By Matt Welnack staff reporter When TCU and Southern Methodist meet on Friday, the winner will receive the Iron Skillet, a tradition that was started after World War II. But it might as well be called the Iron Bowl. Two out of the past three meetings have had bowl game implications. In 1997, TCU defeated the Mustangs 21-18 to ruin any chance of SMU going to a bowl game. If TCU wins this year's contest, the Frogs will be guaranteed a bowl berth. Mobile Alabama Bowl officials have expressed interest in TCU and have already invited No. 21 East Carolina to play in the inaugural game on Dec. 22. Head coach Dennis Franchione said the Western Athletic Conference has all but guaranteed a bowl game for the Frogs if they finish with seven wins. But he said it is not positive they will go to a bowl game if they lose Friday to SMU. "I'd have to go back quite a few years to find a SMU-TCU game that carried the ramifications that this one does," Franchione said. TCU (6-4, 4-2 WAC) can also force a three-way tie for the conference title with a win over the Mustangs (4-5, 3-2 WAC). The Mustangs struggled early this season, losing their first five games. But SMU is currently on a four-game winning streak, starting with its 24-14 win over Fresno State. "They made a nice comeback on their season," Franchione said. "Coach (Mike) Cavan and his staff should be commended. That's really hard to do." Franchione said he does not expect his team to score only six points, as they did last year in the 10-6 loss to the Mustangs at the Cotton Bowl. He also said he does not expect either team to run up the score. "I don't think that both teams will run up and down the field," Franchione said. "They play very good on the defensive side of the ball. This is two pretty good defensive ballclubs that are going to play each other." The defenses are about even on rushing yards allowed, giving up 108 yards a game. The Mustangs' secondary, however, allows 263 yards through the air. The No. 1 running back in the nation junior tailback LaDainian Tomlinson is averaging 172.5 yards a game. He set a national record with his 406-yard, six-touchdown performance against Texas-El Paso last week. SMU linebacker Jason Simonton, an All-WAC candidate, is second in the conference in tackles with 103. The defense as a whole has given up a mere 11 points a game for the past four games. "I do not think it will be a high-scoring game, but I don't think it will be 10-6," Franchione said. "Both teams will have to fight for their yardage." Franchione cited the improvement of sophomore quarterback Josh McCown as one of the main reasons for SMU's turnaround. "(McCown's) finding receivers, putting the ball in good spots for them and receivers are going up and making catches," Franchione said. "They're making plays. This may be the best offense I've seen from SMU." Senior quarterback Patrick Batteaux, who played the majority of the second half against UTEP last week, said the Frogs hope to put more points on the board than last year. "We hope to score more than six points," Batteaux said. "That was probably the worst offensive performances that we've had in a while. We know that SMU is better offensively." Batteaux needs only 17 yards receiving to be the first TCU player to have 500 yards receiving, rushing and passing. He said he would rather beat SMU and reach a bowl game than achieve that distinction. The game will be Friday at 2:08 p.m. and will be televised on Fox Sports
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Matt Welnack
Nov. 20, 1997. This will forever be remembered by many people at TCU. On that date, the SMU Mustangs entered Amon Carter Stadium with thoughts and dreams of a bowl game for the first time in a long time. The game was to put the Mustangs back on the national map. The Frogs, on the other hand, were 0-10, and the Pat Sullivan era was almost over. But in front of a national television audience, TCU showed up and played. Like a rival is supposed to, the Frogs ruined the Ponies' season with a 21-18 upset. The overwhelmed fans stormed the field to greet the football team.
There couldn't be a better day for the SMU-TCU game than the day after Thanksgiving. What a perfect time for all of us to digest our turkey and stuffing. What a perfect time for the Frogs to show the nation their talent in front of a national television audience on Fox Sports Net. The Frogs enter the game with the national spotlight on junior running back LaDainian Tomlinson. In case you haven't heard, and judging by Saturday's home attendance you haven't, Tomlinson set a national Division I rushing record with 406 yards along with six touchdowns. It was the best statistical performance by a player in the history of Division I football. Tomlinson and the Frogs need a win to guarantee themselves a bowl game. This game is much more important to the Frogs than it is to the Mustangs. TCU needs to be impressive in order to lock up a bowl berth. Any type of struggle against a young SMU team could dampen bowl hopes. A loss could mean the Frogs stay home. A victory, on the other hand, would clinch a second consecutive bowl berth and give this program something it hasn't seen in awhile: national respect. The Battle for the Iron Skillet is one of the oldest traditions in college football. The Iron Skillet is awarded to the winning team, who keeps it for one year. SMU won it back last year with its 10-6 win in Dallas. For the first time in a long time, the Frogs will have more than the Iron Skillet on their minds. Much more. A bowl game can do wonders for a program. With a win, not only do the Frogs regain control of the Skillet for one year, but they will also be part of the bowl season. The SMU-TCU game is one of the oldest rivalries in the state. With the breakup of the Southwest Conference four years ago, this is one of the few remaining rivalries games left in Texas. Texas-Texas A&M is the biggest game of the year in the state. SMU-TCU might be the only other natural rivalry remaining in Texas. It's Dallas against Fort Worth and the winner gets bragging rights for 12 months. So, now it's up to the Frogs to determine how badly they want to beat SMU. We all know what is at stake. The Frogs are only 60 minutes away from going to the postseason for the second consecutive year. We also know one other thing: SMU will do whatever it can to prevent that from happening.
Tom Sullivan is a senior broadcast journalism major from Southlake, Texas. He can be reached at (trsullivan@delta.is.tcu.edu). |
On Friday, the situation will be completely reversed. SMU
enters Amon Carter Stadium determined to ruin the Frogs' bowl hopes. SMU
comes into the game with a four-game winning streak. With a win, the Ponies
can grab some much needed momentum for the struggling program. With SMU
being passed over for Conference USA, the Mustangs may want to show C-USA
it made a mistake.| The TCU Daily Skiff © 1998, 1999 Credits |