It's Game Day!
9/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2004
FROGS OPEN 2004 CAMPAIGN: The TCU Horned Frogs begin their 108th year of intercollegiate football when they host the Northwestern Wildcats out of the Big Ten on Thursday, September 2. The game will be televised nationally by ESPN2. The Frogs enter the 2004 season with an all-time record of 511-495-57. TCU has fielded a team every year since 1896, with the exception of the 1900 campaign. With a 37-12 record over the last four seasons (2000-03), the Frogs have begun the 21st century in much better fashion than they began the 20th century, when they were 1-14-2 from 1900-1903. In fact, it took the Frogs 10 years (1896-1905) to record 11 victories - they logged 11 wins alone in 2003! THE SERIES: This is the fourth meeting between the two squads, with TCU holding a 2-1 advantage in a series that began in 1999. TCU has won each of the last two tilts, including a 48-24 win in Evanston on September 7, 2002, the last time the teams got together. The Frogs also won the last encounter in Fort Worth, taking a 41-21 win over the Wildcats in 2000. Northwestern's lone win in the series came on September 11, 1999, a 17-7 victory in Evanston. ANOTHER OPENING, ANOTHER SHOW: This is the fourth straight season and the fifth time in the last six years that TCU has opened its season in front of a national television audience. The Frogs posted a wild 38-35 win at Tulane last year on Labor Day in an ESPN tilt. Two years ago, TCU dropped a 36-29 overtime decision at Cincinnati on Labor Day in an ESPN contest. Three years ago, TCU and Nebraska took part in the Pigskin Classic, which was televised by ABC-TV. The fourth-ranked Cornhuskers came away with a 21-7 victory. Back in 1999 TCU hosted Arizona to open the season with Fox Sports Net broadcasting the game nationally. The Wildcats escaped the rain-delayed contest with a 35-31 win. That was also the last time TCU opened its season at home. IN THE POLLS: TCU opens the season ranked 31st in the Associated Press poll and 33rd in the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll. The Frogs finished the 2003 campaign ranked 24th by the coaches and 25th by the AP. The Frogs have finished the year ranked in back-to-back seasons for the first time since the 1950s and have finished ranked among the top 25 three times in the last four years. SEASON OPENERS: The Horned Frogs are 61-37-9 in their 107 previous season openers. They posted a 38-35 win at Tulane to open the 2003 season, recording their first season-opening win since the 2000 season. This is the first time TCU has opened at home since the 1999 season and just the second time in the last nine years the Frogs have opened at home. They possess a 37-13-5 record in season openers played at home. The last time TCU opened the season at home with a win was a 27-10 victory over Iowa State to begin the 1995 campaign. FROGS POST 11-2 RECORD IN 2003: The TCU Horned Frogs captured the attention of the nation by reeling off 10 wins to open the 2003 season, climbing as high as sixth in the BCS Standings, the highest ranking ever for a non-BCS school. The Frogs won five games by three points and posted seven victories by seven points or less. The Frogs failed to capture the Conference USA title by dropping a 40-28 decision at Southern Miss, then lost a 34-31 decision to Boise State in the inaugural PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl to end the season with an 11-2 record and ranked 24th in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and 25th in the Associated Press Poll. TCU BOWLS INTO HISTORY: The Horned Frogs made their sixth straight bowl appearance following the 2003 season. TCU had never appeared in bowl games in three consecutive seasons prior to the current streak. TCU is one of just 16 Division I programs that has gone to a bowl game in each of the past six seasons. The list includes four teams from the SEC (Arkansas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee); four from the ACC (Florida State, Miami, Virginia Tech and Georgia Tech); three teams from the Big 12 (Kansas State, Nebraska and Texas); two from the Big Ten (Michigan and Purdue); one from the Pac-10 (Oregon) and C-USA rival Louisville. MEET YOU ANYTIME: After playing on every day of the week except Sunday and Tuesday last year, the Frogs have games scheduled for a Wednesday (Louisville), Thursday (Northwestern), Friday (UAB) and Saturday (seven games) this season. RE-ESTABLISHING THE TRADITION: The Frogs have posted a .500 or better record in six straight seasons. The last time