The Horned Frogs used their bye-week practices to recharge before conference play opens Thursday against the BYU Cougars, head coach Gary Patterson said at the weekly coaches luncheon Tuesday."It's 'get better' week," Patterson said. "We hadn't had a bye week yet, and we had big practices on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday working on ourselves. Then on Saturday, we started getting ready for BYU."

Patterson said the Cougars have made improvements from last year and are a better team as a result.

Nevertheless' debut album, "Live Like We're Alive," combines a positive message with a refreshing sound.Comparable to popular Christian pop/rock band Relient K, Nevertheless plays with a profound purpose. The lyrics touch on subjects such as heartache and shame but never stray from themes of hope and humility.

Josh Pearson's soothing lead vocals add depth to the calming sound of the band's music without lulling its audience to sleep.

Considering the volume of hype it received before its premiere, "Six Degrees" is supposed to be the next big thing for ABC. It has big-name stars: Jay Hernandez ("Crazy/Beautiful"), Erika Christensen ("Traffic") and Bridget Moynahan ("Sex and the City"). It's produced by J.J. Abrams - the super successful executive producer of "Lost," "Alias" and "Felicity." ABC executives even gave it a winning lead-in show by moving "Grey's Anatomy" to Thursdays at 8 p.m. So with all this, I expected quite a spectacular show.Unfortunately, "Degrees" was lackluster at best.

In today's world, where designer dogs and pure-bred animals are all the rage, it seems the mutt has lost its appeal.Last week, the Dallas Morning News reported North Texas' largest city-run animal shelters euthanized 82,000 dogs and cats last year - 1,600 a week, 225 a day.

For many animals, a trip to the humane society is an immediate death sentence. Most animals only have days at the shelter before they are euthanized, and these animals are usually completely healthy.

What can you say about the most talked about new TV show of the season? Only two words: absolutely brilliant."Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is completely different than any other show on TV. It is a drama...

Last week, Wal-Mart announced a plan to stick with its mantra and offer many generic drugs at lower prices.With health care costs already high and increasingly being shifted to the consumer from both traditional insurance plans and government programs, such as Medicare and Medicaid, it is becoming more difficult for people from all economic brackets to afford medication.

The retail giant's decision is a sound one. The program is being tested in Tampa, Fla., where about 300 generic prescription drugs are being sold for as little as $4 a prescription.

It's a familiar sight we've all been witnessing since at least middle school. Halfway through a lecture, one of your classroom comrades collapses as if struck by an enemy bullet. Despite slamming his face into the desk rather roughly, nothing is going to wake this guy up from his nap.While Rip Van Winkle launches into his 20-year slumber in the desk next to you, two girls in the back of the classroom carry on a conversation about who holds the title of being the cutest boy in school.

Even after a bye week, the Horned Frogs dropped a spot from their No. 16 rank to No. 17 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. The 3-1 Oklahoma Sooners beat the Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders at home to leapfrog over TCU into the No. 16 spot.No team ranked between No. 10 and No. 16 in the AP poll lost this past weekend. The 4-0 Virginia Tech Hokies, the 4-0 Iowa Hawkeyes, the 3-1 Tennessee Volunteers and the Sooners all had convincing wins.

This week, students can catch "Burial at Thebes" one night, and "Another Antigone" the next, as Theatre TCU presents two interpretations of the Greek tragedy "Antigone." They're two different plays, but both are based on Sophocles' "Antigone" -- a project called "Antigone in Rep."

Each play has a separate cast and crew and will be performed in rotation at Hays Theatre through Oct. 1.

An "in repertory" show like this has not been performed at TCU since 1972, said Preston Swincher, publicity assistant for Theatre TCU.

Faculty and staff should have enough places to park Thursday afternoon, even though some will be required to move their cars for the TCU vs. BYU football game, the TCU Police chief said.Human Resources sent an e-mail to faculty and staff that informed members who park in lots needed for game parking will need to leave work at 1 p.m. or move their cars to make room for visitor parking before the 5 p.m. game.

The soccer team recovered from its 2-0 loss Thursday night to the SMU Lady Mustangs with a 3-0 win Saturday against the UT San Antonio Lady Roadrunners.Thursday's shutout by SMU was the second straight game where TCU failed to score, but the Lady Frogs (5-5) ended their scoring drought on a first-half goal against UTSA.

SMU junior midfielder Krystal Bailey scored the opening goal on a lofted free kick by sophomore midfielder Melissa Schieda as the clock whittled to 30 seconds remaining in the first half.

Mary Volcansek had tears in her eyes while talking about ending her tenure as dean of the AddRan College of Humanities and Social Sciences."I'm sorry, I'm just tired today," Volcansek said. "I tear up when I'm tired."

At the end of the school year, Volcansek, who has served as the dean for seven years, will step down from her current role to become a full-time professor.

"I've grown a lot as dean, but it is definitely more stressful than teaching," Volcansek said.