TCU Horned Frogs Earned Roses to Prove Worthy of BCS Splendor

For a moment there, you had to wonder if this was an illusion. We can be kind and assume TCU, once defined as stuffed-animals with the insanity of the erratic and chaotic BCS system, isn't the cutest darlings in football and instead is the best program in college football.

And to think we debated, with cleverness, whether the Horned Frogs can compete with elite conferences. Saturday night, from the Rose Bowl, one of the most prestigious venues in the nation, Texas Christian vindicated non-believers and skeptics that they were worthy of contending for a national title.

Much as TCU desired to bid for a national title appearance, after unleashing a strong case when they capped an undefeated season in the weak Mountain West, the Horned Frogs settled to accept an invitation for the annual Rose Bowl Game.

This, I must say, has been a wonderful tale, engraved like never before by one of the smallest universities from an insignificant conference. The first notion is to dismiss the misguided beliefs that TCU is unworthy of emerging on the highest platform in the sport.

So respectively, in a sport that seems to disappoint and neglect the smaller schools, the Frogs were nationally seen and awed us on the brightest evening in school history, an antidote possibly for considerable changes in the future as far as implementing an eight-team playoff system.

And now the New Year is upon us, leaving the BCS idiots with a decision to improve the treacherous formula. Why are we so surprise that the Frogs knocked off a premier school from the Big Ten, revealing a body language of shock once a touching night ended nicely for TCU, a school no one ever imagined to reach a pinnacle?

There were two minutes left when TCU linebacker Tank Carder prevented Wisconsin's attempt at a two-point conversion. Parts of the night, the Badgers clearly survived on a tenacious rush attack and raced down the field late in the contest, and managed to score as the clock trickled and fortunately trailed 21-19. But in the end, it was the Frogs prevailing all the way to the finish on a brilliant defensive effort when Carder swatted Scott Tolzien's pass.

"I was coming in on blitz," Carder said. "I saw him cock him arm back. I was in the right place at the right time."

A tense night finally lifted into a celebration in the stands, many of whom were dressed in purple and suddenly erupted into a prolonged frenzy when the Frogs defeated Wisconsin 21-19 on Saturday to capture the Rose Bowl in their first ever trip. For once, the optimistic fans are elated by a feel-good story that has hijacked the moment in sports. It was seemingly dazzling for the Frogs to claim a rightful chapter in Rose Bowl history.

This was more than a miracle for TCU, the wondrous team that rendered greatness to the world, capping the season with a remarkable ending. This justified the Frogs mentality and capability, standing up to one of the prominent programs and handling the stiffest test arguably. Surely, the Frogs were poised, hungry and played with much focus and energy, prepared for the biggest moment in TCU history. Surely, the Frogs were fiercer and meaner than ever.

"All the critics don't feel like non-AQ teams should have a shot," said Carder, the defensive MVP. "But I feel that TCU has proven that we can play with the best of them. Definitely taking this win back to Fort Worth...I feel like we came in here and made a statement today."

Was this a statement? Damn right.

This will be one of the most talked about games for a long time. The Frogs came to Pasadena to earn a bed full of roses, and accepted the sweetest possession. It was a perfect ending for Carder, the household name of the Rose Bowl, who fought through much adversity in his lifetime.

As a kid, without a doubt, he was certainly obligated to participate in sports as a BMX racer. At age 13, he wasn't wearing a seat belt and was ejected from a car after it hit a tree, but he amazingly survived a disastrous accident, even though he suffered a punctured diaphragm, broken back and two punctured lungs after the car rolled over him.

When the sentimental night concluded, TCU coach Gary Patterson shed little tears of joy, safety Tejay Johnson yelled, and Carder shouted in delight. The best thing here is that the Frogs no longer are forgotten or denied, and the discernment of TCU representing the smaller schools is the truth. In fairness, the Frogs defeated the stalwart Badgers with their pedigree and determination to prove to the entire world how tough they really are against BCS opponents.

"Today," said Patterson," proved we had just as good players as anybody in the country."

