Thomas “Tommy” Sharp ’88 (MBA ’89) and senior linebacker Tyler “Ty” Summers ’17 have a few things in common. For starters, they both wore jersey number 42 as TCU football players.

In 2014, Sharp was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. Throughout his battle, Sharp remains a loyal Horned Frog fan and attends many athletic events.

Last fall, TCU Football Coach Gary Patterson surprised Sharp with a signed #42 jersey.

“We both laughed at how much the jerseys have changed,” said teammate and longtime friend William “Bill” Tommaney ’88 (MS ’91).

In addition to the TCU jersey number, Sharp and Ty Summers wore the same number in high school– 11. From there, the list of commonalities grows: Ty Summers’ father Jerrod Summers and Sharp went to the same high school in Alvin, Texas. Jerrod Summers was a quarterback in the ’80s and Sharp was a defensive back. They’re even recognized as Alvin High School All-Decade Team of 1980. Jerrod Summers and Sharp both have sons named Tyler.

The Sharp and Summers families shared memories in December 2017. Tommy Sharp (center) posed for a photo with son Bryce, wife Marie and the Summers family: Faith, Ty, Jerrod and Kelly Summers. Photo courtesy of Bill Tommaney

Sharp went on to be part of TCU Football Coach Jim Wacker’s first recruiting class in 1983. Football wasn’t Sharp’s only priority; he married Marie in 1984. Sharp nearly quit football after the birth of their daughter Megan, but with Marie’s encouragement, he continued to play and even clocked more game time.

Tommy Sharp (center) shows off his #42 jersey with longtime friend Billy Tommaney and TCU linebacker Ty Summers. Photo courtesy of Bill Tommaney

While attending the Valero Alamo Bowl in December 2017, Sharp and Jerrod Summers reunited. Later, Sharp and Ty Summers met each other in person for the first time.

“It was great hearing Tommy and Ty share stories of the bowl game, playing for Coach P and other football-related topics,” Tommaney said.

Ty Summers also signed the jersey Patterson gave Sharp at the start of the season.

“TCU is a special place,” Tommaney said. “This story illustrates the bond we share as players no matter what the age. It shows the love we all have for TCU, the friendships, the memories and, most importantly, the brotherhood of TCU Football.”

An online fundraiser in honor of Sharp can be found here.

Hello from Detroit and Little Caesar’s Arena.

Located in Downtown Detroit, Fox Theatre opened in 1928. The 5,048-seat theatre is the largest surviving movie palace of the 1920s. Photo by John Denton

Wednesday night we got a look at the city, the famous Fox Theater and a downtown Detroit that’s coming back to life – there’s a lot of construction and renovation underway in the Motor City.

It was a busy day for the Frogs. We all found out that the Frogs will face Syracuse on Friday night since Syracuse defeated Arizona State on Wednesday night 60-56 to get here.

The Orange is one of college basketball’s card-carrying big boys. Jim Boeheim has been the coach there for 42 years. They are long and big and play that famous 2-3 zone. Syracuse is not a deep team, playing just seven players. More on them Friday.

The Frogs had a great practice Thursday morning and a Shoot Around at the arena that afternoon after Coach Jamie Dixon and players Kenrich Williams, Vlad Brodziansky and Ahmed Hamdy met with the media.

Photos by John Denton

I’ll have a scouting report on Syracuse Friday.

Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

It’s happening.

The Frogs are on their way to Detroit for their first Big Dance appearance in 20 years.

The team will arrive in Detroit this afternoon and settle in for what we all hope will be a long weekend.

Fun fact: Desmond Bane led the Big 12 in 3-point field goal shooting at 47 percent. He made 58 from downtown this year.

Talk to you tomorrow from MOTOWN.

Kick ‘Em High!

