College Confidential

Injury knocks TCU reserve LT Michael Thompson out for rest of season

Reserve left tackle Michael Thompson will miss the rest of the season after sustaining an undisclosed leg injury in the third quarter Saturday, TCU coach Gary Patterson said.
Patterson said after Saturday’s game the redshirt freshman’s injury occurred away from contact, and indicated it was likely serious.
James Dunbar, who had been academically ineligible through the first six games, was available and replaced Thompson. Starter Jeff Olson, along with the rest of the first team linemen, sat out most of the second half.
TCU (5-2, 3-0 in the Mountain West) meets BYU (6-2) at 7 p.m. Friday at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The game will be televised on ESPN.

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs

Mizzou departure boosts TCU's Big 12 expansion odds ... and other realignment fodder

Thanks to the wandering eyes of administrators at Missouri, the Big 12 will remain at the epicenter of conference realignment news and speculation for the foreseeable future.

Let’s be clear: No one should blame Missouri officials for wanting to explore their long-term options before pledging allegiance to a league that is asking for only a six-year commitment from existing – and prospective – members going forward. It’s the prudent thing to do and Missouri officials announced Tuesday night they will take that step.

What would a Missouri departure to the Southeastern Conference mean to the Big 12?

For starters, it would enhance TCU’s stock as an expansion candidate.

If the Big 12 needs to expand from an eight-team nucleus, there no longer would be a choice to make between TCU and Brigham Young in terms of recapturing a 10-team configuration to fit the parameters of the league’s lucrative Fox Sports contract signed in April.

You’d need two schools and, for a variety of reasons, those two project to be at the head of the expansion list. BYU, an independent in football, and TCU – which can legally get out of its commitment to join the Big East next year, if it chooses – would be the easiest plug-in replacements for a 2012 football schedule that must be re-worked without A&M (and, possibly, without Mizzou).

Both schools also offer long-term value and make sense geographically if additional expansion occurs. If the Big 12 drops to an eight-team nucleus, do not be surprised if league officials explore a two-step expansion process: TCU and BYU in stage one, with other schools added/approached later.

If Missouri stays, the Big 12 would be rebuilding from a nine-team nucleus. If Big 12 administrators opt to stop the expansion process at 10, a choice would have to be made between TCU and BYU. If the expansion process is extended to 12 or more teams, both remain in play.

At this juncture, there is not going to be much tangible movement in regard to Big 12 expansion until Missouri makes a decision. Just a lot of chatter and speculation.

League administrators, who have looked at future models consisting of 9, 10, 12 and 16 teams, need a clearer vision of their starting point – as either an eight- or nine-school nucleus – before they begin approaching expansion candidates to gauge interest. It is a key consideration, especially if the continent pushing for a 10-team configuration wins the day. If only one school is needed, only one would be approached.

Depending on what Missouri does, the Big 12 could respond with anything from inactivity to consideration of a full-blown merger with the Big East (which is down to seven football-playing schools, including TCU, for the 2012 season but it looking at expansion plans to include Navy, Air Force and Temple).

What happens next? Here are some Big 12 options and thoughts about each:

1. Staying with 9 teams: Would maximize revenues per team from TV contracts but would do little to appease teams seeking long-term stability going forward. Probably a low percentage play.
2. Expanding to 10 teams: Would recapture 10-team configuration in place for Fox Sports TV contract. Would also keep revenues-per-team high. But it would not appease those schools seeking long-term league stability. And that is the desire of multiple schools. Texas men’s athletic director DeLoss Dodds has expressed a desire for a 10-team configuration.
3. Expanding to 12 teams: Multiple options on the table, many of them including TCU and Big East schools Louisville, Cincinnati and West Virginia. BYU and Boise State also in the mix. One possibility, if Mizzou departs, would be to seek a four-team package of 2012 Big East members (TCU, Louisville, Cincy, W. Va.). Another could include TCU, BYU, Louisville and West Virginia or Cincy. If Mizzou stays, a three-team expansion move could involve TCU, BYU and Boise State. Or TCU, BYU and Louisville.
4. Schools interested in long-term stability, as well as those wanting to recapture a conference championship game in football to generate revenues, prefer the 12-team models. Oklahoma president David Boren has been public about favoring a 12-team model.
5. 16-team model: A full-blown merger between Big 12 and Big East football-playing members in 2012 gets you to this number. But it’s not a high-percentage play because other options are more profitable and more appealing. If Missouri leaves, C-USA member Central Florida could enter the picture in a 16-team expansion model.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

BYU non-commital about Big 12 expansion in statement

In light of Texas A&M's departure from the Big 12, Brigham Young has been identified as a likely candidate to replace the Aggies in the 10-team league. BYU, a Mountain West member last season, will play this season as an independent in football, with its other teams competing in the West Coast Conference.

