TCU News: TCU still in a tight race for Big 12 crown

Football

As playoff hopes dim for Big 12, TCU sets pace in tight league race | Fort Worth Star Telegram

Patterson knows there’s still a lot at stake this season, but does his team?

In berating his team for a lack of emotion, Patterson said: “The big games take care of themselves [emotionally]. You’ve got to get ready for the games you’re supposed to win. You’ve got to get ready if you want to be the Big 12 champs.”

There you have it: Two references to winning a Big 12 championship aimed at this team, which will be unranked when the Frogs meet SMU (2-1) in Friday’s nonconference contest in Dallas. Win or lose, TCU will carry league title hopes into its next home game, Oct. 1 against OU. So will the Sooners, the defending league champs who are idle this week.

TCU reenters Coaches’ Poll after win in Big 12 opener | Dallas Morning News

It’s a weak showing, generally, for the Big 12 in the polls this week.

After beating Iowa State 41-20 in their Big 12 opener, TCU is ranked No. 21 in the Coaches' Poll, released this morning. The Frogs had been unranked for the first time since September 2014.

TCU is the second highest ranked team in the Big 12, behind the Baylor Bears at No. 15.

TCU takeaways: Five things from a good and bad day against Iowa State | Fort Worth Star Telegram

Kyle Hicks was a bright spot on Saturday, and he’s primed to just keep getting better.

Gary Patterson said two weeks ago he expected Hicks to need three or four games to warm up to speed after having been held back from contact part of the time in fall camp. Saturday, he looked his sharpest of the season with a 64-yard touchdown run and a 25-yard touchdown catch. Both plays showed textbook technique. His performance drew the only postgame praise from Patterson: “He’s been a bright spot. Guys who practice well play well. That’s why Kyle Hicks is one of our four captains. On and off the field, he does everything that you want.”

Former Frogs

Horned Frog legends reunite in LA following Seahawks-Rams game | Dallas Morning News

Trevone Boykin, Aaron Green, and Joey Hunt caught up with each other after the 9-3 Rams victory on Sunday.

Hunt, Green, and Boykin were part of the 2016 senior class that went 23-3 over their final two years. Green and Boykin were undrafted, while Hunt went in the sixth round to Seattle.

Redskins rookie Josh Doctson has bigger role in second NFL game | Fort Worth Star Telegram

Doctson was targeted five times, including three times in the end zone, but he managed just one catch; a 57-yard reception early in the fourth quarter. He noted after the game that a lack of practice time is something he’s battling against right now.

But Doctson acknowledges that the lack of practice time combined with minimal game experience is a huge adjustment. He made a cameo appearance in his NFL debut, catching one pass for 9 yards in the waning moments of a 38-16 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

“Being a rookie, not having any practice for a week and a half in the NFL, it’s tough,” Doctson said. “I’m proud for myself for pushing through it but I can’t just push through, I got to actually do something. I’m going to get better.”