Bowl destinations abound

I hate to tell you, “I told you so” regarding the UT game, but………..check my November 1 version of Extra Points.

Bowl games? That’s what everyone wants to know. Depending on the outcome of Saturday’s game with Oklahoma, the Frogs are probably headed to one of the following:

• Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe at Sun Devil Stadium
• Alamo Bowl in San Antonio
• Meineke Car Care Bowl at Reliant Stadium in Houston
• AT&T Cotton Bowl in Arlington

What a football season it has been and the Frogs, and their 16 seniors have done a great job weathering a number of storms and opponents to get to 7-4. Do everyone a favor and get to Amon G. Carter Stadium early on Saturday to thank these 16 seniors and a team (who many thought was dead in the water in early October) which is going to try to put a Crimson n’ Cream cherry on top of this season. The seniors take their bow during pregame at 10:45 a.m.

I ask you: Is this Gary Patterson and staff’s greatest coaching job at TCU? It’s way up there on the list.

Have you seen the TCU pass rush lately? Also, how good is TCU safety Sam Carter playing? By the way, his interception to lock down the UT game occurred at 9:34 p.m.

Switching gears – there’s nothing wrong with Cowboys’ QB Tony Romo that a real offensive line and wide receivers who know the plays wouldn’t fix. Doug Free couldn’t block TCU’s Tommy Blake in the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl, he’s not much better now and that’s who’s protecting Romo’s blind side?

TCU guard Kyan Anderson got loose in a gym in South Padre Island last Saturday and scored 35 points in a win over UAB.  I saw it myself.  Watch this kid, he might be the key to the Frogs’ season in hoops.

TCU Women’s Volleyball dismantled the West Virginia Lady Mountaineers (is there such a thing?) last weekend to finish the season 15-14. Congratulations to head coach Prentice Lewis and her staff on their first season in the Big 12 – a tough, tough league.

The rumor I’m hearing regarding the Arkansas football head coaching position is Jon Gruden or Boise State’s Chris Petersen.   Announcement of the “lucky” winner coming this Saturday.

Kick ‘Em High!

Serious weekend for the Frogs

Now, it gets serious….

The Frogs have played eight games and are 67 percent of the way through the football season. What a BIG 33 percent the next four games represent.

As I like to say, college football is the land of opportunity, and between now and December 1, the Frogs have plenty of opportunities.

A winnable game at West Virginia tomorrow, a date with a possible No. 1 team in Kansas State a week from tomorrow (Trivia question – Who was the last No. 1 team to visit Amon G. Carter Stadium?), Thanksgiving in Austin and then it’s the Sooners to finish.

One win gets the Frogs to a bowl, two wins makes is a great year. Anything else is the cherry on top.

Scouting Report on WVU:

It’s the TCU Offense vs. WVU’s Defense – the worst pass defense in the nation – whoever has the upper hand here decides this game.

• WVU’s blitz – watch for it early as they try to rattle and disrupt Trevone Boykin.
• Geno Smith vs. the Frogs back half.  TCU’s secondary will have to be shark-like against this true talent at quarterback.
• Kicking game – TCU’s big legs need to have a big day. Field position will be a huge part of containing WVU’s offense.
• Start Fast – the Frogs need to play from ahead in this game, then they can dictate the tempo.
• Don’t forget the running game - if the Frogs can run it, thus controlling the clock, they’ll limit “at bats” for Geno Smith and the Mountaineer Machine. A huge key is ball control.

Women’s Soccer vs. Texas

TCU’s Women’s Soccer team continues its run this afternoon in the Big 12 Tournament with a 5:30 p.m. showdown with Texas. Go Lady Frogs!

Have a great weekend, everybody!
We’ll talk to you tomorrow from Morgantown at 1 p.m. CT on the TCU Sports Network.

Kick ‘Em High!

