TCU Football: Tori's Thoughts - Welcome Back to the Big 12, Dana Holgorsen
Big 12 play has arrived. TCU (1-1) will visit Houston (1-1) Saturday in the conference opener for both teams. TCU fans might recognize Houston’s head coach since he spent several seasons at West Virginia. Expect a fired-up Cougars squad, hoping to make a splash in their Big 12 debut.
Dana Holgorsen Returns
Houston’s entrance to the Big 12 Conference brings back a familiar face. Dana Holgorsen took the Cougars head coaching gig in 2019 after eight seasons in the same role at West Virginia. Holgorsen’s final Mountaineers squad finished 8-4 and lost in the Camping World Bowl. That season held a lot of promise after an 8-1 start and top-10 ranking.
West Virginia joined the Big 12 at the same time as TCU. The Horned Frogs posted a 4-3 record against Holgorsen, with a few memorable games along the way.
In 2012, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin connected with wide receiver Josh Boyce on a two-point conversion for a 39-38 double-overtime road win. Cold, windy conditions could not stop TCU kicker Jaden Oberkrom from nailing a 37-yard, game-winning field goal as time expired two seasons later. Kenny Hill threw, ran for, and caught a touchdown from the quarterback position during the 2017 home win.
Holgorsen’s air raid offenses put up 30 points per game against the Horned Frogs and featured All-Big 12 quarterbacks Geno Smith and Will Grier and All-American wide receivers Tavon Austin and David Sills.
When Holgorsen left Morgantown with a 61-41 record, it felt like he left the talent cupboard bare for current coach Neal Brown. The Mountaineers went 5-7 in 2019 and have not won more than six games in a season under Brown.
Holgorsen’s Up-and-Down Houston Tenure
Holgorsen’s Houston tenure has been less than stellar. A 12-2 record, American Athletic Conference championship game appearance, No. 17 ranking, and a Birmingham Bowl win capped off a strong 2021 season. The Cougars followed that up with an 8-5 record and an Independence Bowl win last year. Excluding the 2021 season, Houston has gone 16-19 under Holgorsen.
The 2023 season is off to a bumpy start. A season-opening win over UTSA, the 2022 C-USA Champion, lost luster when Houston dropped a 43-41 double-overtime decision at Rice. The Cougars fell behind 28-0 in the second quarter before rattling off 28 unanswered points.
Holgorsen should have the Cougars ready for the conference opener. Not only is it the Cougars' Power 5 debut against a Big 12 opponent, but conference commissioner Brett Yormark is scheduled to make an appearance, and former quarterback Case Keenum is being inducted in the Houston Athletics Hall of Fame.
The scene is set for a party in Houston.
Something we learned against Nicholls
There’s not much to take from TCU’s game against Nicholls. However, quarterback Chandler Morris played with more confidence and made the plays he passed over against Colorado.
He rarely stared down receivers, and the 32-yard touchdown run came in a situation where every passing option was covered. Morris took advantage of a running lane and made a nice juke to get past a defender.
Completing 26-of-30 for 263 yards and two touchdowns and running for 63 yards on six carries stat line should give Morris confidence. Yes, the performance came against an FCS team, but Morris reminded everyone of his play-making ability. That will need to extend into conference games.
Houston’s defense is not particularly stout, giving up 28.5 points and 305 passing yards per game. Rice quarterback JT Daniels (the former West Virginia signal caller) dropped 410 yards and three scores through the air.
The Cougars will surrender big plays giving Morris more opportunities to show continued growth in just his sixth collegiate start.
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