The Horned Frogs bring their national ranking to Raymond James Stadium, where the Bulls have won 21 straight games.
By PETE YOUNG
Published October 10, 2003
Quick quiz, nothing too hard: Which school has led the nation in total defense two of the past three seasons?
Got to be Oklahoma, right? Nope, try again. Hmmm, how about Ohio State? Gong. Wrong again.
Try little ol' TCU, with a student body of 8,000. Dominating defense is the Horned Frogs' calling card, and they led Division I-A in total defense and rushing defense last season.
"They never stop," USF center Alex Herron said. "We've been watching them on film the past few days and every move, they just keep going. They get hit and they'll go to a spin and keep going. They never, ever quit until that play is over. You don't see that in every team.
"They have that swagger to them."
While Herron credits the fervor of the Horned Frog defenders, in the copycat world of college football others want in on the secrets.
As a result the TCU campus has become the trendy offseason think tank of defense, where gurus parcel wisdom to coaches from other schools.
Coach Gary Patterson's malleable 4-2-5 alignment is ranked 15th nationally this season and No.1 in C-USA. Patterson credits sound fundamentals and athletic, driven players more than any sophistication on his part, though TCU is noted for tweaking its formation to keep foes off balance.
Patterson was defensive coordinator under Dennis Franchione for three seasons and is in his third season as coach. His defense has propelled the Horned Frogs to 41 wins the past five seasons and a bowl berth each year.
"They had the best defense in the country last year and they look about the same this year, if not better," said Leavitt, who said he befriended Patterson, a 1983 Kansas State graduate, when Leavitt coached at Kansas State from 1990 to '95. "It is pretty hard to find any room to move, throwing or running.
"They are going to be sound, they are going to have guys in the right gaps, they are going to run to the ball, and they are going to tackle well and they will get in the throwing lanes and all that stuff."
It starts on the line with two all-conference players, 6-foot-5 end Bo Schobel and 314-pound tackle Chad Pugh.
"They've got some big boys up front, some athletes," USF offensive tackle Derrick Sarosi said. "They're very fast, very aggressive. You have to respect them and prepare for everything."
TCU has had problems with injuries on offense this season. Quarterback Tye Gunn (separated right shoulder) and the top two running backs, Lonta Hobbs (sprained ankle) and Ricky Madison (torn knee ligament), have missed multiple games. Gunn and Hobbs are expected back tonight; Madison is out for the season.
No matter, because of the defense. TCU's past four opponents have scored a combined 27, fewer than seven a game, albeit against the unimposing quartet of Navy, Vanderbilt, Arizona and Army.
"They've got good team speed and they blitz a lot," Herron said. "They'll zone blitz or go man and try to bring the house. They'll take two safeties, they'll walk 'em right up on the receivers and just bring everybody inside.
"They're not afraid. They have a lot of confidence."
The Horned Frogs have won 15 of 17, including a 10-2 mark last season when they won the C-USA title and beat Colorado State 17-3 in the Liberty Bowl, holding CSU to 139 yards and eight first downs.
Tonight, like last week, is an opportunity for USF to take a gigantic step toward its first bowl appearance. The Bulls have won 21 straight at home, second-best in the nation behind Miami's 25, and are coming off a 31-28 double-overtime win over Louisville.
A record 36,044, the most to see a USF game at Raymond James Stadium, exhorted the Bulls to the come-from-behind win. Though USF's first Friday game competes for fans with high school football and the Lightning season opener, the Bulls hope for a similar boost from the crowd.
"It was loud. I couldn't hear our calls on defense, so I know their offense couldn't hear," USF defensive end Tim Jones said. "That was exciting. With the crowd behind you, you don't even feel tired. You can run for days with that crowd behind you."
While it might seem TCU is a more formidable challenge than Louisville because of the national ranking, by some measures Louisville rates better. The Cardinals were a 21/2-point favorite Saturday, and TCU is favored by a point.
TCU is 5-0 for the second time since 1942. The Horned Frogs are eager to bust USF's home win streak and make a statement that they are worthy of the ranking. They might have to do it without safety Marvin Godbolt, who has four interceptions but missed last week's game with a knee injury.
"We're going to have to go into somebody else's house and play hard," Patterson said.
More evidence that this game is big: C-USA commissioner Britton Banowsky will attend. The winner can circle its game at Southern Miss (3-0 C-USA) as the likely de facto C-USA championship game.
"It's another conference game we need to win. All the other stuff (is secondary)," Jones said. "We beat 'em, we win, and we're one step closer to winning the championship."