West Virginia is a bit personal

Here it is November 1st already and now things are getting interesting.  My Thursday Thoughts:

• Christmas is next month.
• Three weeks from today, you’ll be in Austin for what could be the most delicious morsel of the TCU football season – just watch.
• After next Tuesday, we don’t have to listen to the onslaught of political ads for a while. While I’m on that topic, pray for our country.
• The NBA season has started. Somebody wake me when the playoffs start.
• The World Series is over. If you blinked, you missed it.
• You can start to draw lines from the outcome of college football games to bowl bids and who gets to play for the National Championship. It’s a great month. And ponder this, Kansas State could come to Fort Worth next week as the No. 1 team in the nation.
• College basketball season starts next week. Now that interests me!
• Most underrated TCU team right now:  Women’s Soccer.  Beat No. 14 West Virginia last night in the Big 12 tournament. And they are a beat-up bunch. Maybe that’s a good omen for Saturday.
• Saturday is a bit personal for me because versus West Virginia in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl was the last game I played as a Horned Frog. It was also TCU’s first bowl in 19 years. Think about that. My how times have changed. The Mountaineers of 2012 aren’t much different from the 1984 version – fast receivers, huge O-Line and D-Line and the ability to score quickly. That Bluebonnet Bowl marked resurgence in the TCU program. A win Saturday in the hills of West Virginia would put a surge into TCU’s stretch drive in the inaugural Big 12 season. It would also make the Frogs bowl eligible for the eighth straight year. Weather forecast for Morgantown for Saturday is sunny and 50 degrees with light winds.

Finally, a word in memory of a TCU teammate, Billy Oliver. Billy passed away last week, way too young.   Many of you will remember the speedy defensive back from Sacramento, who wore No. 23 and was a shutdown corner on the Bluebonnet Bowl team. He was a pretty good singer, too, and filled the locker room with a great voice. God’s speed, Billy-O!

Kick ‘Em High!

Big game weekend and Big Tex

TCU fans, you don’t know how lucky you are. Think about all that this weekend stands for: 

• A big Homecoming Weekend with old friends and the memories they conjure;
• The biggest Big 12 home game yet against an opponent you know well – Texas Tech;
• Membership in a conference that has allowed all of us in Purple to reconnect with old foes like Tech, Baylor and UT when the trend is college football right now is to destroy and take away these traditional, geographical matchups.

As for the game, here’s a few things to be looking for tomorrow:

• Third downs – Pay particular attention on this down – the game depends on it.  Texas Tech has the best third-down offense in the nation, converting 57 percent going against the Frogs' No. 2 in the nation in third-down defense, allowing just 24 percent conversions. Sumthin’s gotta give.
• Frogs' running game – Suddenly reincarnated in the Boykin Administration, it’s a key to keeping Texas Tech’s offense off the field and minimizing Tech quarterback Seth Doege’s opportunities.
• Wide Receivers – If you love to watch wideouts run, this game’s for you. This will possible be the largest exhibition of pass-catching talent on one field in college football this year. If you missed the Alliance Air Show earlier this month, don’t fret – you’ll see aerobatics today.
• Tricks – Big games mean big gambles. Tech likes to go to the Wildcat with running back Eric Stephens, Jr. at the controls. Be on the lookout. As for the Frogs, well……I can’t tell you that part……

Big Tex on Fire

My man Big Tex ignited today at the State Fair of Texas yesterday! It was stunning to see the photos of him in flames. At first, I was sure that it had to be a terrorist attack and that made me mad! Luckily, it was an electrical short, and I hear that plans are already underway to make “Big” even better for 2013. Word from Fair Park is that Big Tex was hotter than OU’s offense last week against UT!

Frogs in the Series

Former TCU Baseball Frogs catcher Bryan Holaday and 3^rd basemen Matt Carpenter are working their way to the World Series. Holaday is a member of the Detroit Tigers and had punched his ticket.  Carpenter is trying to finish off the San Francisco Giants and he’s already hit a homer in the National League Championship Series.  Go get ‘em, Bryan and Matt.

Kick ‘Em High!

TCU-Iowa State preview

Folks,

It’s been a wild week and there are lots of things flying through air when it comes to this weekend’s matchup with Iowa State.

Let’s start here:

• The TCU offense will have a speedier look with Trevone Boykin and Matt Brown at the controls.
• This could be a low-scoring affair as both teams are really good on defense.
• You like Linebackers?  This game is full of good ones.
• The weather may have an effect on the outcome of this one – I’m talking wind.
• And finally, how would you like to be the Defensive Coordinator for Iowa State right now?  What do you prepare for?  Everything.

 

Kick ‘Em High!

October thoughts

Tired of Winning?

