Frogs blew game, shot selves in foot
The Horned Frogs had a chance to position themselves in the conference drivers seat, but now find themselves locked in the trunk.
COMMENTARY
Danny Gillham

If it all went well, TCU could have had the opportunity to be 6-0 heading into an October meeting with Conference USA favorite Louisville.

Although the team didn’t like playing a conference game to start the season, all they had to do was hold a lead in Cincinnati. The Frogs would then go againstfive consecutive teams whose combined record last year was 16-40.

Slighting nothing from the other teams, but this was the gamethat would give TCU its biggest challenge until Oct. 19.

They found out how tough that challenge would be on Cincinnati’s first play from scrimmage.

A blown coverage resulted in a 75-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Gino Guidugli to senior Jon Olinger on the Bearcats first offensive play of the year. After giving up the “big play” numerous times last year, head coach Gary Patterson had stressed the importance of not allowing opponents to capitalize on long gains. It seemed as if it was going to get ugly fast.

Then, the Frogs settled down and began to play their brand of football.

On offense they controlled the ball, and after a three-and-out on their first series, the team was making good on its opportunities.

After hearing the ESPN telecast mention Guidugli’s name every 15 seconds, it was enough to make someone sick. Maybe the TCU defense had enough of it as well, as they began to get to the quarterback.

For two quarters, the Frogs held the Bearcat attack in check. Guidugli was intercepted four times, and it seemed his confidence was almost nonexistent.

Yet with a 15 point advantage, and only seven minutes left before they came home with a win, what Frog coaches were hoping wouldn’t happen did.

The team ran out of gas.

After injuries decimated the team during their second week of two-a-days, the Frogs were unable to get in as much practice as they would have liked. It showed in their body language — and in their missed tackles.

The fatigue seemed to stall drives, and as they soon discovered, field goals can’t keep up with touchdowns.

Still, what will stand out the most from this game is one statistic: 16 penalties for 102 yards.

Albeit some flags were questionable, the fact that the team put themselves in a position to be called for them was inexcusable. Regardless of it being the first game or not, 16 penalties is just flat-out unacceptable.

Now the team must have a short-term memory. With another road game Saturday at Northwestern, the Frogs can’t feel sorry for themselves. They have to regroup, refocus, and do what it takes to enable further success. If this happens, there is no reason that the team cannot be 5-1 heading into Louisville.

But 6-0 would have been a lot better.

Danny Gillham is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Weatherford.