Rah, Rah, TCU!

That’s really nice how Austin is getting a major airport; what will they do with Bergrstom I wonder…….?

Just kidding, guys.

We have a lot of respect for UT and OU in Fort Worth, no question. You are the 1% and we appreciate the opportunity more than you might realize.

Go Frogs!

amusing to me.

TCU has more MNC than poor Aggies who claim to be the best of the best of the best of the….

aggy has more meat packing MNC’s than any other meat packing school…

I, for one, would make a TCU for agricultural trade any day. TCU’s not as big as the institute of higher farming, but like you said, their fans and ours mix well…a nice way of saying TCU’s fans aren’t a cult. TCU’s overall athletic program is well-respected, and spending a weekend in the Metroplex, taking in the Stockyards, and enjoying downtown Fort Worth beats trying to dance backwards at the Dixie Chicken all to hell.

I’m also stoked about what West Virginia brings to the table as a new member of the Big XII. They may not make geographic sense, but their athletic program basically smokes Mizzou’s.

Now, get busy and bring Florida State and Clemson into the Big XII and we will be in business again.

I forgot to mention that TCU’s fans and students don’t have any pretensions of being a military force either!

Morgantown, Manhattan KS, Lawrence and Ames are great cities too right? What an awesome Conference.

“trying to dance backwards at the Dixie Chicken all to hell.”

That just strikes me as funny. The one time I went to Dixie Chicken it was a gameday and packed wall-to-wall. One could barely move, much less dance.

So glad A&M’s going to suffer in the SEC and we get to bring back a beautiful lil’ jewel like TCU.

Thanks for noticing, Art, err..homo.

No Homo

Dixie Chicken…

You sure you’re not thinking of the Chicken Ranch?

Waco! Stillwater! Ames! Morgantown! Lawrence! Get pumped!!!

TTR: Great stuff. You doing a thesis on this topic?

I second the concept that TCU wasn’t always the little guy it became in the 1970s and ’80s. A few memories/observations of my own:

**To add to your comments about dominant eras in TCU history . . . the Frogs beat Texas in 1959, 1961, 1965 and 1967 . . . that’s four wins in DKR’s first 11 seasons. Other than Arkansas, nobody else came close to that. The ’59 and ’61 TCU wins came when Texas was 8-0 and ranked first or second nationally. Oh – did I forget to mention? All four of those wins were in Austin! (Texas posted a 3-2 win in Fort Worth in 1960, and no, Roger Clemens did not pitch and it was not 24 degrees; it was in the mid-60s.)

**I was in Dallas for the SMU-Texas game in 1971 (22-18 good guys); afterward, we were sitting in the car listening to the TCU-Baylor game, the game where Jim Pittman collapsed. The announcers kept referring to it, with no details. Immediately at game’s end, they announced he had died. I was told later by multiple sources that the medical attendants knew the moment they reached Pittman on the sideline that the heart attack was fatal. Pittman’s replacement, Billy Tohill, was in a near-fatal car crash just a couple of years later.

In your quick asides on the SWC – Texas had very few ties in part because DKR hated ties. I can recall numerous times (1965 Arkansas, 1967 USC, 1969 Arkansas, 1970 Notre Dame) where Royal went for two-point conversions to reduce the possibility of the game ending even. Today, of course, he wouldn’t need that strategy. (And did you know, Texas STILL has not played an overtime game.)

Thanks, EDSP. To clarify, Mack hasn’t played an OT game. Texas lost to OU in OT in 1996.

Taylor, that’s exactly what I was thinking. I remember working on a high school project, and listening to that game on the radio, yelling every so often.

I kind of missed out this season on the realization that, in Dallas, I’m at the hub of Big 12 sports. I love the new look of the Big 12 and really hope we preserve the round robin scheduling and don’t introduce Louisville or something stupid like that.
I hope to catch us in Ft. Worth, I’m sure OldTimeHorn is chomping at the bit for those games.

Great article TTR.

So what’s wrong with mixing whiskey with soda pop? With the rotgut I can afford, that’s just about the only way to choke it down.

Lurker: At the risk of ridicule, I prefer Jameson’s or Crown with equal parts Coke.

Homo said:

January 26th, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Waco! Stillwater! Ames! Morgantown! Lawrence! Get pumped!!!

