This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • BYU receiver McKay Jacobson never gets tired of talking about two things: his game-winning touchdown catch that beat Oklahoma 14-13 in 2009, and the significance of high school and college football in Texas.
Jacobson, from the Dallas-area suburb of Southlake, Texas, returns home for the second-to-last time Friday when the Cougars tangle with TCU at Dallas Cowboys Stadium (6 p.m. MDT, ESPN), the site of his big catch two years ago.
"Man, most importantly, we got that win," Jacobson said, remembering 2009. "Going down there, I mean the stadium itself is quite a thing. But really, we are going down there to win the game, and I am excited to go down — hometown and all that stuff — but at the end of the day, we are going to go play a game like we have every other week."
A senior, Jacobson was recruited "a little bit" by TCU coming out of Southlake Carroll High School, but his fondest memories of the Horned Frogs are from watching them play in Fort Worth as a youngster. He especially remembers watching LaDainian Tomlinson play before the running back became a sensation in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and New York Jets.
"It is always fun to go home, exciting for me, personally," he said. "But I want to contribute, I want to do my part."
Nelson knows about it
BYU quarterback Riley Nelson, a junior, hasn't played against TCU because he was injured last year, a 31-3 loss, and didn't get in the game in 2009 as Max Hall's backup because the Cougars fell behind quickly. But he knows all about the Horned Frogs' defensive prowess.
"I know number 43, Tank Carder, has played for them for a long time, and last year in the Rose Bowl victory played an important role," Nelson said. "So they have guys like that, and you know they are very talented. And I know they recruit well. So I imagine they are pretty much going to be on the same level as they have been in the past."
The Frogs rank 37th in the country in overall defense. BYU ranks 32nd.
Briefly
The Cougars once won five straight games against TCU, but now the series is tied 5-5 as the Frogs move into the Big 12 next year. … Nelson already ranks fourth on BYU's career quarterback rushing yards list with 554 and is closing in on offensive coordinator Brandon Doman, third at 632 yards. Virgil Carter is No. 1 (1,225) and Steve Young is No. 2 (1,084).
Twitter: @drewjay —
BYU vs. TCU
P At Arlington, Texas
Friday, 6 p.m.
TV • ESPN