Senior quarterback Tye Gunn just might know how much one man can take.”No one really knows what I’ve gone through,” Gunn said, pointing at multiple scars.
Gunn, who has suffered through a separated shoulder, a torn ACL, a dislocated pinky and a torn groin muscle, has missed 17 starts over the past three years, but said he has worked hard in the offseason to prepare for his senior year.
“I’ve put on about 20 pounds to try and prevent the smaller injuries, try to bulk up a bit,” Gunn said.
Head football coach Gary Patterson said he likes what he has seen so far.
“(Gunn) hasn’t had an (injury) all year,” Patterson said. “There’s been no problem in camp.”
Despite nagging injuries, Gunn insists it will not hurt his ability – or desire – to roll out of the pocket when needed. Gunn, who was a dual-threat quarterback in high school, rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns in seven games last season.
“You don’t even think about (injuries) at all,” Gunn said. “That isn’t even in your head. You can’t think about something like that.”
With Gunn finally healthy, Patterson said he is confident about TCU’s difficult schedule.
“(Oklahoma and Utah) are the kind of games we expected to be playing every year,” Patterson said.
TCU’s statistics, with Gunn in the lineup, support Patterson’s claim. TCU is 42-18 over the past five years. When Gunn starts, the Horned Frogs are 10-2 with the offense averaging 34.3 points per game.
With the offense more than holding its own, Gunn said, there were not a lot of changes to make in training camp.
“We didn’t have much to change, just a few new wrinkles,” Gunn said. “We changed the length of certain routes, but with the team we have, anything less than a bowl game is a disappointment.”
Gunn said the team still feels the sting of missing last season’s bowl series.
“Everyone was disappointed sitting at home last December,” Gunn said. “Any bowl game, anywhere, is better than staying at home.”
Gunn said he feels confident that he can take the Frogs past the regular season, but is the first to admit he cannot do it alone.
Having junior wide receiver Cory Rodgers, who was recently declared eligible for the upcoming season, is a step in the right direction, Gunn said. Rodgers, who has caught 12 touchdowns in the last two seasons, has the speed that complements Gunn’s ability to throw the deep ball.
“(Camp) was pretty tough without Cory,” Gunn said. “It’s kind of scary to think of that kind of potential sitting in the stands.”
TCU’s third offensive cog, senior tailback Lonta Hobbs, said hesees Gunn as the leader the Frogs need to duplicate their successful 2003 season.
“He’s grown a great deal,” Hobbs said. “He knows this offense like the back of his hand. We need him out there. As his teammates, we trust him as a leader.”
Gunn said the 2005 season holds a lot of promise for the Horned Frogs.
“This is one of the best teams we’ve had,” Gunn said. “And we aren’t the kind of team that looks backward.