TCU to take a seven-game winning streak into its Poinsettia Bowl match-up with Northern Illinois
12/6/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 6, 2006
ABOUT THE GAME•Having secured its fourth 10-win season in the last five years, the TCU football team will face Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.
•TCU has won seven in a row for the sixth-longest current streak in the nation. During that stretch, the Frogs have trailed just twice for a total of 17:08.
•In its winning streak, TCU has outscored its opponents 176-13 in the first half (70-10 in the first quarter, 106-3 in the second quarter).
•With their visit to Qualcomm Stadium and San Diego, the Frogs will have an opportunity to play before one of their most famous graduates. LaDainian Tomlinson, standout running back for the San Diego Chargers, was a senior at TCU when he won the 2000 Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back. He placed fourth in voting for the Heisman Trophy that season. Tomlinson set a single-game NCAA record when he rushed for 406 yards in a 1999 contest versus UTEP.
•The Frogs are making their eighth bowl appearance in the last nine seasons and 23rd overall.
AT STAKE
•With a victory, the 2006 Frogs would post 11 wins for the third time in four years and become one of just five teams in TCU history to reach that mark. The others are the 1935 (12-1) and 1938 (11-0) national champions along with the 2003 (11-2) and 2005 (11-1) squads.
•The 2006 seniors have the most victories over a five-year period since the 1930s and are tied for the third-most wins (47) ever in a five-year span at TCU. They trail only the 1931-35 and 1932-36 teams (49 wins). The 1929-33 squads also combined for 47 victories.
•Over a four-year period, the 2006 seniors could finish tied for third all-time at TCU in number of victories. A win over Northern Illinois would give the senior class (2003-06) 38 victories to equal the 1930-33 teams. They would trail only the squads from 1932-35 and 1933-36 who posted 40 victories.
FROG HONOR ROLL
FROGS PROMINENT ON 2006 All-MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE TEAMS
•Thirteen TCU football players have been named to the 2006 All-Mountain West Conference football teams.
•First-team selections include defensive end Tommy Blake, return specialist Brian Bonner, defensive end Chase Ortiz, linebacker Jason Phillips, offensive tackle Herb Taylor and safety Marvin White.
•The Frogs had four of the 11 first-team defensive selections. Blake was a unanimous choice. Bonner, a junior safety, was also named to the second team on defense.
•TCU had the most first-team selections (six) of any team in the league as well as the highest number of first- and second-team picks combined (10). With four on the honorable-mention team, the Frogs tied Utah for the most overall selections (14).
•Representing the Frogs on the second team were Bonner, quarterback Jeff Ballard, tailback Aaron Brown and offensive guard Matty Lindner.
•Named as honorable-mention picks were linebacker Robert Henson, tailback Lonta Hobbs, placekicker Chris Manfredini and center Blake Schlueter.
MANFREDINI SELECTED TO ACADEMIC SQUAD
•TCU placekicker Chris Manfredini was selected to ESPN The Magazine's Academic All-District first team. He is now eligible for Academic All-America consideration.
WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
•Jeff Ballard, QB - MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Dec. 2 vs. Air Force)
•Jeff Ballard, QB - MWC Co-Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 18 vs. San Diego St.)
•Peter LoCoco, PK - MWC Special Teams Player of the Week (Nov. 4 vs. UNLV)
•Robert Henson, LB - MWC Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 28 vs. Wyoming)
•Chris Manfredini, PK - Lou Groza Award Star of the Week (Sept. 16 vs. Texas Tech)
•Chris Manfredini, PK - MWC Special Teams Player of the Week (Sept. 16 vs. Texas Tech)
•Marvin White, S - MWC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 16 vs. Texas Tech)
•Marcus Jackson, QB - MWC Offensive Player of the Week (Sept. 3 vs. Baylor)
•Marvin White, S - MWC Defensive Player of the Week (Sept. 3 vs. Baylor)
FROGS AS CANDIDATES FOR MAJOR AWARDS
•TCU had eight players and its head coach on a total of 11 different watch lists:
•Jeff Ballard, QB - Davey O'Brien Award
•Tommy Blake, DE - Chuck Bednarik Award, Ted Hendricks Award, Lombardi Trophy, Lott Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
•Blake is on the final watch list for The Hendricks Award
•Aaron Brown, TB - Doak Walker Award
•Chris Manfredini, PK - Lou Groza Award
•Robert Merrill, TB - Doak Walker Award
•Chase Ortiz, DE - Ted Hendricks Award, Lombardi Trophy, Bronko Nagurski Trophy
•Jason Phillips, LB - Butkus Award
•Herb Taylor, OT - Lombardi Trophy, Outland Trophy
•TCU was one of nine teams to have three players on the Lombardi Award Watch List.
•Gary Patterson was one of nine coaches on the initial watch list for the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Award.
FROGS AS PRESEASON ALL-AMERICANS
•Jeff Ballard, QB - Football Writers Association of America All-America checklist
•Tommy Blake, DE - Athlon, Street & Smith's, The Sporting News All-America checklist (No. 7 defensive end in the nation)
•Aaron Brown, TB - Football Writers Association of America All-America checklist
•Robert Merrill, TB - Football Writers Association of America All-America checklist
•Chase Ortiz, DE - Football Writers Association of America All-America checklist
•Jason Phillips, LB - The Sporting News All-America checklist (No. 13 inside linebacker in the nation)
•Herb Taylor, OT - Athlon, Street & Smith's, NationalChamps.net, Football Writers Association of America All-America checklist, The Sporting News All-America checklist (No. 10 offensive tackle in the nation)
•Marvin White, S - The Sporting News All-America checklist (No. 6 safety in the nation)
TCU BOWL NOTABLES
SERIES NOTES
•TCU and Northern Illinois are meeting for the first time on the gridiron.
•The Frogs are 2-0-1 versus current teams from the Mid-American Conference.
•The Huskies are the Frogs' first opponent from the MAC since 1992, when TCU and Western Michigan played to a 17-17 tie. The previous year, 1991, saw TCU post a 22-16 win over Ball State. TCU's only other opponent from the MAC was Bowling Green. The Frogs defeated the Falcons, 49-12, in 1988.
BOWL TIDBITS
•The Horned Frogs are making their eighth bowl appearance in the last nine seasons and fifth in six years under head coach Gary Patterson.
•It will be the 23rd bowl appearance in TCU's history. The Frogs are 8-13-1 with four wins occurring since Patterson came to TCU in 1998 as defensive coordinator. Prior to his arrival, the Frogs had four bowl victories dating back to 1896.
•The Frogs are 4-3 in bowls with Patterson on staff and 2-3 with him as head coach. Patterson took over as head coach a week prior to the 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl.
•Prior to a 1998 Sun Bowl win over USC, in Patterson's first year at TCU, the Frogs had gone 41 years without a bowl victory since defeating Jim Brown and Syracuse 28-27 in the 1957 Cotton Bowl.