Terry Smith ’02, producer for U.S. Army & Air Force Exchange Service, traveled to Pyeongchang, South Korea, to cover the soldier-athletes of the U.S. Army’s World Class Athlete Program as they competed in the 2018 Olympics. Smith and his team followed the story of the athletes since their training and world competitions in Lake Placid, New York, in 2017. Three luge and three bobsled athletes were accepted to Team USA and competed, representing the U.S. Army and the United States.

Smith said the athletes also represented “every soldier that helped put them there.”

Photo courtesy of Terry Smith

South Korea’s winter was an obstacle for the crew, but the experienced alumnus got the job done. “The shoots proved challenging with 11 degree temperatures and snow,” Smith said. “Equipment froze up in the bitter cold and batteries died, but [the crew] came back with some remarkable interviews and competition footage from the week.

“Unfortunately, the six Olympians came close, but did not medal, but the experience was well worth the trip.”

Smith said he hopes to travel to Tokyo in 2020 to cover the U.S. WCAP Athletes as they compete in the Summer Olympics.

See Smith’s Olympics videos on the Army & Air Force Exchange Service YouTube channel and Facebook page.

https://www.facebook.com/shopmyexchange/videos/10155457346207756/

_______________________

Laura Carmichael Bozeman ’92, stationed in South Korea with the U.S. Army, went to the Olympics to see the sport she loves and represent TCU.

“When I found out that I would be here during the Winter Olympics, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to attend at least one day of the games,” Bozeman said. She is the equal opportunity program manager for the U.S. Army’s 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Red Cloud, South Korea.

Photos courtesy of Laura Bozeman

She chose the men’s figure skating finals because of her connection with ice skating. Bozeman grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, home of the U.S. Olympic Training Center.

“I have wonderful memories of watching Scott Hamilton skate in his Olympic days,” she said. “I’ve always enjoyed watching figure skating competitions.”

Bozeman also attended a men’s curing round robin and one of the short track speed skating finals. She made sure she wore her TCU purple.

“This year’s Olympics organizers chose purple and white as the theme colors, and I wore TCU’s colors proudly to the event,” she said. “It was an amazing experience!”

TCU readies for the snap at the line of scrimmage in the November game against Baylor. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Happy December, everyone! Just 24 shopping days to Christmas and just one day until the much-awaited matchup between the Frogs and Sooners in the “new” Big 12 Championship. It’s the first Big 12 Championship since 2010. OU has appeared in eight of the league’s 15 title games. Its record in such games is 7-1.

Lots swirling around this game:

·       The ongoing discussion about OU quarterback Baker Mayfield’s November 11 pregame pass that didn’t show up anywhere on the stat sheet (intended receiver TCU’s Niko Small). Irony is that it might be his most famous throw of the year so far.

·       The impact of this game on the Big 12’s chances to get a team into the College Football Playoff.

·       Bowl implications for the Frogs – Cotton or Alamo. Fiesta and Peach are outside possibilities.

·       The “new” Big 12 Championship – born from the 2014 Final CFP committee that dropped the Frogs from No. 3 to No. 6. Then-chairman Jeff Long told the Big 12 that no title game hurt the Frogs because of the lack of a “13^th data point.” Then, in 2016, while the Big 12 planned this year’s inaugural Big 12 Championship, the committee plopped Ohio State into the playoff despite the fact that they didn’t even qualify for the Big 10 Championship game. Every time I hear the term “13^th data point” I get “that feeling” in my belly.

·       The oddness of playing an opponent twice in three weeks – it doesn’t happen often in college football. More on that later.

Mat Boesen (#9) set a TCU record with 5 1/2 sacks to give him a team-best 11 1/2 on the season. He has at least one sack in six of the last seven games. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

We’re all very familiar with OU. You know all the players. Heisman finalist Baker Mayfield went from walk-on to wonder. If he wins the Heisman, it’s due to this year’s supporting cast. OU offense came out of no where to put the Sooners at the top nationally at 593 yards per game, 8.6 yards per play and 72 offensive touchdowns. OU’s offensive line is mammoth. TCU needs to figure out a way to get pressure – great coverage in the secondary will help that. Having sack machine Mat Boesen for an entire game will help. OU tailback Rodney Anderson punished TCU by air and land three weeks ago in Norman for 290 all-purpose yards (151 rushing, 139 receiving). He must be contained. Mayfield likes to go to the backs out of the backfield if tight end Mark Andrews or speedster Marquise Brown are not open. Again, the key to quieting all this mayhem is controlling Mayfield.