The school issued a statement today, saying it "is not productive and creates a distraction for our program" to comment on conjecture about conference realignment in regard to the Big 12. But the statement did not deny interest.

Here is the full statement from BYU:

"There is much speculation right now regarding conference affiliation that seems to change by the hour. Commenting on such conjecture is not productive and creates a distraction for our program. As we enter the 2011-12 athletic season, BYU is focused on the opportunities ahead. We are excited about our relationship with ESPN as a football independent and our affiliation with the West Coast Conference.

The university will have no further comment."

_ Jimmy Burch

 

TCU's Patterson on Aggie soap opera

TCU coach Gary Patterson says he hasn’t paid too much attention to the reports that Texas A&M may leave the Big 12 for the SEC. But what did raise an eyebrow was a Big 12 source telling the New York Times that if A&M left and wanted to add more schools, TCU wouldn’t be of interest.
"To me, that just goes to show you they don’t like great football," Patterson said after Saturday’s scrimmage. "It’s just amazing to me. I’ll leave it to those guys who think they know all they need to know about football."
BYU and Louisville have been mentioned as possible candidates for a revamped Big 12 if the Aggies bolt. TCU, which moves from the Mountain West to the Big East in 2012, likely wouldn’t be too keen on joining a revamped collection of schools playing in the shadow of Texas. The Horned Frogs have what they want with the Big East, an automatic qualifying berth to a BCS bowl beginning next season.

 

 

-- Stefan Stevenson
@FollowtheFrogs 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TCU makes changes to 2011 football schedule

TCU's Sept. 24 home game against Portland State has been moved from 6 p.m. to 1 p.m. and the Horned Frogs Friday, Sept. 30 home game against SMU has been moved to Saturday, Oct. 1 at 2:30 p.m. The SMU-TCU game will be televised on CBS Sports Network, not ESPN, which carried the game last season at SMU.
The changes were prompted by the ongoing construction at Amon G. Carter Stadium. TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said in a prepared release that "we will still be in the midst of construction, we need to move the games to the daytime to make it easier to manage traffic, parking and movement in and out of the stadium" 

The Frogs will play three night games in 2011, including the season opener at Baylor at 7 p.m. Sept. 2. TCU will also play at 9:30 p.m. (Central) at San Diego State Oct. 8 (following the SMU game) and against BYU at Cowboys Stadium at 7 p.m. Oct. 28. Both the Baylor and BYU games will be televised on ESPN.

-- Stefan Stevenson

For updates on TCU athletics follow @FolllowtheFrogs on Twitter.

 

TCU will be without Winkler this week at MWC tournament

Just when TCU thought its pitching staff was completely healthy for the first time in more than a month, another setback has hindered the Horned Frogs.
TCU's most dominant and reliable pitcher this season, Kyle Winkler, will not pitch this week at the Mountain West Conference tournament to rest his arm due to some tenderness. TCU coach Jim Schlossnagle said Winkler is not injured, and would have likely pitched if the NCAA Regional tournament started this week. Winkler (8-2) pitched at New Mexico last Thursday, holding the Lobos to three hits and no runs in 4 2/3 innings out of the bullpen. Winkler skipped his previous start to rest his arm. Winkler leads the team with a 1.40 ERA in 90 innings pitched this season.
Top-seeded TCU (40-15) opens the MWC tournament at 9 p.m. Wednesday at Tony Gwynn Stadium against the lowest-seeded team to advance from Tuesday's first round. Matt Purke (5-1) will start for the second time since developing shoulder soreness April 16 at San Diego State. Purke had four strikeouts in three innings last Thursday against New Mexico before Winkler took over on the mound. The 10th-ranked Frogs' usual Game 3 starter Steven Maxwell (5-0) has not pitched since developing biceps soreness April 24. He threw batting practice Monday, but his availability for the MWC tournament is questionable. Andrew Mitchell (4-1) is slated to start Thursday and Erik Miller (6-6) will likely start Friday.
-- Stefan Stevenson 

 