TCU BOWL HISTORY
•Included below is a look at the Frogs' postseason history:
1921 Fort Worth Dixie Classic - Centre 63, TCU 7
1936 Sugar Bowl - TCU 3, LSU 2
1937 Cotton Bowl - TCU 16, Marquette 6
1939 Sugar Bowl - TCU 15, Carnegie Tech 7
1942 Orange Bowl - Georgia 40, TCU 26
1945 Cotton Bowl - Oklahoma A&M 34, TCU 0
1948 Delta Bowl - Mississippi 13, TCU 9
1952 Cotton Bowl - Kentucky 20, TCU 7
1956 Cotton Bowl - Mississippi 14, TCU 13
1957 Cotton Bowl - TCU 28, Syracuse 27
1959 Cotton Bowl - TCU 0, Air Force 0
1959 Bluebonnet Bowl - Clemson 23, TCU 7
1965 Sun Bowl - Texas Western 13, TCU 12
1984 Bluebonnet Bowl - West Virginia 31, TCU 14
1994 Independence Bowl - Virginia 20, TCU 10
1998 Sun Bowl - TCU 28, USC 19
1999 Mobile Alabama Bowl - TCU 28, East Carolina 14
2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl - Southern Miss 28, TCU 21
2001 galleryfurniture.com Bowl - Texas A&M 28, TCU 9
2002 AXA Liberty Bowl - TCU 17, Colorado State 3
2003 PlainsCapital Fort Worth Bowl - Boise State 34, TCU 31
2005 EV1.net Houston Bowl - TCU 27, Iowa State 24
BOWLS BY THE APPEARANCE
•TCU has played in the following bowl games: Cotton (6), Bluebonnet (2), Mobile Alabama (2), Sugar (2), Sun (2), Delta (1), EV1.net Houston (1), Fort Worth (1), Fort Worth Dixie Classic (1), galleryfurniture.com (1), Independence (1), Liberty (1) and Orange (1).
•TCU is making its first bowl appearance in California and west of El Paso, Texas.
EARLY STARTS
•The San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl is the first game in the 2006 collegiate bowl season.
STREAKING
•For the second straight season, TCU enters its bowl game on a long winning streak.
•Last year, the Frogs won nine in a row heading into the EV1.net Houston Bowl. TCU takes a seven-game winning streak to the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl.
LAYOFF DIFFERENTIALS
•In comparing last season to this year, TCU has a 32-day differential in the amount of time it has between its regular-season finale and the bowl game.
•In 2005, TCU was the first bowl-bound team to complete regular-season play (Nov. 12). That distinction gave the Frogs the longest layoff in the nation between games, a total of 49 days before they took the field Dec. 31 at Reliant Stadium in the EV1.net Houston Bowl.
•After closing regular-season play on Dec. 2 this season, the Frogs will have just 17 days before facing Northern Illinois in the Poinsettia Bowl.
NO STRANGER TO QUALCOMM
•With LaDainian Tomlinson wearing a TCU sweatshirt on the sideline, the Frogs picked up a 23-20 victory at Qualcomm Stadium last year over fellow Mountain West Conference member San Diego State.
SUPER SITES
•TCU is playing its second straight bowl game in a facility that's hosted a Super Bowl.
•Qualcomm Stadium has been the site of three Super Bowls (XXII, Denver vs. Washington, 1988; XXXII, Denver vs. Green Bay, 1998; XXXVII, Oakland vs. Tampa Bay, 2003).
•The Frogs were at Reliant Stadium last year for the EV1.net Houston Bowl. Reliant Stadium hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII in 2004 between Carolina and New England.
HOMECOMINGS AND FAMILY TIES
•TCU punter Bryan Cortney is a San Diego native. He prepped at St. Augustine High School while also playing at Mesa Community College.
•Reserve deep snapper Sean Haight (Westview High School) also calls San Diego home.
•TCU defensive end Chase Ortiz is a cousin of former San Diego Padre pitcher Woody Williams.
A LOOK BACK AT LAST YEAR'S BOWL GAME
•Peter LoCoco's 44-yard field with 5:25 to play provided the go-ahead points in TCU's 27-24 victory over Iowa State in the 2005 EV1.net Houston Bowl.
•The TCU defense forced four turnovers and limited the Cyclones to 34 yards rushing on 25 carries. Chase Ortiz paced the defensive effort with a career-high three sacks.
•Jeff Ballard was 21-of-33 in the air for 275 yards, including an 84-yard scoring strike to Michael DePriest. Robert Merrill added 109 yards rushing on 11 carries. His 14-yard scoring run gave TCU a 7-0 lead just 4:31 into the contest.
RECORD WATCH
•TCU set the following school bowl records last season:
• Most Yards Passing (275) by Team and Individual (Jeff Ballard)
• Most Passes Attempted (33) by Team and Individual (Ballard)
• Most Passes Completed (21) by Team and Individual (Ballard)
• Most Penalties (14)
• Most Penalty Yards (134)
• Total Offense (275 yards, Ballard)
• Total Plays (49, Ballard)
• Most Punt Return Yards (76, Cory Rodgers)
FROG OFFENSIVE NOTES
AMONG THE BEST
•The Frogs are second in the MWC and ninth nationally in rushing (194.3 yards) while placing second in the league and 17th in the country in total offense (404.5 yards). TCU is second in the MWC and 33rd in Division I-A in scoring (28.6 points).
8TCU is also second in the MWC in first downs (263) and red-zone offense, scoring on 86.0 percent (43-of-50) of its opportunities.
•TCU's average of 404.5 yards in total offense marks the fourth straight year it has been at 400 or better.
ON FIRE
•In its last three games, TCU is averaging 45.0 points and 535.7 yards of total offense.
•The Frogs have posted two of the top-seven offensive performances in school history in the last three games. The 624 yards against San Diego State ranks fifth, while the 606 versus Colorado State is tied for sixth.
•The 624 yards against San Diego State were the most by a TCU squad since a Frog-record 782 yards at Houston in 2003. It also marked TCU's second-best output at Amon G. Carter Stadium, surpassed only by a 667-yard performance versus Rice in 1984.
NO PUNTS
•TCU went nearly eight full quarters without attempting a punt.
•The Frogs' run of six straight quarters without a punt came to an end when Brian Cortney had an attempt in the final minute of the third quarter.
•It was TCU's first punt since Derek Wash on the first play of the fourth quarter of the Nov. 18 victory over San Diego State.
•The 45-14 win at Colorado State marked the first time ever that TCU did not attempt a punt in a game.
•The Frogs have punted just six times in their last three contests.
SIMPLY A WINNER
•Jeff Ballard's 90.0 winning percentage (18-2) as a starting quarterback ranks first all-time at TCU. The Frogs' quarterback history includes Sammy Baugh and Heisman Trophy winner Davey O'Brien leading TCU to national titles in 1935 and 1938, respectively.
•Including his 22-2 record for Friendswood High School, Ballard is a combined 40-4 as a starting quarterback in his prep and collegiate careers.
•With his 80.8 (21-of-26) completion percentage against Air Force, Ballard has posted three of the top six single-game marks in school history this season. He set the record with an 87.0 percentage (20-of-23) on Nov. 18 against San Diego State. He was also 18-of-23 (78.3 percent) versus UC Davis for the sixth-best effort. The Air Force game ranks fourth.