Defensively, OU comes in as No. 4 in total defense in the Big 12, allowing 390 yards per game and 25.7 points. It’s No. 3 in pass defense at 241 yards per game. Up front is all about #31 Ogbonnia Okoronkwo (my game chart says o-BO-ny-uh k-kor-RON-kwo), who has a habit of making plays behind the line of scrimmage. #4 Emanuel Beal is the leading tackler as weakside linebacker and the secondary is young with two freshmen in the lineup.

OU’s kicking game is solid with Austin Siebert handling the kicking and the punting duties. He hit a career-long 51-yard field goal last week against West Virginia.

Sewo Olonilua (#33) escapes a tackle in the November game against Baylor. Photo by Glen E. Ellman

Keys for a Frog win will be:

·       A fast start – don’t let OU run away with the game. The first 10 minutes will be key. Make plays, keep your head and settle in – no mental errors or dumb penalties.

·       Run the football – Kyle Hicks and Sewo Olonilua can make hay on the outside. Patrick Morris back at center should help.

·       Keep the Sooners below six yards per play (they average 8.6).

·       Tackle on first contact – the Frogs had a season-full of missed tackles three weeks ago in Norman.

·       Contain and confound Mayfield and create at least one turnover. In three games against the Frogs, Mayfield has never thrown an interception.

·       Score in the kick return game.

·       Hold OU to 33 points or less.

·       Play the full 60 minutes (and be prepared to go longer).

This will be an epic slugfest. I predict Frogs win 34-31.

Notify the committee.

Did You Know?

The last time TCU played the same team twice in a season exactly three weeks apart was 1909? Coach J.R. Langley’s Frogs won at Baylor 9-0 on October 23 and then beat Baylor again “at home” 11-0 on November 13 in what was then a cross-town rivalry. Both schools were located in Waco at the time.

We’re on the air at 10:30 a.m. tomorrow from AT&T Stadium. Join Brian, Landry and me on the TCU Sports Network on WBAP 820AM, KTCU 88.7FM and Sirius/XM83.

Kick ‘Em High!

Glynn Thompson ’78 hiking in Southeast Asia. Photo courtesy of Glynn Thompson

Glynn Thompson ’78 trekked across Southeast Asia and “talked up the great programs at TCU.” His latest ventures brought him to Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

“High elevations to support a high flying university,” Thompson wrote in an email. “Grateful for my time at TCU – and even at 62, still desire to explore and learn more from others. Thanks, TCU.”

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

It’s a special time with friends and family. For those of you traveling, be safe. For those of you not traveling out of the metroplex, get to “The Carter” Friday morning for Brunch with the Bears.

Either way, dig into that turkey and tell your loved ones what you feel — these special days are fleeting — make the most of it.

Baylor makes its first trip back to Fort Worth since that wet, cold, thrilling overtime game in 2015 that saw the Frogs prevail. Wet, but Happy! was the headline on the sports section of the Star-Telegram the next day. Fans won’t have to worry about the weather Friday. It’s not going to be your traditional chilly Thanksgiving football weather with a biting north wind (that was last Saturday in Lubbock). t’s going to be sunny and 80! Bring the turkey-scented sunscreen.

The Bears have just one win to their credit, but that doesn’t mean they’re not competitive. They are getting better in spite of an injury bug that has nested in Waco.

On offense, the Bears have shown some ability to run the ball but feature a fleet of wide receivers, 19 in all who have caught a pass. The group is led by #15 Denzel Mims who’s racked up 1,061 yards this year to go with eight touchdowns. Another speedster to look for is #15 Tony Nicholson with 39 grabs. Freshman Charlie Brewer will be the quarterback. His dad, Robert, is the former UT QB who beat Alabama in the ’82 Cotton Bowl. Brewer has completed 69 percent of his passes, but untimely turnovers at the pay window have derailed scoring drives.