Do tell what the measure for Fayetteville’s, Starkville’s, Oxford’s, and Tuscaloosa’s superiority? Taller trees?

Oh, and don’t forget the slice of heaven that is B/CS.

Nothing, Lurker. Git yer guns up!

Anybody care to speculate what LF donation level it will take to get tix at Amon Carter in 2013? How many does the B12 make available for visitors?

Nickel Rover said:

January 26th, 2012 at 1:42 pm

Lurker: At the risk of ridicule, I prefer Jameson’s or Crown with equal parts Coke.

I’m in the “you-like-what-you-like” camp and get very annoyed when snobs tell you or others that they should like it a different way or else they are low class or uncultured.

TTR: Not sure, but their current record for attendance was set against Utah. I bet they break that week 1 in the Big 12.

Nickel, try this. Get a bottle of Laphroiag, a very peaty single malt whisky. Very peaty. Whenever you’re drinking, make a point of pouring a couple of fingers of it to sip. Mix it with a little water if you like. You will learn to enjoy it, and when you’re through with the bottle you will appreciate all whisky(ey)s by themselves that much more.

Yeah the atmosphere in Oxford and T-Town on Saturdays in the Fall is very comparable to that of Ames, Waco, Lawrence, etc. Good call dude.

“Homo said: January 26th, 2012 at 1:00 pm

Waco! Stillwater! Ames! Morgantown! Lawrence! Get pumped!!!"

Tuscaloosa! Auburn! Starkville! Columbia! College Station! Athens!

Whoops!!!

Thanks TaylorT. Much needed for my generation.

i am excited for their addition for all those reasons you mentioned.
particularly for the baseball. very very strong teams — that have eliminated or been in the position to eliminate us the last couple years.
i do however wish a return to the halcyon days of Billy Tubbs running the Frog hoops program.

Homo, are you an Ag? How often are you going to actually travl to Oxford? How will you get there?

I live in Arlington. I’ll be making every football and men’s basketball game at TCU that Texas plays in, and some baseball and volleyball, too. I go to all the UT home football games. OKC is also a 3.5 hour drive away. Waco is 2 hours. When they build their on-campus stadium, it’ll be closer.

I’m not sure what your point is. I posted that this will be fun, and you say, “No, it’ll suck.”?

TTR: I can also enjoy just sipping or taking shots with whiskey, I just like it with a little coke mixed in. I understand that isn’t the cultured way but it’s tasty.

Good point, I mean who cares if the atmosphere/town sucks at least you can drive there in 3 hours. BY the way Oxford is a 2 hour plane ride to Memphis and 1 hour drive away.

TTR, Notwithstanding this is merely a perception the ags are clinging to in order to feel good about the move, HomoAG and others will live vicariously through the rest of the SEC tailgaiters, just like they plan to do with regards to success and Win/Loss ratios.

Success by associations

NR, you’re fine. I actually agree with the guy who posted above that a man should drink what he likes. I miss Colorado Ag’s posts on drinking.

Homo, you’re not getting it. We have a ton of Big 12 fans from different schools in the DFW area, and we’re posting on how much fun this will be. Meanwhile, you’re posting that those grapes are probably sour. I’m trying to help you make a graceful exit.

“I prefer Jameson’s or Crown”

I’d recommend trying Forty Creek.

for those trashing Lawrence KS, aka Larrytown, i have to admonish only because it is quite literally the ONLY bright spot in that godforsaken state. its quite a bit like austin, circa mid 70s, and has remained so.

now if they could only get rid of all the KU bball fans. ugh, what a scourge.

Has anyone else noticed that TCU has seemed to become the choice for UT alumni to send their kids who can’t quite get into UT (top 10% rule)?*

*this is not meant as a light to TCU.

TCU is an excellent school.

I don’t see but one move UT could make with pretty good locales, and that would be to the PAC. They have Berkley, Palo Alto, L.A. and Settle going for them, but UT wouldn’t be spending much time in those towns.

If you’re comparing the SEC to the Big XII, Austin’s about as good as it gets for either conference, and I like it that UT has handy road trips to the Metroplex, Waco, even Lubbock and Stillwater. UT hasn’t distanced and alienated itself from its’ prime recruiting area like the institute of higher farming. As for the conference itself, TCU and West Virginia are nothing worse than a wash in the trade for agricultural and Mizzou, and most see the two newcomers as improving football and basketball in the Big XII.

