FWST: Where do Sonny Dykes, TCU football stand after collapse vs. Iowa State?

[TopFrog]

Where do Sonny Dykes, TCU football stand after collapse vs. Iowa State?​

Steven Johnson

After TCU football defeated Baylor on Oct. 18, head coach Sonny Dykes’ postgame press conference took an unusual turn.

With a few exceptions, win or lose, Dykes has mostly maintained a calm demeanor in those pressers. But Dykes was feeling fired up after the Horned Frogs avoided a last-minute collapse in the 42-36 victory.

“We are the winningest team in the Big 12 the last 3 1/2 years, just so everybody knows that,” he said. “Our players know how to win. They’ve done this before. It wasn’t pretty. I don’t really care. We won the football game. That was our objective.”

Paywall link: https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/college/big-12/texas-christian-university/article312764472.html

Full article le link: https://www.newsbreak.com/fort-wort...u-football-stand-after-collapse-vs-iowa-state

 

[Mean Purple]

"
TCU was up 17-0 against Arizona State on the road, but didn’t win the game. It led 17-6 against Iowa State in the fourth quarter. The Cyclones came into Saturday’s game beaten up on defense and in the midst of a four-game losing streak, yet the Cyclones found a way to win.

Even in recent wins over Baylor and West Virginia, the inability to close games nearly cost TCU. The Horned Frogs led 42-21 with under four minutes to play against Baylor, but failed to recover an onside kick and had to make an interception in the final seconds to avoid a late loss.

TCU led 20-7 at halftime and 23-10 with 4:48 remaining in the game at West Virginia, but the Horned Frogs needed an onside kick recovery to secure a 23-17 win despite being in control throughout."

 

[Mean Purple]

Funny, he doesn't mention how his offense sputters in the second half.

“We’ve got to close games out better obviously,” Dykes said. “I don’t know if closing games out is the issue as much as it is committing critical mistakes in the game. The game gets closed out better if you make a ... field goal, if you don’t give up a punt return for a touchdown. It’s easier to close it out. The problem tonight was we didn’t get off the field."

 

[tetonfrog]

Where do we stand? The season is a disappointment. Sonny is trying to run from his own preseason goals and standards. Any time Wex or anyone tries to defend this season's results, we need to put this quote up:

“I think we’re at that point as a program where if we’re not in the Big 12 Championship Game, it’s probably not a successful season,” Dykes said at Big 12 media days in July. “That’s where we want to be, and we think we’re a team, year in and year out, that should be in the Big 12 title hunt. We think this team is capable of doing that. We’ll see how it plays out.”

It has played out to 3-3 in a weak Big 12. Not acceptable.

 

[Wexahu]

Where do we stand? The season is a disappointment. Sonny is trying to run from his own preseason goals and standards. Any time Wex or anyone tries to defend this season's results, we need to put this quote up:

“I think we’re at that point as a program where if we’re not in the Big 12 Championship Game, it’s probably not a successful season,” Dykes said at Big 12 media days in July. “That’s where we want to be, and we think we’re a team, year in and year out, that should be in the Big 12 title hunt. We think this team is capable of doing that. We’ll see how it plays out.”

It has played out to 3-3 in a weak Big 12. Not acceptable.

I'm sure Dykes too would say it's not acceptable.

There is a an area between "not acceptable" and "firing everyone". And I wouldn't be just totally opposed to them letting go of Dykes. But I think the options to replace him are going to be far from sure-thing successes.

 

[tetonfrog]

I'm sure Dykes too would say it's not acceptable.

There is a an area between "not acceptable" and "firing everyone".

We have suffered through three "not acceptable" seasons in a row. He fired the DC two years ago and things are better on that side of the ball. Why not change the OL coach and the OC and see how the offense responds next year? Please tell me how you go from "not acceptable" to "acceptable" without making changes to the coaching staff?

 

[Cougar/Frog]

We have suffered through three "not acceptable" seasons in a row. He fired the DC two years ago and things are better on that side of the ball. Why not change the OL coach and the OC and see how the offense responds next year? Please tell me how you go from "not acceptable" to "acceptable" without making changes to the coaching staff?

This. Dump those 2 coaches.

 

[Wexahu]

We have suffered through three "not acceptable" seasons in a row. He fired the DC two years ago and things are better on that side of the ball. Why not change the OL coach and the OC and see how the offense responds next year? Please tell me how you go from "not acceptable" to "acceptable" without making changes to the coaching staff?

I think there will be changes to the coaching staff if the year doesn't end well. Heck, there might be if it does end well. I'd be very surprised if the OL coach is back and you'll probably see a couple other changes as well.

