TCU to take on Cardinal
10/8/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Download Free Acrobat ReaderOct. 8, 2007
FORT WORTH--The TCU football team plays its final non-conference game of the 2007 campaign when it travels to The Farm to face Stanford.
The Horned Frogs are playing a Pac-10 opponent for the first time since a 13-10 overtime win at Arizona in 2003. That game makes TCU's Gary Patterson 1-0 as a head coach versus the Pac-10.
The Frogs are making their first Bay Area appearance since a 27-24 loss at San Jose State in 2000.
Patterson is no stranger to Northern California. He was the linebackers coach at UC Davis in 1986 before a three-year stint (1989-91) as defensive coordinator at Sonoma State.
One of the more significant victories in Patterson's 10 seasons at TCU was a 28-19 win over Pac-10 member USC in the 1998 Sun Bowl. It came in Patterson's first year as the Frogs' defensive coordinator. TCU was 1-10 the previous season.
The Frogs are 7-11 in their history versus Pac-10 foes.
THE SERIES
TCU and Stanford are meeting for the first time on the gridiron. The Frogs and Cardinal will play next season (Sept. 13) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth.
TCU AND THE BCS LEAGUES
The Frogs are 9-2 in their last 11 games against teams from BCS-automatic qualifying conferences, including a 5-1 mark the last three seasons versus Big 12 opponents.
Since head coach Gary Patterson arrived at TCU as defensive coordinator in 1998, the Frogs are 13-7 against teams from leagues with automatic BCS bids.
ROAD WARRIORS
TCU is 18-10 (.643) in road and neutral-site games since the start of the 2003 season, placing it 10th nationally in the Football Bowl Subdivision (Division I-A).
The Frogs are 8-4 while allowing 17.6 points per game in their last 12 road contests.
KEY NOTES
TCU has won 11 of its last 14 games and 25-of-31 dating back to 2005.
In the first half of its last 14 contests, TCU?has outscored its opponents 270-33. The margin is 78-20, including 58-3 in the second quarter, in 2007.
The Frogs have allowed only five touchdowns through the opening three quarters of their six games this season. TCU has surrendered just two first-half touchdowns.
With Gary Patterson as head coach, TCU is 38-0 when allowing 17 points or less. Overall, the Frogs have won 53 consecutive games when holding the opponent to 17-or-fewer points. The streak began after a 17-7 loss at Northwestern on Sept. 11, 1999.
