Friday, October 19, 2001

Printers probable against Black Knights, Stilley starts
By Kelly Morris
Skiff Staff

The TCU football team is entering its third Conference USA game against Army Saturday a little battered and bruised.

But this has been a problem the Frogs have been dealing with all season.

The team recently lost sophomore wide receiver and kicker Shane Hudnall for the season after he broke his leg in practice Tuesday. Junior quarterback Casey Printers will probably not start Saturday because of a right shoulder bruise he suffered against Tulane, Oct. 13. Sophomore defensive tackle Chad Pugh and redshirt freshman offensive tackle Anthony Alabi will also not play Saturday after they both sustained concussions against the Green Wave.

Offensive coordinator Mike Schultz said while the Frogs’ have been pretty healthy the past three seasons, the injury bug has finally caught up with them this year.

“I believe they run in cycles, and I believe the cycle is running through right now,” Shultz said. “I’m ready for it to get through. This is my fourth year, and the first three years we got through the season pretty clean. We didn’t have a bunch of injuries then.”

But the Frogs have had a “bunch” of injuries this season.

Before they even kicked off its season against Nebraska Aug. 25, senior tight end Matt Schobel (hamstring), senior tailback Andrew Hayes-Stoker (knee) and redshirt freshman wide receiver Reggie Harrell (knee), a projected starter, were already sidelined from practice because of injuries.

Among others who have been injured are junior wide receiver Kevin Brown who has been out since the Frogs match up against Southern Methodist Sept. 8. Senior weak safety Charlie Owens, a two-time C-USA defensive player of the week this season, will be playing hurt against Army after he tore his meniscus in his knee against Tulane.

Head coach Gary Patterson said because of this team’s lack of depth, injuries have hurt the team even more.

“We had injuries last year but they weren’t as noticed because we had so much depth,” Patterson said. “Last year, (junior) Jason Goss and Greg Walls both went out as starting corners, and (junior free safety) Kenneth Hilliard, (sophomore cornerback) Tyrone Sanders and (junior cornerback) Bo Springfield all had to step up.

“This year, the difference now is instead of Pugh stepping up, it’s guys like (redshirt freshman defensive tackle) Brandon Johnson who don’t have the experience like others have had.”

Because of this lack of depth, Patterson said the experienced players must increase their roles to overcome the injuries.

“The older players, seniors and leadership council have to be the strongest,” Patterson said. “They have to step up, and we need to move forward with it. We also have to do a good job as a staff of letting them know what their expectations are.”

Sophomore defensive end Bo Schobel suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in his knee against Nebraska. Against North Texas, sophomore linebacker Josh Goolsby suffered a season-ending injury to his right knee.

With the injuries stacking up, Hilliard, who is battling turf toe he sustained against Tulane, said it has affected the team mentally.

“It’s affected us a little bit as far as the mental aspect,” Hilliard said. “Some players might play not to get hurt while most of the veteran players are not worried about it because they know pain is not an issue.”

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