By Will Martin
Game Info
Minnesota Golden Gophers vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Saturday – September 13 – 3:00 pm
TV: FOX Sports 1
Amon G. Carter Stadium – Ft. Worth
September for the Horned Frogs will be an interesting one as they get to utilize two byes in the month in between three games beginning with a visit by the Gophers of Minnesota. This shall mark the second ever meeting between the Horned Frogs (1-0) and the Gophers (2-0). That first meeting was a tight 9-7 affair September 28, 1974 in Minneapolis. The two teams shall meet again in 2015 on September 3 in Minneapolis.
TCU has been very successful coming off a bye, having won 8 of 9 meetings following an open date. In the event TCU begins 2014 with a 2-0 mark it will be the eighth time in twelve years Gary Patterson will have reached that distinction.
All In The Family?
Minnesota Coach Jerry Kill and Gary Patterson are indeed very familiar with one another as both are natives from the state of Kansas. On the day that Coach Patterson wed Kelsey, Jerry Kill was part of the wedding.
Coach P Against The Big Ten
Recent matchups that TCU has had against the Big Ten came by way of Bowl matchups. Michigan State defeated TCU 17-16 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. The Frogs were victorious 21-19 in the 2011 Rose Bowl against the Wisconsin Badgers (who remembers the emotional moment JJ Watt had postgame?).
In regular season meetings go back to 2004 when TCU played a wild overtime game with Northwestern in Ft. Worth. A game won by TCU in double overtime 48-45. Prior to that there was also the road win in Evanston in 2002 by the final tally of 48-24.
Remembering Jim Wacker
Another interesting tidbit is how Jim Wacker coached TCU from 1983-1991 followed by a stint in Gopherland from 1992-1996. Hard to fathom how 30 years have passed since the team from 1984 had an 8-4 season and made their way to the BlueBonnet Bowl.
Gophers To Keep An Eye On
Minnesota got to their 2-0 mark by virtue of a 42-20 victory over Eastern Illinois on August 28 and a 35-24 victory over Middle Tennessee September 6.
Look for David Cobb to get the majority of the touches on the ground on Saturday. With two touchdowns and 291 yards, his 6.8 yards per carry is something to be leery of.
Mitch Leidner will be under center for Minnesota. In getting to a 2-0 start Leidner has gone 14 of 28 passing for two touchdown passes and one interception. Yards per game is at 105.
Donovahn Jones will be his primary receiver with six catches for 92 yards and one touchdown thus far.
Damien Wilson and Jack Lynn shore up the Gopher defensive line with 24 and 14 tackles respectively.
TCU Worthy
In the 48-14 victory over Samford the coaching tandem of Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham directed TCU’s offense to 33 first downs and 555 total yards.
96 total plays in the August 30 win over the Bulldogs were the most since a win over San Diego State University in 2007.
Congratulations are in order for Trevone Boykin earning Big 12 Player Of The Week in the Samford win. 29 of 41 passing for 320 yards and another 29 running the ball.
Mike Tuaua led the way for TCU defensively with seven tackes, two forced fumbles, and two sacks in keeping Samford off the board for most of the game.