•In the last three games, Ballard is 58-of-74 (78.4 percent) in the air for 760 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions.
•In his final two home contests, Ballard was a combined 41-of-49 (83.7 percent) for 522 yards with six scores and no picks.
•Ballard completed his first 12 pass attempts against Air Force, just two shy of his TCU single-game record of 14 set last month (Nov. 18) versus San Diego State.
•In going back to the Nov. 25 Colorado State game, Ballard had 14 straight completions over a two-game stretch. He completed his final two pass attempts against the Rams.
•Ballard ranks eighth nationally this season in lowest interception percentage with a minimum of 200 passes. He has a 1.80 mark with just five picks in 278 attempts.
•For a career, Ballard is 13th among active quarterbacks in lowest interception percentage (minimum of 500 pass attempts). He has a 2.35 percentage in 511 attempts (12 picks).
•Ballard has thrown 125 passes since his last interception, the fourth-longest current streak in the nation:
1. Chase Holbrook, New Mexico State - 194
2. Matt Moore, Oregon State - 161
3. Andre Woodson, Kentucky - 134
4. Jeff Ballard, TCU - 125
BALLARD ON THE GROUND
•Jeff Ballard is third on the Frogs with 404 yards rushing (4.1 per carry, five touchdowns), surpassing his total from last year (314, 3.4 average, eight touchdowns).
•Ballard has the highest season rushing total by a TCU quarterback since Patrick Batteaux had 479 yards in 1998.
•Ballard ran for a first down on nine of his 14 carries at UNLV as he rushed for a career-best 84 yards.
•He has had four of the top-six rushing games of his career in the last 10 contests.
•In addition to the UNLV game, Ballard had 72 yards against Texas Tech (Sept. 16), 71 versus BYU (Sept. 28) and 67 at Army (Oct. 21). During those four contests, he totaled 294 yards on a 6.7 per carry mark.
A RECORD-SETTING NIGHT AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
•The following is a recap of the four TCU single-game records set or tied by Jeff Ballard:
•Completion percentage (87.0, 20-of-23), breaking the previous mark of 86.7 by Max Knake (13-of-15, vs. Rice, 1994) and tying the MWC record (Caleb Hanie of Colorado State was 20-of-23 against Colorado on Sept. 9, 2006)
•14 consecutive completions, bettering the previous standard of 13 by Max Knake against SMU and Oklahoma State in 1993
•Five touchdown passes, equaling the total of Matt Vogler (vs. Houston, 1990) and Steve Stamp (vs. UT-Arlington, 1981)
•Accounting for six touchdowns (five passing, one rushing), set initially by LaDainian Tomlinson in 1999 versus UTEP and equaled last year by Ballard against New Mexico in his first collegiate start
PROTECTING THE QB
•TCU has allowed just 13 sacks, the lowest total in the Mountain West Conference and tied for the sixth-best mark nationally.
•Offensive tackle Herb Taylor's 48 consecutive starts, representing every TCU game over the last four seasons, is tied for the fourth-longest current streak in Division I-A.
•The other four starters (RG Maurice Bouldwin, LG Matty Lindner, C Blake Schlueter, RT Wade Sisk) on the Frog offensive line made their first collegiate starts this season.
GROUND GAINS
•TCU is 8-0 when rushing for at least 167 yards and 2-2 when falling below that mark. The Frogs had 98 yards in the season-opening 17-7 win at Baylor and 141 versus Air Force.
•The Frogs average 211.0 yards rushing in their 10 wins and 111.0 in the two losses.
•TCU is averaging 223.0 rushing yards on a 4.9 per carry average in its current seven-game winning streak.
•TCU's top-six rushers and nine of the top 10 are averaging at least 4.1 yards per carry with seven Frogs at 4.5 or better.
RUSHING TARGETS
•By averaging 223.0 yards rushing in the current seven-game winning streak, TCU has seen its 2006 mark climb to 194.3.
•In the four 10-win seasons under Gary Patterson, the Frogs have averaged 199.4 yards per game rushing:
2002 - 203.2
2003 - 207.7
2005 - 192.2
2006 - 194.3
•The Frogs averaged 145.4 yards rushing (124.5, 2001; 166.2, 2004) in their other two seasons under Patterson.
MR. 3,000
•With 2,962 career yards rushing, tailback Lonta Hobbs needs 38 yards in the Poinsettia Bowl to become just the fourth player in TCU history to reach the 3,000 mark.
•Hobbs is the Frogs' fifth all-time leading rusher. He is 32 yards shy of catching former TCU and Buffalo Bills' standout Kenneth Davis (2,994, 1982-85) for fourth place.
•Hobbs posted back-to-back 93-yard efforts in wins at UNLV and New Mexico. He's looking for his first 100-yard rushing game since a 106-yard performance at Army on Oct. 2, 2004.
•Despite missing the season¹s opening three games due to injury, Hobbs is second on the Frogs with 556 yards rushing and six touchdowns.
MR. MILESTONE
•Quentily Harmon, the Frogs' top receiver, has achieved milestones in each of the last two games.
•Against Colorado State, his three receptions for 54 yards enabled him to surpass 100 career grabs.
•With four catches for 38 yards, including a 14-yard touchdown, against Air Force, Harmon moved past Reggie Harrell (103, 2002-04) into 10th place on the Frogs' career receiving list with 105 receptions.
•Harmon needs four catches to tie LaTarence Dunbar (109, 1999-02) for ninth place on the TCU all-time chart.
•Harmon tops TCU with 46 receptions, approaching his total from his first three seasons combined (59).
•Harmon has at least three receptions in 13 of his last 14 games and 16 of the past 18. He saw his streak of 15 consecutive contests with at least one catch end at New Mexico.
•Harmon had a career-high 105 yards receiving against Wyoming. His previous career-high in receiving yards (96) came in the season-opening win at Baylor. He tied a career-best with six receptions versus UC Davis.
SNESATIONAL SOPHOMORE
•Aaron Brown, the 2005 Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year as a true freshman, places second in the league this season in all-purpose yards per game (118.5) and third in rushing (68.1).
•Brown's 5.3 per carry mark is second among the MWC's top-10 ground gainers. •With a career-best 166 yards rushing (117 in the first half) at Colorado State, Aaron Brown recorded TCU's only 100-yard game of the season. He was the first Frog to reach the century mark since Robert Merrill ran for 109 yards in last year's Houston Bowl win over Iowa State. Brown's total was the most by a TCU player since Merrill gained 170 yards on Oct. 29, 2005 at San Diego State.
•Brown had the fourth 100-yard rushing game of his career. TCU is 4-0 when he reaches the century mark.
•Brown totaled a career-best 285 all-purpose yards (166 rushing, 48 receiving, 71 kickoff returns), including 210 in the first half. His season-high had been 156 in the 17-7 win at Baylor.
•Brown leads TCU in rushing (749 yards) while placing second in receptions (33) and receiving yards (447). He tops TCU in touchdowns (10).
