Fans go all out for Kansas game
By Matt Potter
Staff Reporter

Daniel-Meyer Coliseum exceeded capacity Monday night with 7,267 TCU students, alumni, national press and former NBA stars who were eager to watch the matchup between the Frogs and No. 1-ranked Kansas.

Much of Monday’s crowd was made up of students and alumni. The student section, which stretched from the floor to the top of the coliseum, was a roaring sea of purple.

Geoff Godley, a senior history major, said he could feel the excitement and electricity inside Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

“I got here with a group of 10 people at around 6:30 p.m.,” Godley said. “We’re bringing the best in the nation to our house, and it’s a great way to start the season.”

Tom Bonjour, who graduated TCU in 1972, said he hadn’t seen a crowd like Monday night’s since TCU was in the Southwest Conference where it played teams such as Arkansas and Texas.

“We ought to pack the stands every day,” Bonjour said. “Win or lose, this is terrific for the program. Being on TV against the No. 1 team in the nation should excite Fort Worth to come to the games.”

At halftime, TCU was down 39-38 in the game. Less than a minute into the second half, TCU gave the fans something to cheer for when it took the lead at 41-39.

Students and alumni were not the only fans on-hand to watch the game. Dallas Mavericks Assistant Coach Donn Nelson was also in attendance, as well as former NBA star Danny Manning, who was working as an assistant coach for Kansas.

The game was nationally televised on ESPN 2 and all the major media stations — ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox Sports — were at the game.

Tim George, director of sports marketing, said the demand from students who wanted to be at the game was so high that TCU officials released additional reserved tickets to TCU students for $5.

“Over 300 tickets were sold (Monday),” George said. “Not to mention all the tickets that students picked up before the UTA game (Nov. 22).”

Ticket scalpers were also trying to earn money off the TCU-Kansas matchup by offering tickets at an inflated price. Three scalpers were lined up on West Cantey Street offering tickets to fans passing by.

Freshman sociology major Brent Dore said he thought Kansas coming to Fort Worth helps establish TCU’s program.

“Since we’re playing the No. 1 team in the country, the fans are going to come out and show their loyalty and school spirit,” Dore said. “As long as we’re competitive, then students and other fans will start showing up for more games.”

The excitement of a nationally televised basketball game coupled with the success of the football program may put TCU athletics in the national spotlight and put more students in the stands.

“I’m a senior, and I’ve never seen anything like this at a basketball game before,” Godley said. “This is amazing.”