The TCU Horned Frogs 47-7 road victory over Utah has propelled them to the No. 3 spot in the USA Today Coach’s Poll, leapfrogging the Boise State Broncos.
A game featuring two undefeated teams turned out to be a nightmare for the Utes. The Horned Frogs ran all over them, and made a compelling case as the true BCS buster.
And what did coach Gary Patterson do to motivate his group? According to the USA Today, he showed his players clips of the movie Hoosiers, where small-town Hickory High wins the all-classes state basketball title on a last-second shot.
The play was titled “The Picket Fence,” and the way the Horned Frogs are playing, they might not need Tom Sawyer to paint that picket fence a shiny white for them.
In a highly anticipated Mountain West showdown, the Horned Frogs embarrassed the Utes on their own turf. If TCU can beat 7-2 San Diego State and one-win New Mexico, the ultimate question is whether or not the Horned Frogs deserve a chance to play for a national title.
The solely arbitrary system is telling me that it will be Oregon and Auburn if these top two teams stay undefeated. Hate to break it to the Horned Frogs, but if you can go undefeated in the SEC, that in itself is deserving of an automatic bid to the title game.
But do not count out Oregon. They still have to play their “Civil War” game against Oregon State. Heavily-favored USC lost to UCLA in 2006, costing them a chance to play for a national title, so do not count rivalry games out.
During the Joey Harrington days, the Ducks were one win away from a Rose Bowl berth, but Harrington threw five interceptions, en route to the worst game of his collegiate career in a loss in the “Civil War” game. It’s college football, where any team can beat anyone, anywhere and at any time.
But if either the Tigers or the Ducks lose and the Horned Frogs remain undefeated, those BCS computers might be given a deadly virus that no arbitrary system would ever be able to contain.
If that happens, it is history in the making and the leaning tower of BCS computers will officially be knocked over, the hardware fried and the first time a team has ever been able to break the reinforced concrete barrier that guards non-BCS teams from playing for a national title.
If the Horned Frogs want that one shot, they better pray every night either Oregon or Auburn loses. Because if not, they will be on the outside looking in, and there will be no chance to play the role of Hickory High and run “The Picket Fence.”
Cinderella will turn into a pumpkin, the leaning tower will be leveled out and the BCS system will stay in tact.
The Broncos ran their picket fence play against Oklahoma in the 2007 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, titled the “Statue of Liberty,” but that wasn’t for the almighty crystal football.
Where’s Gene Hackman when you need him? If the Horned Frogs want to leapfrog their way into the forbidden territory of the BCS national title game, they need some help.
Until then, don’t expect any Hickory High magic. Unless its a spell cast upon either Auburn or Oregon.