Fair enough. For all we know, they were snubbed, they were insulted and they were discounted, but still overpowered the Badgers for the noble prize and constituted a breathless storyline this bowl season, literally outplaying and out-dueling the favorites to survive a dazzling meeting. The result of this is that Andy Dalton, the savior for a successful and unbeaten season which bolstered a non-BCS program, was thrilled and jubilant with his teammates to embrace a joyful moment.


So now, we can assume the Frogs don't only merit roses, but also multiple crystal balls if they continue to play at such an all-time high in the history of the program and expose a championship-caliber personality. Best of all, Patterson has developed his ideal program and has shifted the landscape at Texas Christian, mainly for providing charisma and brainwashing players with his formula to instill excellence.

In many ways, he's fortunate to have Dalton, the winningest active quarterback in I-A. Even if the Frogs are omitted by an unfair system, at a point unfortunately when TCU is well-equipped and has converted into a national power, Dalton is an efficient quarterback and has shown he is NFL-ready with incredible accuracy and strength in his throwing motion.

"I don't think we were playing just for TCU," said Dalton. "We were playing for all the non-AQ schools to show we can play with anybody in this country."

A teary-eyed Patterson was drenched with Gatorade and caressed Dalton, who had 279 yards and a touchdown on 15-for-23 passing. The possibility of TCU minimizing injustice for other less fortunate programs seems plausible, but the ramifications of fixing the BCS is unlikely, after the Frogs advertised why the NCAA needs to ponder and then form a legit playoff system.

That may not happen real soon, but it would validate the worthy winner at the end of the season by getting rid of the prejudiced formula, which is not too friendly to non-AQ schools. Not too many fell in love with TCU, but adored the feel-good story when the Frogs were shedding tears and relishing a precious finish. The fulfillment was contagious and the emotions lasted inside the locker room, where there were huge smiles and tears falling from the players' watery eyes.

All day, the humiliation of the Big Ten saddened many lovers who praises the famous conference with its own television network. The loss ultimately made the Big Ten drop to 0-5 in bowls on Saturday, but the Mountain West celebrated in euphoria based on one massive victory that represented grandeur and glory for a diminutive conference no one really pays attention to because of its weaknesses.

"We just want to prove we can play with the big boys," TCU running back Ed Wesley said. "Maybe next year, national title."

It's good to be optimistic, particularly when there are only two undefeated teams left. Next week, one of those teams will lose and, if so, doesn't that mean TCU qualifies for the second-best ranking in the nation? Certainly.

But for years, the BCS has muffed ranking teams properly. It's appropriate, for once, to rank the Frogs as the second-best program in our country and give Texas Christian the nod for beating a team from a large conference, knocking off a school with importance and surviving the hardest challenge this season to finish on top.

"There are times you definitely feel like tapping out and getting some fresh legs," Carder said. "That's all we've been hearing about is how big they are, how much more weight they have on their line. I knew we were going to come in here with speed. Speed beats power any day."

Early on, Wisconsin abandoned its strengths for its weaknesses. Just when it looked as if the vigorous Badgers were on the verge of taking a comfortable lead, they relied on delivering passes, rather than calling running plays. But as it turned out, the smarter team won in the end.

Although the Frogs allowed more total yards, they were still smarter and hungrier than the Badgers. Although Wisconsin was 11-1 prior to the disheartening loss, the Frogs held the Badgers to their lowest total in points of the year, and proved to the world that they are BCS-caliber and just as good and deserving of notability just as are the top programs.

Most of all, the Frogs produced on running plays by Dalton's mobility to scramble and run the ball. He carried it six times for 31 yards on a couple of TCU's series early in the game. Late in the contest, the Badgers were still alive and dusted down the field with seven minutes. Ball ran as if he was a speedy sprinter, as if he was running the 40-yard dash in the Olympics, and it almost benefited in the Badgers favor as John Clay rushed and gained yardage on his robust and fresh legs.

