NATIONAL CHAMPS.NET
Coach: Dennis Franchione
15-9, 2 years
128-64-2, 17 years overall
1999 Record: 8-4
Sep 05 Arizona Lost 31-35
Sep 11 @Northwestern Lost 7-17
Sep 25 @Arkansas State Won 24-21
Oct 02 @Fresno State Lost 19-26
Oct 09 San Jose State Won 42-0
Oct 16 Tulsa Won 56-17
Oct 23 @Rice Lost 21-42
Oct 30 @Hawaii Won 34-14
Nov 13 North Texas Won 27-3
Nov 20 Texas-El Paso Won 52-24
Nov 26 Southern Methodist Won 21-0
MOBILE ALABAMA BOWL
Dec 22 @East Carolina Won 28-14
1999 Final Rankings
AP-NR,  BCS-NR,  Coaches-NR
2000 Outlook

The last time Texas Christian was ranked was in 1990. That's going to change real fast. The Frogs are building toward the school's biggest season since it went 9-2 in 1955. Why? TCU has 18 starters returning, 23 seniors on a two deep roster, a Heisman contender at running back, and features a soft non-conference schedule (Navy, Northwestern, Arkansas State), and plays for the last season in the WAC before joining Conference USA in 2001, where the toughies (Fresno State, Hawaii, Rice) visit in Fort Worth. A sound victory over a solid East Carolina team in last years bowl game has Coach Franchione's team headed in the right direction. The keys to the season will be avoiding the slow start that haunted 1999 and how well a promising young sophmore QB, Casey Printers, switches styles to grinding it out with an option attack and grasps the multi-offense which spreads the field passing. The BCS points may not be enough with the schedule but INSIDE99 is taking the Horned Frogs all the way into January.
PROJECTED RECORD: 12-0

Texas Christian 2000 Schedule

TEXAS CHRISTIAN
*POWER RATINGS
Offense
Defense
QB - 2 DL - 3
RB - 5 LB - 4.5
WR - 3.5 DB - 4.5
OL - 4.5  

 

 


TEXAS CHRISTIAN
HORNED FROGS
2000 FOOTBALL PREVIEW



2000 OFFENSE
Strengths: Here comes 2000 Heisman Candidate LaDainian Tomlinson. Most people heard of his credentials after he ran for over 400 yards in one game versus UTEP last season and totaled 1898 yards rushing with a 6.9 yards per carry average. Not only is he back but so are ten other starters. The offensive line returns every single starter which means TCU should not have any problem duplicating their rushing stats from a year ago which finished ranked 9th overall in the country. At QB is highly touted passer Casey Printers who went 33 of 52 for 463 yards in three spring scrimages after splitting duties with rushing QB Patrick Batteaux last fall. New offensive coordinator Les Koenning has no plans to abandon the option with Batteaux gone and with alot of receivers expect the Frogs to run the four-wide set with Tomlinson as a single back. If Printers can adapt to the option, opponents will have a hard time with such a diverse system. Receivers Cedric James and Tim Maiden had a great off-season and hopes are the second leading receiver from 1999, LaTarence Dunbar, continues his success after sitting out the spring to run track.
Weaknesses: Wide receiver was a concern with the loses of leading receiver Mike Scarborough and Mr. Everything, Royce Huffman. But after the spring alot of talented receivers dot the depth chart creating less of a concern. The TCU offense needs to find a deep threat to keep opponents from stacking the line of scrimage and hopes are the speedster Dunbar fits the bill. There is no proven backup at tailback and to secure coaches fears Tomlinson went through spring drills but saw no action on the field to avoid injury. Even though fans and coaches have high hopes for QB Casey Printers, the TCU offense finished next to last in the WAC conference passing department in 1999 with the freshman QB totaling seven interceptions. Batteaux's rushing ability and experience with the option will be surely missed. Also gone is kick-off returner Reggie Hunt who led TCU to the nations #1 ranking in 1999 with a 27.5 yard return average.
OFFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
QB Casey Printers 6-2 196 So. Sean Stilley 6-5 227 So.
TB LaDainian Tomlinson 5-11 217 Sr. Tommicus Walker 5-11 184 So.
FB George Layne 5-11 236 Jr.   Chad Purcell 6-0 230 Sr.
WR Tim Maiden 6-0 193 Sr.   LaTarence Dunbar 5-11 187 So.
WR Cedric James 6-2 200 Sr.   Terran Williams 5-10 160 So.
T Michael Keathley 6-4 295 Sr.   J.T. Aughinbaugh 6-6 301 So.
G Victor Payne 6-1 294 Jr.   Brady Barrick 6-4 306 So.
C Jeff Garner 6-5 297 Sr.   Shane Ladewig 6-3 282 Sr.
G Jeff Millican 6-6 296 Sr.   Josh Harbuck 6-6 316 So.
T David Bobo 6-5 291 Sr.   Jamal Powell 6-3 306 So.
TE B.J. Roberts 6-5 291 Sr.   Marcus Shaw 6-3 255 Sr.
K Chris Kaylakie 6-0 192 Sr.   Joey Biasatti 5-11 190 So.
Returning starters in bold.

