TCU kicks off 2008 season at New Mexico
8/25/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 25, 2008
Game #1
TCU (0-0; 0-0 MWC) at New Mexico (0-0; 0-0 MWC)
Albuquerque, N.M. -- University Stadium (40,094)
Saturday, Aug. 30 -- 5 p.m. CDT
Television: VERSUS [Joe Beninati (PBP), Glenn Parker (color), Tim Neverett (sideline)]
Radio: TCU/ISP Sports Network--103.3-FM ESPN; 88.7-FM KTCU; gofrogs.com [Brian Estridge (PBP), John Denton (color), Jeff Williams (sideline)]
FORT WORTH--TCU begins its 112th season of football and fourth in the Mountain West Conference when it faces New Mexico in a nationally-televised contest at 5 p.m. CDT Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M.
The Horned Frogs are opening with a conference opponent for the first time since 2003, when they won 38-35 at Tulane in a Conference USA match-up.
TCU has won three straight over New Mexico. The Lobos' last two victories over TCU came in the 1996 (27-7) and 1997 (40-10) seasons, when Frog head coach Gary Patterson was New Mexico's defensive coordinator.
NEW MEXICO TIES
*Four TCU coaches, including Gary Patterson, have coached at New Mexico.
*Prior to coming to TCU as defensive coordinator in 1998, Patterson served as New Mexico's defensive coordinator for two seasons (1996-97).
*TCU wide receivers coach Jarrett Anderson is a 1993 New Mexico graduate who played two seasons for the Lobos (1992-93). He was a New Mexico graduate assistant in 1994.
*Frogs' safeties coach Chad Glasgow was a Lobo graduate assistant coach in 1996.
*TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz spent six seasons (1992-97) as an assistant head coach at New Mexico. He was the secondary coach from 1992-95 before taking over the running backs in the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
*Patterson and Schultz were on the staff of the 1997 New Mexico team which made its first postseason appearance in 36 years when it faced Arizona in the Insight.com Bowl.
*New Mexico head coach Rocky Long was a TCU assistant, working with the secondary, for three seasons (1988-90).
SEASON OPENERS
*TCU is opening with a non-Big 12 opponent for the first time since 2004, when it posted a 48-45 double-overtime home victory over Northwestern. The Frogs faced Okahoma (2005) and Baylor (2006-07) the last three campaigns.
*The Frogs have won their last five season openers. It's the first time since 1970-74 that TCU has had a five-game winning streak in season debuts. With a victory over New Mexico, the Frogs would reach six straight opening victories for the first time since 1940-45. The school record for consecutive wins in season openers is 17 (1920-36).
*TCU is 5-2 in season debuts under head coach Gary Patterson. Overall, the Frogs are 65-37-9 in openers with a 26-24-4 mark in road games.
*The Frogs have a three-game winning streak in road season openers, posting victories at Tulane (38-35, 2003), Oklahoma (17-10, 2005) and Baylor (17-7, 2006).
*In its last three season openers, TCU has allowed a total of just 17 points (Oklahoma 10, 2005; Baylor 7, 2006; Baylor 0, 2007).
