Today in TCU Football History: TCU vs. Auburn, 1980
“Defense,” said Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports writer Galyn Wilkins, “keeps teams in the game in the fourth quarter. But the Frogs need more offensive firepower to get through the mixmaster without a scratch this season.”
Wilkins wrote that in his recap column following TCU’s 10-7 loss to No. 18 Auburn at Amon G. Carter Stadium to open the 1980 season. The Horned Frogs defense, to his point, started well in this game, holding the Tigers to only one first down in the first quarter. They limited third-string Auburn quarterback Joe Sullivan and his receivers to only 52 yards through the air, in fact.
But, it was one touchdown pass that made the difference. Sullivan, younger brother of future TCU Head Coach Pat Sullivan, connected on a 15-yard scoring strike to Bill Grisham to cap a 70-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. Sullivan’s touchdown pass to Grisham was the only pass attempted, in fact, on that drive. TCU Head Coach F.A. Dry suggested that TCU’s defense might have been tired at that point.
“Auburn wore us down, especially in the third quarter with that touchdown drive,” Dry said. “They changed their offensive pattern and threw us off, too.”
Auburn fumbles may have actually contributed to the close score more than defensive fatigue or the paltry TCU offense Wilkins alluded to. The Tigers coughed the ball up seven times, losing possession on four of them. Auburn Head Coach Doug Barfield was less impressed with TCU than he was offended at his offense’s ability to hang on to the ball.
“Turnovers and penalties really hurt us tonight,” Barfield said.
He went on to salt the wound a bit.
“TCU wouldn’t have been in the game if it hadn’t been for our mistakes,” said Barfield.
To Barfield’s point, it might have been difficult to overcome Auburn’s 268 yards rushing courtesy of George Peoples and James Brooks. Each ran for over 100 yards while TCU countered with 30 yards from leading rusher Marcus Gilbert.
Unlike many of the 22,812 who paid to see it, though, TCU stayed in the game. Following the seventh Auburn turnover, which set the Frogs up on their own 45, Dry sent in quarterback Steve Stamp to lead what would be TCU’s lone scoring drive. Kevin Haney, known more as a quarterback who played like a fullback, had gotten the Horned Frogs this far, running for 23 yards and passing for 58.
“I had to go with the thrower,” Dry said.
Stamp connected on five of six passes, the most important of which Stanley Washington dove to pull in with 5:08 remaining.
The Horned Frogs went on to win a game in 1980, though it would come a couple of months after this one at the expense of Texas Tech. Auburn finished the year 5-6, with no conference wins.
“Defense,” said Fort Worth Star-Telegram sports writer Galyn Wilkins, “keeps teams in the game in the fourth quarter. But the Frogs need more offensive firepower to get through the mixmaster without a scratch this season.”
Wilkins wrote that in his recap column following TCU’s 10-7 loss to No. 18 Auburn at Amon G. Carter Stadium to open the 1980 season. The Horned Frogs defense, to his point, started well in this game, holding the Tigers to only one first down in the first quarter. They limited third-string Auburn quarterback Joe Sullivan and his receivers to only 52 yards through the air, in fact.
But, it was one touchdown pass that made the difference. Sullivan, younger brother of future TCU Head Coach Pat Sullivan, connected on a 15-yard scoring strike to Bill Grisham to cap a 70-yard scoring drive in the third quarter. Sullivan’s touchdown pass to Grisham was the only pass attempted, in fact, on that drive. TCU Head Coach F.A. Dry suggested that TCU’s defense might have been tired at that point.
“Auburn wore us down, especially in the third quarter with that touchdown drive,” Dry said. “They changed their offensive pattern and threw us off, too.”
Auburn fumbles may have actually contributed to the close score more than defensive fatigue or the paltry TCU offense Wilkins alluded to. The Tigers coughed the ball up seven times, losing possession on four of them. Auburn Head Coach Doug Barfield was less impressed with TCU than he was offended at his offense’s ability to hang on to the ball.
“Turnovers and penalties really hurt us tonight,” Barfield said.
He went on to salt the wound a bit.
“TCU wouldn’t have been in the game if it hadn’t been for our mistakes,” said Barfield.
To Barfield’s point, it might have been difficult to overcome Auburn’s 268 yards rushing courtesy of George Peoples and James Brooks. Each ran for over 100 yards while TCU countered with 30 yards from leading rusher Marcus Gilbert.
Unlike many of the 22,812 who paid to see it, though, TCU stayed in the game. Following the seventh Auburn turnover, which set the Frogs up on their own 45, Dry sent in quarterback Steve Stamp to lead what would be TCU’s lone scoring drive. Kevin Haney, known more as a quarterback who played like a fullback, had gotten the Horned Frogs this far, running for 23 yards and passing for 58.
“I had to go with the thrower,” Dry said.
Stamp connected on five of six passes, the most important of which Stanley Washington dove to pull in with 5:08 remaining.
The Horned Frogs went on to win a game in 1980, though it would come a couple of months after this one at the expense of Texas Tech. Auburn finished the year 5-6, with no conference wins.
