TCU and former co-OC Doug Meacham Eye Possible Reunion

UPDATE (1:25pm): Gary Patterson wants everyone to pump the brakes, per Jeremy Clark of Horned Frog Blitz.

Original: MEACH BACK?!

The former co-OC is expected to return to TCU, as sources told Football Scoop this week.

Meacham, whose tenure alongside Sonny Cumbie produced the two most prolific offensive seasons in recent Horned Frog history, left Fort Worth for Kansas — and the opportunity to work with his good friend David Beaty — after the 2016 season.

Meacham served one season under Beaty before the whole staff was let go, resurfacing as the offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL. But with that season slated to start in about a month, it appears Meacham’s XFL tenure will be over before it ever really began, as he seems primed to return to the collegiate ranks. He spent a lot of time over the last two seasons around the TCU program in an unofficial capacity.

In addition to serving as offensive coordinator and play-caller in his first go-round in Fort Worth, Meacham served as inside receivers coach, a role he could be returning to now. Clark reported that he was not expected to resume play-calling duties, while Football Scoop has him slated to potentially fill the running backs/co-OC role vacated by Curtis Luper last month, who left for Mizzou. Meacham also has offensive line experience, a position he played at Oklahoma State. With Chris Thomsen’s exit to FSU, Jarrett Anderson has moved over to that role for TCU.

When Meacham first left the Frogs for Kansas, rumors of friction amongst the offensive staff followed his exit. His potential return was broached earlier this year, but more rumors followed — that there was not support amongst the current coaches. His potential return now could mean either a clearing of the air, or that some of the tension left with some of the coaching changes. It’s likely we will never know, but we can be sure that Gary Patterson would not have made this move without the support of Sonny Cumbie and co.

Cumbie and Meacham worked well together, albeit with the help of guys like Trevone Boykin, Josh Doctson, and Aaron Green. Of course, none of the three of those were looked at as sure-fire stars before they were developed in part thanks to the two OCs. The Frogs finished No. 2 nationally in scoring in 2014 (46.5 points per game) and No. 7 in 2015 (42.1). In 2019, they were 54th with 29.5. A combination of Cumbie, Meach, and rising star Malcolm Kelly could make for a very interesting — and entertaining — 2020. Meacham was also a top-flight recruiter and brought a little swagger to Funky Town — both things that will be lacking with the departure of Luper. This could be a really great move for Frog Football in 2020.

If Meacham is signed, that still leaves one open position on the staff, either as running backs or inside receivers coach. We will update this story if/when the move is official.