TCU

#24 TCU vs. Texas Tech - 09/12/13

LUBBOCK, TEXAS-

On this Friday morning I feel much like the TCU football team probably did yesterday around midnight: spent, tired, sore, and hoarse. 

The Horned Frogs looked discombabulated most of the night due to a tenacious Texas Tech defense energized by the Jones AT&T stadium crowd. I, on the other hand feel the way I do because Texas Tech students ARE FREAKING CRAZY. In fact, last night was so crazy that a fox, yes, an actual fox, came out to say "hey what's up guys? I'm just gonna run around a bit while you play". Broken benches and wild animals aside, TCU's seven false start penalties were a direct result of the (excuse me for sounding like an Aggie) "12th man role" the home crowd played. The buzz around town before the game and the atmosphere in the stadium bolstered by a record setting student attendance reminded me of a certain game in 2008 with some guy named Crabtree. In fact, throughout my time at the university I had not witnessed the Jones' be as electric and intimidating of a venue as it was last night. The only other game that even comes close to the energy of last night was against West Virginia 2012. Above all else, I believe last night was a welcome back party for the Texas Tech family. The Jones is back, and anyone that saw how elated Kingsbury and Wallerstedt were on the last fourth down stop should know they genuinely want to be here. 

My "10 takeaways" from last night:

1. Officiating- I really feel like the refs dictated certain portions of the game, while I don't believe they were implicit in Tech ultimately winning the game they definitely prevented the game from really ever having a flow. That being said, I believe TCU's false start penalties combined with Tech's D prevented them from winning. Case in point: TCU never lead.
2. Uniforms- Gray uniforms? I like them even though I know a lot of Tech fans won't. Expect to see a lot more cool stuff from Under Armour coming out later in the season.    It's 2013, and ever since Oregon started wearing crazy uniforms everyone else has been playing catch up. *Recruits like them too*
3. Tech Defense- The Tech defense held TCU to 3 of 16 on third down and 0 of 2 on fourth down. Hyder, Bullitt, Porter, Robertson, Gaines and Smith all had outstanding plays. The defense ultimately won the game as the offense seemed to struggle after the half. Bonus: I think I felt the entire spectrum of emotion when Richards picked off Boykin. Elation because of the INT, Humor because he's a huge lineman running with the ball, and fear because of the aforementioned.
4. Penalties- Way too many penalties for both teams, Kingsbury and Co. will need to get that in check before the meat of the Big XII schedule comes up. 
5. Underrated- The entire Texas Tech Defense.
6. Overrated- Devonte Fields, TCU.
7. He's human- Shake n' Bake, Mayfield the touchdown Maker, Baker-man. Whatever you call him Tech's true frosh QB is human after all. While playing very well in his first two games and even up until about the third quarter of last nights game he ended his evening rather pedestrian. The fan base should not be concerned however; after all this time last year he was still in high school and only walked-on at Tech during the second summer session. 
8. Measuring stick- Before last nights contest I really thought playing TCU would give fans an opportunity to see where Tech stood in the Big XII. Now I'm less convinced. Is Tech that good? Is TCU that bad? Only time will tell.
9. Trap Game- Next week is Texas State. While last years game wasn't much of a contest the Red Raiders need to get over the win against TCU and not overlook it's sister school.
10. Game ball- Goes to Davis Webb. When Mayfield hobbled off the field the only thing I could think of was how inconsistent Webb looked against SFA. Props to him for keeping a level head and leading the game winning drive.

Random prediction: Bama: 38 A&M: 28 

Oh and What does the fox say?! 

"Jacha-chacha-chacha-chow!

Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow!

Chacha-chacha-chacha-chow!"