If you’re a fan of the farm school, enjoy those jazzy weekends in Tuscaloosa and Starkville, and Auburn. Who knows, maybe you can help ’em plant a tree or two there.

edsp
“(And did you know, Texas STILL has not played an overtime game.)”
Yes we have. OU & John Blake beat Macovick in OT. I was there to suffer through it.

TaylorTRoom
 Davey O’Brien is part of a great trivia question.
What is the only high school to graduate two Heisman winners.
Dallas Woodrow Wilson. O’Brien & Tim Brown.

TTR - I had Laphroiag once and loved it. Should I try to order it online or can I find it at the right liquor store? I haven’t found it yet looking around.

Is Forty Creek a bourbon? I like Gentleman’s Jack as well, normal Jack is a bit rough for my taste.

TCU is renovating their stadium, Patterson has rejuvenated that university. I know Aggies like to argue that they are a flash in the pan but Big 12 TV money can easily make their rise to prominence permanent.

Homo (Agroid),
 You’ll need to be at the Greyhound station bright & early Thursday mornings, right after you slop the hogs, to make most of your garden spots by Saturday kickoff. I’m confident you’ll change buses multiple times to get there but each bus terminal increases your chance of taking a date to the game.
I’ve been to all the SEC & Big 12 towns. You’re getting what you asked for & what you deserve. The IQ of both conferences is improving with your move. After the mystery of Aggie cult wears off you’ll be appreciated even less over than you were here.

tdsp,

Not only did the 1996 Texas-OU game go to overtime, but both the ’95 and ’96 games ended with the same score at the end of regulation: 24-24

I still can’t believe the eventual Big 12 Champs lost to an 0-4 OU team in ’96.

ut-06, honestly, I bought mine at Big Daddy’s.

My Christmas tradition is to buy a bottle of something I want, and sneak it into my stocking after my wife goes to bed. The next morning I exclaim, “Look what Santa brought me!” This year it was Boodles gin (I think Colorado Ag recommended it).

TaylorTRoom
“My Christmas tradition is to buy a bottle of something I want, and sneak it into my stocking after my wife goes to bed. The next morning I exclaim, "Look what Santa brought me!" This year it was Boodles gin (I think Colorado Ag recommended it).”

Do you think it would work if Anne Hathaway was in your stocking? Blame ColoradoAg.

UT-06, I’ve never had a problem finding Laphroaig in either Texas or PA. Ask the manager if you can’t find it on the shelves, or just make a couple of phone calls.

Good stuff. One of the best for a half-and-half.

Once you develop a taste or need a substitute, ask for any good Islay single-malt. There’s a hundred or more of ’em. I cannot pronounce any of them even sober.

Why not add Houston & SMU and you will have a superduper great tailgaiting conference???

Heh, hush now. The Big 12 guys are talking. Why don’t you find another water cooler and talk about the SEC or something?

TTR: What’s your perception of the home field advantage WVU will draw from playing up in Appalachia in a different time zone?

Great stuff TTR.

I attended TCU amidst the “nadir period” you cite (1975-79) but “I got to Texas as soon as I could” for law school (and watchable football). I’m glad to see two of the old timers of the Southwest back in the same conference again.

Another reason “the TCU fans mesh well with ours,” is the “enemy of my enemy is my friend” philosopy. “Gig ’em,” of course, refers to the Frogs from the days when TCU rivaled “the friends in Austin” as the object for Aggie obsession.

I still recall fondly my first observation of the joy that is Aggie-baiting when A&M came to Fort Worth in my freshman year. A clever wag in my dorm had hung from his third story window a sheet painted with the aTm logo modified with a purple “e” at each end. No swords were drawn, but campus police did have to disperse the agitated Aggie crowd that gathered. That this “eaTme” pre-dated the phrase’s use shortly thereafter in the movie Animal House always impressed me.

As a fan of both schools I say, “let the games begin!”

NR, I don’t know, but the Mack Brown teams have been road warriors.

I’m not as worried about it for us as I am curious about how everyone will handle their first trips there.
However, it wouldn’t be the first time that the AirRaid+running game+rowdy rurals caused us trouble in a road environment.

