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Letters to the Editor

Additions to C-USA not good for TCU football

This year has been one of ecstasy for the TCU football fan. The Frogs are the top team in Texas and people are finally starting to take notice. But on campus, there have been skeptics at every turn. Many remember the San Jose State debacle in 2000, and it takes more than five years of success to undo 50 years of struggles. The prevailing thought has been that “we’ll screw it up somewhere along the way.”

Recently, that screw-up happened. In the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, it was announced that our conference will seek SMU, Rice and Tulsa as members to replace potentially leaving members Louisville, Cincinnati and South Florida. Even worse, Chancellor Victor Boschini commented that this is a great thing. He feels that these schools are similar to us and should be rivals with us. No offense, Chancellor, but this isn’t Illinois or Indiana.

In the past six years, TCU has been as dominant as any team in the country in football. Conferences are not about academics. They are about sports. Only two sports actually make money every year at any institution. Those are football and basketball. SMU, Rice and Tulsa are three of the worst football programs in the nation. It is ridiculous to think that replacing three of our best football programs in C-USA with three of the worst in the nation is a good thing. During the past six years, TCU has spent millions to upgrade the facilities and, more importantly, the image of TCU sports, specifically football. With this announcement, it is apparent that the administration has given up on trying to compete with the big boys when they are almost there. I wouldn't be surprised if Coach Gary Patterson is now updating his résumé to leave for a program where the administration is behind him. The thought that these three schools may join the conference and the fact that our chancellor likes this idea is frightening.

Please! I am pleading to the board of trustees and Athletics director Eric Hyman to rethink their feelings on this situation. TCU has no business being in a conference with SMU, Rice and Tulsa. You must look to the future and do what is best for the Horned Frogs. What transpired is not the best for TCU.

— Eric Junker, senior marketing major