, hit the goalpost’s left upright, then landed on the crossbar and fell back onto the field. Watch: here.
Doink soon may be a word that is used to describe TCU’s offense.
TCU’s offense, which is ranked ninth (next-to-last) in scoring offense in the Big 12, was the reason the Frogs suffered the loss to the Sooners, who limped into The Carter with an overall record of 2-2, a Big 12 Conference record of 1-2 and, as usual in recent years, a highly suspect defense.
Even though TCU’s three offensive amigos of the coaching staff -- Jerry Kill, Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie -- had two weeks since the 21-14 loss to Kansas State on October 10 to prepare the Frogs’ offense for the game against Oklahoma, the unit looked to be anything but prepared.
TCU’s offense made a subpar Oklahoma defense look elite on Saturday. The Frogs scored only two touchdowns and 14 points for the second consecutive game.
TCU never led. Oklahoma scored on its first possession of the game and extended its lead to 17-0 early in the second quarter. The Sooners led 17-7 at halftime. Going into the fourth quarter, the score was 27-7.
The Frogs racked up only 351 total yards of offense; 276 yards through the air, a measly 75 on the ground.
TCU’s offense had four three-and-out drives, including three of the first four in the second half.
The Frogs converted only five-of-14 third down opportunities. Jordy Sandy punted eight times.
Griffin Kell missed a 49-yard field goal attempt on the last play of the first half. The previous play, he had a 54-yard attempt blocked. The play was nullified by a penalty against Oklahoma. Kell has had three field goal attempts blocked this season.
TCU sophomore quarterback Max Duggan was the offense’s bright spot. He completed 25-of-35 passes, with no interceptions. Duggan also had a 34-yard run, which is TCU’s longest rushing play of the season.
Duggan threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to junior tight end Pro Wells. Duggan and Wells also connected on a 47-yard pass play, which is TCU's third-longest play from scrimmage this season
In the second quarter, with TCU trailing 17-7, Duggan connected with redshirt freshman wide receiver Blair Conwright on a play that would have been a 35-yard touchdown, but officials ruled that Conwright was bobbling the football while going out of bounds. The on-field ruling was confirmed by replay review.
Redshirt freshman running back Daimarqua Foster scored the Frogs’ first touchdown of the game, on a six-yard run, midway through the second quarter. It was Foster’s first rushing touchdown of the season.
TCU’s defense did enough for the Frogs to hand the Sooners their third loss of the season, even though the Frogs continued to allow offenses to run around and through them.
This season, TCU is the second-worst defense against the run in the Big 12, allowing 175.5 yards per game. Only Kansas (0-5, 04 Big 12) allows more rushing yards per game (207.6) than the Frogs.
Oklahoma came into Saturday’s game averaging 41.5 points per game. TCU’s defense held the Sooners to three touchdowns and 33 (actually, 30) points.
Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler, a redshirt freshman, completed only 13 of 22 passes.
Big plays, and especially big pass plays off of play action, again were a downfall of the Frogs’ defense. The Frogs have given up 17 plays of 32 or more yards this season.
Rattler didn’t complete many passes, but his completions averaged 25.5 yards.
Sooners freshman wide receiver Marvin Mims caught four passes for 132 yards and two touchdowns. His touchdown catches were of 61 yards and 50 yards.
Mims’ performance against the Frogs earned him Big 12 Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week honors.
Oklahoma rushed for 166 yards on 45 carries, an average of 3.7 yards per rush.
Junior running back T.J. Pledger gained 122 yards on 22 carries, an average of 5.5 yards per run. Pledger had a 12-yard touchdown run, and a long run of 25 yards.
TCU senior linebacker Garret Wallow again led the Frogs’ defense. He totaled a team-best 11 tackles for his second straight game in double figures and 12th of his career.
True freshman defensive end Khari Coleman, making his third consecutive start, had a career-high eight stops, including 3.5 tackles-for-loss and one sack. Coleman's 1.8 tackles-for-loss per game average is tops in the nation among freshmen.
Penalties again hampered the Frogs, offensively and defensively.
Over its four games, TCU has committed a staggering 39 penalties (false starts, unsportsmanlike conducts, illegal blindside blocks, blocks in the back, offsides, sideline interference, etc.) for over 294 penalty yards.
After their victory over the Frogs, the Sooners moved back into the Top 25, at number 24 in the Associated Press Poll and the Coaches Poll. TCU no longer is receiving votes in either poll.
TCU has lost its first three home games to open a season for the first time under Patterson.
The Horned Frogs lost four straight home games to open the 1-10 season in 1997, when head coach Pat Sullivan was in his sixth and final year at TCU. Dennis Franchione and Pat Patterson arrived in Cowtown beginning with the 1998 season.
The Frogs now are 6-10 over their last 16 games.
They are 3-9 over their last 12 games.
They’ve lost five straight games in the majestic Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Since 2018, TCU has won only eight of its last 22 Big 12 games. The Frogs have been held under 28 points in 13 of the 14 losses.
Since the 2016 season, the Horned Frogs are a mediocre 30-26. Other than the 11-3 season in 2017, when TCU lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, the Frogs are 19-23 (6-7 in 2016; 7-6 in 2018; 5-7 in 2019; and 1-3 this season).
Since 2017, TCU’s offense has averaged 23.5, 30.3 and 23.8 points per game.
The performance decline has not been lost on TCU fans. They are being pushed to the breaking point by what appears to be a very poorly coached team, and it’s an uncomfortable place for them. After all, Patterson has done so much for TCU and Fort Worth.