Key Losses: Mike Scarborough-WR, Patrick Batteaux-QB, Royce Huffman-WR/P


2000 DEFENSE
Strengths: Eight starters that saw plenty of action last year are back from a defense that finished 5th in the nation in total defense, 9th in the nation in rush defense, and led the conference in sacks and turnover margins. TCU runs a unique 4-2-5 defense that excells at stuffing the ground attack. The line is anchored by All-American Candidate and the school's all time sack leader Aaron Schobel at end. Joining him on the interior of the line is senior Shawn Worthen. Shannon Brazzell returns at linebacker where he led the team with 98 tackles last year and is joined by the team's 4th leading tackler Chad Bayer. With Lewis and Maiden in the mix the linebacker positions are solid as a rock. There are so many numbers in the defensive backfield that the Frogs will have the luxury of rotating players in and out to keep players fresh. Senior safety Curtis Fuller finished second in team tackles and strong safety Russell Gary had a great spring game.
Weaknesses: Four regulars who saw action up front in '99 graduated so depth on the defensive line needs built although youngsters Donald Burrell and Bo Schobel, Aaron's cousin, have looked sharp and possess the ability to step in. The Frogs will especially miss J.W. Wilson on the interior where the Frogs are thinnest. Also departing is Reggie Hunt who was one of TCU's best defensive backs last season. Finding a punter to replace Royce Huffman caused tons of problems in the spring and it will be a priority to find a starter by the 2000 season.
DEFENSIVE DEPTH CHART
DE Aaron Schobel 6-4 244 Sr. Bo Schobel 6-5 235 Fr.
DT Stuart Ashley 6-4 270 Sr. Chad Pugh 6-4 298 Fr.
DT Shawn Worthen 6-1 290 Sr.   Theo Anderson 6-2 253 Sr.
DE Chad McCarty 6-2 245 So.   John Turntine 6-2 235 So.
SLB Chad Bayer 5-11 222 Jr.   Adrian Lewis 6-2 222 Jr.
MLB Shannon Brazzell 5-11 228 Sr.   Terrance Maiden 6-1 220 Sr.
CB Bo Springfield 5-10 182 So.   Kenneth Hilliard 6-2 195 So.
WS Greg Walls 6-1 184 Sr.   LaVar Veale 5-10 189 Sr.
SS Russell Gary 5-10 198 Sr.   Cody Slinkard 5-11 209 Sr.
FS Curtis Fuller 5-10 191 Sr.   Jason Higham 5-10 180 Sr.
CB Jason Goss 5-10 183 So.   Kendrick Patterson 5-11 177 Sr.
P Joey Biasatti 5-11 190 So.   Shane Hudnall 6-4 195 Jr.
Returning starters in bold.

Key Losses: J.W. Wilson-DT, Doug Shanks-DE, London Dunlap-DE, Kyle Williams-DT,
Reggie Hunt-DB