Clemson/TCU preview

[Stallion]

TCU has been landing top recruits since the day Franchione took the job-its not just lately. They have recruited collectively among the Top 2-3 non-BCS programs for over a decade.

[CalallenStang]

TCU has been landing top recruits since the day Franchione took the job-its not just lately.

Not in the quantity they are landing them with now. Up until 2-3 years ago, they landed a bunch of 3-stars and maybe a four-star here or there. Now they are landing 4-stars easily.

But you are right about them constantly being the top of the non-BCS.

[Stallion]

WRONG! Some of Franchione's Classes were much better than they are getting even now-

[Stallion]

18 players sign intent letter, including 'Tiger' Thompson

By Matt Stiver

Assistant Campus Editor

The tiger's roar will be heard in Fort Worth after all.

Irving High School running back Tyson "Tiger" Thompson, a Parade Magazine first-team All-American, was one of 18 football players who signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play football for TCU.

Thompson, ranked by many sources - including the Dallas Morning News and Fort Worth Star-Telegram - as one of the top 100 recruits in the nation, orally committed to TCU on Dec. 5, 1999. Speculation around whether Thompson would defect from TCU increased after he made an official trip to the University of Arkansas three weeks ago.


TCU head football coach Dennis Franchione said Thompson possesses many of the same skills as TCU tailback LaDainian Tomlinson. Tomlinson led the nation in rushing in 1999 and rushed for an NCAA Division I record 406 yards on Nov. 20 against Texas-El Paso.

"LT is a little bit of an exception. He has size, speed, power and he can break tackles," Franchione said. "When I watch (Thompson's) films, he's very comparable."

Franchione said TCU's offensive philosophy helped sway Thompson's decision.

"Tailbacks can look at TCU and say, "I'm going to get my touches and yards. I will have a chance to show what I can do,'" Franchione said.

Thompson rushed for 2,933 yards on 418 carries (an average more than 7 yards per carry) and 32 touchdowns his senior year. In 1998, he set a Texas Class 5A single-game rushing record with 526 yards on 31 attempts and seven touchdowns against Hurst L.D. Bell.

Of the 18 recruits, eight were ranked in the Texas Top 100 by at least one news organization. Franchione said TCU's back-to-back bowl victories and 1999 Western Athletic Conference championship have boosted recruiting efforts.

"It has gotten easier for (high-profile) kids to say, 'I'm going to TCU,'" Franchione said, "We certainly have bumped our recruiting up a notch."

Thompson and Carrolton Newman Smith High School defensive tackle Brandon Johnson were national 100 selections.

Johnson, ranked the No. 20 defensive tackle in the nation, racked up 58 tackles and three sacks his senior year. Franchione said Johnson has the ability to play for the Frogs his freshman year.

Franchione said the Frogs focused their recruiting efforts on defensive linemen, safeties and "big receivers." In addition to Johnson, TCU picked up four defensive linemen, four safeties and two receivers taller than 6-foot-3.

[Stallion]

This story discusses Franchione's first two recruiting classes-both highly ranked state wide and nationally. Higher ranked than last year's No. 46 class by Rivals. Franchione had immediate recruiting success even starting at at 1-10

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:JT ... clnk&gl=us

[CalallenStang]

This story discusses Franchione's first two recruiting classes-both highly ranked state wide and nationally. Higher ranked than last year's No. 46 class by Rivals. Franchione had immediate recruiting success even starting at at 1-10

http://74.125.113.132/search?q=cache:JT ... clnk&gl=us

I didn't realize that his classes were that good from the beginning.

[ALEX LIFESON]

So, Patterson is doing more with less? Please don't respond Stallion, tongue was planted in cheek. Kind of like General Patton has his on yours ouch!

[OC Mustang]

So, Patterson is doing more with less? Please don't respond Stallion, tongue was planted in cheek. Kind of like General Patton has his on yours ouch!

Ouch...I have a real feeling that GSP would take umbrage with you for that remark.

[Deep Purple]

True but TCU is not yet a complete offensive team.

Agreed. We've been playing below par on offense this season given the talent we have.

They've got some high school All-District types at WR and they haven't yet solidified the running game with the young freshman like I think they hoped.

Solidifying the running game is a bit of a misconcept, since TCU has been running by committee for the last three years. It doesn't matter to us if no single RB has LT-like numbers. All we care about is that they gain ground. And we've been doing that, although the rushing numbers have been spread across three our four different backs.

TCU's defense is another matter-and they are rebuilding on defense.

We are rebuilding in the deep secondary. Not anywhere else.

2nd Half Clemson had no consistent offense-only hope and a prayer and hope for a penalty

Clemson had no offense in the second half because TCU was controlling the line of scrimmage and blanketing their receivers.

[Charleston Pony]

to be fair, Clemson has had no offense for the past 2 years thanks to a weak offensive line and less than stellar QB play

[George S. Patton]

That's right folks. Let's do everything we can to minimalize a very good win on the road so we forget the fact that SMU and it's current head football coach are going to get blown out of Amon Carter.

Could smu win at Clemson?

[ALEX LIFESON]

That's right folks. Let's do everything we can to minimalize a very good win on the road so we forget the fact that SMU and it's current head football coach are going to get blown out of Amon Carter.

Could smu win at Clemson?

What's going on GGP? After the recent loss of your father, you came on the site and apologized for being a jerk. What's the reason now, I will chip in for a visit to Dr Debbie.

[George S. Patton]

Might be all the aftermath I'm dealing with. It's not been a barrel of laughs. Guess I'm using the board as a stress release so bear with me over these next few months.

[ALEX LIFESON]

Gotcha, I know it's a rough time, my father is in very poor condition as well.

[George S. Patton]

From an emotional standpoint I think i'm doing ok. It's just the cleanup and wearing all these hats. He didn't make this job easy and I knew it was coming. Even I know I haven't been Mr. Fun lately. I think you all know I would love nothing better than to beat them. Just believe it could be ugly.