However, while the three-headed monsters known as Montee Ball, Clay and James White combined for 231 yards on 41 carries, it wasn't enough and TCU was crowned champions, not only for leading the way for themselves but for the underdogs and lowly universities. This age, obviously, the Frogs have come a long ways, following seven 10-win seasons in nine years, a transition to the Mountain West and manhandled their opponents to finish unbeaten in consecutive seasons. And now this, a Rose Bowl win.

Every year, the landscape is beautiful at the Rose Bowl, from the wonderful scenery of the San Gabriel Mountains that overlooks the town to the breathtaking venue traditionally described as the Granddaddy. But this year, the landscape was more beautiful than ever before.

The Frogs were grand.

Gary Patterson, Andy Dalton Leads TCU Horned Frogs To The Unthinkable

It wasn't long ago when Andy Dalton, dressed in his causal attire and madly fell in love with Southern California, sent a text message bragging about his arrival at Disneyland on Sunday afternoon. He looked very excited, he smiled heavily, his eyes widened and he wildly celebrated at the Happiest Place on Earth.

From there, of course, he mingled with Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck on a brisk afternoon, thinking back of the memories from an unthinkable season that transpired in the weak Mountain West. Realizing that he's verified as the savior for the third-ranked Horned Frogs, proudly serving as the quarterback to illustrate one of the most remarkable seasons in school history, Dalton is one of the disregarded athletes in the sport.

He tried every attraction in his countless hours spent at the happiest amusement park, only to try and replicate his fearless attitude for rigorous preparation and then translate the same type of mentality for the Rose Bowl Game on Saturday. This has been a season of goofiness, chaos, corruption as figured in college football with a deranged system, which either snubbed or smeared a program worthy of national title hopes.

Unfair as it may be to discount TCU, the system with such a BCS crisis has no sympathy for the Horned Frogs. Maybe it's because of such a favorable schedule the Horned Frogs are faced with each season, even if some people inevitably believes Texas Christian deserves a shot when the university's football program has emerged into a top-ranked national power.


In other words, the Horned Frogs were too powerful in the Mountain West and unevenly pummeled their opponents as they ended the season unbeaten, with the nation's No. 1 defense for the third consecutive season and 36 wins in its last 39 since 2008. Nonetheless, as the Granddaddy game looms, it has drawn ceaseless complaints and malcontent critics can't endure the idea that the Horned Frogs earned a trip to play their first Rose Bowl Game in TCU's history.

Get over it...

"We're not just representing TCU," Dalton said. "We're representing all the non-AQ schools."

For once, the Horned Frogs are well-deserving of a respective opportunity to resonate greatness for a school without much triumph in the past, a school waiting for glory as TCU encounters the stiffest test by meeting a Big Ten powerhouse in the Wisconsin Badgers. It's ultimately interesting to see whether or not TCU is actually capable in securing the stunning upset in the next few days, above all the hearsay that the Frogs are incapable of matching the Badgers energy or immeasurable toughest. Fair enough.

"Obviously we've done something right to get to go to the Big East, and hopefully we'll make that league better," Dalton said. "I can't see us dropping off. I think we'll just keep getting better."

What fun to witness the Frogs, for once, face the hardest challenge all season with much at stake. This is probably, by far, the heaviest spotlight TCU has ever possessed, a noteworthy program suddenly adored by overzealous fans. Yes, in all honesty, dignity elevated in a year when the Frogs were untouched and never suffered a broken heart, dominating many of their opponents in a cupcake fashion, smothering opponents with their monstrous defense and forestalling a potent offense.

It comes as no surprise that TCU is virtually anointed nowadays, no longer classified as darlings of the BCS, but mettle crusaders to finally appear in a meaningful contest on a night the masses will likely watch, curious to find out if the Frogs can pull off the huge stunner. However, no matter what happens, it's considered a signature game for TCU, a team always coveted with a fierce mentality for big moments.


He is indeed credited for the renovation of a program below its standard, but of late, Gary Patterson, TCU's accomplished coach, has brought life to a school now one win away from transcending greatness. It's fair to say that Patterson is an expert, not only in show business, but for the way he hones his players and prepares everyone for pivotal moments. As a young teenager, he played the guitar in a rock band.