TCU recorded as many as six consecutive winning seasons was during the 1950s when they recorded six straight .500 or better ledgers from 1955-60. TCU has had a winning campaign in eight of the last 10 years after logging just three winning seasons (1971, 1984 and 1991) in the previous 28 campaigns. This is the third stretch of tremendous success in TCU Football history, comparing favorably to the eras of the late 1930s and the late 1950s. RETURN TO GLORY: After posting just three winning seasons in 13 years from 1985-1997, including a 1-10 campaign in 1997, the Frogs have turned the corner. TCU has posted a 52-21 record since the start of the 1998 season, including a 21-4 record over the last two years. They are 21-3 since losing the opener of the 2002 season at Cincinnati in overtime, and two of those three losses have been by just three points (31-28 at East Carolina and 34-31 to Boise State). They have recorded three conference championships and a trio of bowl victories over the last six years. WINNING WAYS: The 2003 senior class at TCU was one of the most successful classes in school history. Over the past four years the Frogs recorded 37 wins. That ties for the fourth best four-year win total in school history and the best four-year total since the 1936 seniors won 39 times. The 2004 class will go into their senior season with 27 victories under their belts. 10-WIN SEASONS: The Frogs have posted back-to-back 10-win seasons and three 10-win campaigns in the last four years. They have recorded 10 or more wins in a season seven times in school history: 1935 (12), 1938 (11), 2003 (11), 1932 (10), 1933 (10), 2000 (10) and 2002 (10). To put that in perspective, the Frogs went from 1974-1980 winning just nine times combined! THE FRIENDLY CONFINES: Although the Frogs dropped a 34-31 decision to Boise State on their home field in the 2003 PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl, TCU has posted 13 consecutive regular season home wins, dating back to a 37-30 loss to East Carolina on October 30, 2001. The 13 straight home wins from 2001-2003 was a school record. 2004 PRE-SEASON HONORS: The C-USA coaches have pegged five Frogs as members of their pre-season all-conference squad. The coaches selected offensive tackle Anthony Alabi, center Chase Johnson, running back Robert Merrill, and defensive backs Marvin Godbolt and Mark Walker as first team candidates. The entire coaches' all-conference picks can be found later in this release. In addition, Chase Johnson (Rimington and Lombardi), Anthony Alabi (Lombardi) and Mark Walker (Thorpe) represent TCU on national pre-season watch lists. THE LAST TIME: Northwestern returned the opening kickoff for a touchdown then added a quick field goal to open up a 10-0 lead less than three minutes into the game. TCU responded with 41 unanswered points and posted a 48-24 win on September 7, 2002 in Evanston, Ill. The Frogs outgained the Wildcats by a 441-275 margin in the victory. The win was significant in that TCU was coming off a disappointing overtime loss at Cincinnati just five days prior. 2003 C-USA HONOR ROLL: TCU features eight players who earned all-conference recognition following the 2003 season. Offensive tackle Anthony Alabi was a first team all-league selection; center Chase Johnson, cornerback Mark Walker, wide receiver Reggie Harrell and tailback Robert Merrill were second team picks; and safety Marvin Godbolt and returner Cory Rodgers were third team selections. Offensive tackle Herbert Taylor, tailback Robert Merrill and wide receiver/returner Cory Rodgers were named to the Freshman All-Conference USA squad. WHO ARE THESE GUYS?: Butch and Sundance would have asked themselves that question if they were given the names of the Frogs' defensive linemen. Gone are the combined 100 career starts from stalwarts Bo Schobel (27), Chad Pugh (30) and Robert Pollard (28) to graduation and Brandon Johnson (15) to a career-ending injury. Ranorris Ray is the graybeard on the defensive line with five career starts. WINNING QUARTERBACKS: Coach Gary Patterson has two of college football's winningest quarterbacks from which to chose. Junior Tye Gunn is the top returning quarterback in the nation with a perfect 8-0 record (1.000 winning percentage), while senior Brandon Hassell ranks eighth with a 7-2 record (.778) winning percentage. RUNNING BACK TANDEM: Here are the nation's top rushing duos returning from last season: 1. 2,358 - Texas - RB Cedric Benson (1,360) and QB Vince Young (998) 2. 2,317 - Minnesota - RB Marion Barber III (1,196) and RB Laurence Maroney (1,121) 3. 