Around the Horned With Brian Estridge
Oct. 25, 2001
Time to Get on a Roll:
With four big games left, it's time for this football team to get on a roll, and I think they are poised for just that. The last three games have seen the total offensive yardage, third-down conversions and first-down totals climb to season highs each week. With Coach Gary Patterson spending extra time with his safeties, (the quarterbacks of this 4-2-5 defense) the defense continues to work tirelessly to return the Frog "D" to the same level as last year's group.
What a Way to Start:
Tuesday night's match-up with East Carolina begins the tough four-game stretch in a big way. The Pirates have long been considered one of the elite teams in C-USA. Coach Steve Logan is in his 10th year at ECU. Although he has had chances to leave in the past, he has been steadfast in his commitment to build the Pirates into a national power, and each year they get closer. Tim Rose, his defensive coordinator, is a former Division I head coach who has shown the ability to adjust to individual game situations. In fact, Frog fans won't see the zone blitz, 3-4 scheme that they saw from ECU in Mobile two years ago. They're back to a 4-3 look that hasn't been as aggressive as past Tim Rose defenses. But watch out, surely as I say that, he'll bring the house on Tuesday!
Halloween Starter Kit:
With Halloween officially beginning on Wednesday night, your little ones can get a jump start on things in Frog Alley on Tuesday. It all begins at 5:00 p.m., and will feature candy at each interactive stop. Also, there will be a costume contest where the winners will be recognized on the field during the game. As the kiddos make their way into the stadium, each of them (14 and under) will receive a collector's edition Bobblehead Frog!
Hardwood Notes:
Billy Tubbs hosted his annual media day on Wednesday in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. Coach Tubbs let us all in on a secret--keep your eye on post Marlon Dumont this year. He said that Marlon is finally at full strength after a rib injury his final year at Seminole Junior College. You'll get a chance to see the Frogs in action on Tuesday night prior to the football game when they'll open their intrasquad scrimmage to the public from 5:00-5:30 p.m. Then, Jeff Mittie's Lady Frogs will scrimmage from 5:30-6:00. Both teams will be in Frog Alley after their respective scrimmages for autographs prior to the football game.
Frogments:
Women's basketball continues to be successful in reaching out to area coaches. Over 200 coaches from all over North and Central Texas were in Daniel-Meyer last Sunday for a clinic, and on Monday night Coach Mittie hosted some 50 coaches from the Fort Worth ISD at a similar event...C-USA basketball media day is this weekend in Chicago. We'll have a Windy City report on both the men and women for you here next week...A couple of schedule/radio changes for you take note of: The TCU /Louisville game has been moved to Friday, November 23 at 5:00 p.m. in Amon Carter Stadium to accommodate an ESPN national telecast. This game will mark the third straight Frog contest that will be heard on Disney Radio AM 620 in the Metroplex. The radio station changes are due to scheduling conflicts with the Dallas Mavericks and the World Series. The East Carolina game on Tuesday and the UAB game on November 10 will also be heard on Disney Radio AM 620...Also, while we're talking radio, the Billy Tubbs Coach's Show debuts next Wednesday from 6:00-7:00 p.m. at Fox and Hound English Pub and Grille on I-20 and Bryant Irvin in the Cityview Shopping Center in Fort Worth...Dr. Jerry Punch will provide the play-by-play, Mark May will serve as his color analyst and Alex Flanigan will operate from the sidelines as part of the ESPN2 telecast of the East Carolina game...Don't forget, our airtime Tuesday night is 6:30 p.m. on Disney Radio AM 620 and kickoff is set for 7:00.
From the streets and avenues of North Texas to the information super highway, I'm Brian Estridge. We'll see you on the radio.
