I have kept a mental note over the past several years — as the Frogs have become a card-carrying member of college football’s most feared — that at home games, it’s not always about the Frogs.
And that’s wrong.
Some may be irked or confused by my stance, but here's my read: Many TCU fans base their engagement with the Frogs on the weather or even the opponent. I say ask fans at Alabama, Oklahoma, USC or even Texas, and they’ll tell you that they don’t care who the opponent is. If their team is on the field, then they’re there.
THERE!
In the stadium.
Making noise on opponent’s third downs.
THERE . . . to get the most out of the college football experience.
THERE . . . to make sure that their team knows their fans care.
Thankfully, things have changed a lot since I played against the Houston Cougars in 1981 in front of a whopping 13,257. Our crowds are much larger than that.
But one thing hasn’t changed — the players notice whether the stands are packed. And they feed off the energy provided by full seats.
Whether it’s Penn State or Portland State, the attitude should be the same.
There’s a new Amon G. Carter Stadium coming up out of the ground. Make it yours, Frog Fans. Get THERE.
And pack it this weekend.
Kick ‘Em High!
You couldn't have said it better! Get in the stands Frogs! Don't LEAVE at half either
ReplyDelete100% agree. Let's Go Frogs, get in those seats!
ReplyDeleteRight on!!! Im sick and tired of hearing excuses from people. "It's too hot", "Its a blowout", "I just want a drink". What, you dont think other people around the nation think this way too? Sure they do. But you dont see the stands empty when say LSU plays an FCS pancake. And its way more hot and humid and LSU games. TCU fans need to either come to the game, and stay there to support throughout the game, or not come at all.
ReplyDeleteI've always wanted TCU to make a rule to where if you go to the game, you cant leave. That goes for students too. They are just as bad, if not worse. SHOW A LITTLE SPIRIT!!! Go Frogs!
Unfortunately, your well reasoned and accurate views conflict with the partying needs and plans of so many of those who called themselves Frog Fans. This is an imbeddded cultural problem which has infected our University and its supporters for as long as I have observed (since '68) and its roots lie within TCU's fraternities. It is there and with their alums where the change must come, if it ever does.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, JD. As far as I'm concerned, if you aren't there when it's time to sing the Alma Mater with the team then you should be ashamed. Start to finish, win or lose, Frog Fans need to support the team. They are playing for us just as much as they are playing for themselves. Without the fans, there is no reason to even play the game.
ReplyDeleteSorry for Partying Bro! Fix the stadium, schedule better opponents and we will be in there full force.
ReplyDeleteConsider this: How many high school football stars that were considering going to TCU noticed the lousy turnout and decided to play football elsewhere?
ReplyDeleteFor those who don't come because of the opponent and/or the stadium, STAY HOME WE DON'T NEED YOU!! You are not a real Horned Frog Fan! These young men put together a great game, every game. They put their hearts on the line and ALL TCU fans need to be there to support them. The kids on the field are not in charge of the scheduling. Don't just blame the fraternities, I pass by the Letterman's tailgate every game and they are some of the worst about attending the game! I am a die hard, purlple bleeding TCU alum and would not miss a down! GO FROGS!Celebrate the victory after the game and support our kids during the game. I noticed Saturday it was the "high dollar" seats that were empty...hmm COME ON - GOT TO THE GAME!!
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more, but please bring back the PA announcer from past seasons! TCU fans certainly need to do their part, but the new stadium has lost a great, familiar voice. His energy and enthusiasm was infectious and really helped get the crowds into it. The new guy is trying too hard and it comes off as unnatural and forced. Replace him or get him some coaching. Embarrassing when he talks during the snap! Oh, and has Jerry Jones taken over sponsorships? Why is 'AND IT's 3rd down' now sponsored by Sony Playstation? Come on guys, ridiculous!
ReplyDeleteIf the stadium and the opponents are a problem then YOU ARE NOT A REAL HORNED FROG FAN! Stay home, we DON'T NEED YOU! I am a TCU alum and have sat through the extreme misery and the joys of last season. The players have no choice in who they play. They choice they have is to play their hearts out every week, and they do this, and do it well! Come to the games and stay at the games. You can always drink and celebrate the victory after the game. However, it is not just the fraternities. I pass by the Letterman's tailgate every game and they are the worst about attending the game. At the game Saturday it was the "high dollar" seats that were empty...hmmm
ReplyDeleteTo the guy making the dumb comment about this being the fraternity driven problem. I am in a fraternity here. This is a Greek oriented school. All the social life, hot girls, and fun that happens around here is because of us. GDIs go to the games with their bodies painted, in green man suits,in lame t-shirts, and in costumes. They barely know a damn thing about football and quite honestly make our student section look fairly sad. Its Greeks donating money to the program, rebuilding the stadium, and making this school more respectable nationally. I go to the games, and people leave because our schedule is riddled with the ULMs and Portland States of the world. LSU fans have night games against BAMA and Auburn to look forward to. We have no night home games this year except against BYU and thats at Cowboy Stadium. Our best home game is an early afternoon game against SMU. Are you kidding me? If you want me to stay for the whole game because were now a perennial power, then quit scheduling cupcakes. I dont care if TECH backed out, and they moved the Boise game, find someone, anyone. I will leave early in these blowout games when its hot because id rather be having fun with my friends than watching us make some sub-level team look worse than they already are. I can't heckle these 1 star prospects that come and play us, I feel bad for them to be honest. The student population and fans in general leave early (not just Greeks you ignorant idiot) because we know the outcome already and would rather be watching it at the bars together with a beer in hand with some A/C. Chew on that for a little while.
