The Horned Frogs will take the field at Amon Carter Stadium for the last time this season when they play the Air Force Falcons on Saturday afternoon.This will be the sixth meeting all-time between the two schools. The Frogs (9-2, 5-2) have a 3-1-1 record in the series. TCU beat the Falcons (4-7, 3-4) 48-10 last season on the road.
It was the first meeting between the two since the Frogs won 35-34 against the then No. 23 Falcons in Fort Worth, when both teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference. The two teams played to a scoreless tie in the 1959 Cotton Bowl.
This will be the last regular-season game for the Horned Frogs this season. After the season ends, they will be playing the Northern Illinois Huskies (7-5, 5-3) in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl at Qualcomm Stadium on Dec. 19.
Despite the recent talk of bowl games, head football coach Gary Patterson said he has not had a problem getting players to focus on Saturday’s game first.
“I don’t think anything has changed,” Patterson said. “We’re just trying to get to 10 wins right now.”
Air Force’s offense is impressive, Patterson said.
“They’re third in the country in rushing offense (241.4 yards per game),” Patterson said. “Wait till you see them throw the football. Right now they’re passing it all over the place.”
Patterson said the team prepared earlier in the season for the game against the Falcons.
“We worked two days on them when we had our 16-day layoff (Oct. 5-21),” Patterson said. “We broke down some early film and spent time running the option.”
The Falcons’ strong offense helps their defense, Patterson said.
“If you control the football, the opponent doesn’t have it,” Patterson said. “That’s one of the biggest worries I have about this game. If you don’t get a couple of breaks and go up early, they can control the ball and run the clock.”
Patterson said this game will be on offensive showcase.
“This is getting ready to be a hornet’s nest on Saturday,” Patterson said. “Because they can get it done on offense.”
This week’s game will also be the last game played in Fort Worth for 22 seniors. Senior players have helped the Frogs win 46 games over the last five seasons.
If the Frogs were to win their last two games this season, they will be at third place in TCU history for wins during a five-year period, trailing the 1931-1935 and the 1932-1936 teams who posted 49 wins.
Patterson said this group of seniors means a lot to him.
“This will be my second recruiting class to graduate,” Patterson said. “This group decided to pick TCU when we finished 6-6 (in 2001).
