A luncheon on a heavy day

The Frog Club Luncheon fell on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, with TCU coaches speaking to fans in a small room. Chauncey Franks worked the date into his blessing.

What TCU lost in 2001

Brian Estridge reminded the room that TCU had just beaten SMU 38-10 and was prepping for Marshall on Sept. 15. That game was canceled and never rescheduled.

Eleven games, not twelve

TCU played only 11 regular-season games in 2001, finished 6-5, and lost to Texas A&M in Houston in the Galleryfurniture.com Bowl.

Dykes was at a drive-thru

On Sept. 11, 2001, Dykes was on Mike Leach's staff at Texas Tech. He heard the news about New York while waiting on a cup of coffee.

“On that Tuesday, I was in the drive-thru of a McDonald's, getting a cup of coffee when I heard what was happening in New York.”

Texas Tech kept practicing

The Red Raiders had a Thursday night game against UTEP and kept preparing for it. The game was canceled anyway.

What he admired in Leach

Asked about Leach, Dykes pointed to his total belief in the Air Raid and the way he came at everything from his own angle.

Third meeting with Grambling

Saturday will be the third time Dykes has coached against the Tigers. He has history with the program going back 16 years.

Four miles apart

When Dykes took the Louisiana Tech job in January 2010, Eddie Robinson Jr. told him the two schools had never played despite sitting four miles from each other.

Win it or else

Dykes scheduled Grambling as Louisiana Tech's 2010 opener. A prominent booster warned him it might be his first and last game at the school.

His first game, a win

It was Dykes' debut as a college head coach. Louisiana Tech won 20-6.

Then 73-14 at Cal

After moving to Cal following the 2012 season, Dykes opened 2015 at home against Grambling State and won by 59. He is 2-0 against the Tigers as a head coach.

The Robinson family showed up

Dykes won the 2022 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award near Los Angeles before the TCU-Georgia title game. Robinson's family came specifically for him, and it stuck with him.

Dublin was a kick in the gut

Fans crossed an ocean for the opener against North Carolina, and Dykes said the size of that traveling crowd made losing hurt more.

“I was blown away by the support for us that was in Dublin.”

Nobody beat them but them

Dykes said TCU was prepared and simply did not play well. He put the loss on mistakes and a lack of focus, not on North Carolina.

“We beat ourselves with mistakes. North Carolina didn't beat us.”

Play like you practice

The team works hard every day, Dykes said. If the Horned Frogs carry that into games, he thinks they will be fine.

Craig owned it

Quarterback Jaden Craig and coordinator Gordon Sammis both took responsibility after Dublin. Dykes believes Craig will make the jump from the Ivy League, and Saturday is his reset.

Grambling is not a warmup

The Tigers are 2-0 and averaging 48.5 points a game. Dykes praised coach Mickey Joseph, the skill players, and the size on both lines.

“They are playing well, and they are physical and consistent.”

Hooper's four-year climb

Senior linebacker Hudson Hooper went from walk-on to scholarship player to starter to captain. His father played at Texas Tech for Sonny's dad, Spike Dykes.

New lights, new noise

Dykes thanked Chancellor Daniel Pullin and AD Mike Buddie for investing in Amon G. Carter Stadium, and said the new LED lights will lift the home opener.