Over the last week, I’ve played close attention to the Texas Rangers. Usually, I just keep track of whether they win or lose, but the pennant race gets my attention.

I’ve been watching and analyzing.  I attended their game last Sunday vs. the Angels, which they gave away.

I watched in amazement as they crashed and burned over the last three days against the A’s.

This team that had so much energy and desire in 2010 and 2011 doesn’t seem to have it in 2012.

My assessment: They look tired and running on fumes.

And it happens to a lot of teams who go deep into the post-season year after year.   They play a lot more games in the playoffs than teams who don’t make it.  Over time, the wear and tear adds up, especially for teams whose players are aging.

A former TCU teammate of mine and All-American running back Kenneth Davis went to the Super Bowl four straight years as a member of the Buffalo Bills. KD says the extended season year-over-year and the extra games in the playoffs over four years (15 extra games) took their toll on the Bills. By the time they reached their fourth Super Bowl, they were out of gas.

And you say, “That’s hogwash! These guys are pros, and it’s their job to get ready to play.” True, but think about the last time you didn’t feel great or had an injury and still had to go to work. Now, try that for a couple of years in a row.

Also, don’t underestimate the lack of mental energy in the Rangers situation. It’s not new to them anymore. They’ve been there, done that and got handed a devastating loss in Game 6 of the World Series last year.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not making excuses, but Kenneth Davis brings up a great point: When you win, and win a lot over a period of time, you lose something.

As my old roommate’s mom, Marge Rizzo, says, “You Dance? You pay the fiddler.”

Hall of Fame Time

Once again, it’s time for a special weekend, Hall of Fame Weekend.

It’s my and Brian Estridge’s privilege to emcee tonight’s TCU Lettermen’s Hall of Fame Induction Dinner. 

The 2012 Hall of Fame Class, which includes LaDainian Tomlinson, will be inducted tonight in a ceremony on campus.

Take a look at this year’s class, it’s a group of elite TCU athletes:

Dywana Crudup-Brazzell '00 (Track & Field)

Marshall K. Harris '79 (Football)

H.E. Kirchner '59 (Basketball)

Max Knake '95 (Football)

Scott Malone '92 (Baseball)

Jordan Reynolds '92 (Track & Field/Football)

LaDainian Tomlinson '00 (Football)

Tomorrow, we’ll take a look at the Iowa State Cyclones.

Kick ‘Em High!

Friday food for thought

It’s another Friday afternoon already!   Funny how fast they come around this time of year.  The anticipation is palpable.  (Look it up.)

WAILING OVER WAYMON

I’m getting lots of calls about Waymon James. Yes, he’s a great back, and, yes, we’re going to miss him the rest of 2012. But let me remind you of one of Denton’s 15 Laws of College Football:

INJURIES ARE PART OF THE GAME

Now, while many fans worry about what might have been, I urge you to look ahead just the same as if you were standing in the bench area in uniform and the play clock is rolling:  19, 18, 17….

No time to fret – get the next guy in there.  And that’s where your focus should be.

Matthew Tucker is a quality running back – bigger than Earl Campbell and probably faster. He now will be “the man” and get more touches that ever. That may be the difference in this season. Frankly, I’m excited that No. 29 will be launched at opposing defenses on a more frequent basis.

Also, B.J. Catalon — No. 23 on your purple wine list — presents a bouquet of surprises and ability. He also has the juice to finish plays 70 yards from the line of scrimmage. And don’t forget Aundre Dean, who doesn’t like to be tackled.

So before you sink like the Friday afternoon sunset crying about no Ed Wesley and no Waymon James, remember that college football is the land of opportunity – and in the TCU backfield, they’re just getting warmed-up.

By the Waymon, No. 32 will have two more years to tunnel his way up and down the field for the Frogs. Look forward.

FUMBLES

Item No. 2 on the email/text parade this week was the rash of fumbles that afflicted the Frogs at Kansas last week. Chalk it up to something akin to the 24-hour flu. You won’t likely see it again, specially in the red zone.

WHO ARE THE HOOS?

I’m not sure why the Virginia Cavaliers are called Wahoos or Hoos, but I will tell you that they are much improved compared to the team that TCU faced in 2009 in Charlottesville. And they are LARGE.

Head coach Mike London has done a nice job upgrading the talent, and he’s brought in a staff with NFL backgrounds to add some zip to the game planning. Be ready for anything  on Saturday morning.