Homo, are you an Ag? How often are you going to actually travl to Oxford? How will you get there?

Just FYI, “homo” has posted enough here to confirm that he’s so profoundly unintelligent that he can barely be considered human. I personally would not attempt to reason with him any more than I would with a shit-flinging chimpanzee at the zoo.

TTR,

IT will be interesting to see what happens to TCU season ticket sales with the move to the B12. Stadium capacity will be upped to around 48K, and will an enrollment of ~6500 I would have to think unless we see an unprecented surge in season tickets you won’t have trouble being a ticket to the Texas game.

Homo,

Depending upon the weather those flights into places like Memphis, Jackson, Birmingham can really get stretched out with just a few rain clouds and that one hour ride come a game day is much longer than during normal travel days, but have fun and remember that Nestea is the drink of juice now.

Davey O’

Not that it compares to Austin, but the Frogs book around 10k students per year nowadays.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Christian_University

Season ticket sales have gone viral, too. Unless the program falls flat on its face over the next couple of years I think you’ll have a problem if you’re a visitor to a Baylor or UT or OU or Tech game anytime soon.

Iowa State on the other hand……

TTR: Interesting point you made about attaching a certain belief about a team based on a particular era.

I have this issue not only with TCU (since I arrived at Texas and in Texas the same time that LongHorned Frog was suffering at TCU), but also with the Boston Red Sox. When I first became interested in MLB, the Red Sox were at the bottom of the AL. I’ve never really shaken that perception. I understand that they are spending like Yankees II, The Sequel, but in the back of my mind I think that they are one season away from oblivion.

It’s the reason I have been down on TCU being added. I know the history, but I can’t help but think they’re going to be terrible in the B12. Not just average, but really bad. I realize it probably will be the former, but I have this nagging doubt….

If you count grad students and brite i think the number is just over 8000 and in 2010 only three of the games drew over 45,000 (Baylor, AF, and BYU).

There isn’t a waiting list yet for tickets and until that happens anyone who wants to won’t have an issue getting tickets.

naahhaa…haaa..naahaha… You said HORNed Frogs… I’m the Great Cornholio

I like that TCU is coming back. They should have been a part of the original Big 12 instead of Baylor.

A favorite story from way, way back.

The SWC used to hold a press tour every August. They would load up writers, radio & TV reporters and travel to every team in the league for a day to interview players and coaches.

The story goes that in the mid 60’s the tour was in Ft. Worth. Abe Martin was the coach and he was talking to the writers in his office — that he shared with Basketball Coach Buster Brannon. (My how times have changed).

Abe was going over the sophomores who would be joining the varsity that fall. He was especially excited about a linebacker, E.A. Gresham. Abe thought he would be an impact player.

“He’s big, strong, has a quick first step and will hit you,” said Martin. He then added, Why if he was any faster he would be unbelievable.

At that point, Brannon piped up from his desk and said,

“If he was any faster, he would be at Texas.”

I look forward to Davey breaking down the whole roster next year and detailed game by game predictions. I say 7-5 to 9-3. And 9-3 would be nice with a shot at another ten win season in the bowl game.

WVU and TCU will not win the league next year. Just putting that out there

prehist51,

I appreciate the sentiment, but I am glad TCU wasn’t included in the original Big 12. Being left out was the wake-up call our administration needed that big changes needed to be made across the campus and not just in athletics.

Sincer that time we have rebuilt the campus including a very cool quad area ringed by new dorms, started and engineering program (a couple of decades too late for a roommate I had transfer in from Wichita State only to find out we didn’t have an engineering program at the time), MBA program, married housing, new student center, and admin facilites, new baseball-tennis-track-indoor practice field, locker rooms, and the Amon Carter upgrade. Best of all is we have either paid off the debt service for the projects or in the final stages of doing so for almost everyone of those projects.

srr50,

How did you like the view from the old pressbox at Amon Carter?

Homo needs to find an SEC blog. He thinks he can fly to memphis in 2 hours and drive one hour to Oxford. Obvious that Homo has never traveled in his life. Emphasis on the last 4 years of travel.

