Why TCU football is treating SMU like any other game
During its bye week, the focus for the TCU football program won’t just be on recovering and getting healthy. It’s also be on next week’s game against SMU.
There are plenty of narratives that will make this game important to both fanbases.
The two-game losing streak that the Horned Frogs have had to constantly hear about; the return of coach Sonny Dykes to Gerald J. Ford Stadium; and the outright supremacy of the Metroplex are at stake. Despite that, Dykes has been clear in his message to the team to treat the upcoming matchup with the Mustangs like every other game.
“That’s always been my approach. I know the narrative here at TCU when I was at SMU was that we put all of our chips into the table and did all this for that game. We had the same approach over there,” Dykes said Tuesday. “You’ve get 12 chances to play, 12 guaranteed games and that’s it. You better play well in all of them.”
It’s a calculated approach by Dykes that matches his demeanor and style. While some coaches will play into the emotions of a potential game, that’s not how Dykes wants to operate.
If you don’t bring the same intensity for a Colorado or Tarleton as you would SMU, the results could be disastrous.
“People say Tarleton’s not a big game until you lose to Tarleton, then all of a sudden it’s a huge game,” Dykes said. “All the games are important, there’s not that many of them. The week after we play SMU, we play Oklahoma. I’ve heard of them, they’re pretty good.”
Dykes drew a few chuckles from the media with that one. While it was humorous, it was also truthful. It would be extremely difficult to try and tap into those emotions in back-to-back weeks.
The simpler solution is to treat every game like it’s your last.
“We don’t need to circle games, I don’t want to be that kind of program where we circle games,” Dykes said.
The players seem to be embracing that methodology as standout corner Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson had similar thoughts about the upcoming game.
“I think of it as another game. I prepare for every game the same way. I don’t take anyone lightly,” Hodges-Tomlinson said.
The two-time All-Big 12 selection did admit that he’s seen some of the social media chatter from SMU, including the various billboards that have popped up around Fort Worth since the loss last year.
“It’ll be fun man. They’re doing all that over there with the poster boards or whatever you want to call it. End of the day it’s going to come down to football, so we’ll see how it goes then,” Hodges-Tomlinson said.
Injury update
While Dykes already said he would rather the bye week have come later, the timing will allow TCU to get a step closer in getting some key guys back.
Dykes offered updates on a number of players, including receivers Quincy Brown and Savion Williams.
“Quincy’s probably going to be out for awhile. I anticipate Savion practicing tomorrow and being back at it and full speed,” Dykes said. Brown appeared to hurt his ankle after catching his second touchdown of the night against Tarleton while Williams exited after a shoulder injury early against the Texans.
Linebacker Marcel Brooks is inching closer and closer to return to action. TCU could get him back near the start of Big 12 play and it’ll help out the depth of a position that has been hit the hardest by injuries.
Finally, free safety Bud Clark and quarterback Chandler Morris seem to be making good progress to returning sooner than later.
“(Morris) is starting to do some rehab. Last week is more of rest and recover, now it’s in the rehab mode and trying to get him going again. I feel good about the timeline and where he is right now. I think he’s on track to get back pretty quickly, but we’ll see how the week plays out,” Dykes said. “Bud’s on the same thing with Chandler in terms of we’re pushing him a little bit more and seeing how he reacts and where he’s at. I would think by Friday or Saturday we’ll have a pretty good indication if he’s going to be available next week.”
Morris exited the Colorado game with a sprained knee and didn’t play against Tarleton. Clark has missed the first two games of the season with a lower body injury.
This story was originally published September 14, 2022 at 6:00 AM.
