Let's Talk About It

OK lets talk about it. Nobody wants to talk about it, nobody wants to admit that a great kid like KaVontae Turpin could be involved in something like this. It is so illogical, like Trevone Boykin when he started his downward spiral, or Casey Pachal when he lost control, so much to gain by steadying the course, so much at stake to lose by spinning out of control. We, from afar, sit back and speculate on the whys for the unfathomable behavior, and we speculate on the harm it does to the proud tradition we love so much. But the real harm is not to our team or school, but to them and their victims, and could follow these young men for the remainder of their lives.  Remember they are just kids. In the scheme of things, only 20-21 year old young men. It is they who will justly pay the price.

Believe it or not, other players will step into their shoes, and carry on the banner for school and team. New faces will appear and bring the glory and honor back. But these young men will have a difficult time regaining what they have lost. They may never. While we do not condone their actions, we hope that they will recover from their unacceptable behavior. If they never appear in a football uniform again, can we hope and pray that they, and their victims, restore their integrity and dignity as fellow human beings.

Criminal action is followed by punishment and justifiably so. Football is not the end game, it is not the most important thing in life, it is not justification for unacceptable behavior.

Hoping that truth will prevail and that these young men and the innocent victims will no longer suffer.

Underfrog

Now you may have heard of mighty teams who are never spose’d to lose,

Who get the boys of the highest stars and the praise of those that muse,

But the greatest teams don’t always spin from the ones that rank the most,

It’s heart that wins out in the end not the grade of the journalist host.

 

So when they say you’ll never conquer and achieve the lofty heights,

Just shake your head and think about the years of similar plights,

When running backs won national titles and quarterbacks excelled,

When Toads won big in games they were spose’d to have been expelled.

 

Rose Bowls, Cotton Bowls, Fiesta Bowls and “Remember the Alamo” too,

All these teams were rated below their foes and expected to get their “due.”

But the heart and soul of a well-led team can turn things ‘round in a flash,

Spirit and spunk and all things brash can change the score in a dash.

 

Who would have thought that a Kohlhousen kid would become a name of lore,

Or Daltons, Doctsons, and Cannons would play in the NFL with more.

But one thing is sure when you think TCU is just an underdog,

We are a power to be reckoned with, for we are the mighty, Underfrog .

Written by David L Warbritton no copying without the express consent of D L Warbritton

 

 

 

Written by David Warbritton Sr

 

Ode to the Toad

Repeat of a poem I wrote several years ago.

Ode to the Toad

I am an old man with a story to tell

I have been around, so I know it very well.

There is a little critter that crawls on the ground,

He’s not very big, and hardly makes a sound.

To those in his world he seems a mighty brute,

His head is filled with horns, none would call him cute

A double row of spikes venture down his back,

And the end on his tail will give you quite a whack.

His tongue is mighty quick, when he gobbles up his prey,

He spits blood from-his-eyes, his foes to keep away.

I’m talking about horned toads man, horned toads,

Not a frog, but a lizard, found on Texas roads.

Cousins dressed in purple, can be found in the town,

With spikes-of-a-different sort, they make their rivals frown.

They run down the middle, they pass around the end,

They kick it through the goal posts, few can ere’ defend.

Many have their doubts, think they’re out of their league

And predict they will fail, at the end in fatigue.

Many teams have traveled to this cow town abode,

Horns and Bears and Badgers have fallen to the toad.

Razorbacks and Raiders have succombed to this critter,

Sooners and Buckeyes have stumbled in a twitter.

Look into your history and it may seem a load,

But the Rolling Crimson Tide, lost three to the toad.

So hearken all you nay-says, and read your history well,

The toad that lurks within your sights may ring your final bell.

When the season has been ended, with the last tick of the clock,

The purple frogs are sure to win, and none will dare to mock.

So fasten up your helmets, put on some extra fat,

Cause the boys dressed in purple, ‘gonna take you to the mat.

Talking about horned frogs man, the purple strength of will,

The ones who wind up champs, at the top of the hill.
 

 

By David L Warbritton Sr

(No copying without express permission from David Warbritton Sr.) 

Not Really a Bad Season

Now that the season is over, the expectations have been lowered, the anxiety has diminished, the hopes for fame and glory have been virtually extinguished and the Horned Toads are headed for a lesser bowl than wished for. They played well at some point in every game, but they played badly in almost every game also. Oh, if only the magic that was conjured up for the Waco massacre could have been emulated in every game. That was the game that all TCU diehards (like me) relished the most from this season. Offense and defense played with a fire and intensity that would have devoured any opponent on that day. That it happened to be the Bears, was the 'secret sauce' that intensified the pleasure on the palate. What a game, the offense was spectacular and the defense was equally magnificent. It was truly the highlight of the season.

Not so for the West Virginia, OSU or Kansas State games. Self-destructive efforts of dismal performances that ensured a season mired in the doldrums of defeat. Too many dropped passes, too many penalties at crucial times, too many turnovers, too many injuries, and too many missed field goals.  Periods of brilliance were swamped by mediocre  and sometimes downright futile execution of plays on both sides of the ball. So disappointing to us, but can you imagine the frustration of the players and coaches who know what these kids are capable of. These kids are good, much better than their season records. They are capable of games like Baylor every game of the year. They were barely beaten by Arkansas and Oklahoma and, O' , for just one of those three field goal attempts against Tech. The other games that they should have won, they did.

