Football team played strongly but improvements to be made
COMMENTARY
Danny Gillham

For Horned Frogs fans, the first 10 minutes of Saturday’s game was a scary sight.

It came as no surprise that the Northwestern Wildcats came out ready to play. After their embarrassing defeat at the hands of Air Force, 52-3, the Frogs expected a fired up team.

They did not, however, plan for what would happen on the first play.

Northwestern junior Jason Wright got things started on the opening kickoff with a 100-yard return for a touchdown.

After senior quarterback Sean Stilley fumbled on the next position, a Northwestern field goal quickly made the score 10-0.

Much like in their contest with Cincinnati, TCU bounced back to take command of the game by scoring 41 unanswered points. The Frogs would win the game by a 48-24 score.

What was not like the Cincinnati game is how the team managed to finish the game.

TCU tried to put the team on cruise control against the Bearcats after getting a 15-point lead. The team’s ultra-conservative play calling aided in Cincinnati registering a fourth quarter comeback, and a momentum swing that could not be overturned in overtime.

With Northwestern the team did not let up. They controlled the ball on offense and were harassing the ball on defense, determined to not let their lead slip away.

“We finished this time,” Stilley said. “We stressed it all week, and saw it through Saturday. The defense had to make stops and they did, and we (offense) got some key first downs and had to push up front.”

Looking in the weeks ahead, the upcoming schedule favors TCU. With four games in a row against teams with losing records last year, it looks as if the Frogs could coast into Louisville.

This however, has to be the last thing on the team’s mind.

There is a lot that has to be found out about this team, and it needs to be found out right now, before the bulk of the conference schedule begins.

There are depth and experience issues that must be attended to as soon as possible. This is the time where the Horned Frogs can find out what they really have.

It also must not be overlooked that the team is playing arch rival SMU on Saturday. Despite the fact that TCU has won nine of the last 13 meetings, the Frogs cannot afford a breakdown against a lesser opponent.

This game may not be in the conference standings, but it matters just because it’s SMU, and the team knows it.

The important thing is that the team finishes like they know it.

Danny Gillham is a sophomore broadcast journalism major from Fort Worth.