He is still cool, only this time a cool coach who understands the formula and style of coaching and has introduced it routinely to his players. From his early years, he desired to play football and someday become a head coach. And wouldn't you know his lifelong dream turned into reality, and now he's leading the Horned Frogs with his devotion to his knack and dexterity. Because he's a fiery coach, he's in his seventh season of double-digit wins in 10 full seasons as head coach.

For all those years, not as many cheers as there are now, the small university never had much worth celebrating but they will if TCU prevails Saturday night. Before World War II, TCU was on the national platform, but plunged shortly after and painfully dealt with 30 losing seasons from 1961 to 1997, including a dreadful eight-year drought at a period the Frogs never accounted for more than two wins in the entire season.


Since then, obviously, Patterson has recruited beloved figures. Since then, TCU has been elite. That explains why he's pocketing $1.6 million, the second-highest salary among any coach of a non-AQ school. Lucky to have a rifle-armed, pocket thrower like Dalton, who has thrown for more than 10,000 yards and has excellent mobility, release much stress off the heart and soul of Patterson. It's only fitting to have a pair of receivers, such as Jeremy Kerley and Jimmy Young, two reliable studs with athleticism and size. It has been a good four years, and Dalton has been hurling passes to his star receivers.

You see, Dalton is the coolest red-headed dude around. Patterson is the coolest guitarist around.

You'll see New Years Day.

TCU Football: Fiery Horned Frogs Prove They're for Real

For now, we won’t have to worry about fraudulent systems, a treacherous formula we scorn greatly for tantalizing the beauty of the most popular sport in America. For now, we won’t have to worry about the eventual misfortune perpetually smearing the welfare of a well-deserving program that usually ends up being snubbed by the manipulative systems.

For now, we won’t have to worry about the well-being of TCU, a reassuring program filled with much optimism, ready to earn respectability and bid for a national title game. This game, which revealed nationally that the Horned Frogs are favorable of bidding for a major bowl game, reminded us an unflappable, fiery unit is coveted and potent to replicate another monstrous season. No matter the ramifications of sinister systems determining the fate and proposition of a team’s status, the Horned Frogs have vitality and a driven mindset.


On this night, it was electric at Cowboys Stadium, a neutral site that felt like a home game for the sixth-ranked TCU when the feverish crowd erupted a roaring frenzy and watched the Frogs propel to a thrilling 30-21 win over No. 24 Oregon State on Saturday evening. They wear vicious uniforms for a reason, the latest attire designed by Nike, a primary sporting gear brand to unveil the new “Pro Combat” uniform earlier in the year. Ever seen a creator uniquely design a futuristic uniform made of lizard-skin fabric for what could be an elite program?

I haven’t.

But if you’re thrilled and still have a hangover from the Frogs breakthrough season a year ago when it stunned the nation and awed all spectators or students attending TCU, then you are startled and optimistic the Frogs are in position to duplicate another miraculous pursuit. If so, alumnus will rave about the odds of TCU possibly winning a national title, becoming a well-known school in the most popular game played on America’s soil.

If so, the students will debate whether or not the program deserves an invitation to the national title game, buzz normally heard in the study halls and cafeterias on campuses. In general terms, it was the time to win a big game, the moment to prove worthy by prevailing in a pivotal showdown against the high-powered Oregon State. Take it as a redemptive story for Andy Dalton, a charmingly talented quarterback with the mental ability to lead TCU.


Rightfully so, this triumphant moment symbolized perseverance, erasing the horrid memories eight months ago when Dalton miserably struggled in a devastating Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State. In a game with much at stake, he threw three interceptions to cost the Frogs, felt hopeless in the end and the team was devoid of respectively accounting for a bowl title. This time, obviously, he redeemed himself, carried the Frogs and survived the challenge outshining a dazzling pro-style offense.

