No LT, but Frogs will still be motivated against SDSU

SAN DIEGO — The No. 6 TCU Horned Frogs will have to do without their good-luck charm when they play in San Diego for the fifth straight season.

The Horned Frogs are 4-0 in Qualcomm Stadium with alum and San Diego Chargers star LaDainian Tomlinson cheering them on from the sideline. That includes two games against San Diego State and two appearances in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Tomlinson will miss Saturday's game against the Aztecs because his San Diego Chargers play at the New York Giants on Sunday.

"He makes everybody want to play a little bit better," running back Joseph Turner said. "He's a star. You want to play good in front of stars. Just him cheering us on, that helped us out a lot."

The Horned Frogs should do OK on their own, considering that they're 24-point favorites.

Still, even an absent L.T. will be an inspiration.

"Of course. We're playing in his stadium," Turner said. "As much as he did, we've got to go out and represent."

TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West Conference) will try to remain unbeaten and stay on track for a chance to become the latest BCS-buster.

"They're pretty good. Not better than we were, but they're pretty good," Tomlinson said with a smile.

"It's interesting, because this team has grown. It seems like they win 10 games almost every year now," Tomlinson said. "I know when I was there it was something that was big for us. But now it seems like it's not even a goal anymore. BCS, national championship, that's what's being talked about around that campus. I'm happy to see where they are now. I hope they keep building and keep playing good football."

Tomlinson retains such strong ties to his alma mater that when he takes a direct snap, the Chargers call it the wildfrog offense rather than the wildcat.

Tomlinson said he's become a fan of San Diego State and its first-year coach, Brady Hoke. Hoke seems to have the Aztecs headed toward respectability after 11 straight non-winning seasons. They're 4-4 overall and 2-2 in the MWC.

"I hope, obviously, TCU wins in the end, but I hope it's a good game," Tomlinson said. "I think it will be."

While the fans talk about the Horned Frogs' BCS chances and undefeated record, coach Gary Patterson is simply trying to keep his team focused.

"Can we get through the next three to four games without a letdown? That's the hard part," Patterson said. "And if you do, can you still find a way to win? Not that they don't want to win, it's hard to keep that level of intensity for X-amount of ballgames. and you always probably need it more on the road than you do at home."