Football: BYU & TCU to play in Jerry’s World in 2011??
By Mitch Harper
By: Mitch Harper (Twitter: @Mitch_Harper)
Reports are coming out that BYU and TCU could possibly play a neutral site game in 2011 at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium a.k.a. Jerry’s World a.k.a. the place with the biggest HDTV, etc.
If you remember and obviously how could you not as a BYU fan? BYU christened Jerry’s World with the first regular season game played there with a win over #3 Oklahoma, 14-13. One of the biggest wins in BYU football history, and a game that drew a lot of attention and exposure to BYU Football nationally.
The exposure and attention from that game came from the World Wide Leader, ESPN. And of course, our partners at the World Wide Leader, ESPN are the ones orchestrating the game.
Now, you might be wondering how this game could possibly be happening. BYU has already released it’s 2011 schedule. Not so fast! Since BYU is playing at Hawaii this season, the Cougs can take advantage of playing a 13th game. Currently there is only 12 games on the 2011 slate.
If it is scheduled, this game is expected to be played on Thanksgiving weekend. BYU has BYE weeks on their 2011 slate on Halloween weekend and Thanksgiving weekend. So this could play out nicely.
On TCU’s end, Texas Tech recently backed out of a game on the 2011 schedule with the Frogs so TCU now has three openings on their non-conference. Mountain West Conference is playing only seven conference games next season. The only teams the Frogs have on their schedule is Baylor & SMU. So TCU is obviously looking to bolster the slate and get a nationally televised game. Because as we all know, TCU is still in the Mountain West Conference for one more season and the Frogs will not be seen ever. In 2012, TCU goes to the Big East.
The Mountain West Conference usually doesn’t release their conference schedules til late March, early April so the Frogs are going to have to wait on official conference dates. TCU’s game versus Boise State which will be a conference game next year was originally intendend to be played in Fort Worth, as Boise was to replace Utah on the MWC scheduling block but the MWC has done another shady act and given Boise State the home game on the Blue Turf. So TCU is looking for home games as well.
TCU head coach Gary Patterson has said in the past there is nothing to be gained from playing BYU going forward in non-conference play. Back tracking now Gary?
This game looks like it will be a one-and-done matchup. But that doesn’t worry us going to Dallas. BYU will have a terrific contingent and show well versus the TCU fan base.
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For BYU, this would be a terrific setting and be another chance to gain a lot of exposure and also get some revenge on the Frogs.
An Independent BYU, and with ESPN in our back pocket makes BYU very attractive to not only top-notch teams but also fantastic venues.
The 2011 schedule already has Ole Miss, Texas, Utah, Central Florida, Oregon State, and Hawaii as some marquee games. Then possibly add a likely Pre-Season Top 25 team in TCU at one of the best football stadiums in the world? This Independence thing just keeps getting better and better.
[UPDATE]: Dallas/Ft. Worth paper, The Star Telegram says this game won’t be played on Thanksgiving weekend. http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/colleges/2011/01/tcu-byu-wont-be-thanksgiving-weekend.html
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