Just off the top of my head it would take
1. The drive to airport and park a car or taxi (1 hour)
2. Arrive early because you never know what the TSA line will look like upon arrival (2 hour)
21/2.) 2 hour flight granted the plane leaves and arrives on time.
3. Navigate in the airport wait in line to get a car (30 minutes)
4. Drive one hour to destination (one hour)
5. Guess what you have to reverse the order to return home.

Yea that sounds like fun. I think most people would like to just drive 3-4 hours to a destination.

Cannot reason with aggies… I just wasted a minute typing this BS.

“Is Forty Creek a bourbon?”

It’s a Canadian whiskey. If you like Crown, I’ll bet you’d like it. And it usually costs at $5-$10 less than Crown.

I’m like you….I just drink what I like, usually mixed with some kind of soft drink.

srr50,

How did you like the view from the old pressbox at Amon Carter?

Davey, now that you mention it, there is another story.

DKR’s last season (1976) Texas played at TCU in mid-November and there was a massive ice and snow storm. I was a cub reporter and several of us drove up early that Saturday. For those of you who have never been to Amon-Carter, the stadium is built straight up and the parking was down a large hill. Walking up to the stadium was a real adventure.

The electricity was out, which meant the elevators didn’t work which meant the only way to reach the press box was to walk up a winding staircase (with only one rail) in the dark.

As for the game, the surface was astroturf and it was essentially frozen. It was like watching football on ice skates. The stadium had no track, so the end zones were right up against the walls, and there was no padding.

TCU ran a fade pattern into the northwest corner of the end zone. Glenn Blackwood was the Texas DB and he saw the wall fast approaching, so he tried to brace himself by putting his arms out. The TCU receiver was looking back for the ball, and hit the wall full speed.

After a while they announced that Blackwood had a broken arm, while the TCU receiver had suffered "a broken face.

Love the additions and can’t wait for 2012. I HATE Spring.

srr50,

I think the name of the receiver for TCU was/is Steve Williams. He was a grad asst. when I started school in Fort Worth.

Made the walk up to the pressbox a couple of times at night with a roommate who somehow new how to get into any building or place on campus and a couple of girls after a night of drinking. Somehow that walk down was much more difficult in the dark.

Swear you could damn near see the curvature of the world from the top of the old pressbox. Haven’t seen the new one.

Homo, it is good to know that college fucking station is looking down on all the other municipalities that are about the equivalent or better.

That feeling is exactly how the rest of the world sees your little piece of heaven.

And this:

“The Davey O’Brien Award, officially the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback Award, named after Davey O’Brien, is presented annually to the collegiate American football player adjudged by the Davey O’Brien Foundation to be the best of all National Collegiate Athletic Association quarterbacks. The Davey O’Brien Hall of Fame is housed at The Fort Worth Club in Fort Worth, Texas.” From Wiki.

“Davey O’Brien, a Texas native, was a true sports hero at the high school, college and professional levels. He translated his prowess as a quarterback into a life of service and success. The Davey O’Brien Foundation honors his memory and continues to inspire athletes to live up to their greatest potential through awards and scholarships bearing his name. Since 1977, the Foundation’s awards programs have inspired and encouraged high school and college athletes to create their own legacy of greatness on and off the field.”
2005 Vince Young
2009 Colt McCoy
http://www.daveyobrien.com/

I’ve never failed to find any scotch I like at Spec’s on Brodie lane in Austin. You should try lagavulin. It’s the ultimate single malt, IMO, although quite pricy. Honestly, a nubile Dewar’s White Label is my everyday scotch and it does just fine.

TTR, the original martini was supposedly made with Boodle’s at El Greco on Via Condotti in Rome. It’s straight down from the Spanish Steps about a block on the right. Great place to get fucked up while the woman in your life prowls the upscale stores that run by The Steps. Try it rocks with a dash of bitters. Nice!

Davey o’Brien played for the Philadelphia Eagles after TCU. He played for a few seasons and then became an FBI agent and was quite successful.

TTR - Great stuff indeed.

