TCU vs. Texas Tech

Thanks to Coach Steve, I got to attend this, the first soldout game at Amon Carter Stadium since 1984. As a member of the Texas High School Coach's Association, he got two tickets and asked me to go with him. We anticipated getting two entry passes that would allow us to stand in the endzone so we were extremely pleased when we found that we had actually gotten seats. They were on the home side, at the goal line extended, row 2. And we had an entire four person bench to ourselves. It was great. On the way in, we were given small white towels, as was everyone else, and that contributed to one of the three most memorable moments of the game for me, looking back over my shoulder after one defensive stop nad seeing the whole crowd waving their towels. It was really cool. I think this is probably the third largest seelout crowd I have been a part of, following 80,000 last year for TCU OU, and 70,000 in Houston for Barcelona Club America. Around 45000 showed for this one and it turned out to be the largest crowd to see the Frogs win in Fort Worth. They played very well. The first memorable image came at the start of the day when a Frog kick returner was headed out of bounds, being tackled, and a Red Raider defender standing on the sidelines (later I discovered it was a starting linebacker) delivered a vicious forearm shiver to the Frog. It was crazy. He was immediately ejected. Mom, who was watching at home, was reminded of the Rice? Navy? game (Texas maybe?) where the guy came off the bench to make a tackle. It wasn't quite that weird, but it was incredibly stupid. What followed was a defensive struggle. Tech managed a field goal in the first half, but that was it. The Frogs played very well, aided by the scatter shot arm of the Red Raider quarterback. It seemed like none of his passes were close. TCU's offense was not spectacular, but they moved the chains when they needed to and got four field goals, which was more than enough. The final lasting image came late in the fourth when Tech was driving and caught a pass near the sideline, maybe fifteen yards or so from us. The Frog defender flew through and leveled the Tech guy, dislodging the ball and the receiver's helmet. It was sweet. As was the game. We had a great time and Our boys' did Shine that night.

The parking, by the way, stank. We parked behind Paschal. I'll say that again. We parked in the Paschal High School parking lot, which is behind Paschal High School, which is about 80 miles from campus. It was crazy. But the game was good. I'll stick with that. TCU goes undefeeated and gets a BCS bowl this year. Where they get hammered by Michigan or Notre Dame. You heard it here first.