Tuesday, September 25, 2001

Frogs end home winning streak
By Kelly Morris
Skiff Staff

Saturday was not just any ordinary day for TCU students, family and football fans. For the first time since Nov. 18, 2000, the TCU football team played a game at Amon Carter Stadium. Fans, 30,409 of them, filled the stands for the occasion, and cooking grills were dusted off as tailgate parties once again resumed in the crowded parking lots surrounding the stadium.

But instead of the Frogs having an opportunity to tie the school record for wins with 12, the fans saw the Frogs snap an 11-game winning streak at home, 27-24, in overtime Sept. 22 against Northwestern State (La.). The streak began on Aug. 31, 1999 when the Frogs defeated Arkansas State, 21-24.

The Frogs had a perfect 6-0 record at home last season. With the loss, TCU now holds a 37-14-5 record in its home season openers.

Junior cornerback Jason Goss said the first home loss of the season was difficult for the team.

“It hurts, it hurts real bad,” Goss said. “It was our first home game, and we would have loved to win it even it wasn’t a home game. We’re at home, and we don’t like to lose here, but (the Demons) came ready to play.”

Despite the game’s outcome, the Frogs kept fans on the edge of their seats for most of the game. After the Frogs had a 10-7 lead at halftime, the Demons came back to tie the game with a 29-yard field goal with 3:41 remaining in the third quarter. TCU then scored one of two fourth quarter touchdowns to take the lead once again at 17-10.

The Demons answered with 14 points of their own in the fourth quarter, which sent the Frogs to an overtime contest for the first time since 1998. Demons place-kicker Clint Sanford capitalized on a 19-yard field goal in overtime giving the Demons their third straight victory of the season.

Even though it came down to the final play, junior wide receiver Adrian Madise, who scored his first touchdown Saturday as a Frog and had a career-best 99 yards receiving, said it was disappointing to lose in front of the home crowd.

Kelly Morris
k.l.morris@student.tcu.edu