Defensively, the Bears have made up the most ground. Comparing the first eight games to their last three games, Baylor has reduced the total yards it was giving up per game by 163 and reduced its opponents’ scoring average by 16 points.

Defensive tackle #90 Tyrone Hunt is experienced, and defensive end Greg Roberts, Sr. is the son of former OU great and Outland Trophy winner Greg Roberts.

It’s Senior Day on Friday, so get in the stadium early to salute this group of 35 seniors who are going for win No. 36. This group has achieved a lot, and there’s even more to do. It’s an emotional day for these players and their families with the on-field recognition prior to the game.

Oh, hey, pass the pumpkin pie!

Until Friday morning,

Kick ‘Em High!

Happy Monday!

I’m pushing the schedule up a day this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. I hope all of you and your families are able to enjoy the best of everything Thanksgiving has to offer. Slow yourselves down. This week sometime, take 30 minutes to stop and be silent and think of all the blessings in your life. Turn that cell phone off and think. And give thanks.

The regular-season finish line is within sight. Amazing how fast the season goes. Baylor is playing better, especially on offense. More on the Bears on Wednesday.

Lubbock was windy, dusty and cold. The usual strange things that happen in Lubbock never showed up in this game. Must’ve been the weather. It was blowing hard out of the north with gusts to 45 mph. TCU Director of Athletic Video Services Mike Maples told me it was the toughest conditions in which his crew has ever shot a game. I believe it – up on top of the north scoreboard, the video crew looked like those wind-whipped reporters on The Weather Channel with their pants flapping back and forth! Keep control of the camera!

The Frogs were in control from the start.  Maybe the strangest thing coming out of Saturday was that Tech began the game with a 21-play drive. 21! In all my years of watching football, I’ve never seen that at any level. And Tech got just three points out of it — their only points of the game. Secondly, the Frogs and Red Raiders had just one possession each in the first quarter.   Time of possession was split exactly down the middle: 30 minutes on the dot for each team.

I’ve never seen that, either.

Aside from the Shawn Robinson show, the biggest thing on display for TCU was defensive depth. The Frogs did without safety Niko Small, linebackers Travin Howard and Montrel Wilson, and during the game, Ridwan Issahaku went down. Still, the Frogs stifled Tech’s offense by rushing just three all game long and held Tech quarterback Nic Shimonek to 137 yards passing on the day. The Red Raider scoring output of three points was a flat tire compared to their per-game average of 38 coming in to the game. TCU continued the second half lockdown — the Frogs have not allowed a point in the second half in five straight games.

Saddle secured.

Tonight, Jamie Dixon’s Frogs go for their fourth win of the year against Omaha out of the Summit League. Join us at “The Scholl” tonight at 8.

After the game, I’m off to fix the cornbread dressing — I love that stuff. And pumpkin pie, too!

Talk to you Wednesday. Until then,

Kick ‘Em High!

So many reasons to be thankful this holiday season. Photo by Leo Wesson.

Game 11 takes the Frogs to Lubbock, Texas, and Jones AT&T Stadium, a place that has seen its share of wild games in this series.

And tomorrow should be no different.

There’s plenty of storylines to go around after it was announced that quarterback Kenny Hill and safety Niko Small won’t make the trip to the Hub City. Several other players are still on the mend after last week’s trip to Norman, Oklahoma. It’s that time of year. As head coach Gary Patterson says, “Dead men have to walk.” The college football season is a grind and this time of year seven days seems like seven hours, especially when you’re trying to get players healthy.

