The Horned Frogs will be playing for their fifth straight win, fourth in the Mountain West Conference, when they host the San Diego State Aztecs on Saturday at 3 p.m.TCU’s 23-20 victory at San Diego State last season was the first meeting between the two teams. The two teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference for three years – from 1996 to 1998 – but never played each other until 2005.
Head football coach Gary Patterson said the game last year was a tough one for the Frogs, who are 7-2 overall and 3-2 in conference.
“I thought they were very athletic,” Patterson said. “It’s a group that likes to play.”
Senior running back Robert Merrill ran for 170 yards and scored two touchdowns in the victory.
The Aztecs, who have a 2-7 overall record and are 2-3 in conference play, are strong on both sides of the ball, Patterson said.
“They are senior-oriented on defense and their two defensive ends are a lot like ours,” Patterson said. “Offensively, they have three or four guys that can run, and they have good wide receivers.”
The Aztecs had a rough beginning of the season, losing their first five games and suffering injuries to key players, Patterson said.
“They played Utah early,” Patterson said. “Their senior quarterback and their tailback were injured.”
Although they had a rough start, the Aztecs are starting to come into their own, Patterson said.
“The team is starting to grow up and they are finding their identity,” Patterson said. “The only place they played better at last year was special teams.”
Patterson said the Frogs are finally coming together as a team as well.
“As a football team, we are all on one page,” Patterson said. “Its not just an offense, defense and special teams.”
A win this weekend coupled with a loss by the Utah Utes (6-4, 4-2), who visit the Air Force Falcons (4-5, 3-2), would move the Frogs into second place in the conference.
Unfortunately for TCU, that scenario would clinch the Mountain West Conference Championship for the BYU Cougars (8-2, 6-0).
Patterson said this time of year is the toughest for a football team.
This week’s game will also serve to help raise breast cancer awareness with the game slogan “Pink Out.” Patterson said it is important that the football team gives back to Fort Worth.
“One of the things we have tried to do as a family and a program is try to give back to the community,” Patterson said.
Events such as this help people realize that football is just a game, Patterson said.
“Here we have a football game, but there are a lot of things out there that are more important than football,” Patterson said.
