Monday, September 9, 1996

TCU, SMU start WAC with a bang
By MICHAEL A. LUTZ
Associated Press

It wasn't supposed to be like this.

Southern Methodist and Texas Christian were expected to settle quietly into their new home in the Western Athletic Conference. But it's two weeks into the season and neither team has tasted defeat.
They were both underdogs on Saturday, but it didn't matter.

Ramon Flanigan threw three touchdowns passed and led SMU (2-0) to a 23-10 victory over Arkansas. The Mustangs also upset the Razorbacks last year.

TCU coach Pat Sullivan took the Horned Frogs to Norman, Okla., started a redshirt freshman at quarterback, and thrashed out a solid 20-7 victory over Oklahoma, which hadn't lost an opening day game in 13 years.

"I've never been 2-0 in my life, going back to junior high," said SMU offensive tackle Brannon Kidd. "This is a lot more fun (than last season).

"The first game last year was against Arkansas, and that was the only fun we had all year. We don't plan to stop now. We want to just keep on going."

Sullivan expected a good game.

"In the locker room before the game, every one of them, you could just see it in their eyes," Sullivan said. "It was a big win. Heck, you can't hide that. How many times does TCU come to Oklahoma and win big ballgames like that?"

After beating the Razorbacks 17-14 last year, the Mustangs finished the season 1-10.
"I had a shaky start, and the defense picked me up," Flanigan said. "The defense maintained that first wave of emotion. I was having a tough start, and they bailed me out."

At least, Flanigan got a chance to recover. He lasted only nine seconds of last year's game before a season ending injury.

"We ran the ball when we had to. We didn't run very well today, but when we needed some first downs running, we got them," SMU coach Tom Rossley said.

Sullivan was pleased with the Horned Frogs' poise and especially redshirt freshman Jeff Dover, making his first college start.

"Our little ole quarterback played like I hoped and thought he would," Sullivan said. "He hasn't made mistakes in practice. He's just gotten better and better. For our first ballgame, he was awfully composed."

Dover played the entire game except for one play when he got a leg cramp.

"It was just like practice, once I got over the jitters," said Dover, who hit 12 of 19 passes for 176 yards. "After the first touchdown, I could tell everything was going good. The defense took the crowd out of the game."

Neither Sullivan nor Oklahoma coach John Blake would classify the Horned Frogs' victory a fluke.
"To win feels good but they worked hard and I'm not surprised that we played well," Sullivan said.
Added Blake:

"I knew where this team was from the beginning. I knew what could happen. We didn't play well."