Texas Christian University, coming off a 1-10 season, will be looking forward to a clean slate as much as the Cyclones this year.

TCU is eager to forget about the 1997 season, or at least the first ten games.

Unlike the Cyclones, though, the Horned Frogs enter 1998 riding a one-game winning-streak after beating SMU in last season’s finale.

The coaching staff has had a complete makeover after last season’s disappointment.

Head Coach Pat Sullivan has been replaced by Dennis Franchione, the 12th-winningest active coach in Division 1A.

Many of Franchione’s 113 victories came over the past six seasons while he coached the New Mexico Lobos.

The Lobos showed steady improvement under Franchione, advancing from a 3-8 1992 season to a 9-4 mark last year.

Franchione’s ’98 Horned Frogs feature 78 Texans (of 92 total roster slots) and return eight starters on offense and six on defense.

Leading the charge when the Frogs have the ball is senior Tailback Basil Mitchell.

Mitchell has had 1,672 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns over the past two seasons. He has also caught 61 passes for 572 yards and 5 TDs.

Mitchell averages 4.8 yards per carry and will get a lot of chances in the wide-open TCU offensive formations.

Texas Christian features a multiple-attack three-receiver I-formation that accommodates anything from the option to the bomb.

Joining Mitchell in the backfield this year will be fullback LaDainian Tomlinson.

Tomlinson was Mitchell’s backup at tailback last year and rushed for 538 yards and six touchdowns on 126 carries.

TCU’s starter at quarterback is still up in the air. Jeff Dover started most of last season, and his 2,519 yards and 14 TDs over the last two years are decent credentials.

His competition was his No. 1 target last year. Pat Batteaux caught 27 passes for 396 yards to lead the TCU receivers. This year, he may be calling the signals for the Horned Frogs.

Whoever the QB is, he’ll have three solid receivers in Torrie Simmons, Tavarus Moore and Michael Crawford. The trio combined for 591 yards last season on 51 catches.

The Horned Frog offensive line returns three of last year’s starters and averages 285 pounds.

With returning talent at every position, TCU should have a very balanced attack, passing and running the ball almost equally.

On defense, Franchione has implemented a 4-2 formation to help his team compete in the pass-happy Western Athletic Conference.

The 4-2 features five defensive backs, one of whom will be called upon to focus on the run against teams like Iowa State.

That player was supposed to be strong safety Eric Anderson. Anderson, a converted linebacker, had 81 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble last year.

Unfortunately for the Horned Frogs, Anderson suffered a season-ending neck injury during practice and will be replaced by inexperienced redshirt sophomore Russell Gary.

The biggest contributors to the TCU defense will be their four men up front.

Defensive end Aaron Schobel and nose tackle J.W. Wilson return to starting roles they held last year. Schobel registered 69 tackles and seven sacks in ’97, and Wilson had 54 tackles.

6-4 senior Kyle Williams will start at the other tackle position, and 6-3 senior Kam Hunt will try to replace sack-leader Chance McCarty at the other end.

Joseph Phipps returns to strongside linebacker for Texas Christian after leading the ’97 squad with 90 tackles, two sacks and three forced fumbles.

In the defensive backfield, TCU returns only one starter, cornerback Barry Browning, who had two interceptions and nine passes broken up last year.

The Horned Frog defense will probably showcase above-average coverage and a decent pass rush, but it may struggle against the run.

On special teams, kicker Chris Kaylakie will try to step in and replace All-American Michael Reeder.

Royce “Slash” Huffman will handle both the punting and punt-returning responsibilities he excelled in last year.

TCU may not finish in the top half of their conference, but they do have the tools to give the Cyclones a run for their money and to make Saturday’s contest a close one.