As Mack Brown mentioned in the opening sentence of the press conference, the Longhorns really needed the bye week in order to heal the miscellaneous injuries sustained in the Iowa State game while giving the squad time to thoroughly prepare for TCU. The depth chart for the Thanksgiving night game against the Horned Frogs didn’t have many surprises on it, with everything looking “business as usual.” Of note, tailback Malcolm Brown was listed at 3rd string behind Johnathan Gray and Joe Bergeron. Not shocking, but Malcolm Brown is apparently back to full health and will be worked progressively back into the starting rotation in the backfield.
It wasn’t clear if kicker Anthony Fera lost his starting job after missing an extra point and having a field goal attempt blocked in the Iowa State game, but we now know that at best he is seriously competing with Nick Jordan for the job. This week Fera is listed first on the depth chart with Jordan listed as an “or.” The Horns are barely above .500 in the field goal game, making just 7 field goals in 13 attempts. The Fera/Rose battle is one that will prove to be extremely important for the remainder of the season and into 2013.
At Weakside Linebacker Kendall Thompson is listed first with freshman Peter Jinkens listed as an “or.” Jinkens got his first start against Iowa State and had 8 tackles against the Cyclones.
Full depth chart below….
Presser Tidbits
- Mack reiterated how fortunate the team is to be able to play in front of a national audience on Thanksgiving Day even if it is not against longtime rival Texas A&M.
- Many people do not know that TCU is the 5th longest rivalry in Texas football history behind Texas A&M, OU, Baylor and Rice. This game between Texas and TCU will mark the 83rd time the two teams have met, with Texas holding a 71-20-1 record against the Horned Frogs.
- TCU is ranked 16th in total defense among FBS schools.
- The traditional “Aggie Supper” held the Sunday before the Thanksgiving game has been renamed the “Senior Supper.”
- The Hex Rally will remain the “Hex Rally.”
- Coach Darrell K. Royal’s initials will remain at mid-field for the TCU game.
- The “DKR” logo on the helmets will be worn for the TCU, Kansas State and bowl game in honor of Coach Royal.
- Jordan Hicks has been ruled out for the remainder of the season. Mack mentioned Hicks was not able to bounce back as quickly as they thought from the hip injury sustained in the Ole Miss game. Hicks will apply for a medical redshirt for his junior season.
- 7/10 Big 12 teams are bowl eligible.
- Mack reiterated the need for Texas to get off to a fast start against TCU. The Longhorns are 104-14 when scoring first under Mack Brown.
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