They run a 4-3 on defense that gave up 461 yards on the ground against Georgia Tech last week. Linebackers are the strength of the defense.

On offense, watch out for No. 33 Perry Jones, a quality running back who’s been around the block and No. 20 Tim Smith, a wide receiver.  Smith missed the GT game with leg injury, but if he’s back tomorrow, the TCU secondary will have to keep an eye on him. Last year, Virginia lacked big play sparkle, something that quarterback Mike Rocco is trying to bring with a vertical passing game. Rocco’s not the fastest guy in the stadium, so pressure will be a key for TCU’s front seven.

All in all, Saturday’s game is about who the Frogs are and how much they improve over last week’s performance.

OH, WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING

The Frogs' 11 a.m. kickoff means you gotta get up with the chickens to see the Frogs. It’s another sellout, so get there early. Parking lots open at 6 a.m.  Is that Regular or Decaf?

Kick ‘Em High!!

Yes, Dorothy, we are in Kansas. Again

This is your captain speaking:

This morning the Frogs took off for Lawrence, Kansas and the beautiful setting that is Memorial Stadium – it sits at the bottom of the hill with a bell tower at the top of the hill. (I played there 30 years ago this week – and, yes, we lost 30-19, blowing several red zone opportunities and going home on a very quiet plane.)

If you’ve ever been to Kansas State’s campus, then you know that the Rock-Chalkers picked the best piece of real estate in the Sunflower State for their campus – it is beautiful.
Now, on to matters that you’re concerned with, as am I.

Here we go, again. The FIRST time.

Seems like we were just at BYU in 2005, starting up our MWC existence. OR at Houston in 2001 filling out our CUSA change of address card.  OR at New Mexico in 1996, kicking off our WAC membership. 

Get it?

The Frogs are starting over, albeit in a better neighborhood, and there’s lot to prove.
The slate is wiped clean. And nobody cares that you beat #5 Utah 47-7, or trounced BYU home and away.

What people do remember is that TCU won the Rose Bowl and they expect to see THAT team week in and week out in a league full of Wisconsins.

So buckle your seat belts, here we go. The Frogs are opening the Big 12 for real on Saturday and here’s hoping that Gary Patterson’s young team is up for a Big Day to match.

Kick ’Em High!

Finishing touches

 

Ahhh!  It’s Thursday, August 30th and the college football season starts tonight! Look at this menu of appetizers to tantalize your taste buds:  (all times Central)

6:00 p.m. No. 9 South Carolina at Vanderbilt   (Gamecocks are solid!)
6:00 p.m. UCF at Akron         (George O’Leary takes his Knights on the road)
6:00 p.m. Eastern Michigan at Ball State      (MAC Battle)
6:00 p.m. SE Missouri State at Central Michigan   (compass point schools battle it out)
6:00 p.m. Towson at Kent State    (name those teams’ conferences)
6:15 p.m. Northern Colorado at Utah     (Utes padding their record)
6:30 p.m. Massachusetts at Connecticut   (Huskies too much)
6:30 p.m. UCLA at Rice       (Watch out for the feisty night birds!)
6:30 p.m. McNeese State at Middle Tennessee     (The battle of the M-Schools)
7:00 p.m. Sacramento State at New Mexico State    (On TV?  Really?)
7:00 p.m. Southern Utah at Utah State     (Utah State is better than people think)
8:00 p.m. Eastern Washington at Idaho    (Vandals tough at home)
9:15 p.m. Washington State at Brigham Young    (Mike Leach involved?  I will be watching)
9:30 p.m. Northern Arizona at Arizona State    (hmmmm)
10:00 p.m. Minnesota at UNLV   (Late night snack)

And don’t forget Boise State at Michigan State on Friday night in a match of two Top-25ers.


And Down the Stretch They Come
Take a look at the shot above of Amon G. Carter Stadium’s west side, taken this morning.  The crews are working hard to get the finishing touches put on the Frogs new $164 million stadium.   This time next week, the stadium will be dedicated and tours will commence at 1 p.m. on Thursday, September 6th.

