FOW Roundtable: Staff Reactions to playing Ohio State at Jerry World

You should have seen our slack channel once it was announced that TCU would be forgoing a home and home with Ohio State for one game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. So, we captured some of that and put it into a roundtable.

How do you feel about the reduction of TCU’s Home & Home with Ohio State to a one game meeting at Jerry World?

Hawk: Like I’ve been slapped in the face, honestly. I feel like when they spent $160 million on refurbishing Amon G. Carter Stadium (displacing many of the long time season ticket holders to do so) that they were going to give those displaced fans and high dollar donors matchups that would be worthy of that stadium. To cave into Ohio State and ESPN’s pressure and make this into a one off makes all that effort seem like we really are the “Little Sisters of the Poor” that Ohio State believed us to be- that we don’t see ourselves as good enough to demand a home game in our stadium. It’s not like TCU/OSU was going to be shunted off to Fox Sports Southwest if we hosted it in Fort Worth, so the TV exposure argument rings hollow. It’s valuing a 5 million dollar payout more than your loyal season ticket holders, and it’s bullshit.

Deanna: Regardless of what the official statements are, here’s what I think happened: Urban Meyer’s crew starts stressing about TCU. We’re an unknown, and they want to know exactly what they’re getting into when they schedule a game. They want to know if it will be a challenge that will boost their profile, an easy win, or an upset that will screw their chances of being invited to the Big Game that year. They realized that we don’t even know who our QB will be this year, let alone next year. And they can’t wait until next year to cancel this game. So they start freaking out and order an extra batch of buckeyes and beer while they mull it over. They start making phone calls and trying to get out of it, probably claiming Meyer’s cat needs surgery that weekend or his great aunt’s birthday party. TCU doesn’t want to lose the H&H, so they start trying to find ways to convince OSU to keep it on the books. The offer of a neutral site and only one promised game is enough to keep OSU happy, because it would be terrible to lose to us once but if they lost twice in a millennium their stadium would explode. And you know they’ll never turn down money. And on TCU’s side, our boys will still have a strong home crowd, the team doesn’t have to travel far, and we’ve got a good record at Jerry World. I’m not a season ticket holder, so I get why all of them (you) are upset. But while it’s not ideal, I’ll take this deal vs having the whole thing cancelled.

Chris: Considering I’m not a season ticket holder and don’t really have what it would take to make a trip to Columbus possible, I’m pretty indifferent to the move. On one hand, the game against LSU at AT&T Stadium was the first TCU game I ever attended and I loved the atmosphere, so getting a chance to play a marquee game there is awesome. One thing that I really wish I had gotten to experience as a student was to have GameDay come to Fort Worth, specifically TCU’s campus, for a TCU game. I hope that as part of this deal we can get them to agree to go to the campus instead of doing something in Sundance Square. On the other hand, I don’t expect Purdue to move up the Big Ten anytime soon, so our 2019 strength of schedule will be taking a hit. Also, having a chance to host Ohio State at the Carter would have given the program a chance to showcase our beautiful stadium on national television in a marquee game and could have provided a huge recruiting opportunity. In the end, this move is really a wash for me.

Melissa: I am pretty upset about this. TCU has worked so hard to earn a seat at the table, it feels a little bit like a punch to the gut when we have to bow down to somebody else in scheduling. You can tell me all about the national exposure, bigger audience, bigger stage that you want - but at the end of the day, you’re taking away a home game from TCU players, students, and fans to play a game in a stadium that will assuredly be more of a home field advantage for OSU and their half a million living alumni versus TCU and their 80,000 - even if it is just a few miles down the road. It’s so rare that we get a big-time opponent out of conference in Fort Worth - that’s what happens when you’re good, no one wants to play you at your house - the impact of having Ohio State in Fort Worth could have been massive for recruiting, donors, season tickets, and the community. But, instead, all of those tourism dollars will go to Arlington and all those Ohio State fans will be able to get tickets to AT&T as opposed to being limited to a small section at Amon G.

Broccoli Rob: I think a lot of negative sentiments have already been stated so I will try to refrain from repeating them. I think the move to Jerry World will give Ohio State an opportunity to gain some home field. They have a devoted and large fan base, and they have the ability to overshadow the frogs in a stadium just a few miles down the road. That being said, we need to be present, and we need to be loud. Even if it does make sense economically, I think it diminishes what could have been a great series. Maybe it’s because Ohio State would have been in a lose lose situation. I think the most frustrating aspect is that it reminds us that we are not a blue chip program. It reminds us of the fact that we are living in someone else’s world. It reminds us of every time we have lost a recruit in our own backyard to a team like Ohio State. It really pisses me off that we are still implicitly and explicitly disrespected and this move is a reminder of the national attitude regarding TCU.

Unless we win.

If we win, I will herald the decision. I will feel that all is right in the world. The cosmic forces of oppression that have tried to dismiss us will be vanquished. We will have beaten Ohio State. We will have been vindicated from 2014. We will no longer be the tag along in the power five. We will have arrived. Welcome home.

Jamie: From a season ticket holder perspective, I’m really frustrated that my 2018 ticket to a home game against Ohio State has been replaced with a 2029 home game against Purdue. The extra $350+ it’s going to cost my family to go to this game is infuriating. It’s clear the decision was about money for TCU. Then again, it’s a money decision every year when our season tickets go up $50 a seat, soooo…...

How old will you be when TCU hosts Purdue in 2029, and how good will the Boilermakers be?

Hawk: 45. Purdue is a team that will very likely be below .500 all time when they come to Fort Worth. They’ve won 1 conference title post 1970 and have had 1 winning season in the past 7 years. My prediction is that in 2029 Purdue will be coming off of a 3-9 season and will still somehow give the Frogs a close game in Foster Sawyer’s debut season as TCU coach. TCU will be fine afterward, while Purdue will go winless in B1G play and make TCU look bad all year.

Deanna: Screw you. (Seriously, though, I’ll be 45) Who knows how both teams will look by then, but I’m gonna assume Purdue will lose. And if for some reason they don’t choose to stay in the NFL that long, I think it’ll be a great win for Head Coach Josh Doctson and his Offensive Coordinator Aaron Green.

Chris: I will be 34 when Purdue comes to Fort Worth, and it’s tough to say how good they will be in 2029. I haven’t seen enough tape on the kindergarteners-4th graders that will make up those teams.

Melissa: Jamie I hate you. I will be… /does the math… /gets really sad… /throws coffee cup across the room… /cleans up mess because hates messes… /remembers the question… /makes new cup of coffee and throws that, too.

Broccoli Rob: I will be old enough. To party.

Jamie: I will be 42. My son will be a moody teenager. Purdue will still be v bad. But, if Purdue winds up being decent, that’s cool.