Wednesday, September 4, 2002

Rubinson captures Fort Worth Title, ties record

Senior Adam Rubinson, who finished second at the NCAA Championships last season, shot a final round 68 to capture the Fort Worth City Title at Pecan Valley Golf Course.
Rubinson finished four strokes ahead of his fellow competitor, SMU golfer Brock Mulder, who finished his final round with a record-tying competitive score
of 63.
His three-day total score of 195 tied the record set by Greg Gregory in 1995

Volley Frogs go 4-0, win
Arkansas State Tournament

After finishing last season with only seven victories, the Volley Frogs opened the season 4-0, winning the Arkansas State Tournament.
The team lost only two games in the tournament, as they beat Northwestern State 3-1, Nicholls State 3-1, Belmont 3-0, and tournament host Arkansas State 3-0.
Junior setter Tori Barlow was named MVP of the tournament, while senior outside hitter Stephanie Watson and sophomore outside hitter Dominika Szabo were named to the all-tournament team.
This is only the second time that the team has won four consecutive matches, the last time being from Sept. 6 to 19, 1997.

Horned Frog kicker wins
C-USA Player of the Week

Junior Nick Browne, who set a school record on Monday with five field goals in one game, was selected as the Conference USA Special Teams Player of the Week.
Browne, also a Frog soccer player now on a football scholarship, kicked field goals of 22, 43, 36, 50 and 48 yards in TCU’s 36-29 overtime loss at Cincinnati.
The five field goals also tied a conference mark, previously set by Ryan White of Memphis on Oct. 9, 1999.
Frogs blew game, shot selves in foot

The Horned Frogs had a chance to position themselves in the conference drivers seat, but now find themselves locked in the trunk.

-Danny Gillham

If it all went well, TCU could have had the opportunity to be 6-0 heading into an October meeting with Conference USA favorite Louisville.

Although the team didn’t like playing a conference game to start the season, all they had to do was hold a lead in Cincinnati. The Frogs would then go againstfive consecutive teams whose combined record last year was 16-40.

Slighting nothing from the other teams, but this was the gamethat would give TCU its biggest challenge until Oct. 19.

They found out how tough that challenge would be on Cincinnati’s first play from scrimmage.

A blown coverage resulted in a 75-yard touchdown pass from sophomore Gino Guidugli to senior Jon Olinger on the Bearcats first offensive play of the year.

After giving up the “big play” numerous times last year, head coach Gary Patterson had stressed the importance of not allowing opponents to capitalize on long gains. It seemed as if it was going to get ugly fast.

Then, the Frogs settled down and began to play their brand of football.

On offense they controlled the ball, and after a three-and-out on their first series, the team was making good on its opportunities.

After hearing the ESPN telecast mention Guidugli’s name every 15 seconds, it was enough to make someone sick. Maybe the TCU defense had enough of it as well, as they began to get to the quarterback.

For two quarters, the Frogs held the Bearcat attack in check. Guidugli was intercepted four times, and it seemed his confidence was almost nonexistent.

Yet with a 15 point advantage, and only seven minutes left before they came home with a win, what Frog coaches were hoping wouldn’t happen did.

The team ran out of gas.

After injuries decimated the team during their second week of two-a-days, the Frogs were unable to get in as much practice as they would have liked. It showed in their body language — and in their missed tackles.

The fatigue seemed to stall drives, and as they soon discovered, field goals can’t keep up with touchdowns.

Still, what will stand out the most from this game is one statistic: 16 penalties for 102 yards.

Albeit some flags were questionable, the fact that the team put themselves in a position to be called for them was inexcusable. Regardless of it being the first game or not, 16 penalties is just flat-out unacceptable.

Now the team must have a short-term memory. With another road game Saturday at Northwestern, the Frogs can’t feel sorry for themselves. They have to regroup, refocus, and do what it takes to enable further success. If this happens, there is no reason that the team cannot be 5-1 heading into Louisville.

But 6-0 would have been a lot better.

 


credits

TCU Daily Skiff © 2002