The alarm sounds again at 11 a.m. Saturday and the Frogs will answer it with true freshman quarterback Shawn Robinson at the controls. You’ve heard all about his arm and his running ability and his state championship at DeSoto last year. Now we’ll get to see how he handles the environment at Jones AT&T Stadium and an improved Texas Tech defense that has probably added a blitz package or two to their call sheet for this week. I’m looking for great things out of Robinson. He has that look about him and certainly knows the offense. The key will be to get him off to a good start by putting him in position to succeed early on what looks to be a very blustery day on the South Plains.

Tech’s defense is much improved. The squad is an older bunch that’s created 22 take-aways already this year. The Red Raiders’ +10 turnover margin is good enough for No. 10 in the nation in that category. Shawn Robinson’s first job is not to add to that total. Tech shows lots of different looks, even putting just one defensive lineman in a stance at times to make it hard to tell who’s rushing and who’s dropping into coverage. The linebackers are good. Look out for #1 Jordyn Brooks and #40 Dakota Allen. Allen had nine tackles last week in the win over Baylor. The secondary is vastly improved and fly around and sweep around the field like tumbleweeds, delivering big hits in the process. Watch for #15 safety Vaughnte Dorsey.

Offensively, you know what’s coming: the air raid and deep balls aplenty. Texas Tech’s quarterback Nic Shimonek is a transfer from Iowa who’s waited his turn and he’s made the most of it. He has 28 touchdown passes and just seven interceptions through 10 games (tying former Tech-great Graham Harrell). Wide receivers are almost too many to mention, but #2 Keke Coutee is a speedster and #14 Dylan Cantrell is a tough, physical receiver at 220 pounds who caught 11 passes last week against Baylor. Tech keeps defenses honest with a run game led by #4 Justin Stockton and #24 Tre King.

The Frogs will try to get back on track and prove that last week’s episode at OU was an anomaly. Tech is fighting for bowl eligibility – they have two shots to get to six wins as they finish at Texas next week.

It would be great to ride out of Lubbock on a new saddle. Have you seen the West Texas Championship trophy??

Thanks to M.L. Leddy’s Boots & Saddlery of Fort Worth, the Saddle Trophy returns Saturday. The Saddle Trophy sits on a stand and includes the logos for TCU and Texas Tech. Currently, scores for 59 years of the rivalry are represented on the Saddle Trophy Stand with adornment of the trophy plates to equal 100 years. It will travel in a case to Lubbock and be presented to the winning team after the game. Photos courtesy of Mark Cohen, TCU Athletics

I mentioned that Jones AT&T Stadium has been host to some wild games in this series, which will see its 60th game tomorrow. Submitted for your approval are these items:

• TCU and Tech played to three straight ties in Lubbock: a 3-3 tie in a snow storm in 1979; a 39-39 tie in 1981, which saw the Frogs down 24-7 at the half; a 10-10 tie in 1983 played in the rain on muddy artificial turf (a dust storm blew in the day before the game) in Jim Wacker’s first trip to Lubbock at TCU’s head coach.
• A crazy 36-35 Tech win in 1987 over then-1st place (Southwest Conference) Frogs.
• And maybe the wildest win for TCU in Lubbock – the “devine deflection” game two years ago. The Frogs won 55-52 on that magical Boykin-to-Doctson-to-Green pass play in the north end zone. Maybe the most amazing play in TCU history.

We’ll be there on the air at 10 a.m. for breakfast at the stadium. Join us on the TCU Sports Network on WBAP 820 AM, KTCU-FM 88.7 and on the TuneIn app.

Oh, and happy birthday to my little brother Don. Today is his……..ah, I let him tell you how many. Have a great day, Double D!!

Off to Lubbock,

Kick ‘Em High!

Joe D. Denton was a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. Photo courtesy of the Denton family

On this Friday of Veterans Day weekend, we honor and give thanks to all of our veterans who have served, fought and protected us (U.S.) and our way of life. Many volunteered, others had their lives interrupted to go take on the challenge of aggressors. Thanks to all of those who made and make it great for all of us. My dad, Joe D. Denton served in World War II in the U.S. Army Air Corps. This is one of my favorite pictures of him. He’s 93 now.

