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Football:
TCU’s job will be to adapt and manage. They seem prepared to do so.
TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati remains confident that college football will be played this fall. More questions about the viability of playing a season continue to be raised, though, amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Kansas State shut down voluntary workouts for 14 days on Saturday after 14 players tested positive for COVID-19. The University of Texas has had 13 positive tests so far. Baylor announced Monday that it had eight positive tests (four symptomatic, four asymptomatic) out of 109 tests. Powerhouse programs such as LSU and Clemson are dealing with increased numbers too.
“I am still confident we will play this fall. We all anticipate positive tests and the possibility of having to isolate individuals,” Donati said. “Our protocols are solid and well thought out. Managing that will be our reality this year.”
Analysis: What TCU gets in Noah Bolticoff | Horned Frog Blitz
Bolticoff has all the tools.
The frame space Bolticoff possesses should give him a high physical ceiling in a college strength and conditioning program. He plays tackle and has the look of a tackle, but his game may better fit inside. Part of that is his quickness off the ball in the running game, combined with his ability to get to the second level with efficiency.
In pass protection, Bolticoff’s frame helps him on the outside. His pass set is consistent, as well as his hand placement. He’s more of a catcher than a puncher to this point in his development and needs to add a more sudden pop to his repertoire. That will also help his block-finishing efficacy in the running game.
Bolticoff has played three sports in high school and that multi-sport athletic profile is encouraging. In addition to football and basketball, Bolticoff has thrown the discus (130-6), shot put (43-10.25), and javelin (106-3).
WVU football opponent preview: TCU has lots of talent it needs to replace | Gazette-Mail
The Frogs will be out for revenge in Morgantown.
TCU is in search of a supporting cast for Duggan. Four of the Frogs’ five starting offensive linemen are gone — only center Coy McMillon returns — and Duggan actually is the team’s leading returning rusher. Darius Anderson (823 rushing yards, six touchdowns) has departed and the top rusher coming back beneath Duggan is presumed starter Darwin Barlow, who gained just 99 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.
The run game was TCU’s strongest suit in 2019, ranking third in the Big 12 at 204 yards per game, but all of those offensive personnel losses will leave the Horned Frogs struggling to retain that power. The Frogs also lose their top receiver from last season, Jalen Reagor, who left TCU early for the NFL draft and was rewarded by the Philadelphia Eagles taking him with the 21st overall pick.
Taye Barber will be Duggan’s new top target. He already moved toward that title last year after leading the Frogs in receiving in the final seven games. TCU also hopes to get some early production out of incoming freshman Quinton Johnston, a four-star receiver prospect who flipped his commitment from Texas to TCU and was the No. 70 overall recruit nationally on 247Sports composite rankings.
Around Campus:
TCU executive compensation out paces faculty salaries and benefits | TCU 360
An interesting look at salary data at TCU. Really great reporting by Benton McDonald.
While faculty clearly make up a much higher share of expenses, their 48.1% mark is only in the 4th percentile among the 67 universities in the report.
The officers make up around 2% of all expenses, placing them in the 93rd percentile.
This difference was highlighted extensively in the report and ultimately led to the committee’s conclusion that, “Our salaries, retirement benefit contributions, and combined pay are not competitive across the broad spectrum of nationally-ranked private universities, including our institutional peers and aspirants.”
The committee reiterated the recommendations made in the open letter that was sent out last month in response to the retirement cuts and has garnered over 300 signatures.
The letter calls for the administration to commit to a principle of shared governance and consult faculty on any future decisions regarding their compensation.