Thoughts on New Orleans
I can’t help but think that there’s a hurricane magnet buried somewhere in the French Quarter.  New Orleans can’t catch a break and to think that the storm hit on the 7th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina.   My other thought as I watched stranded folks say they didn’t know it was going to be that bad is:  If the National Weather Service tells you a hurricane is coming and you have 36 hours to get out of town…..GET OUT!   As the lady on the Chiffon Margarine commercials back in the 1970s used to say, “It’s not nice to fool with Mother Nature!”

'Tis the season ... pre-kickoff thoughts

After a summer off, it’s time to tee up Extra Points again. I hope you’ll savor these as much as I enjoy supplying the food for thought.

Summer is winding down and I hope all of you had a great one. It seemed to go by fast, didn’t it? Now we find ourselves on the lip of the college football cup, about to fall in to all that the great game has to offer between now and the end of December. I can’t wait!

College football isn’t all that’s going on with TCU Athletics. Women’s volleyball and women's soccer teams are off to hot starts. If you can, get to a home match for both teams. The environments are great and the Big 12 schedules for both these teams bring the best in the nation to the TCU campus. Not to be missed.

The new Amon G. Carter Stadium is nearing completion and it is a football palace. The great thing about it is that the stadium’s in the same place, but it’s not the same old place. It’s impressive and your chance to get a preview comes next week on the afternoon of September 6 for the ribbon-cutting and dedication.

I can’t stop thinking about Neil Armstrong. The First Man on the Moon died earlier this week and what a childhood hero he was to guys like me.  I was 7 years old and heading into second grade in the summer of 1969 when Armstrong and his Apollo 11 crew made history and effectively settled the space race.  When he took his “One step for man, one giant leap for mankind” he held the world spellbound and fulfilled John F. Kennedy’s promise of putting a man on the moon by the end of the 1960’s. My entire family watched the shadowy images over the narration of Walter Cronkite on July 20-21. It was special. I don’t know about you, but I never have to work for the answer when someone mentions Apollo 11 and the first man on the moon. I can recall Neil Armstrong’s name as if he’s a family member or a neighbor. That’s how big Armstrong is to me. What are your memories?

That’ll do it for today.  I’d love to hear from you.  Send in your comments and ideas, and I’ll take a swing at ‘em.

Kick ‘Em High!

A new Big 12 point of view

TCU’s 2011-12 academic year is coming to a close. Study Days — or "Dead Days" back in my day — are underway and final exams loom in cold, silent classrooms all over campus next week. Graduation will soon march into Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
Dorms will soon empty out and goodbyes will be said for the summer. Don’t forget to text!

Then thoughts turn to the next year and the new experiences and hopes that 2012-13 will bring. New dorms on the southwest corner of Bellaire Drive and Stadium Drive, improvements in almost every department and, on July 1, TCU realizes its long-awaited membership in the Big 12.

And a new Big 12 point of view.

In fact, lots of new points of view.   Here are some to digest and think about over your summer:

• TCU is now in a BCS “automatic qualifier” conference – no new news here, but for the first summer in 17 years, you don’t have to worry about that.
• The Frogs no longer have to be undefeated to get to a BCS game.
• IF the Frogs were to go undefeated, a shot at the National Championship is a real possibility.
• Games in the Big 12 will, in most cases, be decided in the last 5 minutes.  (See last year’s Boise State game or Baylor game for preparation)
• Tickets will be hard to come by.
• Sellouts at Amon G. Carter Stadium will become the norm.
• Get ready to deal with fans from Texas Tech, Kansas State, UT, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State in droves at home games – they come early and stay late.  (Remember Wisconsin fans and Boise State fans for preparation).
• Be ready to defend Amon G. Carter Stadium by getting to your seats early.
• If you like noise, you will love the new Amon G. Carter.
• The TCU students’ section, directly behind the visitors’ bench area should provide some great entertainment.
• Thanksgiving Weekend in Austin changes your plans, doesn’t it?
• The Cotton Bowl is not what we have in mind – can you believe we’re saying that?
• Big 12 Basketball in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum will change that environment forever.   Get ready!
• Big 12 Baseball is among the best in the nation. Jim Schlossnagle’s crew is a perfect fit.
• Ever been to the Texas Relays in Austin? Start making plans.