•Brown's 33 receptions are the most by a TCU running back since Basil Mitchell totaled 40 for 344 yards in 1996.
•Brown wears the same number (23) as former Frog Jim Swink, a consensus All-American and 1955 Heisman Trophy runner-up.
•Brown's 107 yards receiving at Baylor were the most by a Frog since Cory Rodgers totaled 128 yards on six catches in a 48-10 win at Air Force last season (Oct. 22).
•Brown became the first TCU running back to reach 100 yards receiving in a game since Andre Davis had four receptions for 109 yards in a 30-28 win at Tulane on Oct. 15, 1994.
MOVING THE STICKS
•In two of the last three games, TCU has the third- and eighth-best first-down totals in its history.
•The Frogs had 33 first downs at Colorado State for the third-highest mark. The only games to surpass that amount came when 36 first downs were registered against Texas Tech in 1990 and Houston in 2003.
•The 30 first downs versus San Diego State tied for the seventh-best total at TCU.
•TCU placed second in the Mountain West Conference this season with 263 first downs.
MOST RECENTLY
•In its current seven-game winning streak, the TCU offense has recorded the following numbers:
34.9 points per game with a minimum of 25 in each contest
223.0 yards per game rushing (4.9 per carry)
210.6 yards per game passing
433.6 yards of total offense (6.2 per play)
48.4 percent (45-of-93) on third-down conversions
164 first downs (23.4 per game)
•The Frogs' top rushing games of the season (275, San Diego State; 350, Colorado State) have come in two of the last three games.
SPREADING THE WEALTH
•TCU has 18 players with a pass reception this season, including offensive lineman Tony Savino off a deflection in the Air Force game.
•TCU wide receivers have accounted for 117 receptions (59.4 percent) with running backs catching 50 balls (25.4 percent) and tight ends 29 (14.7 percent).
•Eight players have accounted for TCU's 14 touchdown catches.
•Sixteen players have scored a touchdown this season.
A RECIEVING HAT TRICK
•Donald Massey's three scoring receptions against San Diego State represented his first three collegiate touchdowns and tied the single-game TCU record set by Brian Collins in 1994 against Houston.
•Massey's career-high 100 yards receiving against San Diego State made him the third Frog this season to reach the century mark in that category. Aaron Brown had 107 receiving yards at Baylor, while Quentily Harmon totaled 105 against Wyoming.
GETTING HOT
•Wide receiver Michael DePriest has nine receptions for 77 yards in the last three games. He totaled five grabs for 77 yards in his first seven contests.
•DePriest missed the first two games of the season due to injury.
MR. FIRST DOWN
•All 12 of tight end Shae Reagan's receptions this season have resulted in TCU first downs.
•Reagan is averaging 23.1 yards per catch, tops on the team for players with more than two receptions. It's also on pace for the fifth-best single-season mark in TCU history.
LOVING THE TIGHT END
•Four different TCU tight ends have touchdown receptions this season. The six total scores have come with the position totaling just 29 catches.
•Reaching the end zone have been Quinton Cunigan (Baylor), Shae Reagan (UC Davis, San Diego State), Brent Hecht (BYU, Colorado State) and Chad Andrus (Army). Cunigan and Reagan scored on their first career catch.
LESS IS BEST
•TCU is 9-0 when attempting 28 or fewer passes in a game. The Frogs are 1-2 when throwing more than 28 times. TCU attempted 32 passes in the 38-14 win over Air Force.
OUTRUSHING THEM
•The Frogs are 10-1 when outrushing their opponent this season. The lone loss came against BYU when TCU had 141 yards on the ground to 72 for the Cougars.
DRIVE CHART
•In each of the last two games, TCU has established a season-high in plays and yards on a scoring drive.
•The Frogs had a 19-play, 97-yard touchdown drive, covering 7:03, against Air Force.
•The previous week, versus Colorado State, the Frogs had season-longs in length of a scoring drive (91 yards) and number of plays (15). Both were on separate possessions and culminated in touchdowns.
•The Frogs' 15 touchdown drives in under two minutes are tied for the 13th-best mark in the nation. Overall, TCU has 19 scoring drives (15 touchdowns, four field goals) in less than two minutes.
•TCU is 22nd nationally in touchdown drives (13) of five plays or less.
•TCU has 11 touchdown drives of at least 80 yards.
•Twenty-four of TCU's 27 scoring drives which covered at least 65 yards resulted in a touchdown.
•Eleven of the Frogs' 18 scoring drives that went at least 10 plays ended in a touchdown.
•In the last four games, TCU has had 12 touchdown drives that covered 2:56 or less.
OUTSCORING THEM
•TCU's 52-0 victory over San Diego State marked its highest scoring total since a 62-55 win over Houston in 2003.
•It was also the 10th-largest victory margin in TCU history.
POINTS ON THE BOARD
•TCU scored 28 points in the second quarter at Colorado State, marking its first 28-point quarter since Oct. 1, 2005 against New Mexico (first quarter).
IN SELECT COMPANY
•Marcus Jackson is one of just 20 redshirt or true freshman quarterbacks nationally to play this season.
•After redshirting in 2005, Jackson has completed 59.1 percent (26-of-44) of his pass attempts for 386 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.
•Jackson was 11-of-13 for 148 yards and two scores in the second half at Baylor as the Frogs rallied from a 7-0 deficit to a 17-7 victory.
QUARTERBACK U
•Five of the top-six career completion percentage leaders for TCU have played in the last six seasons:
1. Jeff Ballard - 60.9 (2004-06)
2. Sean Stilley - 57.9 (1999-02)
3. Brandon Hassell - 56.7 (2003-04)
4. Casey Printers - 56.1 (1999-01)
5. Max Knake - 55.8 (1992-95)
6. Tye Gunn - 55.0 (2002-05)
DEJA VU
•In relief roles, the numbers of Jeff Ballard in last year's 51-50 overtime win at BYU and Marcus Jackson in the second-half comeback at Baylor are similar:
Ballard - 8-of-12 passing (75.0 percent), 150 yards, 2 TDs
Jackson - 11-of-13 passing (84.6 percent), 148 yards, 2 TDs
•Jackson was two attempts shy (a minimum of 15 is required) of qualifying for the second-best single-game completion percentage in TCU history.
FROG DEFENSIVE NOTES
AMONG THE NATION'S FINEST
•TCU tops the Mountain West Conference and ranks fourth nationally in run defense (67.6 yards), trailing only Michigan (43.0), Texas (58.8) and Miami, Fla. (66.0).
•The Frogs are fourth in total defense (249.5 yards). The only teams ahead of TCU are Virginia Tech (221.1), LSU (238.8) and Wisconsin (243.5).
•TCU is fifth in scoring defense (12.8 points), behind Virginia Tech (9.3), Ohio State (10.4), Wisconsin (11.9) and LSU (12.5).
