Uncategorized

Fans looking to TCU’s new quarterback to put the Frogs back in the win column

By Paul McMahon, Staff Writer

Published Oct 11, 2023

TCU quarterback Chandler Morris, right, is attended to by trainers after being injured while throwing a pass in the second half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in Boulder, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

The last time TCU fans saw Chandler Morris go down with a knee injury was September 2nd, 2022. It was the first game of a historic season for TCU, led by that season’s backup quarterback, Max Duggan. TCU entered the ’22-’23 season with Chandler Morris as the starting quarterback. When Morris injured his left knee in the season opener at Colorado, Duggan took over and the rest was history. In TCU’s third loss this season, Morris went down with another injury, and in stepped redshirt freshman Josh Hoover. After taking over for Morris at Iowa State, Hoover finished 11/19 with an interception and a touchdown. However, the deficit Morris and TCU left him was too much to overcome, and the Frogs fell 14-27 in Ames. Hoover was a three-star quarterback out of high school, the 42nd QB in the nation, and the 102nd overall high school player in TX. Some TCU fans have been frustrated all year long with quarterback play and the team’s overall success to begin the season. Sophomore finance major Drew Brown expresses disappointment with TCU’s 3-3 start, especially when facing tough opponents. The running game shines, but the defense, offensive line and passing game require improvement due to conservative playcalling.

Texas Christian University quarterback Chandler Morris shakes hands with West Virginia quarterback Garrett Greene at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Sept. 30, 2023. The TCU Horned Frogs were defeated by the West Virginia Mountaineers 24-21. (TCU 360/ Shane Manson) (Shane Manson)

Although there have been many faults for the football team this year, a lot of the blame has been put on Chandler Morris. With Hoover taking over, students are excited to see what he can bring to a struggling TCU offense. “I’m still optimistic with this team,” Ryan Donahue, a junior accounting major, said. “Obviously, the three losses limit our chances at the Big 12 Championship and what bowl games we can go to, but two of those losses were one-possession games, and if you reverse the result of those, I think TCU is still a top 20 team in the country.” With a new quarterback, TCU fans hope the team can reach a bowl game despite their 3-3 record, but Oklahoma and Texas pose tough challenges ahead. TCU aims to return to the winning column as they face BYU this weekend at Amon G. Carter Stadium.