The Frogs first foray into the Big 12 is coming. Quickly. Football’s season opener in the new stadium vs. Grambling is four months and 4 days away. We asked for the Big 12 and now it’s upon us. Fly your TCU flag on July 1 to let the Big 12 know we’re here, we’ll show up and we’re ready for it all. And, once again, I say thank the Texas Aggies and CDC.

By the way, here’s a look at what the new Amon G. Carter Stadium looks like from the Kelly Center. Same great place with a stadium that now matches the program.

Kick ‘Em High!

Of Steel and Stadium (and Aggies)

On a beautiful April afternoon when you wish your office or workspace had a sun roof, here’s what I have:

Well, they have hung the last of the structural steel for the new Amon G. Carter Stadium today.  By the end of the month, the entire east side seating deck will be complete.

While this is a day to mark down, there’s still a lot to do in the “new Carter.” Interior work continues on the west side in the club area and suites and the press box is starting to be enclosed in glass.

Across the way at Lupton Stadium tonight, the Texas A&M Aggies bring a Big 12/SWC feel to the campus as they march in for a little baseball.  The Ags are ranked No. 9 in the nation, down from No. 2 a week ago.

That was before Baylor swept A&M over the weekend.   Not to brag on Baylor, but they’ve won 24 straight games. Think about that — 24 straight.  TRIVIA TIME: Can you name the last team to beat Baylor in baseball this year? Find the answer at the end of today’s Extra Points.   

While the Aggies are in town, you might want to thank them. They made room for the Frogs at the Big 12 table by bolting for the SEC. I think they made a huge mistake and the resulting opportunity was jumped on by TCU.

Thank you, Bill Byrne!

In other chest-puffing purple news:

• Congratulations to the TCU Women’s Tennis Team – MWC Champions.   This team may be turning head coach Dave Borelli’s hair white, but they figure out a way to win.
• Coach Angie Ravaoli-Larkin’s Lady Frogs Golf Team won the MWC Championship and Coach Angie is the MWC Coach of the Year – again!
  
• Trackster Whitney Gibson is in the fast lane to head to the Olympics – she has the third-longest long jump in the WORLD this year – 22 feet, 8 inches. Watch for her in the MWC and NCAA post-season action.
• Shoot!  And Sarah Sherer from the TCU Rifle Team has qualified for the Olympics as well.
  
• Speaking of Rifle, did you know the team won the national championship this year?!  It’s the second time in three years!  Congrats to Coach Karen Monez and her team!
• Get out to Lupton Stadium tonight and cheer on those TCU Horned Frogs, the last team to beat Baylor.

Kick ‘Em High!

No worries upon the Ides of March

Looks like we survived the Ides of March, so as your favorite “Soothsayer”, I say let’s move ahead….

It’s Spring Break week so here are some things to ponder while you’re fighting off allergy symptoms:

· National Championships! -- perhaps lost in March Madness is the fact that TCU has nailed down two (not one, but TWO) national championships in the last 10 days

o Whitney Gipson set the TCU record for the long jump at the NCAA Indoor Track Championships with a jump of 22-8 (that’s the equivalent of a 7-1/2 yard run in football!) By the way, the TCU Track Team is in action at home this weekend at the TCU Invitational at the Lowdon Track and Field Complex.

o The TCU Rifle Team won ANOTHER national championship.

· Charles Silmon claimed 2^nd Team All-America honors with time of 6.66 in the 60 meters.

· Men’s Basketball – landed in post-season play for the first time in 7 years and beat Milwaukee in the first round of the CBI. Now it’s off to Corvallis, Oregon to go for win #19 against the Oregon State Beavers on Monday night. Brian Estridge and I are on the air at 8:30 p.m. CT from Gill Coliseum on the TCU Sports Network from IMG.

· Baseball – TCU starts their final run through the MWC today at UNLV. Don’t look now, but Coach Schloss’s crew has won 5 in a row (all over Big 12 teams).

· Swimming – TCU junior Sabine Rasch is at the NCAA Women’s Swimming and Diving Championship this week at Auburn. She clocked a 22.61 in the 50-free yesterday and will compete in the 100-free on Saturday.

· New Amon G. Carter Stadium – tremendous progress is being made as the east side is coming into shape. As you can see in the photo, the north end of the east stands has been decked.

· Stadium Seat Selection – Seat selection for the new stadium is underway for 2011 TCU season ticket holders and continues for the next several weeks.