MOST RECENTLY
•In its current seven-game winning streak, the TCU defense has recorded the following numbers:
203.0 yards per game allowed (71.0 rushing, 132.0 passing)
24 sacks
19 takeaways
20-of-84 (23.8 percent) opponent third-down conversions
81 opponent first downs (11.6 per game)
11.3 points per game
90-of-176 passing (51.1 percent) with 11 interceptions and three touchdowns
A 2.4 per carry mark on 207 rushing attempts for 497 yards
•No opponent has had more than 300 yards of offense on TCU with four (Army, 196; Wyoming, 165; San Diego State, 87; Air Force, 142) under 200 yards. UNLV had 246 with New Mexico at 285 and Colorado State 300.
•Five of the seven opponents have been held under 100 yards rushing.
•In the last three games, TCU foes have rushed for a combined 163 yards (54.3 average) on a 1.9 per carry mark.
MAGIC NUMBERS
•TCU is 10-0 when holding the opponent to under 333 yards of offense and 0-2 when the opposition surpasses that mark.
•TCU is 9-0 when allowing 17 or less points and 1-2 when the opponent scores more than 17 this season.
DEFENSE AT ITS BEST
•This year's TCU defense is on pace for its top performance in scoring defense (12.8 points) and second-best mark in rushing defense (67.6 yards) and total defense (249.5 yards) in the six-year head coaching tenure of Gary Patterson.
•The 12.8 points per game allowed is the lowest for TCU since a 9.6 mark in the 2000 campaign, Patterson's final year as defensive coordinator before becoming head coach.
•The TCU defense is allowing 79.6 yards per game fewer this season (249.5) compared to last year's Mountain West Conference championship team (329.1).
•The Frogs are surrendering 5.8 points per game fewer than a year ago.
NO FRIEND OF RUNNING BACKS
•TCU is one of four teams nationally to not allow a 100-yard game by an opposing running back this season. The others are Boston College, Florida and Utah.
•The Frogs have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in their last 19 games, dating back to New Mexico's DonTrell Moore gaining 129 yards on 21 attempts on Oct. 1, 2005.
•During his 73-game tenure as TCU's head coach, Gary Patterson has seen just 10 100-yard rushing games posted by opposing players.
DYNAMIC DUO
•TCU defensive ends Tommy Blake and Chase Ortiz are the Mountain West Conference leaders in tackles for a loss with 13.5 and 10.0, respectively.
•Blake also ranks among the league¹s best with five sacks.
STUFFING THE RUN
•In the previous 15 contests, dating back to last year's Colorado State game, only four TCU opponents have surpassed 86 yards rushing. During that stretch, the Frogs' run defense has surrendered just 60.6 yards per contest.
•In six seasons under head coach Gary Patterson, TCU is 37-5 when holding the opponent under 100 yards rushing.
KEY STOPS
•TCU is the MWC leader in opponent third-down conversions. Frog foes have converted just 32.1 percent of those opportunities, placing TCU 21st nationally.
•The Frogs are third in the MWC in fourth-down defense as opponents have been successful on 8-of-17 attempts (47.1 percent).
SACK MASTERS
•TCU tops the Mountain West Conference in sacks with 31.
•In its seven-game winning streak, TCU has recorded 24 sacks while allowing six. The 24 sacks have been recorded by 14 different players.
•Fourteen Frogs have combined for the team's 31 sacks on the year.
•Defensive end Tommy Blake (5), safety Brian Bonner (4.5) and defensive tackle James Vess (4) place in the MWC¹s top 10 for sacks.
•Vess has four sacks in the last six games, representing his entire season total.
TIGHTENING UP
•In the last eight games, TCU has allowed just six touchdowns on the opponent's 18 trips to the red zone. Five of those failed possessions were the result of Frog interceptions.
DEFENDING THE PASS
•TCU has surrendered just nine touchdown passes this season, the lowest total in the MWC, despite starting a pair of redshirt freshmen (Rafael Priest and Nick Sanders) at cornerback. The Frogs also faced pass-oriented teams in Baylor and Texas Tech in non-conference action.
•TCU allowed a total of five touchdown passes in losses against BYU and Utah. The Frogs have given up only four scoring tosses in their 10 wins.
FINDING PAYDIRT
•TCU has three defensive touchdowns this season, most recently Torrey Stewart's 20-yard interception return for a score against Air Force.
•Defensive end Tommy Blake returned a fumble 12 yards for a touchdown at New Mexico, while cornerback Nick Sanders scored on a 21-yard interception return at Army.
PICK STREAKS
•A pair of TCU reserve defensive backs have had recent interception streaks.
•Cornerback Torrey Stewart has a pick in each of the last two games, including one returned 20 yards for a touchdown against Air Force.
•Back-up safety Steven Coleman had an interception against both San Diego State and Colorado State. He also blocked a punt against the Aztecs.
LIVING UP TO HIS BILLING
•Defensive end Tommy Blake, a preseason All-American who appeared on five watch lists for major awards in 2006, tops the Mountain West Conference with 13.5 tackles for a loss while his five sacks rank with the league leaders.
•Blake is also among the MWC's best with two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. One of those recoveries was returned 12 yards for a touchdown at New Mexico.
•A former high school tailback, Blake is fourth on the Frogs with 51 tackles.
•Blake showcased his speed at UNLV by making the downfield tackle on a 42-yard run by Rebel running back David Peeples.
MAKING HIS MARK
•TCU safety Marvin White has a team-best 79 tackles and four interceptions while twice being named the Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Week.
•The 79 stops are 12 more than the next-closest Frog (Jason Phillips, 67).
•A senior from Port Barre, La., White forced two fumbles at New Mexico. He recorded the first sack of his two-year TCU career against UNLV.
THE ROOKIES
•Redshirt freshman cornerback Nick Sanders has started all 12 games and has three interceptions, including two at Army. When going back to the previous game at Utah, his three picks came in a three-quarter span.
•With his 21-yard interception return for a touchdown at Army, Sanders became the first Frog since Quincy Butler on Nov. 20, 2004 (versus Southern Miss) to score on a pick. It was also TCU¹s first defensive touchdown since linebacker Robert Henson¹s 22-yard fumble return for a score in last year's 28-14 win at Wyoming.
•Fellow redshirt freshman cornerback Rafael Priest has nine pass break-ups to top TCU and place in a tie for fifth in the MWC. The nine PBUs surpass TCU's 2005 team-leading total of eight shared by NFL-signees Butler, Drew Coleman and Jeremy Modkins.
THEY'LL BE BACK
•TCU has just two seniors (nose tackle Jarrarcea Williams, safety Marvin White) among its 11 defensive starters.
KEEP AN EYE ON
•Defensive tackle James Vess, one of just four Frogs to see action as a true freshman last season, has four sacks in the last six games. He's been a two-time TCU Defensive Player of the Week in that stretch.
DEFENDING THEIR HOME
•In their last three home games, the Frogs outscored their opponents 116-17 while allowing just 394 yards of offense (131.3 per game).
•In their final two home appearances, TCU surrendered a total of 100 yards passing (56, San Diego State; 44, Air Force).
•Dating back to last season, the Frogs have held the opposition without a touchdown in five of the last eight Amon G. Carter Stadium dates.
