College Football: TCU's Individual Efforts Embody Team's Resiliency

TCU looked very flat throughout most of the first half.

Their first drive started at their own 1-yard line. Despite a penalty on Louisiana Tech, the Frogs went three-and-out following a drop from Skye Dawson. Early in the second quarter, La. Tech receiver Quinton Patton beat TCU cornerback Greg McCoy for a quick out on a touchdown pass.

A flat team embodied by two plays.

As it would turn out, those same two players would show the team's resiliency and go a long way in determining the game.

Trailing 10-3 in the waning moments of the first half, McCoy stepped in front of a deep slant and intercepted Colby Cameron. He would return the interception to the Bulldogs' 25-yard line, setting up a TCU touchdown. A team with no life that was getting outplayed was all of a sudden tied at the half.

"It was one of those plays where I had to go out and make a play to make sure I was accountable for my team," said McCoy.

Not too much unlike the play of Dawson. Dawson had only one catch for eight yards (in addition to the aforementioned drop) in the first half, but would explode for three catches for 77 yards in the second half.

The Frogs went back to the well on their first drive of the second half and ran the same play which saw Dawson drop a pass. This time he hauled it in for a 23-yard gain, setting the Frogs up at the Tech 27-yard line. Seven plays later they would take the lead, 17-10.

The game's biggest play ultimately came from Dawson as well. Tied at 24 with just a few minutes to go, Pachall scrambled to his right and found Dawson behind the coverage. He made a perfect throw and Dawson hauled it in and evaded the final corner for a 42-yard touchdown. It would be the game-winning touchdown pass.

"I had to redeem myself," said Dawson, "I had to make a good play for the Lord."

These two men are just a couple of examples of the resiliency that TCU has shown this season. They lost their opening game after going undefeated last season (in a game where they came back from down 24).

Unfazed, they ran the table in the Mountain West, defeating heavily favored Boise in Idaho, the first team to accomplish such a feat in 10 years. They had a tremendous season, one that many thought was worth a trip to a BCS game.

Guess what? This team wasn't fazed by not getting picked for a bigger bowl.

"It's [Poinsettia] a great bowl," said Dawson, "we did have an expectation to get into the BCS, didn't happen, had to come out here and play hard."

These are great attributes of leaders. The Frogs will miss McCoy next season as he graduates but will welcome back Dawson.