· Football Parking – renewals for Frog Club donor parking are in the mail and due in two weeks from now on or before the deadline of Friday, March 30^th.

· Brick It Up – don’t forget to get your Legacy Brick through the TCU Frog Club and honor your TCU loved-one or achievement in Frog Alley. Call 817-257-7739 and ask for Brick!

Don’t know about you, but I’m fired-up about all the great things going on right now with TCU Athletics. Et tu, Brute?

Kick ‘Em High!

Love is in the air (as is TCU Athletics)

Before we get to far into the conversation, let me remind all you romantics (and wannabes) that you only have four shopping days left before Cupid descends to do his work. Advice from Denton here – DO NOT forget her on Valentine’s Day.

(This message is not affiliated with any candy, flower peddler, card-maker or other Valentine’s Day profiteer.)

With that behind us, let’s turn our attention to a large menu of topics that make for an interesting Friday afternoon:

Football Stadium Update
As you can see by the photo taken around 2:30 p.m., the east side of the new Amon G. Carter Stadium is moving. It won’t be long before all the concrete uprights are poured and then things really start to happen.

Just Seven Days until Yardball!
The Baseball team will start its quest for another trip to Omaha one week from today at home against Ole Miss. The 54-game slate features a school-record 34 home contests and 23 tilts against teams that participated in the 2011 NCAA Tournament.

Frogs hoops teams begin the home stretch in MWC play
Believe it or not, the MWC Basketball Tournament championship games will be played one month from today in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, both TCU’s men’s and women’s teams get ready for the stretch drive. The Lady Frogs are at Colorado State tomorrow while the Men in Purple try to rebound from an upset loss to SMU last Wednesday in Dallas.

Don’t Mess with the TCU Rifle team
If you haven’t noticed, the TCU Rifle team is No. 1 in the nation, with recent wins over No. 2 West Virginia, No. 3 Kentucky and Air Force. (Those are three mountain schools who know how to handle their shootin’ irons.) The Horned Frogs are the nation's only undefeated team at 9-0 this season. Word is that several of the Frogs could be on their way to the Olympics to shoot for the USA. Stay tuned. And keep your head down!

Kick ‘Em High!

The seduction of National Signing Day

Well, here we are on National Signing Day for college football. It’s a day filled with excitement, hope, hype and tension.

Truth is, in today’s college football world, true freshmen rarely have much of an immediate impact on the programs they join. Today’s darlings will not be heard from for a while.

College football is a five-year proposition, and for most of today’s stars of Signing Day, they’ll be on the scout team come September, running the upcoming opponent’s plays in practice against the first-team defense.

Fact is, today we celebrate dropping high school stars into the college football incubator, and, hopefully, in two or three years, they’ve matured, transitioned into college life, made their grades and developed into players. While many make it, many do not. Academics, injuries and a lot of other snares often end players’ college careers before they ever get started. Five years from now, we’ll look back and see who bloomed and who faded into the wood work.

But today? Celebrate. It’s National Signing Day and every player’s a five-star, can’t-miss, blue chip!

Hooping it Up

If you haven’t noticed, TCU’s Women’s Basketball team is on a bit of a roll, winning three straight conference games. They’ll play at 7,227 feet tonight in Laramie. With a win, Jeff Mittie’s bunch will have evened their record at 11-11.

TCU’s Men’s team will play at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum at 7 p.m. against the upstart, overachieving Wyoming Cowboys. The Frogs at 2-3 in Mountain West play are in the thick of the race. Believe it or not, when the Frogs travel to San Diego State this coming Saturday, they’ll be half way through their conference schedule. By the way, the second-half conference slate favors the Frogs with all the top-tier teams coming to the DMC.

Football Season Ticket Renewals

Season ticket renewal information is in the mail to all 2011 TCU Football season ticket holders. NOTE: Inside the packet is a response form that EVERY SEASON TICKET HOLDER MUST RETURN BY 5 P.M. NEXT MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6. No form means no season tickets for the first season in the Big 12, so make sure to get your form in. For information and help, call Stadium Re-Seating Hotline at 817-257-SEAT.

Kick ‘Em High!

Leadership, character and a cruise liner

If anyone was thinking about taking a cruise vacation, the news of the sinking of the Costa Concordia off the Italian coast had to make you think again. What occurs to me in this story is that there are basic fundamentals that we should be reminded of by this mishap.

