SWC Game of the Week: TCU at OU

TCU visits Oklahoma for this week’s SWC Game of the Week. They last met in 2005, which TCU won 17-10, the only home loss for the Sooners in their last 34 home games. That’s 6 seasons. Both teams are ranked this week, with the Sooners hanging onto the #2 ranking and TCU breaking into the top 25 at #24. Neither team has been pushed so far this year, so this could be a classic. The game will be broadcasted on FSN at 6 PM.

THIS WEEK’S GAME:
TCU is 4-0 to start this season, the first time they’ve started 4-0 since 2003. TCU also has a two game win streak in Norman, winning in 1996 and 2005. This will be the highest ranked opponent TCU has faced since falling to #1 Miami in 1992. Gary Patterson is 4-4 vs. ranked teams in his tenure at TCU. Oklahoma leads the all time series 6-4. Senior running back Aaron Brown returned to action against SMU and had 157 all purpose yards (60 receiving, 51 yards rushing, and 46 on kickoff returns.) He will help balance the backfield with QB Andy Dalton who is averaging 5 yards a carry in 6 of the last 8 games. TCU is rushing for 248.8 yards a game, which is 12th nationally, despite not having a single rusher in the top 100 rushing in the nation. Nine out of ten TCU rushers this year are averaging 4 yards a carry. TCU is taking care of the ball as well, with only 1 turnover this season in the first four games. TCU leads the nation in rushing defense (32.5 yards a game) and total defense (183.0 yards a game.) Seven Frogs have combined for 14 sacks this season and TCU is only giving up 9.8 first downs a game. Linebacker Jason Phillips, an All-American candidate, is back in action after having his consecutive game streak end at 39 games. Linebacker Robert Hensen leads the team with 23 tackles. TCU had its 5 game winning streak against the Big 12 snapped last year losing to Texas but they are primed to start a new streak this week.

OU has started the season 3-0 and has scored more than 50 points in each game. QB Sam Bradford is completing nearly 80% of his passes to start 2008, after a redshirt freshman year in 2007 that saw him lead the nation in pass efficiency. In his 16 game career he has thrown 48 touchdown passes and only 10 interceptions. Wide out Juaquin Iglesias has recorded a reception in 35 consecutive games, the nation’s fifth longest streak. Running back Chris Brown became the 66th Sooner to rush for 1,000 yards in his career during the OU opener this year. The offensive line is a big part of OU’s success on offensive, and big they are, averaging 6’-1” tall and 302 lbs. On defensive the Sooners force turnovers, 108 games with one in Coach Bob Stoops 122 games. This may be a key in the game, as mentioned above, TCU has only 1 turnover this season. DE Auston English is 10th in the nation with 1.25 sacks a game, leading a defense that averages 2.4 sacks a game. OU is tough after bye weeks, with a 10-1 record after bye weeks.

SWC MEMORIES PLAYER PROFILE:
Slingin’ Sammy Baugh, the TCU do everything quarterback led the Frogs to a national championship in 1935 with a Sugar Bowl victory over LSU. Baugh was perhaps the first quarterback to be a prolific passer, throwing the ball 587 times in his three varsity seasons for 39 touchdowns and over 2 miles in yardage. He threw as many as 40 passes a game in an era where 10 passes was considered extravagant. The Temple, TX native (raised in Sweetwater) was named to the All-American team in 1935 and 1936 season, his junior and senior seasons. His senior year he led the Frogs to the inaugural Cotton Bowl victory over Marquette 16-6 and a number 5 national ranking. He was also an outstanding punter. In the Sugar Bowl victory over LSU 3-2, Baugh punted 14 times for a 48 yard average, pinning the Tigers inside their 5 yard line several times. As a pro he led the league in punting 4 times. He played professionally with the Washington Redskins and led the league in passing 6 times and still holds several passing records. Washington won 5 division championships and two league championships while Baugh was a player. Baugh is one of three quarterbacks who have led their college and professional teams to national championships. In 1943 he led the NFL in interceptions, showing his talents on the defensive side of the ball as well. Slingin’ Sammy Baugh was truly one of the pioneers of football and help usher in the glory days of the Southwest Conference.

OTHER GAMES THIS WEEK:
Houston at East Carolina (ECU coming off disappointing loss taking them out of BCS contention, but are still shooting for C-USA dominance)
North Texas at Rice (Rice needs this one to stay on track for a bowl game)
SMU at Tulane – Thursday (SMU run and shoot has not produced points the last two weeks, look to get back on track on Thursday in the Big Easy)
Army at Texas A&M (“Army,” “What!” This may be the last win for the Aggies this year. Of course we could say something about the real Army …)
Arkansas at Texas (Make-up will be final tune up for the Horns before conference play starts)

RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK:
SWC Game of the Week:
TCU 48 SMU 7 (TCU hits the Ponies over the head with the Iron Skillet, then take it back to Fort Worth with them.)

Other Games:
Alabama 49 Arkansas 14 (Hogs struggling under new coach Petrino, have make up with the Horns up next)
Connecticut 38 Baylor 21 (Freshman Griffen looks good for the Bears, UConn no slouch at home either)
Colorado State 28 Houston 25 (Another second half comeback falls short, the Coogs have lost 3 in a row now)
Texas 52 Rice 10 (Texas beats Rice, Man lands on moon)
Miami 41 Texas A&M 23 (The Hurricanes route the Aggies at home, Ags look to be in serious trouble this year)
Texas Tech 56 Mass. 14 (Tech wraps up easy non-conference schedule)

STANDINGS:
Conference: Overall:
W L W L
TCU 1 0 4 0
Texas Tech 0 0 4 0
Texas 1 0 3 0
Arkansas: 0 0 2 1
Rice 1 1 2 2
Baylor 0 0 2 2
Texas A&M 0 0 1 2
Houston 0 0 1 3
SMU 0 2 1 3


ON THE BLOG:
Read TCU Alum’s Dan Jenkin’s All-TCU Football team.

FINAL WORD:
Non-conference play is winding down and we will soon be in conference play, meaning we should hopefully have some more evenly matched games. SWC Game of the Week wishes everyone a good football weekend, and hope you can catch the TCU vs. OU game on the tube.