THE FASTEST AND STRONGEST OF THE FROGS
SPEED
•In a 40-yard timing by National Football League scouts, the fastest Frogs are wide receiver Michael DePriest (4.33) and safety Marvin White (4.37).
HOW STRONG ARE THEY?
43 - Number of players who bench 350+ pounds
16 - Number of players who bench 400+ pounds
329 - Average team power clean in pounds
48 - Number of players who squat 500+ pounds
19 - Number of players who squat 600+ pounds
523 - Average team squat in pounds
TOP LIFTERS
Bench Press - Jarrarcea Williams, NT (475 pounds)
Squat - Cody Moore, DT (760 pounds)
Power Clean - Cody Moore, DT (440 pounds)
SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES
FROG LEGS
•In two games this season, TCU placekickers single-handedly outscored the opposition.
•Chris Manfredini's four field goals accounted for all of the Frogs' scoring in a 12-3 victory over Texas Tech.
•Peter LoCoco had four field goals in a 25-10 win at UNLV.
DYNAMIC DUO
•Chris Manfredini (11-of-13) and Peter LoCoco (9-of-12) are a combined 20-of-25 on field goals this season.
•Manfredini is 24-of-26 in his two years at TCU. When including a 10-of-11 mark for Cincinnati in 2003, he is 34-of-37 (91.9 percent) in his collegiate career.
•LoCoco has made eight straight attempts over the last six games.
•LoCoco had touchbacks on 4-of-8 kickoffs at Colorado State and has 20 touchbacks on 70 kickoffs (28.6 percent) this season.
ON A MISSION
•Stephen Hodge had five solo tackles on TCU kickoffs against San Diego State, helping him total a team-high and career-best nine stops in the game.
•Hodge was TCU's Special Teams Player of the Week at Army after recording solo stops on five of the Frogs' six kickoffs. He also forced a fumble against the Black Knights.
BLOCK PARTY
•Daryl Washington and Steven Coleman blocked punts against San Diego State, giving TCU three punt blocks on the year. Robert Henson had one versus Texas Tech.
THE RETURN GAME
•Starting safety Brian Bonner tops the MWC and ranks 15th nationally with a 12.0 punt return average.
•With Marcus Brock placing seventh (7.6 average), TCU has two of the top-seven punt returners in the league.
•Donald Massey is sixth in the MWC with a 21.4 kickoff return average.
TOUGH TO RETURN AGAINST
•The Frogs are allowing just 5.2 yards on punt returns and 18.3 on kickoff returns.
•TCU has forced fumbles on kickoff returns in two of the last seven games.
THE PUNTERS
•TCU punters Bryan Cortney (39.1 average) and Derek Wash (37.5) have combined to put 14-of-49 (28.6 percent) kicks inside the opponent 20 with only two touchbacks.
FROG TIDBITS
NUMBERS OF NOTE
•At 63-21 (.750), TCU has the 12th-best record in Division I-A since the start of the 2000 campaign.
A WINNING CLASS
•This year's TCU senior class won two conference titles (2002 C-USA co-champions, 2005 MWC outright champs) while appearing in four bowl games.
•The seniors also posted an 8-1 record against teams from BCS leagues, including a 4-1 mark versus the Big 12.
COMING OUT STRONG
•TCU has allowed just one first-quarter touchdown (at Colorado State, Nov. 25) this season. Dating back to last year, the Frogs have surrendered only one first-quarter touchdown in their last 17 games.
SATURDAY IS A DAY FOR FROGS
•TCU has won 18 straight Saturday games and is 19-1 on that day over the last two seasons.
•During that stretch, the Frogs are 2-2 on other days of the week (1-0 on Sundays, 1-2 on Thursdays).
DAYLIGHT IS A GOOD SIGN
•TCU is 12-0 in day games over the last two seasons and 9-3 at night.
•The NCAA recognizes a night game as starting at 5 p.m. local time.
QUICK STARTS
•TCU's top defensive quarter is the opening 15 minutes, as its foes have scored just 22 points in 12 games (1.8 per contest). The Frogs' next-best defensive quarters are the second and third quarters with 38 points surrendered in each.
•The Frogs have outscored the opposition 215-60 in the first half and 128-93 in the second half.
•TCU has scored in the first quarter in 18 of its last 21 games.
•After scoring first in 10 of 12 contests in 2005, TCU has been first on the board just six times in 12 games this year. The Frogs have scored first in five of their last six contests.
•Since the start of the 2002 season, the Frogs have tallied first in 72.1 percent (44-of-61) of their games.
QUARTER BREAKDOWN
•TCU has outscored the opposition in three of four quarters this season. Frog opponents hold a 55-39 fourth-quarter edge. Last season, TCU surrendered just 31 fourth-quarter points for its best defensive quarter.
•Keyed by 28 points against Colorado State, and 24-point explosions against both Army and San Diego State, the Frogs' most potent offensive effort (135 points) has come in the second quarter.
•During its seven-game winning streak, TCU is averaging 15.1 points in the second quarter.
•The largest point differential (97 points) in a quarter is the second quarter with TCU holding a 135-38 advantage.
•Dating back to last year, the Frogs have allowed just 86 fourth-quarter points in their last 24 games (3.6 per contest). During that same period, TCU has outscored its foes by a 291-179 margin in the second half.
IN THE ZONE
•The Frogs top the Mountain West Conference in red-zone defense while placing second in offense.
•Opponents have just 26 red-zone visits against TCU for the lowest total in the MWC, five less than any other team (Wyoming, 31). The Frogs have allowed only nine touchdowns and eight field goals. The opposition has scored on 17-of-26 series (65.4 percent).
•TCU has points on 43-of-50 (86.0 percent) possessions in the red zone. The Frogs have 28 touchdowns and 15 field goals.
WINNING IS HABIT FORMING
•TCU has a record of 10-2 or better for the fourth time in Gary Patterson's six seasons as head coach.
•The Frogs' 37 wins over the last four years are tied with Michigan, Wisconsin and West Virginia for the 11th-best total in the nation. USC leads with 47.
CLOSE CALLS
•Dating back to the 2003 campaign, 19 of TCU's last 48 games have been decided by seven points or less. The Frogs are 16-3 in those contests.
THE TURNOVER STORY
•Over the last two seasons, TCU is 16-0 when winning the turnover battle and 2-0 when coming out even. The Frogs are 3-3 on the negative side.
•TCU is plus-10 in turnover margin in its 10 wins this season and minus-4 in the two losses.
•Since the start of the 2005 season, TCU is 21-3. In those three defeats, the Frogs have been at minus-2 or worse in turnover margin in each game.
•Against BYU, the TCU defense failed to register a takeaway for the first time in 19 games (at Cincinnati, Oct. 30, 2004).
•The minus-2 differential versus the Cougars was the largest turnover deficit for TCU since a negative-3 last year at SMU (Sept. 10, 2005).
•The Frogs led the nation last season in turnover margin (+21), takeaways (40) and interceptions (26).
