November 30, 2003

Why TCU hates the GMAC Bowl

A few contacts last night after the TCU football game has some very well-placed yet extremely anonymous sources finally clearing the air over the apparent rift between TCU and the GMAC Mobile Bowl.

First and foremost, the Horned Frogs are 100% committed to their plan of not traveling during exam week. It's not just the 100 or so football players and student staff that have final exams, but the band, cheerleaders, and student fans that have final exams the day after the GMAC bowl is being played. TCU is learning that being a team that is perceived to "travel well" is just as important as being a team that plays well. As one of the better academic schools in the conference, TCU is not going to put its athletics before academics. Playing during exam week would do just that, not to mention create a poorer turnout than playing after exam week.

The second (and much less public) reason TCU is not interested in the GMAC Mobile Bowl is the way the folks running the bowl game treated TCU and Dennis Franchione during the 2000 GMAC bowl. Coach Fran had just left TCU to take the Head Coach gig at Alabama. TCU made it clear that they were moving forward with their new coach. GMAC officials had Coach Fran doing a "victory lap" around the track in front of the Mobile, AL locals. That didn't sit real well with the TCU officials and they have neither forgiven nor forgotten.

Legit or not, TCU feels like the GMAC Mobile Bowl went around them to snub the Frogs in favor of a carnival show with the new Crimson Tide coach.

C-USA officials, GMAC bowl officials, and TCU officials have a conference call on Monday to "resolve" the matter. GMAC could offer to move the game date (they won't), but it won't matter at all: TCU will not be going to the GMAC Mobile Bowl.

Posted by Kevin Donahue