Estimated read time: 3-4 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY -- As the No. 3 and No. 5 teams in the country prepare for what will likely be the biggest game of their respective seasons Saturday afternoon in Salt Lake City, TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson said the pattern the matchup has left in its wake over the past several years has developed the Mountain West Conference into what it is today.
"We've built a reputation, and we're good at what we do because of all the programs. That's why they call it a conference. The thing that is hard is that you've got to start over building your reputation as a conference," Patterson said in his weekly press conference. "As a coach, you have to get used to that all over again and how you do things. It's just change. On a national scale, everyone else has to get to know us again as a conference."
The Utes (8-0) will host their final meeting with the Horned Frogs (9-0) as a conference opponent at Rice Eccles' Stadium Saturday before becoming a part of what will be known as the PAC 12 next season. Both programs will take the field with spotless records, decorated coaches on the sidelines, and in intent on claiming the 2010 MWC Championship.
"It's a big week. You've got to go play ball games. They all count for one. We knew this would be a big game, and we've both won our ball games up to this point. The championship has always gone through Utah or Fort Worth, whether it be Utah, BYU or ourselves," Patterson said. "Here we are again."
In 2008, the 10th-ranked Utes claimed a narrow 13-10 win over 11th-ranked TCU in Salt Lake City behind a last minute end zone drive by quarterback Brian Johnson and an interception by safety Robert Johnson on TCU's final drive of the game, keeping their undefeated season alive and allowing an opportunity to snatch their second BCS berth in five years. The loss was only the second the Horned Frogs suffered all year long and the only game they dropped to a conference opponent.
Last year, the Horned Frogs overpowered Utah 55-28 in Fort Worth, and racked up 549 yards of total offense to the Utes' 284 as the Tank Carder-Jerry Hughes-Daryl Washington defensive trio tallied 24 tackles on Utah's young offense. The win was part of the Horned Frogs' final push toward claiming the 2009 conference crown and their own BCS berth. The game was also just the second loss for the Utes by week 10, and was one of only three they suffered on the season.
Last year's matchup aside, Patterson said he knows and respects the kind of football team his Horned Frogs are matching up with this season.
"We understand the kind of football team they have. They're a good football team. I really admire the job that coach (Kyle) Whittingham has done. They're physical on both sides of the football. Their quarterback has grown up," Patterson said. "It's really helped them to get Matt Asiata back. They have a two-running back tandem where they're able to rotate guys and stay fresh, just like we have at our place. As usual, they're always physical, and they always come at you on defense."
TCU and Utah are the only two teams in the MWC that are still undefeated and, following Saturday's matchup, both will play two more conference games to close out the 2010 season.
E-mail: lfrome@ksl.com
