TCU is set for its first action since dropping its season opener in Dublin to North Carolina, and Sonny Dykes said that the Horned Frogs have changed their mindset ahead of the matchup with Grambling.
TCU is ready to hit the field after a week off following its disappointing debut in Dublin, which saw the Horned Frogs fall 15-10 in a rematch with Bill Belichick and North Carolina.
While it was a bitter way to begin the year fresh off back-to-back nine-win campaigns, head coach Sonny Dykes is ready to focus on the future of the team and not the pitfalls of the past.
And that climb back from the defeat at the hands of the Tar Heels begins inside the friendly confines of Amon G. Carter Stadium for a date with Grambling State.
Being back home in Fort Worth should already be a benefit to the Horned Frogs and the extra week of rest is another mark in favor of TCU heading into the showdown with the Tigers.
But this team has already learned that nothing can be taken for granted and there are a handful of notable fixes it needs to implement this weekend, with one very simple ask from Dykes.
"We just need to go play well," said a candid Dykes during his weekly media availability leading up to Saturday's game.
Although it seems like a pretty generic goal, there is a specific way for TCU to achieve this expectation, according to Dykes.
It is something that every team that every program across the nation does every week, practice.
Which the Horned Frogs apparently struggled to grasp the importance of leading up the opener.
"It really comes down to doing the things you do in practice day in and day out and doing those in a game. For whatever reason, we didn't do it and we've got to figure out why."
Dykes expressed how the vibe from the Horned Frogs has shifted from the weeks leading into the opener to the past week heading into their latest matchup.
"The guys have a great mentality. I think we've been practicing with a sense of purpose...I think we practice harder than we ever have," explained Dykes.
There is no guarantee that a great week of practice will land TCU the win, but the newfound drive exhibited by the team is a welcome addition following the lackluster performance in Ireland.
"We'll find out on Saturday if we come out with the right mindset and can execute at a higher level because we are certainly going to need to," remarked Dykes.
After a week to reflect on the sting of losing, the Horned Frogs will have all the reasoning to go out and impress against Grambling. But it is up to TCU to finish the job for the first team this season.
