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Thursday, September 21
TCU stronger on and off the field

By Stephen Tsai
Special to ESPN.com

The secret to football success, the Texas Christian coaching staff believes, is in the power rankings.

That is why TCU's third-year head coach, Dennis Franchione, has implemented one of the most extensive -- and intensive -- strength programs in the Western Athletic Conference. The result is a physically improved team that does not wear down in the second half.


	TCU's Dennis Franchione has a strong team -- literally.

"The gaining of strength helps prevent injuries," Franchione said. "It helps you into the fourth quarter."

Ben Pollard, who administers TCU's strength and conditioning program, said that the stronger player has the better opportunity to succeed in the later stages of a game.

"There's no doubt that being stronger gives you an opportunity to be better," Pollard said. "It doesn't mean the stronger athlete will be better, but it gives you an opportunity. And I think it helps the confidence level, too."

Pollard said the Horned Frogs train with four different lifts: Squat, in which a lifter tries to stand from a squatting position while the bar of the weight is across his neck; hang clean, in which the weight is brought from knee level to the chest; bench press, and incline press, which is similar to the bench press except the lifter is seated at a 45-degree angle.

During the spring and fall, each player spends up to eight hours a week in the weight room, Pollard said. He offers daily two-hour training blocks during the summer.

Players are tested three times a year, Pollard said, with each lift recorded in a book that is never discarded.

Each player who improves in all four categories is inducted into the Horned Frogs' "4 By 4 Club." Nearly all of the healthy players who trained in Fort Worth this summer -- 68 -- qualified for the club.

What's more, of the 105 players on the TCU roster this year, 51 have bench-pressed at least 400 pounds.

Pollard said running back LaDainian Tomlinson, a Heisman Trophy candidate, has shown marked improvement. In January 1998, soon after Franchione was hired, Tomlinson bench pressed 340 pounds and squat lifted 455.

"He works hard every day, and has made steady progress," Pollard said.

In August, the 220-pound Tomlinson benched 450 pounds and squatted 630. "He's very committed," Pollard said.

So, too, is Franchione, whose booster club, "First Team", donated $11,000 to purchase new weight-training equipment last month. TCU's 8,500-square-foot weight room has five squat racks, five bench-press units, five incline machines and five Olympic platforms.

"By far, Coach Fran is the most dedicated to weight-training as any coach I've been associated with," Pollard said.

Pollard said during the spring, Franchione and his assistant coaches work out with the players. "They're right there with them," Pollard said. "They're in great condition."

Still, some things remain a team secret. When asked how much Franchione can lift, Pollard said, "No comment."

Notes from around the WAC

Fresno State
FSU plays its first game in Bulldog Stadium this season when it serves as host to California on Saturday. The first sellout (41,031 seating capacity) since 1994 is expected. "It seems like it's been a year since we've played a home game," coach Pat Hill said. ... The Bulldogs, who forced 22 turnovers last year, made only one in the first two games. ... Defensive lineman Jason Stewart, undersized at 6-foot, 280 pounds, has been impressive. Stewart, a sophomore, did not finish his senior season at Bakersfield (Calif.) High because of an injury. Despite receiving few scholarship offers, Stewart has emerged as the Bulldogs' best down linemen.

Hawaii
Assistant coach Ron Lee, who suffered a heart attack and underwent quadruple-bypass surgery three weeks ago, returned to practice this week. Lee, however, won't make the team's first road trip, to El Paso, this weekend. ... During a players-only meeting last Friday, the Warrior players decided not to grant interviews this week. The players said they are upset with the media coverage of their season-opening loss to Portland State, as well as several fans booing quarterback Nick Rolovich, who was making his NCAA debut. The boycott was interrupted on Sunday when defensive end Joe Correia commented on Lee's return. Lee was Correia's high school coach.

