Around the Horned With Brian Estridge
Nov. 30, 2001
Where have you been:
I'll tell you where. In the training room, in the classroom and in that room, whatever it is called, where you gain experience. That's where the TCU football team that you saw last Friday has been all season. Finally, as wounds heal, legs return from the extended season, schemes are mastered and games go under the belt, the Frogs begin to look like a Gary Patterson-coached team. With reckless abandon, the Frogs hit all-star Louisville quarterback David Ragone time and time again. Did it remind you of that Nebraska game back in August? Fresh legs, along with some tinkering of the front seven with an NFL twist, and the Frogs' defense let the Cardinals know early and often that they still had something to say as the season draws to a close.
Three weeks ago who would've thunk it!:
Three weeks ago the Frogs were licking their wounds from Birmingham. Today the talk around Fort Worth is of the possibility of a fourth straight bowl game, an unprecedented streak in TCU football history. Friday, December 7 will be "win and you're in" for the Frogs and Southern Miss, as a trip to the galleryfurniture.com bowl on the line. Looks like right now the opponent will come from one of these Big XII schools, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Iowa State or Kansas State. Just the mention of a potential match-up with A&M brings a gleam in the eye of Frogs everywhere. They know full well that if the teams are to meet, 23 years of frustration will be on the line.
Hoop Scoop:
As Billy awaits the return of Nucleus Smith, he has been able to force-feed a couple of his newcomers with major minutes. Junior Blount and Corey Santee have both showed flashes of brilliance in these early season games. The bad news to Smith's absence is that they have had to play nearly 40 minutes per game. Dead legs were a factor in Sunday's loss to the Louisiana-Monroe Indians, but over the long run this will be good for the Frogs. Jeff Mittie's Lady Frogs hit the tough stretch of their non-conference schedule with tough losses at Oregon (a team that has been in eight straight NCAA tourneys) and the third-ranked Oklahoma Sooners on Tuesday. Again, as we said before, the Frogs will be better off having experienced it.
Frogments:
Jose Carpinteyro is the second consecutive athletic department member to garner one of the coveted "Horned Frog on a Mission" distinctions that recognizes TCU staff and faculty that exemplify the mission of TCU. "Horned Frogs on a Mission" featured Drew Harris in the Media Relations Office last month. But back to Jose, always there when you need him, Jose is one of those rare individuals who does not have the word "no" in his vocabulary. In my book Jose is an MVP!...Saturday's basketball game versus Texas Tech will not only feature Billy Tubbs vs. Bobby Knight, but Dick Vitale will be in the house as well as the game airs on ESPN2...Both games in the Fort Worth Classic, TCU women vs. Arkansas and TCU men vs. Baylor will be televised live on K-Star 49 here in DFW as part of the ESPN+ network....Don't forget folks, be sure and email David Ippoliti, the Executive Director of the galleryfurniture.com Bowl, and let them know that you'll be following the Frogs to the bowl should they be fortunate enough to be selected. Here is his email address: david.gfb@att.net. Or, if you would prefer to fax him, it's (713) 799-9599.
From the streets and avenues of North Texas to the information super highway, I'm Brian Estridge, we'll see you on the radio!
