Stephen Montoya
TCU and coach Sonny Dykes had a determined look on Saturday night.
The philosophizing learned with all the letters and academic flair might have a different opinion, but I'm here to tell you that there is no contentment or joy quite like football success in Texas.
Quite simply, happiness is winning football games.
Tailgate hangover? What tailgate hangover?
Life is good for TCU two weeks into the season. The Horned Frogs jumped into the Football Championship Subdivision level, better known simply as the "FCS," in welcoming Long Island University to Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday for the season’s home opener.
Super Frog had a unique pep in his step and so did the Frogs, who did what they were supposed to do in drop kicking the Sharks, these nothing resembling the beastly marine antagonist of Amity Island all those years ago, though presumably not Toby’s Practical Business College of the early 1900s either. (I wasn’t there.) They’re also not, say, Oklahoma State or Utah of 2024.
But there was no reason to summon Hypnotoad on Saturday. One doesn’t want to needlessly use up his supernational tendencies in pivotal moments. Actually, I’m not sure of Hypnotoad’s pronouns, and Lord knows I don’t want to offend him or her or them.
Nonetheless, a shutout, no matter whom it’s against, is a shutout and counts as achievement in college football, whether that be against Long Island U or Baylor, which got beat on Saturday. (Ho-ho-ho. Happy days really are here again.)
The Frogs’ defense throttled the Sharks 45-0. (The point spread was 45.5, so, happiness might be proportional for some by how many zeroes were at the end of that bet.)
Stephen Montoya
Long Island quarterback Luca Stanzani knows firsthand what "under duress" means. He was on the run all night from TCU defenders.
Spain put up a better fight in 1898.
TCU is 2-0, social media is calm, and no one is calling for a coach’s head. There is only contentment and joy and much beyond that to be happy about, starting with a defensive effort that did everything except lock Long Island out of the stadium.
The Frogs held Long Island to 127 yards and much of that was gained in the Sharks’ own side of the field. Long Island crossed into TCU’s side of the field only three times, including once – barely, the 49-yard line – in the first half.
“It’s really difficult to get a shutout in college football,” coach Sonny Dykes said afterward. “They're pretty uncommon. It was a heckuva job by us defensively. We really did a good job of playing physical and tackling and getting off the field on third down. I was really pleased to see that.”
The Sharks’ best drive, late in the third quarter, ended in an interception at the TCU 21. Nambi Obiazor, the converted linebacker from safety, collected his first career interception to keep the shutout intact.
“People are flying around, making tackles, making plays,” Obiazor said. “The biggest thing going into the season was creating a new identity. I feel like, so far, we've done that.”
Offensively, running back Cam Cook had three rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Hoover was on top of it on Saturday, throwing for 267 yards and two touchdowns, including one to JoJo Earle, who made his season debut after sitting out against Stanford with an injury.
At one point, Hoover completed 14 consecutive passes, tying Jeff Ballard’s school record for a single game, originally set in 2006.
Earle noted Hoover’s poise and decision making.
“He's really coming together as a quarterback,” Earle said. “I feel like he's going to get better and better.”
TCU got in the red zone six times and scored six times.
“That’s obviously been something we needed to get cleaned up, particularly with the fumble we had last week,” Dykes said of the red zone possessions. “It's good to see us execute in the red zone. I think a big part of it was we ran the ball consistently down there.”
Long Island will cure some ills.
Savion Williams led wide receivers with five receptions for 69 yards. In addition to his TD reception (he almost had another), Earle took in a pass from Williams on a reverse pass.
In all, 12 receivers and other pass catchers were pass recipients, including tight end Chase Curtis, who had a scoring reception.
“There’s so much talent” in the receiving room, Earle said. “The next man up is pretty much same caliber. It's a pretty deep.”
More than 6,100 students turned out for the home opener, marking the fourth-largest crowd to watch a TCU home game.
They’ll likely all be back this week. So, will many others. It’s Family Weekend.
The Big 12 opener against Central Florida at the Carter is set for Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
It’s hard to say what Central Florida has. The Knights were picked to finish eighth in the Big 12. TCU was picked 10th. Texas Tech was picked ninth. Good luck with all that, Red Raiders. We've been watching you the past two weeks. A lottery ticket seemingly has as much chance of hitting as preseason forecasts. Central Florida, meanwhile, has opened its season with low-hanging fruit, victories over New Hampshire and Sam Houston State, granted a good FCS from Texas.
Suffice it to say, the Big 12 appears to be completely up for grabs.
The first chapter of that story begins next week.
The Frogs look ready.
