Aug. 21, 2005

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Included below is a Q&A with TCU linebacker David Hawthorne. A sophomore from Corsicana, Texas, Hawthorne started three of the opening four games last year before suffering a season-ending knee injury. He's a projected starter in the 2005 campaign.

Q: How are the Frogs looking in preparation for the Sept. 3 season opener at No. 5 Oklahoma?
A: We're all striving to do our best and we're all on the same note right now. We're just fired up. We do all this practicing so hopefully it will pay off in the end in a big game.

Q: Do you believe the defense has a nice blend of experience and youth this season?
A: That's true. I'm a younger older guy just because I have experience. My linebacker corps are all younger guys with a couple of old heads in the back pulling us along. Everything is clicking in the secondary right now. We're just trying to get on the same page so we can prepare well and make Coach (Gary) Patterson happy.

Q: What's it like to play for Coach Patterson?
A: He's a perfectionist. He sees the big picture with the defense because he's run it for so long. If we do everything he wants us to do, the defense will work perfectly.

Q: When the Frog offense is clicking, does the TCU defense receive extra motivation?
A: I love to see (wide receiver) Cory Rodgers fired up as well as (running backs) Lonta Hobbs and Robert Merrill. We all feed off each other. Their energy carries over to the defensive side of the ball. It's just like when we go out there and make a big stop. We fire the offense up so they can perform well.

Q: What's it like being a student at TCU?
A: You have great one-on-one relationships with the faculty. You don't have 150 students in one class. You can really build a relationship with teachers. They also get to know you personally.