Frogs fight for voters’ approval
By Braden Howell

Through the first seven games of the year, the Horned Frogs were carried by their defense, and the sports media seemed to notice.

The knock against the Frogs was that their top rated defense constantly had to bail out their inconsistent offense. Score 38 against Tulane, eke out 13 against Arizona.

Despite a proven defense, the voters apparently hinged their vote on the Frogs inability to put up points against opponents on their “weak” schedule.

According to ESPN.com: We love the Horned Frogs’ defense, but we worry a little about their offense.

So after putting up 62 points, and a school record 782 offensive yards against Houston, surely the voters’ fears about the offense would subside, and the Frogs would continue their ascent through the polls, right?

Or maybe not.

In this week’s two major polls, the Frogs remained in a stalemate. TCU ranks No. 13 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll and No. 15 in The Associated Press Poll. In fact, a total of three teams in the combined polls actually leaped the Frogs.

After a road victory over a 5-2 team, remaining one of just the three undefeated teams in the country, and sharing the nation’s longest winning streak, the Frogs still have not accomplished what they need the most: national respect.

Going into last weekend all the national attention was given to Cinderella Story hopeful, Northern Illinois, mentioning TCU as an afterthought. The crew of ESPN College Gameday actually broadcasted live from Bowling Green to highlight the game between NIU and BGSU. Things could not have worked out better for the Frogs, as Bowling Green dominated Northern Illinois from start to finish, eventually beating the Huskies 38-14. The attention would finally be turned to TCU as the non-BCS conference hopeful.

However, Bowling Green seems to have stolen the spotlight.
If the voters are now convinced that TCU can have a potent offense, their doubts must lie in the Frogs strength of schedule. Fueling the argument, the Frogs barely got by a stubborn Alabama-Birmingham team two weeks ago. Maybe in the voter’s mind a team ranked as high as the Frogs should not struggle during their homecoming game against a weaker opponent like UAB.

Maybe the voters should have warned Georgia. After all, the No. 4 Bulldogs are fresh off a three point victory at home over the same UAB team the Frogs beat by the same margin. The only difference is Georgia moved up in the Coaches Poll, while the Frogs remained at No. 13 after a seven point victory in a shoot-out on the road.

If the Frogs are to be the Cinderella story of the year, they must start by making believers out of those who control their destiny. With upcoming games against Louisville, Cincinnati and Southern Miss, the Frogs have a chance to state their case.

Behind the sure arm of Brandon Hassell, the Frogs have showed they are capable of winning high-scoring games. If the defense can return to the form that made them one of the best in the country, and the offense continues to put up big numbers, the Frogs have a better chance at making believers out of a country filled with skeptics.

No matter what the case against the Frogs is, they have the chance to accomplish something no non-Bowl Championship Series affiliated team has ever done — earn an invitation to a BCS bowl.

That alone deserves national recognition.