With frigid weather having arrived in Fort Worth this week, Patterson may not be feeling the heat, but there is dismay, unhappiness and uneasiness within Horned Frogs Nation.
Nobody is yet calling for the removal of Patterson. TCU’s winningest football coach and aspiring country singing star is under contract through 2024 and certainly has earned the right to exit on his own terms. And lest we forget, the athletic complex already is graced with a bronze statue of him.
But, more and more long-term observers and supporters of TCU football are beginning to believe that something, or some things, may be amiss within the program, as there is too much talent on the roster to not be winning games and meeting high expectations.
Some thoughts are being expressed that perhaps fresh, young blood needs to be injected into the coaching staff. However, Patterson long has been hesitant to make staff changes. When challenged on the subject over the years, Patterson usually reverts to contending that since his coaching staff has won in the past, and won big at times, it can win again.
A good time for that good ol’ winning feeling to again waft over the program is this Saturday, October 31, when the Frogs will be in Waco, Texas, for a Halloween Day matinee with the much despised Baylor Bears.
Kickoff is at 2:30 pm Central.
ESPN2 will broadcast the game.
With 115 games played, TCU has faced Baylor more than any opponent in its history. TCU leads the series, 55-53-7.
Last year, in Fort Worth, 12th-ranked Baylor came from behind to beat TCU, 29-23, in three overtimes.
The Bears’ improbable win broke a four-game TCU winning streak over Baylor: 28-21 (2OT), in 2015, in Fort Worth; 62-22, in 2016, in Waco; 45-22, in 2017, in Fort Worth; and 16-9, in 2018, in Waco.
TCU is 28-24-1 on the road versus Baylor.
The Frogs are 8-4 against Baylor since the Southwest Conference dissolved after the 1995 season.
This will be the first meeting between Patterson and Baylor head coach Dave Aranda, who is in his first year as head coach of the Bears and shares a Cal Lutheran-connection with Patterson.
Aranda graduated from Cal Lutheran in 1999 and was the Kingsmen's defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in the 2005-06 seasons. Patterson was Cal Lutheran's defensive coordinator in 1987.
Prior to Baylor, Aranda was associate head coach and defensive coordinator at LSU, where he had been since 2106, including a 2020 National Championship and a 2019 SEC Championship.
Before coming to Texas for the Baylor position, Aranda spent five seasons in the state of Texas, including a stint as linebackers coach at Houston (2003-04) and as a graduate assistant at Texas Tech (2000-02).
Baylor is 1-2 overall and in the Big 12, with a 41-7 win over Kansas in Waco, a 27-21 loss in overtime to West Virginia, and a 27-16 loss to Texas last Saturday in Austin.
Because of the coronavirus, Baylor has had games against Houston and Oklahoma State postponed.
Baylor's offense is averaging 28 points a game (skewed because of the 41-point outburst against the Jayhawks) and 308 yards per game: 98 rushing and 210 passing. The Bears only have scored nine touchdowns through three games; three rushing and six passing.
Baylor is led by senior quarterback Charlie Brewer (#5), with whom Bears’ fans are getting restless for his inability to ignite big plays and extend drives.
Brewer has completed 68 of 104 passes for 627 yards. His longest completion has been for 35 yards. He has rushed for 31 net yards on 29 carries.
Baylor's leading rusher is senior running back John Lovett (#7). He has rushed 35 times for 122 yards. He has one rushing touchdown and a long run of 19 yards.
After Baylor’s game with Texas, it was rumored that Lovett was opting out of the remainder of the season, but Aranda has said Lovett will continue to play.
Senior running back Trestan Ebner (#1) has run 19 times for 55 yards. He has one rushing touchdown.
In the Bears’ season-opener against Kansas, Ebner returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, earning Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week. Ebner also scored that day on a 35-yard pass from Brewer.
Junior wide receiver R.J. Sneed (#0) has caught 15 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. He has a long reception of 20 yards.
The Baylor offense has allowed eight sacks. Baylor has fumbled once, but recovered the football.
Baylor opponents are averaging 22.67 points per game and 367 yards per game; 154 yards rushing and 213 yards passing.
Baylor's defense has recorded eight sacks, forced seven fumbles (recovered two) and intercepted three passes.
Junior linebacker Terrell Bernard (#2) leads Baylor's defense with 40 tackles. He has 5.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks. He also has intercepted a pass.
Bernard was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his performance in Baylor's 27-16 loss to Texas on October 24. In the game, Bernard tied his career-high with 19 tackles, including nine solo, two tackles-for-loss, one sack and a pass breakup.
Junior safety/linebacker Jalen Pitre (#8) has 26 tackles and five tackles for loss.
Senior linebacker William Bradley-King (#99) has 3.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Junior safety JT Woods (#22) has two interceptions.
TCU fans will remember, but not fondly, Baylor sophomore kicker John Mayers (#95).
Last year, as a redshirt freshman, Mayers kicked three field goals against TCU. His third field goal of the game, a 51-yarder, tied the game at 9-9, with 36 seconds remaining in the game, and with Baylor going on to win in the third overtime.
TCU has an excellent opportunity this Saturday to end its losing streak. If the Frogs can beat Baylor, it will give the team, and the coaching staff, some momentum for the final four scheduled games of the year; at home against Texas Tech (November 7) and Oklahoma State (December 5), and on the road against West Virginia (November 14) and Kansas (November 28).
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