Frogs’ win demands recognition in polls
By Jordan Blum
Skiff Staff

A statement game?

Maybe that came last week with a decisive victory over a quality Louisville team. However, the national media and coaches’ association didn’t exactly heed notice in the polls.

But now, with a win that can only be described as utterly dominant and a national television audience serving as the backdrop, the Frogs most likely forced football fans everywhere to do a double take after checking the lopsided score in the fourth quarter.

Going up against a good Southern Miss team, TCU proceeded to disarm, dismantle and then disgrace the Conference-USA leaders with the 37-7 final score.

One sign that summed up Frog fans’ sentiments perfectly read “We deserve top 25 now!” while interweaving with vertical ESPN lettering.

However, head coach Gary Patterson said the coaches and players don’t need to be worrying about signs and poll rankings.

“I definitely wasn’t one of the ones who drew (the signs),” Patterson said. “All I’m worried about is winning ballgames and then I’ll let everyone out there who thinks about those kinds of things think about them.”

But Patterson did concede that it would be nice for the players to get some recognition.

“Right now, for our kids’ sake it’d be nice (to be ranked),” he said. “But all we’re caring about is getting win number eight.”

But with an impressive 7-1 record and seven consecutive wins it would be pretty surprising if the Frogs didn’t sneak into the top 25 in either the Associated Press or ESPN/USA Today poll come Sunday, especially with so many two and three-loss teams already cluttering the polls.

But the most impressive part of the game wasn’t just the victory, but the way in which TCU crushed a team that was supposedly on par with them in talent and style of play.

First, the Frog defense knocked the Golden Eagles star running back, Derrick Nix, out of the game with an ankle injury. Then the defense proceeded to batter USM quarterback Dustin Almond all game and sack him nine times. In fact, credit goes to Almond for finishing the game while maintaining consciousness. He’s one tough nut to crack (sorry, I had to do it).

Frog running backs Lonta Hobbs and Ricky Madison virtually busted first-down runs at will in the second half against a weary USM defense and the Golden Eagles couldn’t muster a single sustained drive after their 48-yard touchdown pass early in the third quarter.

The game was essentially over with nearly 11 minutes left in just the third quarter after senior strong safety Jared Smitherman’s interception return for a touchdown made the score 23-7.

Now, the team must turn their attention to Tulane in a potential revenge game after last year’s blowout defeat as the Frogs attempt to win out in their final three regular season games. The final Tulane, East Carolina and Memphis stint will then determine if TCU will win the conference outright and head to AXA Liberty Bowl.

But, as coaches love to say, “Let’s just take it one game at a time.”

Jordan Blum is a broadcast journalism major from New Orleans.