TCU 2011 schedule details released

The Mountain West Conference released game times and television broadcast information for the 2011 season Thursday. A start time for TCU's opener at Baylor Sept. 3 is still to be determined, as is which television network will broadcast the game. The start time for the Week 2 showdown at Air Force is still unsettled, but the MWC says it will be at either 2:30 or 6:30 and shown on the Versus Network. The rest of the Horned Frogs' schedule details are known, which include at least four night games. The Frogs will host SMU at 7 p.m. Sept. 30, which is a Friday. The game was originally scheduled for Oct. 1. The Frogs beat SMU in University Park on a Friday in 2010. The following week TCU plays at San Diego State at 9:30 p.m. Both games will be broadcast on CBS Sports Network.
The Frogs potentially caught a break with two day games in consecutive weeks at Wyoming and Boise State Nov. 5 and 12. Those games start at 1 and 2:30 p.m., respectively. TCU concludes the season with a 1:30 p.m. meeting with UNLV Dec. 3 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

2011 TCU football schedule

Date	Opponent	Time (CST)	TV
Sept. 3	at Baylor	TBD	TBD
Sept. 10	at Air Force	2:30 or 6:30	VS.
Sept. 17	Louisiana-Monroe	1 p.m.	The Mtn.
Sept. 24	Portland State	6 p.m.	None
Sept. 30	SMU	7 p.m.	CBS Sports Network
Oct. 8	at San Diego State	9:30 p.m.	CBS Sports Network
Oct. 15	Bye
Oct. 22	New Mexico	1 p.m.	The Mtn.
Oct. 28	BYU (at Cowboys Stadium)	7 p.m.	ESPN
Nov. 5	at Wyoming	1 p.m.	The Mtn.
Nov. 12	at Boise State	2:30 p.m.	VS.
Nov. 19	Colorado State	2:30 p.m.	CBS Sports Network
Nov. 26	Bye
Dec. 3	UNLV	1:30 p.m.	VS.

 

Translating TCU 2011 Football Schedule - Where is The "Stretch"?

One of the fun things to listen to every spring or fall is the college football coach describing how hellish his team's schedule is. At some point we will hear how TCU's 2011 football schedule is the college football equivalent to scaling Everest blindfolded with no water or food, and if Gary Patterson's crew can somehow manage to just beat Portland State it will be a stunning accomplishment.
In fairness to GP, most non-conference schedules these days are a joke and loaded with laughers to ensure a bowl appearance, etc.
But this schedule is not exactly stacked with many big-ticket games. I count one.

'11 TCU Football Schedule

Sept. 3 - at Baylor ... 7-6 in '10; including finishing the season with four consecutive defeats where the team allowed at least 38 points in all of those defeats.
Sept. 10 - at Air Force* ... 9-4 in '10; Falcons should be legit this season and are a tough out in Colorado Springs.
Sept. 17 - vs. Louisiana-Monroe ... 5-7 in '10; a total waste of time. 
Sept. 24 - vs. Portland State ... 2-9 in '10; an even bigger waste of time.
Oct. 1 - vs. SMU ... 7-7 in '10; including dropping the final two games. Getting better but not catching TCU yet.
Oct. 8 - at San Diego State* ... 9-4 in '10; Aztecs had a great year but the loss of coach Brady Hoke to Michigan is a killer.
Oct. 22 - vs. New Mexico* ... 1-11 in '10; is this game really necessary? 
Oct. 28 - vs. BYU^, 7 p.m. (ESPN2) ... 7-6 in '10; this will be the first year for the Cougars as an independent. Should be better than last season.
Nov. 5 - at Wyoming* ... 3-9 in '10; Laramie isn't the world's easiest place to play, but this should be a snore.
Nov. 12 - at Boise State* ... 12-1 in '10; other than Baylor, this is the only game on TCU's schedule that really has my attention.
Nov. 19 - vs. Colorado State* ... 3-9 in '10; ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzz
Dec. 3 - vs. UNLV* ... 2-11; judging by these last two dogs, TCU can't join the Big East soon enough.

2010 Record of TCU's opponents: 67-84
'11 opponents with winning records last season: 5
'11 opponents in bowl games from last season: 4-2 (SMU and Baylor lost; Air Force, SDSU, BYU and Boise State won)

Considering the renovations going on at Amon G. Carter Stadium it is just as well the TCU home schedule be loaded with bores and snores. And with the heavy losses to graduation, we should not expect the sun and the stars from this team anyway. 