ReplyDeleteGreekFrog, you're not grasping the bigger concept here. I'm in a fraternity as well, and it pisses me off to no end when brothers leave to go drink at half time. Take in a damn flask. You might not think it's a big deal if you leave at half-time; you're just one person, why would it matter? But this is such a widespread problem, that it reflects extremely poorly on our school. Thank god we have such a fantastic program, because we have certainly not garnered national attention through the support of our students. You don't get scheduled to play big games when lackluster assholes walk give up at halftime. People notice that. Plenty of hugely prominent programs sometimes schedule shit schools. You don't see Oklahoma fans not showing up when it's expected to be a blow-out, and it's not just GDI's showing support either. The greek community needs to actively assess the role we play in supporting our football team. We're acting like the assholes over in Dallas when we abandon our team for A/C and beer. It's not the image an up and coming program like us needs.
ReplyDeleteGreekFrog, schedules are made many years in advance so it is not always easy to find a superior replacement. This is the first time in several years TCU has played 2 cupcake leaguers! We have to play the day games because of the construction so get over yourself. I do agree with you about the greeks being a big part of the university. Night games will be back next season, will you??
ReplyDeleteOne step at a time Big John. 10-15 years ago TCU would have killed to have the tailgating and atmosphere that they have now both inside and outside the stadium. Most, not all, but most big state schools have 10's of thousands of students and are in cities or towns away from big metropolitan areas. Games are what they live for. And they only play also ran teams a couple of times a season at home.
ReplyDeleteAnd, in the FW/d area, TCU will never be the center of attention. Sadly, not even to their own students. TCU is also heavily greek oriented and the frats have never made TCU games their priority. Sure they might show up to piddly games for awhile, but it's really all about the drinking and partying isnt it? No, unfortunately, getting big time opponents in for big games is the only hope TCU has. Playing Wyoming, San Diego St., Louisiana Monroe, Portland State, etc., is never going to get AGC Stadium filled and rocking.
Greek Frog- Your comment about "quit scheduling cupcake games" proves that you know nothing about the way college games are scheduled. Most contracts are decided years in advance, so when a game is pulled last minute, it's not like OU has an open weekend to add us. Being that you are getting a TCU education, I would expect you to be smarter than that. I'm guessing you are to busy in a bar with a beer and the hand and A/C. Enjoy it. My guess is you'll flunk out soon anyway.
ReplyDeleteMore irrational comments from the stupid/alcoholic confines of the SpitBlood crowd. The Letterman are going to kick your asses, one by one, if you don't stop your nonsense about their tailgate. You have no idea what you are talking about.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are NOT REAL Frog Fans! You have no respect for the guys that bore the foundation for the present day program. Most of you are recent grads, that are still what you have always been. TRUST FUND BABIES!
You guys are an embarrassment to TCU & society.
Curious where 'the spitblood crowd' comes into this. Just seems like irrational lashing out.
ReplyDeleteYou know what? How about everybody quit bitching at each other and just get the tailgating jackasses to sit in the stadium through the whole game. I don't care who you are... SpitBlood, KillerFrogs, Lettermen, Greeks, Newspaper staff, Trust Fund Babies... If you know somebody that is out in the parking lot and the game is still going on, you go drag their asses back into the stadium. Seriously... I don't care who you are... hell, if I saw Andy Dalton kicking back in the parking lot with Dan Jenkins and SuperFrog, I'd kick all of their butts into the stadium.
ReplyDeleteAnd just so you know, I'm a SpitBlood blogger, Skiff and KTCU alumnus, season ticket holder from the 80's and 90's, '97 grad, and spent most of my childhood on or near campus (2 year TCU Pre-school almnus... that's right, I was taking "classes" at TCU at age 3) I don't have much money, but the Powers-that-be know me because of my enthusiasm. Couldn't stand the Greeks and Trust Fund babies while I was in school, and I don't have any use for people that hang out in the parking lot during games.
I don't care who you are... I don't care if you are Lettermen... I don't care if it's my SpitBlood co-horts... I don't care if it's Chris Del Conte... if you are tailgating between the opening kickoff and the Alma Mater, you aren't a real Frog Fan.
Spitblood supports The Lettermen's in everything they do and everything they stand for. The vast majority of our readers and witers understand how important the association is to TCU Athletics.
ReplyDeleteWhy would we knock former athletes who have been important building blocks for what our program is today?
There may have been comments in the past regarding the Lettermen's tailgate and attendance, but let it be known that individuals are making those comments, and thier expressed opinions don't always reflect what we are all about.
-from the irrational, trust fund baby, fake frog fans and embarrassment to society alcoholics at spitblood.