TCU News: “Disappointed we’re not going to play this week but they’re excited about moving forward.”

Football:

Outbreak forced TCU football to go to Plan E. But Patterson focuses on silver lining. | The Star-Telegram

Programs must have at least 53 healthy players, with some position groups requiring specific numbers.

But those plans were halted last week when TCU had to back out amid a coronavirus outbreak on the roster. TCU did not meet the Big 12’s threshold to go forward with games, commissioner Bob Bowlsby said on Monday, which requires programs to have at least 53 players including seven offensive linemen, four interior defensive linemen and one quarterback.

It’s unclear which threshold(s) TCU did not meet, but the game has been put on hold. So TCU is now focused on opening its season against Iowa State on Sept. 26 in Fort Worth.

“Our kids are ready to play. We were ready to play,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said on the Big 12’s teleconference Monday. “We knew there would be a couple trying times, but our kids are excited about moving forward. Disappointed we’re not going to play this week but they’re excited about moving forward.”

TCU has not given an exact number of players who are sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19 (which requires at least a 10-day quarantine) or have been in close contact with an individual who has tested positive (which requires a 14-day quarantine).

ET Football: Watch List revealed for annual Earl Campbell award | Tyler Morning Telegraph

Max Duggan and Taye Barber make the watch list for the prestigious honor.

The watch list announced on Wednesday will be narrowed to up to 16 semifinalists and then up to five finalists. They will be selected by broadcasters, commentators, journalists, fans, and previous winners. A winner will be announced at the end of this year’s football season.

The watch list includes players from 10 conferences including two independents (American, ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Conference USA, MAC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC and Sun Belt). There are players representing universities from 19 different states and 42 schools. Wide receivers lead the nominations with 16, followed by quarterbacks (12), running backs (10), tight ends (5), offensive linemen (3), and slot back (1).

Basketball:

Evaluating 2021 TCU commit Souleymane Doumbia | 247 Sports

He’s going to fill a big need in the front court.

While Doumbia’s skill has improved some, offensively it is his physical tools and motor that make him most valuable. He is a tremendous rim runner and gets a lot of points in transition and on the offensive glass.

Doumbia has a budding right-handed hook shot and will occasionally hit an elbow jumper or three but will need to continue to improve his skill set and hands moving forward.

The defensive end is where Doumbia really has a lot of value. He is a very good rim protector due to his size, length and athleticism. He is also a strong area rebounder.

His physical tools and motor should make for a smoother transition to the college game on the defensive side of the court.

Doumbia gives TCU a center with a respectable floor that should be a piece of the puzzle in the rotation once he arrives on campus.

Around College Football:

Football refs won’t use traditional whistles this year. What other changes are coming? | The Star-Telegram

Some noticeable changes.

▪ The pregame coin toss will feature only one captain from each team, as well as the referee and umpire. Those four are deemed the only “essential people” necessary for the coin toss, which will be spaced out and conform to social distancing guidelines.

▪ Players will be able to wear a medical mask attached to the facemask. The masks must be the same color and design for every player and can only feature the team logo.

▪ All officials will wear a solid black mask. The official will “mask up” when the snap is imminent and may only lower the mask between plays when the official is in space (i.e. social distancing). The official may lower their mask and replenish oxygen but must mask up if anyone approaches the official or the next snap is imminent.

Around Campus:

Student cases decline, employee cases rise | TCU 360

Hopefully Labor Day Weekend doesn’t change this...

“TCU has seen a downward trend in active student cases,” the university said in a statement. “We expect cases to fluctuate, but we are encouraged by campus participation in our efforts to keep the community healthy.”

At the Faculty Senate meeting Thursday, Chancellor Victor Boschini expressed optimism at the current decline in case numbers, but he said he knows the case count will fluctuate.

“It goes up and down,” Boschini said. “Right now it’s going down and way down by Saturday, which is great.”