TCU has become the first Texas program in the College Football Playoff era to make the national championship game. The program was already the first in the Lone Star State to make the playoff entirely, but head coach Sonny Dykes' Horned Frogs continues to defy expectations and beat the odds.
Below is a compiled list of content from both around social media and that we at Dave Campbell's Texas Football have produced over the course of the season detailing TCU's road to the national title game. Every headline leads back to a story we've written this past season, most by senior college writer, Mike Craven. Be sure to stay tuned to TexasFootball.com through this weekend and Monday for more team coverage from Los Angeles.
It's Time to Respect TCU
GLENDALE, Ariz. – Hollywood executives would laugh an aspiring screenwriter out of a room after reading a script about TCU in 2022. The Horned Frogs added another outlandish chapter in their story by beating the favored Michigan Wolverines, 51-45, on Saturday night in the Fiesta Bowl.
The odds were stacked against the purple-hearted Horned Frogs ahead of the semifinal matchup against blue blood Michigan. The Wolverines were eight-point favorites by kickoff thanks to an undefeated record, a Big 10 championship, and a pedigree that includes the most wins in college football history and a previous trip to the CFP last year... Read More
The ROF: National Championship Preview #GoFrogs
Quentin Johnston shuns spotlight in favor of team success
“The attention was new to me, and I was never someone who enjoyed extra attention, so it took some getting used to,” Johnston said. It was never anything personal, I just didn’t know what to say or how to act. I didn’t want to mess anything up.” - Quentin Johnston
Sonny Dykes sees father, Spike, in his TCU Horned Frogs
"It is a real unique collection of selfless young people,” Sonny said “When you do it as long as I have, you appreciate it when you see it.” - Sonny Dykes
Bred from TXHSFB, Joe Gillespie's 3-3-5 is perfect for the modern era
Forgive Gillespie if he and his 3-3-5 defense isn’t afraid of the moment. After all, he’s reached the mountaintop a few times in his career. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl wasn’t much different for Gillespie than the state title win over El Campo back in 2012. Slowing down Briles and Morris in practice was much more stressful. ... Read More.
Muleshoe to Fiesta Bowl: Garrett Riley steps out of the shadows
“Garrett is much more patient and much more mature in his approach than I was as a first-time play caller,” Dykes said. “I wanted to hire someone who was comfortable running the football. My expertise is in the passing game, so it was important to go find a coordinator who saw the game a little differently than I did.” - Sonny Dykes
Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson not fazed by famous last name, lack of size
"The Tomlinson name means a lot. That name holds weight,” Hodges-Tomlinson admitted. “He set the foundation and the standard for how to perform at this level. It isn’t pressure because I know that I have the ability and mentality to achieve things, as well.” - Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson
Mid-season interview with Sonny Dykes
TCU Makes Statement on Behalf of the Big 12
GLENDALE – As the media waited for the Sonny Dykes and a select number of TCU players to arrive at the post-game press conference after the Horned Frogs knocked off Michigan, safeties coach Paul Gonzales popped his head into the room and yelled multiple times, ‘when you write, make sure they know which conference we are in!’”...Read More.
Sonny Dykes, DFW was a match made in Heaven
DFW always intrigued Dykes. He bounced around as a kid following his father's, Spike Dykes, career path, until it eventually reached its destination as the head coach at Texas Tech. Dykes, who played first base in college in Lubbock, did what a lot of his buddies did after graduating in West Texas: move to DFW. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Pearce High School in Richardson, a suburb northwest of Dallas. His plan was to go to Southlake Carroll and lay down roots...Read More.
TCU and Baylor poised to become the state's most played rivalry
“It was like a brother-sister relationship, but neither of us like each other. It is a hidden matchup but one that should be on the national stage every year because of how close we play each other no matter the record or the coach. It always goes down to the wire.” - Former TCU defender Josh Carraway
In the beginning...
FORT WORTH – Sonny Dykes thought the offer was too good to be true. The year was 1995 and Dykes, working as an assistant football coach and English teacher at J.J. Pearce High School, received a call from Navarro College offensive coordinator Larry Keck to join the offensive staff as an assistant. The young Dykes thought he was about to strike gold.
Dykes was making roughly $40,000 a year as a teacher and assistant coach at Pearce. Navarro head coach Keith Thomas called with an offer. He wanted to hire Dykes, and the contract included a free dorm room, three free meals a day, and $4,000.
“I remember thinking, ‘Okay, $4,000 a month for 10 months plus my meals and room and board paid for,’” Dykes said in his office at TCU after an Early Signing Day press conference. “’ I’m going to kill it. I’m going to be rich.’”
He wasn’t. August rolled around and Dykes’ first paycheck from Navarro College, a two-year university located in Corsicana, was $288. Dykes was confused.... Read More.
