TCU News: Frogs, Cougars Ranked to Start Season

Football:

TCU, Houston coaches should love their AP poll position | The Star-Telegram

The Frogs and Cougars both open in the top 15, ahead of in-state rivals Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech - all unranked, as well as no. 23 Baylor. Both programs are in a good spot to open the year, historically.

Eight of the past nine teams ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll failed to reach the College Football Playoff or the BCS national championship game in that season. The lone exception, Florida State in 2014, fell in the semifinals of the inaugural CFP playoff.

Of the 10 schools that began last season ranked among the nation’s top-10, only four finished there as well: Alabama (No. 1), Ohio State (No. 4), Michigan State (No. 6) and TCU (No. 7). That’s a 40 percent conversion rate for the 2015 preseason favorites.

TCU, Gary Patterson not satisfied with 2015 results, pushing for more | CBS Sports

This is a great article on GP’s approach heading into the season, which is much like it is each season - though with the added pressure of Bronze Gary peering over his shoulder.

"The first thing he told us is, 'Now I have to win even more. They have a statue of me,'" defensive end Josh Carraway said. "That's only for people that have died."

The Frogs' coach never seems to be satisfied with much of anything. That doesn't make Patterson much different than most FBS coaches. It does make it easy to cut the kinetic coach some slack when TCU's fortunes slump.

Ranking the Big 12 - #4 TCU | Horn Sports

The perennially overrated Horns seem to think TCU might not quite live up to their predicted second place conference finish. They also are not accounting for the return of several key starters from injuries that kept them out of all or most of the 2015 campaign.

Gary Patterson has proven he can coach and win in the Big 12. However, the Frogs do not have the players to reload at key positions. Kenny Hill will likely be the starting quarterback and he can be impressive at times, but with only 3 returning starters on offense, it will be difficult for the offense to find a rhythm early in the season. Fourth place in the Big 12 is one spot below where they finished last year, which would solidify a successful season for Patterson's Horned Frogs.

Three-star DT James Lynch backs out of TCU commitment | Sports Day

The Round Rock native is the second decommitment from the 2017 class, following Josh Thompson’s flip to Texas. He committed to USC shortly after - must be #teamInNOut.

Lynch originally committed to TCU in May over offers from Duke, Kansas, Kansas State, Texas Tech, USC and others.

At 6-4, 282 pounds, Lynch is ranked as the No. 60 defensive tackle in the country and No. 116 overall prospect in the state, according to 247Sports Composite.

Baseball:

TCU and Paschal communities celebrate the life of incoming TCU Baseball player | TCU 360

Horribly sad news last week, as incoming freshman baseball player Drew Medford was killed in a car accident Thursday morning. Medford, a Paschal grad, had been working out with the team over the summer. It’s clear that he made a significant impact on many through his 18 years.

“He had one of the biggest hearts in the world,” Zach Shaw, one of Medford’s close friends from high school, said. “Drew Medford was the one of the most genuine, most kind, and caring people I have ever had the pleasure of encountering.”