Pay close attention. There are lessons to be learned here.

First, leadership is a valuable commodity that doesn’t always show itself in these type situations, but the void of leadership always sticks out like a sore thumb.

Second, judgment after the initial incident usually steers the subsequent events. In this story, it appears the captain not only exhibited poor leadership, but also very poor judgment in deciding to get off the ship ASAP, a move that’s viewed with more disdain than his navigational errors. So far, we’re pretty basic in our lessons, huh? Kindergarten/1st grade-type stuff.

Third, accountability. I haven’t heard the captain take responsibility for steering his ship into the rocks or for getting off the ship before hundreds of passengers. I did hear the story that he tripped and fell into a lift boat, so he stayed in it! Tell that to the families of the dead. If you can’t take the heat, stay off the bridge.

How far have we really come?

After watching the media coverage of this story and seeing all the cell phone videos and other lurid details, it occurs to me that we have really not gotten much better in these emergency situations than we were 100 years ago when the Titanic sank ... and that was April 1912!

Again, I think it comes down to leadership, character and being prepared — three items that were obviously left on the dock when the Costa Concordia launched.

Have a great weekend.

Kick ‘Em High!

Thursday Two-fer in 2012

Welcome to the first 2012 effort of Extra Points. I hope you all had great holidays and you’re launching into the new-year with energy.

A few random thoughts for you to ponder:

• The Frogs finished in the top 15 in the final college football polls and were listed at a pre-season No. 10 in Sports Illustrated’s 2012 preview. By the way, we’re only 7 months and 17 days from the start of the 2012 football season.
• TCU Men’s and Women’s basketball teams are wading into MWC play and it’s going to be an interesting run – both teams play with heart. The men, now 10-7, lost a tough one to Colorado State in double-overtime Saturday night in Fort Collins and ran into soe hot-shooting Rebels in Las Vegas. (By the way, if you never made it to Fort Collins during the Frogs run in the MWC, you should try it – great town.) Next up for the men, Boise State at home on Saturday.
• Looking back at it, LSU never had a chance in the BCS National Championship game. Rematches are always double-tough on the winner of the first game. And it’s one of the few times that LSU looked awful in the Sugar Bowl – usually LSU in the Sugar Bowl means death to the opponent.
• The old east side of Amon G. Carter Stadium is gone and things are going to start happening quickly. It is strange to stand on the east side and be able to look into the stadium. It really gives you an idea of how things looked before the east side was expanded in the 1940’s.
• I’m tired of hearing NBA players blaming the lockout for their slow starts or lack of production. Haven’t these guys been playing all their lives? You’d think if you do something for a living that you’d pretty much be ready to do your job at the drop of a hat.
• I hurt for Packers’ fans on Sunday……..until I thought about the ’67 Ice Bowl, the first football game that made me cry.
• Speaking of the old-school Dallas Cowboys, last night my dad and I attended the 40th Anniversary celebration of the Cowboys’ first Super Bowl win. They showed the Super Bowl VI movie produced by NFL Films. At one point during the movie, we both had tears running down our faces. Bob Lilly, Roger Staubach, Mel Renfro, Cornell Green, Larry Cole, John Niland, Walt Garrison, Craig Morton, Lee Roy Jordan and many others were there. It brought back great memories. It also made me realize how far the current Cowboys are from greatness. A little nugget for you: Did you know that it was the idea of Alicia Landry, Tom’s wife, to put the star on the side of the Cowboy helmet?
• Speaking of pro football – can they really name anyone other than Andy Dalton as NFL Rookie of the Year? The “Red Rifle” as he’s now known in the Queen City, had a remarkable year. Most rookie QBs don’t survive an entire season, let alone set records and get their team to the playoffs. The vote here is for No. 14.
• Leave Tim Tebow alone. He’ll hurt you.
• Last week, I saw the movie, "Moneyball." I’m ready for baseball season. The Frogs will be good again!
• For those who made it to TCU Athletics’ Seating Summit last week, thank you for taking time to find out the facts about what TCU Football ticket prices and the seating process will be. For those who missed it, the entire presentation is available for you online at www.gofrogs.com or the quality coverage of The TCU Magazine.

Kick ‘Em High!