The TCU football team has impressed the heck out of me its first year in the Big 12.

The team has been dealt blow after blow after blow but has survived to post a 5-2 record while going 2-2 in the Big 12. Frogs head coach Gary Patterson kicked three potential defensive starters, including linebacker Tanner Brock, off the team in February following their arrests in a drug sting that arrested 17 total TCU students. The program lost tight end Stephen Bryant in a season-ending injury in the preseason. Quarterback Casey Pachall withdrew from school to enter an alcohol rehab facility after just four games following his arrest on suspicion of DWI. Despite all the very real turmoil, the Frogs have weathered the storm.

They scratched and clawed in a three-overtime loss to a good Texas Tech team in Fort Worth this past weekend. What’s impressive is that Gary Patterson has played 16 true freshman this season, tied with Texas for the most in college football. Redshirt freshman quarterback Trevone Boykin has stepped up admirably after Pachall’s withdrawal. Boykin has passed for 836 yards, nine touchdown and thrown 5 interceptions in his three starts since taking over for Pachall.

Just think about those young players when they become juniors and seniors. They will have weather quite a “first year in the Big 12 storm”. If Patterson continues to get the most out of his players, barring more off the field issues, his team will be a force to be reckoned with in the Big 12 for years to come.

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