DALLAS - TCU proved it can play giant-killer. Now the
Horned Frogs get a chance to play favorites against SMU.
TCU contained Adrian Peterson and spoiled Oklahoma's home
opener, knocking off the Sooners, 17-10. It was the Sooners'
first home-opening loss since TCU dealt them a 20-7 setback on
September 7, 1996.
Robert Merrill scored on a two-yard run early in the fourth
quarter and TCU's defense limited Peterson to just 63 yards.
The biggest upset of college football's first weekend landed TCU
in the rankings at No. 22.
"It was a great win for the program, but now it's time to move
on," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "I'm very happy for TCU,
the alumni and the players. It's been a lot of fun, but now it's
back to work."
Tye Gunn threw for 226 yards, completing passes to nine
different receivers for the Horned Frogs, who were coming off a
5-6 season in which they allowed an average of 36.4 points over
their final nine games. They limited Oklahoma to 225 total
yards.
"You want to have the best season possible. This is a window
that you don't let shut," Patterson said. "It's important for
us to get better. That's our motto this week and for the whole
season. A lot of things could have been done better against
OU."
Patterson and company will begin their quest for improvement
against SMU, which absorbed a 28-23 loss to Baylor in its season
opener.
SMU starter Tony Eckert completed just 6-of-18 passes for 64
yards and a touchdown. Backup Jerad Romo, a rushing specialist,
carried 14 times for 82 yards and a touchdown.
The Mustangs fell to 6-30 under coach Phil Bennett.
TCU leads the series, 40-38-7, and has won six in a row over
SMU, including a 44-0 victory last season.