TCU does its job to stay in BCS hunt

By Bobby Abplanalp
Wyoming Sports.org

It's not all about just winning games for TCU these days; it’s how the Horned Frogs are winning them.

TCU, ranked fourth in the country as well as in the BCS Standings, did nothing to hurt its position with an impressive 45-10 win over Wyoming Saturday at War Memorial Stadium.

All eyes are on the state of Texas these days, especially in comparison to No. 2 Texas’s 41-10 win over the Cowboys in September.

“Not only are we playing at a high level, but we’re also playing smart, and that’s how you win a championship,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said. “They came out and did what they needed to do, about the same score that a Texas team beat Wyoming. I think you can say that in comparison we’re very close, but I think we can play with a lot of people.”

All-American TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes, who had four tackles, said the score of the Texas-Wyoming game was not a factor in his teams’ preparation.

“We go in there and try to execute our game plan to the fullest,” Hughes said. “We don’t worry about anyone else; all we can do is take care of ourselves.”

TCU had 507 total-yards of offense with 339 of those on the ground led by running back Matthew Tucker gaining 134 yards on 11 carries, while fellow running back Joseph Turner amassed 69 yards on nine carries. Quarterback Andy Dalton also had 88 yards on 12 carries.

“We got three backs that are so explosive,” Dalton said. “The offensive line has been doing a heck of a job. They’re the main reason we why we have been able to do so much with the running game.”

Dalton completed 10 of 19 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown to Jeremy Kerley with no interceptions. With their BCS Bowl hopes still very eminent, the Horned Frogs embraced the idea of playing in one of the big money games.

“Now we’re one game away,” Dalton said of beating winless New Mexico next week to be considered for an at-large bid into a BCS game. That is motivation in itself to come out and play next week.”

“We’re Cinderella and we’re trying to get to the ball,” Patterson said of a going to a BCS game. “I been saying for the past few years when we’ve been very close if you keep knocking on the door just like Boise (State) did, then somebody is going to open it up. We’ve been going through this process the last six to eight years and hopefully if we win next week, we’ll get a chance to open it.”

Wyoming on the other hand is 5-6 and a Border War rival win over Colorado State next week from being bowl eligible.

“I think he is trying to change the attitude of where they’re trying to get to,” Patterson said about UW head coach Dave Christensen. “They have chance to win a game next week and go to a bowl. I think that’s big.”

The Cowboys tied the game 10-10 in the second quarter when safety Chris Prosinski returned a fumble 98 yards for a touchdown. But 16 seconds later, TCU kick returner Greg McCoy returned the ensuing kickoff 81 yards for the go ahead score and the Horned Frogs never looked back.

“I think it was a big change (in momentum),” Patterson said. “We didn’t have a lot of emotion on the sideline and then Greg (McCoy) comes back and does that and then we get a stop and the long play to Kerley and in some ways the game is over.”

TCU is 11-0 for the first time since 1938 when it finished that season 11-0 with a national championship..