This team is better than their record indicates for this year. Coaches have to figure out what went wrong in the blow out games and right the course for the coming season. They can do it, they have before. Some of the freshmen from this year will mature into starters and some of the new recruits will earn starting positions on next year's squad. Upper classmen will be better, faster, and smarter than this year. Don't blame Kenny Hill, that kid played his heart out every game and Boykin was a tough act to follow.. For every errant pass he threw, a talented wide receiver dropped one at some critical moment in a game. Think what he might have accomplished if Josh Doctson had been one of his receivers. This was a team effort and both sides contributed to the season's results. The defense improved as the season progressed but the offense remained erratic throughout.  We broke even in the end and we are used to better.  "We" doesn't include you or I, but a talented group of kids that are coached by one of the best coaching staffs in the country. Don't give up, this was a transition year and we survived it with a .500 record and we will probably win a bowl game. Not really a bad season.

 

 

 
 

 

 

 

A Little Too Close

TCU 59 - S Dakota St U 41
 

Wow, didn't see that one coming, kudos to the boys from South Dakota State. Those kids played their heart out and nearly pulled off a big upset. Not sure they could have continued any further, but they certainly kept up with the Frogs for the majority of the game. After the first half jitters, I think we have found a good quarterback and we certainly have a bevy of wideouts that can catch the ball and run it down the field. The running back stable looks to be full of throughbreds ready to scoot down the field also. The offensive line played well, gave the quarterback time to pass and set up the plays. I like what we saw on offense after Hill got in the groove.
   Defensively we look to have a lot of work to do. Gaping holes in the line allowing an 87 yard touchdown run and repetitive catches downfield by their wide receivers and tight ends created havoc in our defense most of the game. Coach P indicated that he has the fix for all the problems and he is implementing them this week. I was delighted to hear that Ty Summers will be starting this week at linebacker. I think the returning upperclassmen may not be up the level of play that Summers was at the end of last season. Coach also indicated that the safety and cornerback positions have also been addressed. If this is not attended to quickly, I fear it will be a long season. For some interesting insights to the defense check out the Purple Menace website:  https://tcu.rivals.com/news/a-what-if-scenario-for-the-tcu-defense
   Congrats to Hill and Turpin for the Big12 awards, they both showed a lot of positives by the end of the day. Excited to watch Taj Williams do so well, and a good start for Hicks and D. Green at running back. If it hadn't have been so close, I think we would have seen a lot more of the freshmen running backs play. We need to have a Big12 Defensive Player of the Week winner in the game with the Razorbacks.
   A win is a win and God knows we can score, so let's hope the defense stands a lot firmer and we get the Power 5 win this week now that the opening game is past. Lets go Horned Frogs.

Kyle Hicks game face

Turpin running the punt back 81 yards for a TD.

Are You Ready?

   Just three days until the 2016 season kickoff against South Dakota State in Fort Worth. Wow, what a long time to wait since that season ending Alamo Bowl game victory over Oregon. And the way that they ended it, what an amazing performance. I believe that the way this team came back over such overwhelming odds to win is a testament to the remarkable coaching that guides the Horned Frogs. Not just Patterson, but the whole staff, rallying the team to do what it took to get the victory.
It is encouraging to realize that the greater part of that staff is intact for this year as well. That, plus the outstanding recruits they have brought to the field give all of us hope that they can do it again, and maybe even better.
   Barring behavioral disaster or injury, this team has many positives to anticipate. Several transfers from other schools who still had eligibility to play; like Green from Michigan and Diarse from LSU and of course Hill from Texas A&M. Several highly ranked transfers from community colleges have joined the Frogs and several veteran players injured last year like Slanina and Iloka and Gray who are back in full swing this year. All of that plus an amazing assortment of recruits that are eager to join the fray. And then of course, there are many returning experienced players who are back and ready to pick up where they left off last season.
   This may be the most promising year we have ever seen with a seasoned defense and the most sparkling array of  offensive potential poised to explode on the scene. The first game is key, something has to click with the new quarterback, the young running backs, the outstanding crop of wide receivers. The defense must be solid and stubborn in giving up anything. A good start and the emergence of  new leaders on both sides of the ball will carry over to the rest of the season.
   Are you ready? I am! Let it begin.

Football is in the Air

48 Days Till Kickoff

 

   The 2016 football season will get under way on September third against South Dakota State. Some great players have graduated and it will be exciting to see who will fill in their places. Will Foster Sawyer  or Kenny Hill grow into Boykin's leadership role. Along with Turpin, which of the talented wide receivers will step into Josh Doctsons role as Mr Dependable? Will Taj Williams or Ryan Parker who are JC transfers, or Deante Gray and Ty Salina come back strong from their injuries, or will it be one of last years freshmen sensations Jaelan Austin and Jarrison Stewart or, will it be one of the outstanding freshmen like Cameron Williams and Isiah Graham who capture our hearts and lead the receiving corps. Which of the running backs will replace Aaron Green and slip into the backup role for Kyle Hicks? Will it be Trevorris Johnson , Michigan transfer Derrick Green, or  true freshmen Sewo Olonilua and Darius Anderson. It remains to be seen who will join Schlottmann in rebuilding the offensive line.
   The defense has outstanding returnees and some returning from injury that have already proved themselves. Carraway, Howard, Summers, and Wilson plus injured returnees Iloka, Orr, McFarland, and Texada. Talented JC transfers like Chris Gaynor and freshmen like Austin Meyers or Lucas Niang who could step up to fill some of the gaps.
   Depending on how fast they gel, this year's team has amazing potential to be as exciting as last year. After all we still have the same coaching staff that keeps rolling out successful teams year after year.
   Can't wait!

Julius Lewis and Ty Summers stop Baylor's last chance to make a first down during the "Monsoon Bowl"

Highlight of the year for me, the play that broke the Bears.

I think Coach P liked it too.