Michigan Football Opponent Q and A: Interview with TCU Expert
By Josh LaFond
What were your preseason expectations for the Horned Frogs?
Jamie: Heading into the 2022 season, with first-year head coach Sonny Dykes and a new staff coming in, I didn’t really know what to expect from TCU. We knew they had talent (Quentin Johnston, Kendre Miller, etc), and we knew they brought in a high-quality transfer class.
My preseason thoughts were that TCU would land somewhere between 6-6 and 8-4, with some lucky breaks possibly bringing them to 9-3. The Frogs definitely had some good luck this season but also rediscovered their high-powered offense, which led to where we are today.
The Max Duggan story is fascinating, losing his starting spot, coming
in relief, and then finishing the year a Heisman finalist. Where does
he rank for you along the all-time TCU greats?
Jamie: Duggan has definitely earned his way into TCU’s top 5 QBs of all time. Statistically, he’s third all-time in career passing yards and passing touchdowns, and he’s the first QB to lead the Frogs to the College Football Playoff. He’s also TCU’s first Heisman finalist since LaDainian Tomlinson in 2000.
So, he’s in that five of Duggan, Andy Dalton, Trevone Boykin, Sammy Baugh, and Davey O’Brien.
You also can’t forget that during the COVID year, a screening uncovered that Duggan actually had a rare heart condition. An extra wire in his heart made it beat faster than normal, and he underwent a nine-hour surgery to, quite literally, rewire his heart.
That he’s even still playing football is a small miracle.