Horned Frogs brace for Tigers' athleticism

CLEMSON, S.C. -- Texas Christian University coach Gary Patterson isn’t worried about busting the BCS or raising the national profile of the No. 15 Horned Frogs.

He is aware TCU (2-0) will do both – if it gets past Clemson (2-1) today.

“We understand we’re ranked, and to stay in the (Bowl Championship Series) hunt you’ve got to win it,” Patterson said. “But more importantly for me is I want my team to get better. It’s still about winning the (Mountain West) conference championship, and it’s still about doing all the things we need to do.”

Those efforts would get a big-time boost with a victory at Death Valley. Not that it would come easily. Patterson said the Tigers are the most athletic team the Horned Frogs have faced since Oklahoma last season, filled with speed, depth and talent. There should be close to 80,000 on hand to rattle the visitors’ game plan.

“It’s like I told my team, 'This is why you came to TCU. You came here because we go play people like Clemson,’” Patterson said.

And to collect a $1 million guarantee, the fee for the Horned Frogs filling a hole in Clemson’s schedule last winter after Central Michigan dropped out.

TCU will count on defensive star Jerry Hughes, last year’s national leader with 15 sacks, to continue the dominating pace he’s set so far. Hughes, a senior, has 4½ sacks in two games .

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney knows that beating TCU can give his young program a solid stepping stone for the rest of the season.

“We want to continue to advance, have a special year, and these are games you’ve got to do well in,” Swinney said. “It’s not going to cost us the ACC championship.”