For those unfamiliar with TCU’s golden era, let me suggest a piece that Frog alum and legendary scribe Dan Jenkins wrote for Sports Illustrated in 1981:

hxttp://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1124730/1/index.htm

Besides Jenkins’ standard fare of great anecdotes, he includes some eye-catching facts:

“Over this span of 31 consecutive seasons, from ‘29 through ’59, the Frogs were the best team in the Southwest Conference . . . All TCU did was:
—Win more national championships (two, ’35 and ’38) than anybody else in the conference.
—Win more conference championships (8) than anybody else.
—Go to more bowl games (11) than anybody else in the conference.
—Produce more All-Americas (16) than anybody else in the conference.
—Turn out the Southwest Conference’s first Heisman Trophy winner, Davey O’Brien, in ’38.
—Become the first team in the conference to go to the Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Orange Bowl and Bluebonnet Bowl.
—Never let more than three years slide by without producing either a championship team or a bowl team.
—Maintain a winning edge over all six of their conference opponents. Let the record show that the Frogs were:

19-11-1 against Rice
18-10-1 against Baylor
18-11-2 against Texas A&M
16-10-5 against SMU
15-12-2 against Arkansas
16-15 against Texas"

By the time I was in school, things had changed radically . . . The 81-16 Texas win over TCU in 1974 comes to mind. A handful of us wore TCU t-shirts in the same spirt early 60s baseball fans wore Mets caps.

Personally, I’m glad to see the Frogs have come full circle and now sit at the Big 12 table instead of the Aggies. Welcome aboard.

Over this span of 31 consecutive seasons, from ’29 through ’59, the Frogs were the best team in the Southwest Conference.

The end of that run can be attributed to several factors — not the least of which were that Darrell Royal and Frank Broyles had their programs up and running — and the Dallas Cowboys joined the NFL.

Davey, you didn’t click the Wiki:

 "Texas Christian University (TCU) is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ. Its mascot is the “horned frog.”

TCU has an enrollment of roughly 9,518 students, 8,229 of which are undergraduates."

27-1 huh?

So how is it that my girlfriend and I decided to drive up to Ft. Worth (from Austin) for that one loss? That was fun.

Srr50 -

One advantage Royal and Broyles had was unlimited scholarships until 1973 when a cap of 105 was implemented. It’s a lot easier for a public school to fund 100+ scholarships than a private school.

Also, TV appearances were hard to come by in the 60s. I did not live in Texas during the 60s and I can’t ever remember seeing TCU on TV. However, Texas was on a lot and Arkansas wasn’t far behind.

TCU’s resurrection is much more surprising than its demise considering everything that worked against it in the 60s.

The SWC had a scholarship limit all through the ’60s. 115, I think. That said, the public universities typically brought in an average of 5 more recruits per year than the privates.

Royal has said that TV appearances was his best sales point in recruiting.

After the 1967 season, Texas signed 40 recruits David Alredge and Jim Bertelesn were among the best. known names. TCU signed 43. SMU signed 47. A&M had 49 recruits.

After the 1968 season (the first with the wishbone) Texas A&M was declared the winner in recruiting with again 49 signees, including 9 first or second-team all-state players.

Texas had 44 signees, with 5 first or second team all-staters. TCU signed 37 players with 4 all-state selections.

TV appearances were a big deal in the 1960’s and overall media coverage for both SMU and TCU dropped off the face of the earth when the Dallas Cowboys showed up. Same thing happened to Rice with the Houston Oilers.

srr50 -

I had not seen those TCU signing numbers for the 60s and find them quite surprising.

My only memory about some of those classes is that Texas dominated the blue chippers, i.e. Dave Campbell Super Teamers, meaning TCU and the others must have tried to compensate by throwing bodies at the problem. The year Worster signed, it seems like Texas got 7 or so off the Super 11?

Granted those 40+ classes pale next to the 73 players Johnny Majors’ signed his first year at Pitt, that’s still a lot of bodies.

My only memory about some of those classes is that Texas dominated the blue chippers, i.e. Dave Campbell Super Teamers, meaning TCU and the others must have tried to compensate by throwing bodies at the problem. The year Worster signed, it seems like Texas got 7 or so off the Super 11?

cirque:

DKR went the quantity route right after the 1963 national championship — and admitted later that is was a mistake. Texas signed 67 players that year. The best players out of that group turned out to be Ronnie Ehrig, QB Greg Lott, and halfback Linus Bear.

Not one — not one of the 67 signees ever made a consensus All-SWC selection.