 

[This Ain't Chopped Liver]

I think that is a pretty good, well timed and fair article.

I would love to see the Frogs win the last three to restore confidence in the staff and know that the players responded positively instead of losing focus.

 

[SW toad]

This. Dump those 2 coaches.

I don't know how you get an online petition on this one. Say your prayers.

How many times have you seen an OLineman penalized for illegal player downfield? The 3-4 times that I remember, it was at the beginning of the season and an underclassman.

 

[Putt4Purple]

I'm sure Dykes too would say it's not acceptable.

There is a an area between "not acceptable" and "firing everyone". And I wouldn't be just totally opposed to them letting go of Dykes. But I think the options to replace him are going to be far from sure-thing successes.

Alleluia! You’re at least conceding the thought of replacing Dykes! I’m not sure replacing him at this point is the answer either. I’ll admit that. If Sonny wants to be the coach we all want him to be, he has to man up and make uncomfortable changes within his staff. Preferably OC. This change can be a positive because players, coaches and administrators will see he is not settling for mediocrity. It would show that he alone takes responsibility for the changes. At least in my view he will get respect for at least trying. The way things are now we’re all left with questions with the direction of this program! A lack of directional leadership that is not being translated to players, coaches and fans!
Go Frogs!

 

[Sangria Wine]

The reality is that big boy programs fire their coaches for what has gone on around here the last few years. Unfortunately, we are probably saddled with this head coach for at least another year. Presumably he will either do nothing at all or fire almost everyone trying to save his skin. I’m not sure it matters what he does because unfortunately I think he just simply is what he is…a .500 coach. In his entire career, he has had two or three special seasons that he has managed to parlay into one hell of a lucrative career.

 

[TopFrog]

Forget about Dykes replacing Briles. He would have to leave on his own. Those bonds are strong.

 

[ShreveFrog]

Replacing Briles would probably have to be on the order of baseball man, AD Buddie. I don’t see it.

 

[Mean Purple]

Forget about Dykes replacing Briles. He would have to leave on his own. Those bonds are strong.

this.
don't be surprised if he tries to sneak tape fingers' dad on the staff.

with what GP learned at Texas about the NIL/money thing, it would be good for the school to hire him to help. make him an assistant AD.

 

[Bruce Berry]

Nobody is getting fired. The definition of insanity.

Dykes is number 2 at scheissing up and keeping his job. He's no Aaron Boone but he's getting there.

 

[Wexahu]

this.
don't be surprised if he tries to sneak tape fingers' dad on the staff.

with what GP learned at Texas about the NIL/money thing, it would be good for the school to hire him to help. make him an assistant AD.

What are you saying?

Yeah, Texas has a huge pay-for-play payroll. That's the lesson, consider yourself learned. They paid a backup QB that isn't even that good about $3M/year to sit on the bench. They are able to do that because they are Texas. Are you saying he learned what not to do?

 

[Limey Frog]

“We are the winningest team in the Big 12 the last 3 1/2 years, just so everybody knows that,” he said. “Our players know how to win. They’ve done this before. It wasn’t pretty. I don’t really care. We won the football game. That was our objective.”

It probably was already, but November 2025 became "put or shut up" time for this staff and its apologists when he chose to come out firing with this statement. Talk is cheap and irrelevant. We await results. I'm rooting for Dykes and his staff because they work for TCU and I root for TCU. But I wasn't optimistic and it's not going well so far. Three more to go, on paper all more difficult than the first...

 

[BrewingFrog]

don't be surprised if he tries to sneak tape fingers' dad on the staff.

If such a thing happens, and the new AD and Administration let's it happen, then my support for TCU is finished.

It's bad enough that Nepo Boy is on the payroll and firing-proof due to his "like family" relationship with Sonny. Putting Warden Art on the payroll is beyond the pale.

 

[KillerFrog InD KitchenSink]

It probably was already, but November 2025 became "put or shut up" time for this staff and its apologists when he chose to come out firing with this statement. Talk is cheap and irrelevant. We await results. I'm rooting for Dykes and his staff because they work for TCU and I root for TCU. But I wasn't optimistic and it's not going well so far. Three more to go, on paper all more difficult than the first...

TCU is one of 7 or 8 teams in the Big 12 of about equal talent, with a bunch of 50-50 games on the schedule. Some 50-50 games you win, some you lose. Most of the middling teams are going to end up with 6-8 wins. Maybe 5 if they are unlucky, Maybe 9 with a little luck.