Despite short notice, TCU football ready and excited to face Louisiana Tech
TCU football has wanted to play a 10th regular-season game for weeks, but didn’t finalize those plans until last week.
That’s when the Horned Frogs (5-4) reached an agreement to play Louisiana Tech (5-3) on Saturday night at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. in a rematch of the 2011 Poinsettia Bowl that TCU won 31-24.
The Horned Frogs hoped to make something work with their originally scheduled opponent, the SMU Mustangs, but those fell through with SMU needing to keep open dates for possible American Athletic Conference makeup games amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The short notice for the Louisiana Tech game hasn’t seemed to faze coach Gary Patterson and his players.
“We usually only have seven days to get ready for them anyway. That’s just normal,” Patterson said. “You’d have to play them like you’re playing someone you haven’t played before early in the season. You get as much information as you can.
“We studied their game film the day that we found out we were going to play them. Our coaches, they played on a Thursday night, so we had them all broken down when I walked off the field against Oklahoma State. I already had my laptop Saturday afternoon that had all their cut ups, all their games, all of that. They had more time to get ready for us, so we’ve got to speed up our time.”
Louisiana Tech is coming off a 42-31 victory at North Texas on Thursday. The Bulldogs are averaging 31.8 points per game with 335.2 yards per game.
As far as a Big 12 comparison, Patterson likened Louisiana Tech to Texas Tech in terms of offensive approach.
“They throw the ball. They’re going to be in four-wide sets,” Patterson said. “Very good at the quick game. They’ve got players. (Wide receiver) Isaiah Graham was a TCU Horned Frog at one point in time. They’ve got some guys who can run around and do some stuff. You’ve got to get ready to play. All the screens, all the quick game and then they’ll throw vertical at you, so you’ve got to get ready to play.”
That mindset was echoed by TCU linebacker Garret Wallow. Wallow, like several players on TCU’s roster, is a Louisiana native and is embracing the opportunity to face a program from his home state.
Wallow and Louisiana Tech running back Israel Tucker grew up together and ran track together before going to different high schools.
“It’s definitely a good excitement,” Wallow said. “We ran together on our relay team and played football together so me and him are kind of close. And, we played each other in high school. It’s good to play those guys one last time. That’s really the only one I’m close with. It’s going to be good competing against him another time before it’s all said and done.”
At the end of the day, TCU is focused on getting to 6-4 and playing in the best bowl possible. A win on Saturday would make the Frogs a team playing well at the end, winning five of their final six games.
But a win is far from guaranteed.
“If they [our players] don’t come ready to play, they won’t be very happy with the result,” Patterson said. “Let me say that to you ‘cause this group can get after you.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do, but we’re excited about it. At least I am. I’ve got a chance to be 6-4 after starting off 1-3.”
