TCU Athletics
Like a socialite preparing for the high society wedding, TCU used the first three weeks of the season for the Big Getting Ready.
You know, the mani/pedi, the hair blown out — or something — maybe some extensions or volumizer — or something — and an hourslong date in front of that makeup mirror.
Gotta look good for the big event. That’s what TCU did in the figurative sense in playing North Carolina and Abilene Christian to begin the season.
The Horned Frogs’ 2-0 record is awfully pretty as the season heads into its earnest start after a 42-21 victory against Abilene Christian in the Horned Frogs’ home opener on Saturday in front of an enthusiastic sold-out Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Yet, there was a blemish observed in a sloppy second-half performance. The Frogs didn’t return to the field with the kind of “killer mentality” coach Sonny Dykes would have preferred after leading 28-0 at halftime over the Wildcats, who declined to send out an SOS.
“I wish we would've ended the game a little cleaner than we did, but unfortunately, that's kind of the way some of these games go,” Dykes said. “We just came out and didn't have the same kind of mindset and killer mentality we needed in the second half, and we got to do a better job.”
There is a sense of urgency. The big event is this weekend.
SMU comes here from Dallas on Saturday for the last in a storied series that dates to 1922. Moreover, the Mustangs, a College Football Playoff participant last year, put up 66 points on the Frogs in a 24-point victory a year ago that had the mayor of Dallas gloating.
Gross.
Both teams are unranked. SMU dropped out of the rankings after a two-overtime loss to Baylor last week.
The Frogs’ sluggish effort to close had one thinking they might have been looking ahead.
The good news on Saturday is that TCU quarterback Josh Hoover again looked ascendant. Hoover was 21-of-27 for 337 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman wide receiver Ed Small had two of those; Chase Curtis and Jordan Dwyer each had a scoring reception.
“He threw the ball really, really well on the run, moving the pocket when he broke from the pocket, he made great decisions,” Dykes said of Hoover. “That's one of the things that he really needed to improve in was the decisions that he made when he left the pocket. And I thought he was really good with the ball tonight.”
Hoover spread the ball around. Ten receivers caught passes, including Joseph Manjack, who had his first career 100-yard receiving game in his 39th career game. Manjack had four receptions for 114 yards.
Hoover said he’s “pretty pleased with the way we're playing at receiver right now.”
“We just got a good group,” Hoover said. “There's a lot of guys that have skill-sets and I think we've done a good job of trying to figure out how to utilize all those guys. We've got fast guys, we've got possession guys, we've got guys who can do everything. The challenge going forward is just figuring out how to get all these guys their touches and how to get 'em all a part of the game.”
TCU’s run game generated 136 yards on the ground on 28 carries, led by Kevorian Barrnes’ 43 on 10 carries. He left the game and did not return as a precaution after getting dinged in the first half.
Defensively, Namdi Obiazor led the Frogs with nine tackles and a sack.
The Frogs denied they were looking past the Wildcats.
It’s worth noting that Abilene Christian (1-2) isn’t simply some FCS pushover. The Wildcats are a good FCS program, ranked No. 13 in the nation. In fact, I’ve got my eye on that game between Abilene Christian and No. 3 Tarleton State in Abilene on Nov. 1.
TCU’s victory on Saturday was Dykes’ 100th in his career. “I guess it means I've been doing it for a while,” Dykes said. “None of them are easy. That's the one thing you learn. They're hard to come by.”
We’re all hoping No. 101 is next week against the city of Dallas.
“Just looking forward to playing. That's all I got to say,” Hoover said.
It probably didn’t help any that TCU had a week off after its big victory over North Carolina in front of a national audience on Labor Day night.
There was bound to be a letdown.
“I didn't think we were as focused in practice as well as we did going into North Carolina,” Dykes said. “We just can't afford to not prepare and play our best, especially in the Big 12. You're going to get beat if you don't play well and if you're not excited to play.
“It just seemed like we lost a little bit of our edge at halftime being up 28. That's something that we have to do better. We're trying to get there as a program and I'm not sure we have in order to be able to close those games the way that you want to close. It's hard to do that. It's hard, but you got to find a way to do it if you want to be a great team.”
