The 2009 edition of the Battle for the Iron Skillet should be different than it has in the past couple of years. SMU is playing its best football under head coach June Jones and his spread offense. The TCU defensive secondary is still the weakest link in the Frog’s game plan so don’t be surprised when the Ponies will put points up on the board. But that won’t have Mustang faithful singing the “Pony Battle Cry” in celebration all the way back east.
The Frogs have the 2005 loss in the front of their minds and will come out with more of a purpose in this game then they have in past years. If there were such a thing as a non-top 25 statement game, this would be the Frogs’.
SMU has allowed their opponents an average of 4.5 yards per carry so far this season. If TCU’s halfback rotation can just match the average, they will score every drive. SMU has not seen a rush defense anywhere close to TCU’s and, after trying to catch Clemson’s C.J. Spiller, anything SMU throws at the Frogs, they will be able to handle with ease.
The biggest question mark is TCU’s defensive secondary. They allowed FCS opponent Texas State to stay in the game way too long, allowing 219 yards through the air. The secondary seemed to have things a little more under control last week but it was hard to tell if they’ve made permanent adjustments because of the sloppy conditions in Clemson. Going into conference, this will be the game the secondary will get its act together and make a statement, shutting down the Mustangs’ spread.
The game will be close through the first half but the Frogs will win the toss and defer to the second half. They will take control of the game in the third, where the Ponies have been outscored 39-7, and the Frogs will never look back, sending Peruna back east with its tail between its legs, sans its favorite cooking utensil. The “Best Dressed Band in the Land” will play a melancholy rendition of “Varsity” after the Frogs beat the Mustangs by a 21-point spread.
Travis Brown is the sports editor of the TCU newspaper, The Daily Skiff. He can be reached for comment at [email protected].