Deemed as the winningest quarterback in TCU history, Dalton realizes much is at stake embarked on a season of pressure. The expectations are immense from its unthinkable journey last season, an unforeseen miracle no one had in mind, especially since it represents an unchallenging Mountain West Conference.

Any team affiliated within an overlooked conference knows, or at least knows its ignored because of the lack of prosperity, the substandard athleticism, the unpopular names and lastly the untested schedule, a problem inhibiting programs like Boise and TCU unless the NCAA implements an eight-team playoff system. It’s too early to tell whether TCU is national title bound or belongs on the biggest stage in college football and represent a mystic conference. How can we vindicate that Utah, Boise or TCU is worthy of playing for the ultimate hardware when each team has a light schedule and doesn’t encounter the high-profile programs?

What the game need, of course, is a legitimate playoff system, not a chaotic system for which many schools are competing, pressured to win practically every game just for a pleasant opportunity to taste a title. By golly, the Frogs merits notability and it appears there is hope after all, at a program with a sturdy defense. The ultimate goal is winning it all with a winnable foundation of players whom all spreads unity. It’s a good start, indeed. All the players have excellent chemistry, maturity and attitude, desiring to send a statement for its pedigree and much-improved offensive schemes, courtesy of Dalton.

In a season of probability, the Frogs are hopeful it can overcome the unsavory drive to the BCS, with the encouragement of head coach Gary Patterson. So, the Frogs, meanwhile, envisions aspiration this season, aiming for another successive streak to sustain perfection in back-to-back seasons. And if looking to endure joy, the sharpened messages that Patterson is instilling into the minds of his kids, are ways for cultivating a powerful, untouchable team.

By moving forward, he couldn’t care less about the sudden collapse eight months ago, but considers starting off on strong terms. It’s not the cutest tale in football or the cuddly dark-horses as a year ago, only this time TCU ranks on the level of elite programs to dominate at will each time the players gaze at the pyramid Patterson famed to offer encouragement and enthusiasm.

The sad thing is, with a disappointing loss, the Frogs are eliminated from the national championship picture, and likely won’t capture a BCS bid, simply because of the conference it represents. To put it into perspective, Alabama, Oregon, or Ohio State could be victimized as a one-loss or even a two-loss team and still appear on the national title setting. The Frogs are considered one of the most projected programs by winning every game, particularly after knocking the Beavers out of the unpredictable polls.


It’s still seemingly tough to imagine TCU in conversations for BCS considerations, even though they trounced the vibrant Oregon State, who could’ve beaten the Frogs in a tense, tight showdown before breaking away late in the fourth quarter. Make no mistake they deserve credit as a premier school for its work ethic and resilient effort in the season-opener, salvaging not only the first win of the regular-season, but saving a sense of fate with a schedule of opponents which aren’t ranked in the Top 25.

There’s no surprise Dalton, the four-year starting quarterback, set the school’s all-time record for wins by a quarterback when his efficiency and agility energizes his teammates and uplifts a program with bowl game implications. Without a doubt, he’s a savvy leader and has 30 wins to surmount by Pro Bowl Football Hall of Famer Sammy Baugh. With the advantage of 27 seniors and 19 returning starters, the Frogs are filled with depth and experience, including the pass thrower who completed 17 of 27 for 175 yards, but was intercepted twice.

However, in the sequence of Dalton’s blunders, the Beavers built a comfortable lead twice, but TCU managed to comeback and caused fear in the minds of the complacency of Oregon State. In the spread-option, the Frogs attacked in each sequence and Dalton dropped back and fired passes to seven different receivers, limiting the rush attack a bit and fling downfield passes to exhaust Oregon State defenders.

With the highest ranking in school history, TCU are expected to jump the polls for winning 27 of its past 30 games, certainly building upon reaching a pinnacle in a competitive game where the unpredictability is alarming and the rankings are insane. As badly as winning every game is necessary, the Frogs are potent enough to win every game.

It’s a good thing, then, that Dalton recovered in time. Tell the nation that TCU is an upset alert. Or, in reality, does the nation fear TCU.

Fear the Horned Frogs, folks.