OK, we were wrong. TCU is not the one.
Enjoy the confession. The media horde that pontificates over sports and games people play are long on prognostications and expert opinions hurled over the airwaves and print, but they're pretty stingy when it comes to admissions of error. I can't speak for all but will bow down on my own.
As a whole, we're a proud and arrogant bunch.
We come off as if we know everything, which is in our job descriptions to try. Of course we fail more than we're willing to admit. Being smart aleck goes with the show. As a stereotype, imagine the alien scene at the bar in "Star Wars," and you've got a general snapshot of the sports writing and sportscasting corps, even if some wear ties instead of mustard-stained golf shirts.
We picked TCU to win the MWC back in July. I personally exalted the Horned Frogs and bore testimony of their validity, strength, skill and acumen.
Sorry. I was wrong as T.O. over pharmacology. I was sadly mistaken and I want to own up to it. I'm humbled and repentant as a rat after cheese in a loaded trap. I fell for the Frogs, all the way to the bottom of the well.
Today, TCU stands at the bottom of the MWC standings at 0-2. It is unlikely it can even get a sniff of a piece of the MWC crown. If the Frogs can't find an offensive punch soon, it'll be tough for them to avoid croaking against Air Force and Wyoming. They've either underachieved or were grossly overrated — injuries aside.
There, confession done; it's a weight off my soaring heart and shifting mind.
BYU and Utah may have been undersold back in July — when it comes to the MWC and how they stacked up against Gary Patterson's streaking team. After today, BYU and Utah will be tied for the MWC lead with 2-0 records. Who is going to stop them besides themselves or one another?
Well, we'll have to see.
In revenge games against TCU, the two Utah schools outscored the Frogs 51-24 and simply had more standout players in Eric Weddle, Brett Ratliff, Louie Sakoda, John Beck, David Nixon and Cameron Jensen.
The funny thing about the Ute-Cougar domination over TCU is how the MWC headquarters set up the Frogs with a very favorable schedule — ample time to prepare for these local schools while both Utah and BYU were scheduled for short weeks leading up to their games with TCU.
Backfired, fellas.
Next time, just play it straight and maybe the idea of fair play will rule the day and provide a worthy champion who can stand BCS scrutiny come bowl time.
But who could blame the MWC for meddling with short and long weeks with the Frogs?
TCU was ranked No. 17 and 15 before losing to BYU and realistically would have been the only league team ranked heading into September when preseason polls hatched. Throwing the Frogs a bone and enabling them to continue to climb the rankings could have meant millions to the league if the Frogs had made it to a BCS bowl.
But they didn't. And they won't.
Now, back to the task at hand and other potential confessions.
True, most the media piled on Kyle Whittingham, Ratliff and Ute offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig after the Boise State embarrassment.
And there were shots at mistake-prone BYU and play calling and game plans of Cougar offensive coordinator Robert Anae in a loss at Arizona and miscues at Boston College.
But they'll stick. It's part of the business to make those calls, so they'll have to go with the record, just like Utah and BYU's win-loss records have to stand.
It's part of the tracks in the mud we leave behind in sports journalism golf carts.
Sorry for the criticism?
Of course not, it was fun. And deservedly stated. And those folks know it.
The key locally is that BYU and Utah keeping improving and learn from mistakes and produce more heroes to praise and fewer goats to blame.
Can they do it?
Stay tuned.
And someone pass some of that swig, Greedo. Keep your eyes on that big hairy dude, Chewbacca.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com