Sharp enjoying life at his alma mater
8/17/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 17, 2005
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Dan Sharp is synonymous with TCU football.The former Horned Frog tight end will be inducted next month into the TCU Lettermen's Association Hall of Fame. He is now in his fifth year coaching his old position in addition to coordinating TCU's special teams.
As a senior, Sharp helped lead the 1984 Frogs to an 8-4 record and trip to the Bluebonnet Bowl. He had 42 receptions for 596 yards and seven touchdowns in earning All-Southwest Conference honors. He then continued his playing career for two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
Sharp returned to the TCU campus in 1989 as a graduate assistant coach. He served seven seasons before a three-year stint at Tulsa (1998-00).
For Sharp, there's no better feeling than being back at his alma mater.
"It's unbelievable to be back at TCU," Sharp said. "After I graduated, I was real fortunate to be able to come back a few years later as a graduate assistant under Coach (Jim) Wacker.
"I've been off and on here since 1982, playing and coaching. It's been a real special time for me. I know a lot about the university when I go out recruiting. Having a personal insight into how the university works helps me out."
Under Sharp's guidance, TCU tight end Matt Schobel was a third-round selection by the Cincinnati Bengals in the 2002 National Football League draft. Frog placekicker Nick Browne and punter Joey Biasatti were 2002 semifinalists for the Lou Groza and Ray Guy awards, respectively, as the nation's best player at their positions.
Coaching, however, is something Sharp didn't envision initially when he was a Frog player.
"I started out as a business major," he said. "The further along I got, I was with Coach Wacker who had a lot of enthusiasm.
"I changed my major to education and knew I was going to be a coach. I didn't know whether it would be on the high school or college level. Certain things then happened for me. Coach Wacker asked me to come back and be a part of it. I feel real fortunate and lucky."
With pride, Sharp reflects on the facility improvements at TCU and the overall growth of the football program.
"When I was playing, our weight room was the size of one or two of our offices," Sharp said. "Seeing how the weight room and locker rooms have changed, as well as the field going from turf to grass, is unbelievable. The alumni is very involved and things just keep getting better and better around here."
TCU has advanced to six bowl games in the last seven seasons. The Sept. 3 season opener at No. 5 Oklahoma will be seen regionally at 11 a.m. Central on ABC-TV. All Frog games are heard on 103.3 ESPN and other TCU/ESPN Sports Network affiliates.