Nevada
The Wolfpack's game against Wyoming is the first of three against Mountain West schools. On July 1, 1999, eight schools seceded from the WAC to form the MWC. Nevada played in the Big West Conference last season. ... The Wolfpack has lost five in a row, including three straight on the road. Still, Nevada leads the WAC in pass-efficiency defense (88.8), and linebacker Josh Smith is second in the league in tackles (11.5 per game).

Rice
Oklahoma plays host to Rice on Saturday in a meeting between charter members of the Southwest Conference. ... Rice has yet to score a touchdown in the first and third quarters this year. ... Last week, in a loss to Tulsa, the Owls rushed for 335 yards. ... Quarterback Corey Evans sustained a concussion against Tulsa, but is expected to play against Oklahoma. Evans is replacing Jeremy Hurd, who is out a few more weeks with a broken hand.

San Jose State
The Spartans are last among the 115 NCAA Division I-A teams in total defense (519 yards per game), but rank in the top 20 in interceptions (5), fumble recoveries (4), forced turnovers (9) and turnover margin (plus-5). Last year, the Spartans made six interception; this year, they have two interception returns for touchdowns. ... Wide receiver Rashied Davis, who leads the team in scoring with four touchdowns, has perhaps the most unusual rushing statistics: one carry, minus-5 yards, one touchdown. Davis caught a lateral for minus-5 yards and, later, recovered a fumble in the end zone. Davis did not play football in high school. He picked up the sport in junior college.

SMU
The Mustangs will play in Gerald J. Ford Stadium, their new on-campus facility, for the first time since the Sept. 2 opener against Kansas. The Mustangs have won four in a row at home. The Mustangs are trying to win their first two home games of the year for the first time since 1986. ... SMU has been shut out in four of its last 13 games.

Rice
LaDainian Tomlinson continues to lead the country in rushing after gaining 243 yards on 39 carries in a 31-14 rout of Northwestern. Tomlinson, who scored two touchdowns in that game, had two apparent scoring runs totaling more than 120 yards negated because of penalties. "He could have ended up with 360 yards," TCU coach Dennis Franchione said. Tomlinson currently is averaging 209.5 rushing yards and an NCAA-best 212 all-purpose yards per game. ... TCU's seven-game winning streak is the longest since 1959. ... TCU has allowed 263 rushing yards in the last seven games, an average of 37.6 yards per game. TCU's 47.7 yards per kick return is the nation's best.

UTEP
The Miners are trying to post a 2-0 WAC record for the first time since 1987. ... Brian Natkin, an All-America candidate, made six catches for 90 yards against Texas A&M last week, becoming the Miners' career-leader in catches (123) and yards (1,326) for a tight end. ... Rocky Perez ranks 29th nationally in passing efficiency (137.74 rating). In the second quarter last week, he completed 10 consecutive passes during one stretch. He finished with 203 yards, marking the first time in his career he has thrown for at least 200 yards in consecutive games.

Tulsa
First-year coach Keith Burns earned his first victory as an NCAA head coach against Rice last week in Houston. Burns, a former assistant at Rice, celebrated by eating a barbeque meal at a Rice fan's tailgate party after the game. ... Chris Earnest converted all three of his field-goal attempts -- 32, 25 and 42 yards -- in the Rice game. Earnest has not missed a field goal or extra point this year. Against Rice, four of his six kickoffs reached the end zone and a fifth landed on the goal line. ... Cornerback C.J. Scott, a freshman from Nashville, made 12 solo tackles, including three for negative yards, and broke up a pass in his second collegiate start. Scott, who is 5-foot-7 and 160 pounds, was Tennessee's Mr. Football last year. He was a receiver during Tulsa's first week of training camp before moving to cornerback.

Stephen Tsai covers the WAC for the Honolulu Advertiser.

ALSO SEE
Big East notebook

Big Ten notebook

Big 12 notebook

Big West notebook

Conference USA notebook

MAC notebook

AUDIO/VIDEO
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LaDainian Tomlinson turns the corner on a 43-yard TD run.
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