The push for 11-0
Frogs confident despite increased pressure to win
By Carlos Alvarado
COMMENTARY

In a season where even the top teams falter to lesser competition, the Frogs took care of business once again Saturday afternoon against Conference USA rival Cincinnati.

However, despite routing the Bearcats and improving their record to 10-0, the Frogs did not move in The Associated Press poll or the USA Today/ESPN Coaches’ Poll and dropped two spots to No. 8 in the all-important Bowl Championship Series standings.

In a game where Cincinnati possessed the ability to upset the Frogs, it was unable to overcome TCU’s outstanding team play. The Bearcats fell 43-10 in front of 42,161 at Amon Carter Stadium.
TCU controlled all aspects of the game as the offense, defense and special teams units contributed touchdowns.

Brandon Hassell was able to shake off two early interceptions and finish the afternoon with a spectacular 22-yard option run for a touchdown in the second quarter.

“I had to relax,” Hassell said. “I was trying to do too much too early.”

The team showed no signs of being distracted by the hoopla surrounding the team’s quest for a BCS bid. The Frogs are too occupied by the business of their games to focus on possible distractions.

“We’ve been too busy,” head coach Gary Patterson said. “We have to play every week; we are every team’s Super Bowl.”

With the win, the Frogs continue to inch closer to gaining a bid to an elusive BCS bowl and ending the controversy that surrounds teams like TCU’s lack of inclusion.

The Frogs have set themselves up for a showdown with conference rival Southern Mississippi, who also remains undefeated in C-USA play with their victory over Tulane Saturday.

“You’ve got to go through Hattiesburg to win a championship,” Patterson said. “They don’t lose many games in Hattiesburg. It’s going to be a great game.”

The game, scheduled for Thursday night in Hattiesburg, is the unofficial C-USA conference championship game. The game not only sets up a winner-take-all scenario for the conference championship, but it is also the next step in what has been a season of tests for the Frogs.

Gary Patterson made it clear what the team’s focus is going into the showdown.

“We are worried about the conference championship,” Patterson said. “Not what bowl game we will play in.”

Southern Miss circled two games on its schedule this season at the beginning of the year: Nebraska and TCU. The Golden Eagles lost to Nebraska 38-14 earlier this season and have been talking about a showdown with TCU ever since, including a mock MasterCard promo for Thursday’s game that finishes with the line: “Sending TCU to Mobile Bowl, Priceless.”

“They’ll find out we’re not scared to go to Hattiesburg,” Patterson said. “They’ve been wanting us, we’ll be there on Thursday.”