You are right about "The Worster Bunch." Of the top 11 players picked in a confidential poll for Texas football the Longhorns had signed 7.

Of the top 22 players, Texas got 12. This group included Steve Worster, Eddie Phillips, Cotton Speyrer Bill Zapalac, Scott Henderson, Bill Atessis, Greg Ploetz – the list goes on.

Too bad you can’t win with just Texas players.

I guess the lesson is you can win with “just Texas” players if they’re the right ones.

Uh oh . . . I forgot Bertelsen played on those teams . . . and I may be forgetting one or two others.

Colorado prepster Freddie Steinmark was a key player in that group. In 3 years as a starter (1 on the frosh team), he never gave up a TD at free safety (in the Big Shootout, down 15, he tackled a Hog WR breaking free on a route with the ball in the air. He felt 15 yards was better thn 7 points, and the Horns held them on that possesion).

Philly,

No I didn’t forget to click the link I just don’t use Wiki as a reference source.

Instead I went to TCU’s website and got the numbers.

TTR -

If memory serves, wasn’t Steinmark’s roommate Bobby Mitchell also from the same high school in Colorado?

I think so.

TTR: Regarding Steinmark, IIRC, pass interference was a spot foul in those days in the college game. But the Horns did stop them.

DO’B, what TCU site are you looking at?

http://www.tcu.edu/at-a-glance.asp
Enrollment of 9,518
8,229 undergraduates
1,289 graduate students

If you count grad students and brite i think the number is just over 8000 and in 2010 only three of the games drew over 45,000 (Baylor, AF, and BYU).

Dude… It’s Baylor, AF, and BYU. Granted, Baylor was a huge game to open the season, and their fan base is growing and rabid…but they (and AF, BYU ) all have middling fan bases. You don’t think one of the largest fan bases in the county can fill 20K more seats (especially when it is so close…and not Waco)?

I think you are mistaken. I have no dog in this fight, and we will definitely find out soon, but I would tend to disagree with your estimate that there won’t be (a) sellout(s). Perhaps not for any of the other schools (TT, Baylor, etc.), but for OU and UT…I think it’s certainly possible if not probable. If nothing else, fans will go just because it is another game near home easily ventured in a car. If 1/2 of the 100000 fans that attend a UTEP/rice/cupcake game travel the Frogs stadium is full. The Frogs being GOOD recently tends to make me think that number skyrockets.

This of course is without accounting for more parents, loved ones (lovers, family) and regional fans (Fans that root for the team simply because they live or work there or in the area…or t-shirt fans if you prefer) of the Frogs attending simply because Texas or OU is there.
Tickets there for those two schools will probably be hard to come by (at a reasonable, non-scalped price) on gameday. Just my guess.

Grrr. Copy/pasted the blockquote tag and forgot to add the slash. Apologies.

Also county should read country

As a longhorn fan that grew up in DFW, TCU has always been a fun school, and I love the whole atmosphere down there. Downtown Fort Worth is awesome, and TCU fans are actually a blast to tailgate with.

I remember one of my fond memories as a kid was seeing TCU at the Sun Bowl where y’all beat USC after they chanted TC-Who?. Needless to say, I’m glad y’all are in the conference instead of the Ags

I am fired up about being able to go back to Amon Carter to watch the Horns. Great memories.

This time around TCU will be more than capable of spoiling some Texas seasons, but not because they fall into something and ruin it. They are going to be able to carry some stuff off for themselves.

They have earned their place and its going to be good. Love me some Ft. Worth.

You couldn’t echo my own sentiments better Taylor. I’ve lived in Fort Worth 5 years now since graduating UT and I love it. This coming from someone born and raised on Austin elliteism. Fort Worth has what Austin must have had in the 1970s. It’s small, off the beaten track, but it knows it’s on the way up. The best restaurants are the grungy hole in the walls where the waitresses call you honey and you’re the only patron with a white collar job. But recent development means we also have lots of shiny new bars and restaurants as well. My wife is a frog (we met at the 2007 texas tcu game) and I can tell you they have the best tailgating in the state. The new stadium is extremely nice and I think their fan base will rise to the occasion of joining the big 12. Frogs love their football, but I don’t think even they understand how much more excitement it will generate when they play so many natural rivals each year. Can’t wait for next fall. Hook ’em.