TCU notes: Boykin says Frogs have made playoff statement
Don’t ask TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin what it would be like to play the Alabamas and Oregons of the world in the College Football Playoff.
He wants to know what it would be like for them to play the Horned Frogs.
“Those guys are no different than us,” Boykin said “They are just in a different conference. If we’re both top-four teams, we must be doing something right.
Baylor has the biggest argument against the Frogs with the 61-58 win over TCU in Waco on Oct. 11.
“They’re a good team,” Boykin said. “We went down there to Waco and they beat us, fair and square. This is how things played out for us.”
Boykin said most of the team will get together to watch the playoff selection show at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.
With the body of work TCU has posted since that loss, Boykin said he would be disappointed if TCU wasn’t a part of the playoffs.
“I felt like we did everything we needed to do on our end to be one of those top four teams,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re Big 12 champs and I’m excited about that.”
Record season
With four passing touchdowns Saturday, Boykin set a single-season touchdown record of 30, breaking Andy Dalton’s previous mark of 27 set in 2010.
The record-breaking touchdown came on the 18-yard touchdown pass to Josh Doctson in the third quarter.
“It’s a blessing,” Boykin said. “Even knowing a guy like Andy, he’s done great things for this university. For me to say I have that record is just a blessing and an honor.”
Shortly after the game, Dalton tweeted out his congratulations to Boykin on his handle, @andydalton14.
“@TCUFootball It was fun while it lasted! Congrats @OGcuriousDeuce [Boykin] on the record! #Big12Champs,” he tweeted.
Boykin had 559 yards from scrimmage in Saturday’s win — 460 passing, 55 receiving and 44 rushing — marking the second-best single-game total in program history, surpassed only by Matt Vogler’s 696 against Houston in 1990.
Trick plays
Boykin’s 55 receiving yards came on one play early in the first quarter. A backward pass to wide receiver David Porter was returned to Boykin along the right-side numbers and taken to the end zone for Boykin’s first receiving touchdown of his career.
Boykin said they had planned to run the play to open the game, but chose to save it for TCU’s second possession.
“It was crazy. After I threw the ball, I saw that everybody went that way and I thought this might actually work,” Boykin said. “As long as he got the ball back over to me, I knew it could be something special. I just took it and ran as fast as I could.”
Boykin said it didn’t make him nostalgic for the time he spent out wide.
“Not at all. I was so tired after that. I don’t think I could run 50 yards sprinting any more,” he said jokingly.
TCU attempted several more gadget plays, including the return of the Wild Frog formation, with freshman wide receiver Desmon White at quarterback. White was a quarterback in high school at DeSoto.
Coach Gary Patterson said the trick plays were a good counter-punch to an Iowa State defense that overpursues.
“We needed it, to be honest with you,” Patterson said. “We needed the play early.”
Injury update
Junior wide receiver Kolby Listenbee left the game after a 7-yard reception in the second quarter and did not return to the sideline after halftime, displaying concussion-like symptoms.
“He probably won’t do anything for a couple days,” Patterson said.
Junior running back B.J. Catalon did not play Saturday and has been out since the West Virginia game with an “upper torso injury.”
This story was originally published December 6, 2014 at 6:47 PM with the headline "TCU notes: Boykin says Frogs have made playoff statement."