FINDING THE SCOREBOARD
•At 176 games, TCU has the sixth-longest streak in the nation for not being shut out. The Frogs haven¹t been blanked since a 32-0 defeat at Texas on Nov. 16, 1991.
ROAD WARRIORS
•TCU is 17-7 (.708) in road and neutral-site games since the start of the 2003 season, placing it fourth nationally in Division I-A.
1. USC - 23-4 (.852)
2. Boise State - 20-5 (.800)
3. LSU - 18-6 (.750)
4. TCU - 17-7 (.708)
5. West Virginia - 16-7 (.696)
CONTROLLING THE CLOCK
•TCU is 8-0 when holding an edge in time of possession and 2-2 when the opponent has the ball longer.
•TCU is averaging 31:23 on the season to place third in the MWC and 23rd nationally.
FROGS OR TADPOLES?
In offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse, linebacker Daryl Washington and defensive ends Wayne Daniels and Jerry Hughes, TCU is tied for 16th nationally in having the fewest number (four) of true freshmen who have played this season.
•Eleven redshirt freshmen have seen action.
BONUS FOOTBALL
•TCU is 5-4 since the NCAA adopted overtime play in 1996.
WIN-LOSS UPDATE
•After just three winning seasons in 13 years (1985-97), TCU has won over 70 percent of its games (78-31, .716) since the start of the 1998 campaign when head coach Gary Patterson arrived on campus.
•TCU has an all-time record of 537-504-57 (.515) in its football history which began in 1896.
AT HOME
•Since the start of the 2000 season, TCU is 34-5 (.872) in Amon G. Carter Stadium. Included in that total are undefeated marks in four (2000, 2002, 2003, 2005) of those years which contributed to at least 10 wins in each season.
•Over the last four years, TCU's 20-4 (.833) mark ranks 16th nationally in home winning percentage.
•The BYU contest (Sept. 28) closed a stretch of three home games in 20 days for TCU. The Frogs had just three home dates in the final 65 days of the regular season, including one (San Diego State, Nov. 18) in a 50-day span.
•The 12-3 win over Texas Tech saw TCU record its first sellout crowd since 1984, when the Frogs hosted Texas. The attendance of 45,647 against the Red Raiders represented the second-largest crowd in TCU history, surpassed only by the 47,280 for that 1984 contest against the Longhorns.
•TCU sold a record 13,962 football season tickets this season.
SCHEDULING QUIRKS
•Since the start of the 1996 season, the Frogs are 12-8 in non-Saturday, regular-season games. Under Patterson, TCU is 9-7 and has played on every day of the week.
•TCU has played 16 of its 68 regular-season contests (23.5 percent) under Patterson on non-Saturdays.
WHERE TO FIND THE TCU ASSIATANTS
•Press Box: Mike Schultz (offensive coordinator/running backs), Dick Winder (quarterbacks), Tony Tademy (linebackers) and Chad Glasgow (safeties).
•Field: Dick Bumpas (defensive coordinator/defensive line), Charles McMillian (cornerbacks), Jarrett Anderson (wide receivers), Dan Sharp (tight ends/special teams) and Eddie Williamson (assistant head coach/offensive line).
AN EXPERIECED STAFF
•TCU returned its entire coaching staff from the 2005 season.
•The Frogs are one of just four teams (N.C. State, Oklahoma, Temple) in Division I-A to have all 10 of their coaches play Division I football. Eight members of the TCU staff competed on the Division I-A level with two in I-AA.
HERE TO STAY
•At a Nov. 22, 2005 news conference, TCU athletics director Danny Morrison announced that football coach Gary Patterson agreed to a contract extension through 2012.
ACTIVITY AND LAYOFFS
•TCU's 2006 regular-season schedule could be classified in three phases.
•Prior to facing Army on Oct. 21, which began a stretch of playing on seven consecutive Saturdays to close the regular season, the Frogs opened the 2006 campaign with three games in 14 days before playing just twice in 34 days.
•After facing Texas Tech on Sept. 16, the Frogs had an open date before back-to-back Thursday games versus BYU (Sept. 28) and Utah (Oct. 5). Following its date in Salt Lake City, TCU had another bye week before returning to action at Army.
•TCU had four straight Saturdays (Sept. 23, Sept. 30, Oct. 7, Oct. 14) without a game.
THE RANKINGS
•Following its 38-14 win over Air Force in the Dec. 2 regular-season finale, TCU returned to the top 25 in both the USA Today (No. 24) and Associated Press (No. 25) polls.
•TCU appeared in 15 consecutive top-25 polls by the AP and USA Today before falling out after a Sept. 28 loss to BYU.
•At No. 15 in the Sept. 17 and Sept. 24 USA Today polls, the Frogs had their highest September ranking since 1959.
•With a No. 21 appearance in the USA Today poll and a No. 22 spot in the Associated Press Top 25, TCU posted its highest preseason rankings since it was No. 20 by AP in 2000.
THE BCS
•TCU is tied with Boise State for the most appearances (20) in the BCS standings by a school playing in a conference without an automatic BCS bid.
•Since Gary Patterson arrived at TCU as defensive coordinator in 1998, the Frogs are 12-6 against teams from leagues with automatic BCS bids.
•If this year's BCS rules were in effect last season, TCU would have been in a BCS bowl. The Frogs were 14th in the final 2005 BCS standings and ahead of ACC-automatic qualifier Florida State.
HONORARY BIG 12 MEMBERS
•In a stretch of just 15 games, dating back to the start of the 2005 season, TCU went 4-0 against the Big 12 while allowing just 11.0 points per game.
•Only four Big 12 teams (Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Colorado) won more games than TCU against Big 12 foes during that period.
•TCU opened and closed the 2005 campaign with victories over Big 12 squads, winning 17-10 at Oklahoma and 27-24 over Iowa State in the Houston Bowl.
•The Frogs defeated Baylor (17-7) and Texas Tech (12-3) earlier this season, holding the Bears and Red Raiders to a combined one touchdown and 10 points.
BEING STINGY
•The 87 yards of offense by San Diego State represented the Frogs' best defensive effort since surrendering 81 yards to SMU in a 21-0 victory on Nov. 26, 1999.
•TCU recorded its first shutout since a 44-0 blanking of SMU on Sept. 11, 2004.
KEY NUMBERS FROM TECH
•TCU's 12-3 win over Texas Tech marked the first time the Frogs won when scoring 12 or fewer points since a 12-3 win over UT-Arlington in the 1974 season opener.
•TCU became the first team since 2000 to hold Texas Tech without a touchdown. The Red Raiders were limited to 204 yards passing after entering the contest with a 396.5 per game mark.
BOUNCING BACK
•In the week after a regular-season loss, TCU has a 12-4 record under coach Gary Patterson.
•The Frogs have never lost three in a row under Patterson.
•TCU hasn't dropped three straight contests since a four-game skid in the 1998 campaign.
PLAYING THE SERVICE ACADEMIES
•TCU's Gary Patterson is 9-0 as a head coach against the service academies.
•Under Patterson, the Frogs are 6-0 versus Army, 2-0 with Air Force and 1-0 against Navy.