2,092 - New Mexico - RB DonTrell Moore (1,450) and RB D.D. Cox (642) 4. 2,050 - Kansas State - RB Darren Sproles (1,986) and RB Donnie Anders (64) 5. 1,947 - North Texas - RB Patrick Cobbs (1,680) and RB Roy Bishop (267) 6. 1,868 - Missouri - QB Brad Smith (1,406) and RB Damien Nash (462) 7. 1,766 - TCU - RB Robert Merrill (1,107) and RB Lonta Hobbs (659) GROUND CONTROL: TCU and New Mexico were the only two schools to rush for more than 200 yards per game in 2003 while giving up less than 100 yards rushing per game. RECORD-SETTING HARRELL: Senior wide receiver Reggie Harrell became the first TCU player to gain 1,000 yards receiving in a season when he caught 58 passes for 1,012 yards in 2003. He is just 164 yards away from tying Sonny Campbell for 10th place on the career receiving yards list. Harrell enters the year with 1,217 yards, while Campbell is 10th with 1,381 yards, just five behind Jarrod Delaney (1,386). GAME DAY ASSIGNMENTS: Offensive coordinator Mike Schultz, quarterbacks coach Dick Winder, defensive coordinator Dick Bumpas and safeties coach Chad Glasgow will work out of the press box on game day. Joining head coach Gary Patterson on the sidelines are offensive line/assistant head coach Eddie Williamson, wide receivers coach Jarrett Anderson, tight ends/special teams coach Dan Sharp and linebackers coach Kyle Nystrom. LEADERSHIP COUNCIL: The TCU Leadership Council is a 12-member unit represented by a player from each position. The 2004 unit consists of Anthony Alabi, Clif Alexander, Zach Bray, Tye Gunn, Lonta Hobbs, Reggie Harrell, Brandon Hassell, Cody McCarty, Martin Patterson, Logo Tevaseu, Marvin Godbolt and Mark Walker. BOWL TIE-INS: Conference USA will have five bowl tie-ins this season. The champion of Conference USA will go to the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and the league will also send teams to the GMAC Bowl (Mobile, Ala.), PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl, Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl and Wyndham New Orleans Bowl. FAMILY TIES: The Frogs have several current players who have family members with previous ties to the TCU program. Jeremy Modkins is the brother of Curtis Modkins, who ranks sixth on TCU's all-time career rushing chart. Matthew Grimmett's father, Frankie, lettered in football at TCU in the early 1970s. Cody McCarty's father, Mickey, is one of the all-time greats in TCU basketball history. Chad Huffman's father, Royce, Sr., played football at TCU, while his brother, Royce, Jr., played both football and baseball for the Horned Frogs. True freshman Matt Panfil is the grandson of former TCU head coach F.A. Dry. CARRYING THE SHEEPSKIN: Anthony Alabi, John Braziel, Eric Schautteet and Stephen Simmons have all completed their undergraduate degree and are currently working on their Master's degree. DID YOU KNOW... * When Brandon Hassell rushed for 110 yards in the Fort Worth Bowl against Boise State, he became the first TCU quarterback to rush for more than 100 yards in a game since David Rascoe ran for 105 yards versus BYU in 1987. There have been nine different quarterbacks combine for 16 100-yard rushing games in school history. Howard Grubbs (1929) and James Lucas (1943) each accomplished the feat three times. * Michael DePriest finished seventh in the C-USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships in May, despite practicing just a couple of times. * Walk-on wide receiver Erick Wilson holds the national junior college record in the 100 meter dash, turning in a time of 9.93 seconds in 2003, breaking a mark held by Tim Montgomery. * Cory Rodgers broke the school record for total kick return yards in a season with 861 (352 on punts and 509 on kickoffs), breaking the mark set by Davey O'Brien in 1937 (787). * Defensive tackle Jared Kesler started for two years at Dartmouth College in the Ivy League before transferring to TCU. * Safety Marvin Godbolt earned third team all-league honors last season despite playing in just four games. He had four interceptions, six pass breakups and four forced fumbles in those four contests. LOOKING AHEAD: The Iron Skillet will be on the line when the Frogs next take the field, as they host Metroplex rival SMU at Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, September 11. Game time is set for 6:00 p.m. The Frogs have won each of the last five meetings with the Mustangs (matching TCU's longest winning streak in the series, set from 1949-1953), to take a 39-38-7 advantage in the all-time series. TCU won last year's contest in Dallas by a 20-13 count in the regular-season finale for both teams.
