PREGAME NOTES
Minnesota (2-0 overall, 0-0 Big Ten) at TCU (1-0 overall, 0-0 Big 12)
Forth Worth, Texas – Amon G. Carter Stadium (45,000)
Thursday 3:00 p.m. CT – FOX Sports 1
The Gophers are 2-0 on the young season but now face their biggest test of non-conference play as they head to Fort Worth to take on TCU. With a well-coached, high-powered team, Minnesota will be in for a battle against the Horned Frogs.
“They are all big, but this one is on the road, our first road trip; and playing TCU, a team that has been tremendously successful over the last ‑‑ long time,” said Jerry Kill on Tuesday.
Series History
The two teams have met one other time in history, with the Gophers winning 9-7 in 1974 at Memorial Stadium. A duo of big names played at quarterback for the Maroon and Gold as Super Bowl winning coach Tony Dungy and current Chicago Bears head coach Marc Trestman took snaps. A third quarterback, Steve Olsen, was actually the one who scored the only touchdown of the game on a 1-yard run.
Last Season
The 2013 season was uncharacteristic for the Horned Frogs under Gary Patterson as TCU finished a disappointing 4-8 overall and 2-7 in the Big 12. The brutal schedule of playing LSU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Baylor, coupled with a number of injuries quickly spun TCU’s season out of control. This year, the Horned Frogs will return 15 starters on offense and defense and, unlike the Gophers, have yet to face a significant amount of injuries.
“I think that Coach Patterson feels like they are going to be really, really good because they are healthy and they weren’t that way last year,” said Kill.
Season to Date
TCU opened the season by trouncing Samford, 48-14. The Horned Frogs were lead by the stellar play of quarterback Trevone Boykin who completed 29 of 41 passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. TCU piled up 555 total yards of offense, while it’s always stingy defense held Samford to just 143 yards. Junior defensive end Mike Tuaua spearheaded the defensive unit by forcing two fumbles to go along with seven tackles and two sacks. The Horned Frogs, who are coming off a bye week, have won eight of their last nine regular-season games following an open date.
Coaching Preview
Gary Patterson is in his 14th season at the helm of TCU. During his tenure leading the Horned Frogs, Patterson has developed a reputation of being one the games premier coaches. His .732 winning percentage (120-44) ranks seventh among active coaches nationally. He is also one of just six active coaches with at least 100 victories at their current school. After leading TCU to back-to-back BCS bowls in the 2009 and 2010, Patterson received 10 National Coach of the Year honors.
Although they’ve never crossed paths competitively, Gary Patterson and Jerry Kill have formed a long-standing friendship and mutual respect for each other.
“I would tell you, I think most coaches in our profession, he’s as good a defensive football coach as there in the country and I think everybody knows that,” Kill said. “So we shared ideas and just got to be friends through that and stayed friends.”
Matchup to Watch
With injuries plaguing a number of positions, one group that has gotten healthy is the Gopher offensive line. With a nicked up Mitch Leidner and possibly some playing time for Chris Streveler, Minnesota will need to keep the dangerous TCU front out of the backfield in order to protect their signal-callers.
“Last year, they got all kinds of injuries and so forth and they lost the great defensive end, but [Patterson] felt like they had the best front four they have had in a long time and he’s still got three of them standing there,” said Kill of the Horned Frog defensive front.
A key for the Gophers pass protection will be rotating personnel, just like they have done in the first two games.
“I feel like that’s getting guys out there and keeping them fresh and keeping them going, as opposed to just trying to get everything you can out of one guy and him dying at the end, wilting at the end,” said Matt Limegrover.
Player to Watch
No. 96 Chucky Hunter – The 6-foot-1, 305-pounder is the anchor of the TCU defense. The senior defensive tackle, who is a two-time All-Big 12 selection, is the active leader for the Horned Frogs with 15 tackles for loss and second in sacks, with six. Last season, he led the defensive line with 43 tackles, including six for loss and two sacks. Hunter, who possesses NFL-quality talent, will test the Gophers’ offensive line with his disruptive and relentless style.
Background
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Enrollment: 9,725
Conference: Big 12
Nickname: Horned Frogs
Colors: Purple and White
Coach: Gary Patterson (14th Season)