TCU FARES WELL IN THE GSR
•TCU ranked 20th in the 2006 NCAA Graduation Success Rate (GSR) with a 78 percent score.
•The Frogs placed second in the MWC, trailing only Air Force (93 percent).
•TCU was eighth out of 2005 bowl teams, placing behind Navy, Boston College, Notre Dame, Northwestern, Nebraska, Florida and Penn State.
AFFORDABLE LIVING
•Coldwell Banker ranked Fort Worth, Texas, as the fourth-most affordable city in the nation to have a Division I-A football program.
•Tulsa was first with an average home price of $148,575. The remainder of the top five includes Southern Miss (Hattiesburg, Miss.; $151,225), Ball State (Muncie, Ind.; $151,238), TCU (Fort Worth, Texas; $151,250) and Louisiana-Monroe (Monroe, La.; $153,271).
•Stanford (Palo Alto, Calif.; $1,652,042) headlined the most-expensive college markets. Tied for second were Los Angeles-based UCLA and USC ($1,565,099).
•Air Force (Colorado Springs, Colo.) was second to TCU in the MWC with an average home price of $217,000.
VERSATILE FROGS
•The TCU defensive line features five former high school running backs: Tommy Blake, Jerry Hughes, Cody Moore, Jared Retkofsky and Jarrarcea Williams.
OFFENSIVE BREAKTHROUGHS
•TCU's 50 touchdowns in 2005 set a new single-season school record. The previous mark was 49 in 2000. With 48 touchdowns in 2004, the Frogs have recorded their top three single-season touchdown totals in school history over the last six years with Mike Schultz as offensive coordinator.
•During that same period, TCU has had three of its top four single-season point totals. The 398 points in 2005 were the second-best mark in school history.
PERFECTION
•With an 8-0 record in its debut season in the Mountain West Conference last year, TCU posted its first undefeated conference record (8-0) since the 1938 national championship team swept through the Southwest Conference.
•The 2005 Frogs were just the fourth team in school history to go through a season undefeated in league play, joining the 1938 and 1932 Southwest Conference squads as well as the 1920 Texas Intercollegiate Athletic Association team.
NFL DRAFT PICKS FROM MWC TEAMS
•TCU 163, San Diego State 133, BYU 131, Utah 123, Colorado State 93, Wyoming 75, New Mexico 59, UNLV 40, Air Force 7.
FROGS AND THE NFL
•In Gary Patterson's five-year tenure as head coach, TCU has had 14 players drafted with a total of 25 in NFL camps.
•Seven players from last year¹s Frog team were in NFL camps: Cory Rodgers (WR, fourth-round draft pick, Green Bay), Michael Toudouze (OT, fifth-round draft pick, Indianapolis), Drew Coleman (CB, sixth-round draft pick, New York Jets), Quincy Butler (CB, free-agent, Dallas), Tye Gunn (QB, free-agent, Chicago), Jeremy Modkins (S, free-agent, Green Bay) and defensive tackle Ranorris Ray (DT, free-agent, Dallas).
•Six other former Horned Frogs are currently active in the NFL: Anthony Alabi (OT, Miami), Robert Pollard (DE, Seattle), Aaron Schobel (DE, Buffalo), Bo Schobel (DE, Indianapolis), Matt Schobel (TE, Philadelphia), LaDainian Tomlinson (RB, San Diego) and Ryan Tucker (OL, Cleveland).
SPECIAL FROG
•Former TCU tailback and current National Football League star LaDainian Tomlinson was named to CBS SportsLine.com¹s All-Decade Team. He was joined in the All-Decade backfield by former USC standouts Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush.
•The Web site wrote of Tomlinson, Before he started running wild with the San Diego Chargers, Tomlinson was an excellent college player at TCU.
•Tomlinson rushed for a combined 4,008 yards in his final two years of college, including 2,158 as a senior. He ran for an NCAA single-game record 406 yards versus UTEP in 1999 and won the Doak Walker Award as the nation's top running back in 2000. Tomlinson, who has earned his TCU degree, had his No. 5 jersey honored by the Frogs last season.
TCU AND THE HEISMAN
•In 1938, quarterback Davey O'Brien became the first player from TCU and the Southwest Conference to capture the Heisman Trophy. O¹Brien¹s name dons the trophy awarded each year to the most outstanding quarterback in the country.
•In the 70-year history of the Heisman Trophy, five Frogs (O'Brien; Sammy Baugh, 4th - 1936; Jim Swink, 2nd - 1955; Kenneth Davis, 5th - 1984; LaDainian Tomlinson, 4th - 2000) have finished in the top five in voting.
TCU AMONG STORIED PROGRAMS
•TCU was ranked 39th in Street & Smith's listing of the 50 Greatest College Football Programs of All Time.
•Selections were based on the following: national championships, undefeated seasons, major bowl wins, major bowl appearances, conference championships, overall won-loss percentage, graduation rate, All-Americans, Heisman Trophy winners, No. 1 overall NFL draft picks, NCAA infractions and mascot ferocity.
•The Horned Frogs have produced two national championship teams (1935, 1938), a Heisman Trophy winner (Davey O'Brien, 1938) and four others to finish in the top five in voting (Sammy Baugh, 4th - 1936; Jim Swink, 2nd - 1955; Kenneth Davis, 5th - 1984; LaDainian Tomlinson, 4th - 2000).
•TCU has posted four 10-win campaigns in the past six years and advanced to seven bowl games in the last eight seasons.
A LOOK AHEAD
•TCU has finalized its 2007 non-conference schedule:
Sept. 1 - vs. Baylor
Sept. 8 - at Texas
Sept. 22 - vs. SMU
Oct. 13 - at Stanford
•Three of the Frogs' opponents (Baylor, Texas, SMU) are former Southwest Conference rivals.
•TCU and Stanford will be meeting for the first time in football.
PARKERS MAKE COMMITMENT TO FULLY ENDOW THE TCU TIGHT END POSITION
•TCU Board of Trustee member Ron Parker '76 and his wife, Paula '77, have made a commitment to fully endow an athletic scholarship for the tight end position on the Horned Frog football team.
•This is the first such fully endowed athletic scholarship at TCU. Parker was a two-year letterman (1974-75) at tight end for the Frogs after transferring from Blinn Junior College, where he was named the top male student. He graduated from TCU with a degree in political science.
•Parker is currently senior vice-president of human resources for PepsiCo North America. He oversees all of Frito-Lay North America as well as Quaker, Tropicana and Gatorade North America. He also has Pepsi-Cola North America, half of the total PepsiCo Global organization, under his direction.
•Parker is a former member of the Chancellor's Advisory Council, the International Board of Visitors of TCU's Neeley School of Business and the Dallas Regional Council. He also participates in the Black Alumni Alliance and served on The Commission on the Future of TCU.
•Considered by TCU coaches as one of the best all-around players on the team, Parker was a preseason All-Southwest Conference selection in 1975. Parker had 33 receptions and two touchdowns in his TCU career, including 21 catches for 289 yards as a senior in the 1975 campaign.
