TCU wary of looking past SMU to Ohio State
TCU coach Gary Patterson always views SMU as one of those 50-50 games, even though the No. 16 Horned Frogs have pretty much dominated the series since the end of the old Southwest Conference.
"I call it that for the simple reason it's a rivalry game," Patterson said. "Everybody comes with emotion."
After opening with a lopsided victory over FCS team Southern University, TCU will travel about 40 miles to the other side of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to play SMU (0-1) on Friday night. During that short trip, the Horned Frogs will ride by the home stadium of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys where they play No. 4 Ohio State the following week, though they insist they are not looking ahead.
"You can't do that, because that's when SMU beats you," TCU defensive end Ty Summers said. "They always give us their best shot."
TCU has won 16 of the last 18 meetings, though the two losses stand out. The Frogs were coming off a season-opening win at No. 5 Oklahoma in 2005 when they lost at SMU — their only loss all season. In 2011, the Mustangs won in overtime at TCU, which went on to an undefeated Mountain West Conference title as part of a 12-game winning streak into the following season.
SMU led 19-7 early in the second quarter last season before TCU went ahead to stay with a virtually uncontested jump-ball TD in the end zone on the final play of the half on the way to a 56-36 victory. The Frogs won 33-3 in Dallas two years ago after having only a 6-3 halftime lead.
The Mustangs' new coach is Sonny Dykes, the former Louisiana Tech and California coach who last season was an offensive analyst for Patterson.
2 FIU players
injured in shooting
Two Florida International players were shot Thursday afternoon, and police said they were looking for who was responsible for what they called a drive-by attack.
Opa-locka (Florida) police chief James Dobson identified the players as running back Anthony Jones and offensive lineman Mershawn Miller. Jones was shot in the face and back, while Miller was shot in the arm. Police believe that the two were visiting a friend when someone in another car opened fire and sped away.
The injuries were not life-threatening, police said.
Both appeared in FIU’s opener, a 38-28 loss to Indiana, Jones as the starting running back and Miller as a reserve.
Texas player
overcome by heat
Texas coach Tom Herman says offensive lineman Patrick Hudson was taken to a hospital and treated in intensive care because of a heat illness this week at practice.
Herman said Hudson had a "full body cramp" and was taken by ambulance to a hospital when team trainers couldn't get his body temperature down to appropriate levels even when placed in a cold tub.
Herman said Hudson's body temperature was back to normal Thursday, and he was out of intensive care. Hudson will not play Saturday against Tulsa.