TCU brings swagger despite down year

Steve Guiremand

Wednesday, July 20, 2005 | 9:21 a.m.

CORONADO, Calif. --- TCU has won at least 10 games in three of its past five seasons.

The Horned Frogs, who finished 5-6 in 2004 but also scored impressive wins against Northwestern and Southern Miss in the process, had a string of six consecutive bowl berths snapped last season when their young and injury-plagued squad lost its season finale to Tulane, 35-31, on a late touchdown pass.

So you would think Gary Patterson's squad, which along with Louisville and Southern Mississippi was generally regarded as the class of Conference USA the past four seasons, would get a little respect as it moves to the Mountain West Conference this season.

But TCU was picked to finish just sixth in the conference preseason poll released here Monday during the MWC's two-day media festivities. And the Horned Frogs managed to place just one player, senior defensive end Ranorris Ray, on the all-MWC squad.

Don't think the slight went unnoticed.

"Our motto this year is, 'Make It Personal,' " Patterson said matter-of-factly.

"Hopefully, you all are underestimating us," senior quarterback Tye Gunn added. "I've got us in first place. Then again, if I put us anywhere else I'm playing the wrong sport."

Despite coming off their first losing season since 1997, the Horned Frogs don't seem to have lost their swagger.

"You're not going to find a lack of confidence around TCU football," Gunn said. "I think that's what scares people about us. We walk on the field expecting to dominate. We have a swarming defense and a really, really hard-nosed offense that's going to cut you and lay on top of you and do whatever it takes to win."

TCU, which hosts UNLV on Nov. 12 in Fort Worth, may not have gotten much respect from the Mountain West Conference media in the preseason poll. But the league's coaches know they're going to have their hands full with the MWC's newest member.

"I think people are underestimating them," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "They're going to be a good football team. They're going to be a force to be reckoned with in this conference. No question about it."

"We're bringing in a football team that nearly went undefeated and made it to a BCS bowl game in 2003," Air Force coach Fisher DeBerry said. "We're becoming as good as any league in the nation, and adding another good football team like TCU only strengthens that fact."

It won't take long to see just how tough the Horned Frogs will be this year.

TCU opens its season at Oklahoma on Sept. 3 and travels to crosstown rival SMU the following week before playing host to Fiesta Bowl champion Utah in its Mountain West opener. The Horned Frogs then travel to BYU, play New Mexico in Fort Worth and conclude the tough opening six-game stretch with a road game at defending Las Vegas Bowl champion Wyoming.

"Those first six games, if we come out of it with one or two losses, that's a win right there," Gunn said.

The Rebels are still thought to be the frontrunner for Hinds, a 6-foot-4, 225-pound former prep All-American. Hinds will likely make his new college decision by the start of fall camp in early August.

"I think the best thing was meeting all the players," said Miklos, who hung out much of the time with Utah's Spencer Toone and Jesse Boone and Wyoming's Corey Bramlet and Derrick Martin. "Everybody is real down to earth."

Although busy during the days filming TV interviews and meeting with the print media, Miklos and Jackson had time at night to explore the nightlife of Pacific Beach and the Gaslamp District. And Miklos tried his hand at kayaking to the Coronado Bridge and back.

Despite those experiences and the comfortable 75-degree temperatures, Miklos said he was looking forward to getting back to UNLV.

"We had a nice little break," Miklos said. "But we're getting ready to go. The season is getting close. You've got to think about playing football. And this just makes you want to get the season going even quicker."

UNLV reports to fall camp on Aug. 8.