FORT WORTH, Texas -- If there were questions about the BCS worthiness of the
TCU Horned Frogs, they were answered -- and resoundingly -- Saturday night.
The fourth-ranked Horned Frogs made their big game against 16th-ranked Utah seem like an exhibition as they stunned the naysayers and maybe even themselves by routing the defending Mountain West champion Utes 55-28 in front a record crowd of 50,307 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The most immediate result is that the undefeated Horned Frogs have a major leg up in the MWC race by getting past nemesis Utah in convincing fashion. Even bigger, the Horned Frogs sent a clear message to the BCS community that they deserve to be part of the BCS conversation, not just for one of the four big bowl bids but for a real shot at the national title game.
If Saturday night's game is any indication, the Horned Frogs are as dominant on defense as Texas and Alabama, and as potent on offense as
Tim Tebow and the
Florida Gators. TCU, ranked fourth in last week's BCS standings, made it look easy against a quality Utah team in a game that broke ranks with the recent competitiveness of this series.
The Frogs, sparked by highly efficient night by quarterback
Andy Dalton and a stifling defensive performance, led the Utes 38-14 at halftime and never looked back as they moved to 10-0 overall and 6-0 in the MWC for the season. Utah slipped to 8-2, 5-1 on the season.
The Utes, who were supposed to be the closest thing to TCU athletically in the MWC, seemed several steps slow as running backs Matthew Tucker, Ed Wesley and
Joseph Turner along with Dalton all converted explosive plays on the ground while receivers
Ryan Christian and
Jeremy Kerley couldn't be defended most of the night.
Defensively, led by All-American defensive end
Jerry Hughes, the Frogs gave Utah running back
Eddie Wide little room to run while harassing quarterback
Jordan Wynn all night long.
Putting forth such a convincing performance on such a major stage, which included ESPN's GameDay crew and several national media members, will make it difficult to keep the Horned Frogs out of the national title discussion should Florida, Alabama and Texas falter in these final two weeks of the regular season. But to keep the conversation going, TCU also can't afford a letdown in its final two regular season games at Wyoming and then home against New Mexico.
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Comments (Page 1 of 1)
YEAH!!!!!!! GO FROGS!!!!
Riff-Ram-Bah-Zoo, Lickety-lickety-Zoo-Zoo, Ooh-Rah, Rah-Ooh, Give'en Hell TCU! This was the greatest TCU gave I have ever seen played. Greatest crowd. Never have I seen the fans so into the game and the spirit so high. I was an honor and a privilage to be there to witness this great win. I entered TCU in 1972 and suffered watching the doormat of the SWC get stomped on year after year. I suffered consecutive 1-10, 1-10, and 0-11 seasons, and owning the longest Division I losing streak TWICE! I used to fire the cannon at the games in the 70's and never got to fire it much. I wish they'd give me that cannon again!
Dr. Kuni Beasley
TCU '76
ooppss - should be GAME instead of gaVe. got too excited while typing!
DocBeasley