Battle for the Iron Skillet
TCU at SMU • Saturday • Gerald J. Ford Stadium • 2 p.m. • KTCU 88.7 and ESPN Radio 103.3
COMMENTARY
Carlos Alvarado

Fans boast that their team could not win a single game all year, but it would not matter if they beat their rival. SMU’s winless season puts them exactly in the situation to do just that.

Despite not being a very good team, TCU head coach Gary Patterson feels the SMU game is not going to be a cakewalk.

“This is a dangerous situation,” Patterson said. “They’ve been off for two weeks preparing and probably been thinking about this game since last year. “This can make their season.”

Following TCU’s loss to Southern Mississippi Thursday night, this game no longer holds the same significance it held less than one week ago. A victory Saturday against SMU was supposed to give the Frogs an undefeated season and a strong case for inclusion in a Bowl Championship Series bowl game.

However, after falling to Southern Miss 40-28 and losing any remaining BCS dreams the team may have had, Frog nation has been in a somber mood the past few days.

“It's been a funeral,” Patterson said. “Not that night but the next two days afterwards.”

The Frogs have been tested in many ways this year, having fought through a slew of key injuries. This week’s game brings on a new test for this Frog team: dealing with a devastating loss.

Patterson understands that how the Frogs perform will speak volumes for the content of their character, but he is confident his team will perform well.

“You find out what kind of team you have when you’re down,” Patterson said. “We’ve had more guys that have responded well than not.”

While the game does not have the national significance it promised to have one week ago, a win is still sought after heavily by both teams. A Mustang win would put a happy ending on what has been a miserable season. A Horned Frogs win would keep the Frogs in the top 20 and set up a possible top 20 showdown with Miami (Ohio) in the Mobile Bowl.

The Frogs are also looking forward to showing their detractors and supporters that this team is for real. The players understand they can only do so much on the field and are confident because they feel they have the right priorities in mind.

“You treat SMU like it’s a conference championship game,” Patterson said. “We’re trying to shut the doors on people who didn’t believe in us.”

Only one team can win the game Saturday, and the fact that it is a rivalry makes it all the more interesting. Each game carries a different significance for each team, but a loss would be difficult for either to handle.

The Iron Skillet will be given to the team that is able to put the past behind them and focus on winning the game which suddenly means so much after long and different seasons.