TCU Athletics
TCU’s decision last year to end its longstanding archrivalry with SMU caused gnashing of teeth and handwringing unseen in Dallas since John Neely Bryan encountered his first pterodactyl-sized mosquito on the Trinity River.
He named the place Dallas, but no one seems to know why. Did no one ask him? So many questions.
Well, anyway, the Honorable Eric Johnson, the mayor over there, was so outraged by TCU’s abandoning this series that he’s been left with a permanent earworm of “Don’t Dream It’s Over.” Thank you for that one, Crowded House.
Don’t you worry, SMU.
With all due respect to Mister Rogers and at risk of offending the U.S. Department of Justice, we will always hate you, SMU. Don’t worry about that part.
Hit it, Dolly.
I hope life treats you cruel
And I hope you miss the bowl games, too
But above all this, I wish you heartbreak
And loss in Dallas blue
And I … … … … will always hate you, SMU
I will always hate you, SMU
Yes, I will always …
Hate you … SMU
Ah, we’re just joshin’ ya, Pony Boys.
We used our Saturday to watch the 104th — and last — game between these two.
Fate was on the Frogs’ side.
The Frogs, who said last year’s 40-plus didn’t even cross their minds (yeah, right), brought the Iron Skillet home for permanent residence after a 35-24 victory over the Mustangs, a College Football Playoff team a season ago, now likely out of the mix at 1-2. We think, anyway. One never knows in the constantly changing college sports landscape what left turns are in store. So, who knows, this series might one day return.
All glory to the Hypnotoad. And Josh Hoover and Eric McAlister, the Horned Frogs wide receiver who had a career-high 254 yards and three touchdowns. Plus, another one that probably should have been a touchdown but was called out of bounds.
Nobody is perfect, Zebra. We forgive you.
Hoover had 379 yards and five touchdowns, while at times running for his life out there. He remains en fuego in TCU’s 3-0 start. The victory sent the Frogs back into the AP Top 25, at No. 24. You gotta start somewhere.
When you get right down to it, Eric Johnson is right. It is a shame this series has ended.
So much good history and, yes, hate here.
It was this game, believe it or not, that introduced the elite erudite east coast class that no one can stand to football outside of the northeast.
The Frogs won the last game in 2025 on the 70th anniversary, if not to the day, of the game the famed Grantland Rice called the greatest ever played up to that point in 1935.
SMU beat TCU 20-14 on a fake punt for a touchdown. On fourth-and-3 from TCU's 45, SMU's Jack Rabbit Smith faked a punt and hit Bob Finley for the winning touchdown.
This world needs more Jack Rabbits, but Grantland Rice spent weeks unable to speak about anything else. It was like Columbus’ first dispatch back home after stumbling upon the Americas in 1492.
“There is a general feeling around the football map that about all they do in this section is throw a football. Yet I doubt that anyone has seen a double set of finer running backs than Wilson, Finley, and Burt of SMU and Lawrence, Manton, Kline, and Baugh of TCU, who start and hit with slashing speed and power and who fight for every foot of soil. You might think that a foot of ground meant an oil well. They have legs in this section, and they know how to use them.
“The blocking is high grade and it means business. The tackling is as hard as any coach could ask for. You don’t have to see it. You can hear it. Heads hit the hard ground and bounce at least once.
“Down here they give you 60 minutes of actual play. There are no loafing spots. They figure that seven or 14 points are not enough. They keep gambling and shooting for the winning margin, even when ahead. They take nothing for granted. They have no interest in the safety-first play of the East, the Midwest and the West Coast. They are out to get every point they can get.
“The main feature of Texas football is the wild, dizzy pace of the ball up and down the field. It swings back and forth like some cock-eyed pendulum. Conservatism is an unknown entity. No one knows what it means.
“TCU overdid this gambling passing mania [Grantland Rice was clearly before his time] — Southern Methodist did not. And that is why Southern Methodist is sure to represent the Southwest in the Rose Bowl for the first time in football history.”
That is what’s at stake when these things are thrown to the ash heap. That history will soon be completely lost.
Au revoir, SMU. Magnificent bastards, every one of you.