Because of our veterans, we are safe and free to turn our attention to “important” things like sports. This weekend is jammed packed at TCU – 

The soccer team opens NCAA playoff action tonight against Arizona in Tucson. Good luck to Eric Bell’s squad. Jamie Dixon’s men’s basketball team opens at home tonight at 8 p.m. against ULM. The team will get their NIT championship rings in a special ceremony before the game. Get there early. Women’s basketball opens the season Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. at Schollmaier Arena. Raegan Pebley’s team is ready to roll!

And then there’s a little business item in Norman, Oklahoma tomorrow night.  

No. 5 OU hosting No. 6 TCU in what equates to a first-round playoff game. The loser will have two losses and will be eliminated from College Football Playoff contention, unless something really crazy happens over the next three weeks. The winner has a real shot at moving up in the CFP poll next week as Georgia (at Auburn) and Notre Dame (at Miami) both have tough games this week.

This weekend is why college football is so great. It all funnels down to games like this one in November. So much at stake:

• A College Football Playoff bid stays alive for the winner.
• Winner pretty much assures itself a spot in the Big 12 Championship game.
• Heisman hopes on the line for OU quarterback Baker Mayfield.
• TCU’s offense, largely lost in this week’s pregame hype, has the opportunity to make a statement.
• Another shot for TCU to bag ANOTHER quality road win.

It won’t be easy for either team. OU’s No. 1-ranked offense just put 758 yards and 62 points on Oklahoma State (and I think OSU’s defense is pretty good). TCU boasts the No. 6 defense in the nation and just held Texas to one foot per carry. The Frogs allowed all of 27 points in the last four games. Interesting matchup, huh?

But not so fast. I offer that, for TCU fans, the focus needs to be on what the TCU offense does on the road against an OU defense that seems to be hanging on for dear life. With OU, at No. 87 in the nation in total defense, it would seem that TCU should do what it wishes, but the Frogs’ offense has to start fast and get back to where it was vs. OSU. Getting Patrick Morris back at center could help, but there’s no word on his availability. In late September, Coach Gary Patterson said Morris would be out four to five weeks. That was six weeks ago. Maybe Morris is ready to be back in action by now. Quarterback Kenny Hill has to come ready to take what OU gives and be good with his arm, especially in OU’s red zone. Hill has gone without a touchdown pass in three of the last four games. The one game he did throw a touchdown pass was Kansas, in which he threw five. Hill is not without weapons – he’ll need to use them. As always, the running game will be key, not only for production, but also for controlling the clock and limiting Mayfield’s “at bats.”

Speaking of Mayfield, the modern-day version of Doug Flutie has to be contained. He keeps plays alive with his footwork and frustrates defenses with scrambles and throws that make a dead play turn into a big one. OU sets it up with the run game and play action for short throws to receivers on the back side of the play. Keep an eye on the guards and offensive tackles working in combination. OU reloaded in the skill department and pass catchers Marquise Brown, Mark Andrews, Jeff Badet, CeeDee Lamb and Dimitri Flowers all have at least 20 catches for at least 330 yards and at least three touchdowns! Mayfield has accounted for 33 touchdowns himself. They put up slot machine type numbers. Keys for TCU will be to stop the run and contain Mayfield, who makes the red zone (normally defined as the area inside the opponent’s 20-yard line) for OU anything inside the opponent’s 50-yard line! Big plays have to be curtailed by TCU’s defense.

This one will likely be similar to all the other games in this series since TCU joined the Large Dozen in 2012. The last five games have been decided by an average of 4.2 points. It’ll be a wild one.

And there’s a chance we’ll do it all over again with the Sooners on December 2nd in the Big 12 Championship Game at Jerry World.

But first thing’s first. We’re on the air tomorrow on the TCU Sports Network at 6 p.m. CT. If you’re in the stadium at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, you can listen to us at 87.7 FM. Bring your radio.

Kick ‘Em High!