In sports, 10 years can be a long, long time. As a Dallas native, I would know. The last time the Cowboys won a playoff game was in 1996; the Stars won the Stanley Cup in 1999, and haven’t lifted it since; and the Mavericks were still irrelevant, but improving — thanks to Mark Cuban.
Though these teams have had a deal of success over the last decade, there hasn’t been any silverware to show for it. The Mavericks were the closest, after jumping to a 2–0 lead in the NBA finals, but the events that ensued during the series have left me bitter and disgusted with the NBA ever since.
In comparison, TCU, my alma mater, has gone through a lot in the past 10 years, especially the four I have spent as a student.
When the time to apply to colleges came around, I was dead-set on the University of Texas at Austin. I wanted to go to Austin because they were a great school with a great athletic program. Today, I believe my decision to attend TCU instead was the best I ever made. Little did I know, TCU has been building a winning reputation (in football) before they were on my campus shortlist.
Before I talk about the program’s accomplishments over the past ten years, here is a great compilation of the current season, with a BCS bowl still to be played.
At the end of the 1999-2000 season, Gary Patterson assumed the role of head coach after Dennis Franchione bailed on the team before the Alabama Bowl to, ironically, the University of Alabama — where he lasted two seasons. Ever since Patterson assumed leadership, the team’s overall record has been 85-27.
In the past 10 years, TCU has played in eight bowl games, winning the last four; it be nine appearances, but this season’s bowl is in January — it also happens to be our first appearance in a BCS game.
In the past 10 years, TCU has finished in the Top 25 six of them, with the highest being last season’s No. 7 ranking — after beating Boise State I might add.
In the past 10 years, TCU moved to three athletic conferences after the dissolution of the Southwest Conference in 1996 left the Frogs with no place to go (another reason I hate Baylor, but that’s another story).
Shifting conferences hasn’t shaken the spirit of the Frogs, who have won two WAC, one Conference-USA and two Mountain West Conference titles this decade
My time in Fort Worth has been, and still is, amazing. The team racked up a 41-9 record in the four seasons – five of those losses being in one rough year. The best win was the 55-28 romping of Utah in November, a huge game for Mountain West and BCS implications; it was loudest, rowdiest and most electrifying athletic event I have ever attended. I hope I can put this win second, behind a Fiesta Bowl win.
The past 10 years have also been good for former Horned Frog Ladainian Tomlinson; ever since he was drafted by the San Diego Chargers, Tomlinson has been cutting and slashing through the NFL to a spot in Canton, OH.
In lieu of the Christmas coming up, I will take a short hiatus and continue posting the day after Christmas — after I get some shopping done of course.