- Mac Engel
Follow me on Twitter
@MacEngelProf

TCU '11 schedule released, meets Boise Nov. 12

TCU’s complete 2011 football schedule was released Thursday by the Mountain West Conference, for what will be the Frogs’ last season in the league.

Contrary to rumors and prevailing thought, TCU will travel for a showdown at Boise State Nov. 12, not the final week of the regular season. Another curve ball thrown by the MWC: TCU’s request for an open date Sept. 10 was denied. Instead, the Frogs will travel to Air Force for their conference opener. TCU edged the Falcons 20-17 in Colorado in 2009.

TCU will have two bye weeks – Oct. 15 before hosting New Mexico and Nov. 26 before hosting UNLV in the regular-season finale. Every Frogs’ game falls on a Saturday, except their Friday, Oct. 28 game against BYU at Cowboys Stadium.

One of TCU's toughest games is Oct. 8 at San Diego State. The Aztecs (9-4, 5-3 in MWC in 2010) have a bye the week before. TCU will be coming off three home games. Boise State was given a Week 2 bye after it opens against Georgia at the Georgia Dome Sept. 3. It will be the Broncos first season in the MWC after playing for years in the Western Athletic Conference. Boise State plays at UNLV the week before hosting TCU. TCU and Boise State last met in the Fiesta Bowl after the 2009 season. The Broncos won 17-10. Air Force is the lone MWC team with a bye in the final week. Boise finishes at home against New Mexico, San Diego State hosts Fresno State (which joins the MWC in 2012 along with Nevada from the WAC) in a nonconference season finale and TCU hosts UNLV.

-- Stefan Stevenson

 TCU 2011 Schedule

Date	Opponent
Sept. 3	at Baylor
Sept. 10	at Air Force
Sept. 17	Louisiana-Monroe
Sept. 24	Portland State
Oct. 1	SMU
Oct. 8	at San Diego State
Oct. 15	Bye
Oct. 22	New Mexico
Oct. 28	BYU* (at Cowboys Stad.), 7 p.m.
Nov. 5	at Wyoming
Nov. 12	at Boise State
Nov. 19	Colorado State
Nov. 26	Bye
Dec. 3	UNLV

 * -- On ESPN2; Other game times and television coverage will be released at a later date.

2011 TCU schedule taking shape, but ink isn't dry

The 2011 TCU football schedule, which has been a source of rumors and speculation the last month, is close to being finalized.
TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said contracts still need to be signed but added the Horned Frogs schedule is close to completion. Del Conte declined to discuss potential opponents but sources inside the program have said the Frogs will host Louisiana-Monroe and Portland State at Amon G. Carter Stadium and play BYU at Cowboys Stadium Friday, Oct. 28. ESPN would likely broadcast the BYU game.
TCU was forced to scramble to fill two home games when Texas Tech backed out of a Sept. 10 game in Fort Worth in early January. Two weeks later the Mountain West Conference board of directors voted to move the Frogs' league game with Boise State, which was originally scheduled to be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium, to Boise, Idaho.
“I think you turn it right around and say if you want to win championships you have to win on the road,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said last week. “It’s just another challenge. No matter what, we’ll be a better football team because of it whether we win or lose at Boise. That’s the way we’ll approach it because if I don’t make excuses then my kids won’t make excuses. Our fans shouldn’t make excuses. They should go buy their tickets right now and try to be at the ballgame and support us and go about our business.”

Of course, fans can't yet make plans to attend the game in Boise because the exact date hasn’t been announced. The game has been rumored to be scheduled for the last week of league play, perhaps Saturday, Dec. 3.

The Star-Telegram’s source for the schedule seems to be in step with a source that told Spitbloodtcu.com, a Frogs’ fan site, the same nonconference schools.

Here’s my prediction on TCU’s 2011 schedule. The nonconference dates are from a reliable source, but the MWC dates are my best guesses, including the second bye week.

DISCLAIMER:This is not an official TCU football schedule.

Sept. 3 at Baylor
Sept. 10 bye
Sept. 17 Louisiana-Monroe
Sept. 24 Portland State
Oct. 1 SMU
Oct. 8 Colorado State
Oct. 15 at Air Force
Oct. 22 UNLV
Oct. 28 BYU (at Cowboys Stadium)
Nov. 5 bye
Nov. 12 at San Diego State
Nov. 19 at Wyoming
Nov. 26 New Mexico
Dec. 3 at Boise State

-- Stefan Stevenson
Follow me on Twitter @FollowtheFrogs