TCU, Air Force looking forward to football battle
LAS VEGAS – The game everyone wanted to discuss at Mountain West media days was the showdown between conference behemoths TCU and Boise State.
TCU coach Gary Patterson wanted no part of the chatter. He responded to a question about it by saying the media might be thinking about it, but he will not. Well before TCU goes to Boise, it plays at Air Force on Sept. 10, and that game has him concerned.
“Any time an academy ever runs a triple option and has a senior quarterback coming back, you better be very wary of them,” Patterson said. “And he has a lot of people with him.
“The other thing you can’t quit talking about with Air Force is how well they play on defense. You have to get ready for them in that respect too.”
Air Force has built up for this game. TCU was the only team that beat the Falcons by double digits last season. The Horned Frogs, who went undefeated and won the Rose Bowl last year, have been the class of the conference. Air Force wants to make a title push this season, and to do that it has to knock off TCU.
TCU-Boise State might be the game of the year in the conference, but Air Force’s game of the year comes in Week 2.
“It’s a huge part of our season,” receiver Jonathan Warzeka said.
The story lines for the game are very similar to Air Force’s game against BYU last year. The Falcons struggled with BYU for years, but the Cougars came into the Week 2 game at Air Force with a lot of new starters, including at quarterback. BYU, which improved as the season went on, lost that game.
TCU loses a lot of talent from its Rose Bowl team, including quarterback Andy Dalton, a four-year starter. The Horned Frogs weren’t thrilled to get Air Force so early in the season – they also weren’t happy when the conference decided its game against Boise State would be at Boise – but Patterson didn’t dwell on it.
“If I complain, then everybody complains,” Patterson said. “The key to it is, have a good plan. Whether you play them the first game or the last game, I don’t know if we can beat Air Force. One way or another, you have to have a plan on how you want to do it.”
TCU won’t overlook Air Force, because Patterson won’t let it happen. He has a lot of respect for the Falcons and often mentions that his defense spends some time throughout the year preparing against the triple-option offense. Patterson said during training camp the Horned Frogs will prepare for Air Force, for at least some part of practice, about every third day.
Patterson often praises Air Force, and that message gets through to his players.
“It’s definitely a challenge, especially with a lot of new guys coming in, and we’re going to Air Force,” TCU linebacker Tank Carder said. “Even if it was halfway through the season, any time we go to Air Force it’s a dogfight.”
