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!