TCU vs. Vanderbilt
Saturday • Amon Carter Stadium • 6 p.m. • ESPN 103.3 FM
FOOTBALL COMMENTARY
By Braden Howell and Brent Yarina
Sports Editor and Assistant Sports Editor

The conversations could be heard all over the campus. It seemed impossible to escape the overwhelming panic mode that most Frog fans entered last week.

Up until that time, everything was going the way it was supposed to. The Frogs had their first 2-0 record in the Patterson era, Tye Gunn was playing like the leader the Frogs needed, and Ricky Madison was challenging Lonta Hobbs, giving the Frogs the possibility to have two 1,000-yard rushers in the same backfield.

Then, in one day, it seemed as though their ascent through the Top 25 polls hit a halt. Just hours after learning that Madison would miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, Tye Gunn separated his shoulder in practice, sidelining him for three to five weeks.

Immediately, talks of an undefeated season and a sixth consecutive bowl appearance were replaced by fair-weather fans crying about a lost season.

As the team prepared for Vanderbilt and enjoyed their week off, the fans’ lack of faith began to spread throughout the university. Fortunately for the Frogs, this loss of faith did not spread to the rest of the country.

Despite losing their starting quarterback and senior tailback and not playing last week, the Frogs rose in both college football polls. The Frogs moved up two spots in the Associated Press poll to No. 20 and jumped four spots in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll, to No. 19.

Apparently, some outside the TCU community still have faith in Horned Frogs football.

And why shouldn’t they?

Head coach Gary Patterson has said repeatedly that in the Frogs’ offensive scheme, they do not rely on the quarterback to win games but just to play well enough to control the clock and to not turn the ball over.

It’s true back-up Brandon Hassell has never thrown a pass in a college game, but how does that detract from his ability to lead the team? He is untested, but so was Gunn when he stepped in for the injured Sean Stilley last year.
Hassell still has a talented supporting cast to work with. The Frogs have Hobbs, who was the Conference USA Freshman of the Year last year, and a powerful offensive line that will give him the time he needs to make something happen.

Even if the Frogs do struggle to move the ball, Hassell has the luxury of knowing he is on a team with one of the best defenses in the country.

A victory against Vanderbilt, an SEC team, will push the Frogs even further into the realm of college football’s elite.

Please, give Hassell a chance to prove he has the ability to lead this team before jumping to the conclusion that the season is lost. Another conference championship is not out of the question. In fact, judging from the Frogs jump in the polls, many around the country believe the team is still worthy of national recognition.

Hopefully, Frog fans can put panic mode on hold for a game and believe in the team as well.