From The Desk of #ADJD
11/10/2023 2:31:00 PM | General
TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Jeremiah Donati discusses the hot topics around the Horned Frogs
Dear Horned Frogs:
We look forward to seeing you back in Amon G. Carter Stadium tomorrow for our 6:30 p.m. home football game versus Texas! Being on ABC in prime time provides great exposure for our football program and TCU as a whole.
Veterans Day will be celebrated with various recognitions and tributes, including military vehicles on display, mini-American flags available at gates, a pregame flyover with two C-130Js and a giant American flag held on the field. At halftime, the TCU Band will play the Military Medley while TCU students, faculty and staff who are Veterans will be honored. We will also have a special patriotic-themed performance by TCU Cheer and Showgirls.
We will host Baylor the following Saturday, November 18, with some exciting elements to close our home season. Thanks to the leadership of TCU Student Body President Joe Winick and Vice President Dominic Mendlik, as well as their counterparts in Waco, the Student Government Associations at TCU and Baylor have created the Bluebonnet Battle trophy for our annual meetings on the gridiron. We are proud of our association with Baylor, not just as members of the Big 12 Conference but also in sharing a rich football history together. With 118 all-time meetings, we have played Baylor more than any other opponent. It is a great and healthy rivalry as well as one of just four protected annual games in the new Big 12 scheduling matrix.
There is more fun news to share in regards to the Baylor game, but I apologize that I cannot say anything publicly yet on that -- stay tuned for next week. You will not be disappointed!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES WEEK/INVESTITURE OF PRESIDENT PULLIN
It was great to have TCU's Board of Trustees on campus this week. Many of our Trustees serve on the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, led by Chairman Elliott Hill. We had a very productive meeting in providing updates with an open discussion on all the key topics and challenges facing us and intercollegiate athletics as a whole. With the Trustees in town, the investiture of TCU President Daniel Pullin took place. Since his arrival on campus, President Pullin has been a strong advocate and supporter of our athletics program. During his time as Dean of the Neeley School of Business, he was instrumental in establishing our industry-leading Neeley NIL. Located in the south end zone of Amon G. Carter Stadium, Neeley NIL features student-athlete centered workshops and content on brand enhancement, contract management, business formation, opportunity recognition, taxation and legal information as well as financial literacy.
Congratulations to President Pullin on his investiture! It is an honor to serve under his leadership.
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to the Texas Rangers on their World Series Championship! At a restaurant in Lubbock last Wednesday night, we had a fun watch party with TCU administrative staff enjoying the title-clinching Game 5 win. We are very proud of the great relationship we have with the Rangers. They have always been supportive of TCU and especially our baseball program. Between the World Series champion Rangers and Big 12 Conference champion Horned Frogs, baseball is thriving in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex! Both of us look to defend our respective titles at Globe Life Field as we could not be more pleased to have the Big 12 Baseball Championship remaining there through 2028. To get you ready for our upcoming season, the 2024 schedule is set.
PARDON OUR PROGRESS
Our $50 million Athletics Human Performance Center Renovation and Expansion project will break ground in two months and further enhance the TCU student-athlete experience. All 500-plus student-athletes in our athletics program will be impacted positively in utilizing the facility to focus on every aspect of their mental health and well-being, including strength, nutrition, wellness and restoration. Included in the project is a renovation of the existing Bob Lilly Performance Center, construction of a new state-of-the-art Football Performance Center and development of a Restoration and Wellness Center for all TCU student-athletes.
SPORTS REPORT
It has been a full fall season with plenty of success across the board.
The momentum continues for our beach volleyball program as Hailey Hamlett and Anhelina Khmil won the AVCA Collegiate Beach National Pairs Championship in Huntsville, Alabama. Equestrian is ranked No. 1 in the nation and defeated Baylor 14-6 today to close the fall season with a 6-0 record. Rifle is ranked second nationally with recent victories over defending national champion Alaska and No. 3 Nebraska.
Women's triathlon, in its inaugural season, has advanced to the National Championships in Tempe, Arizona, this weekend. Congratulations to Head Coach Jenny Garrison, her student-athletes and staff on such a remarkable accomplishment in their debut campaign. We are fast becoming a brand name in collegiate triathlon.
Men's tennis represented well at the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego as Jack Pinnington was a finalist and we advanced a nation's best five players to the quarterfinals. We were the only team to qualify a singles player and doubles team for the semifinals. Women's tennis also had a successful fall, including eight wins at the TCU Invitational.
Men's and women's cross country are in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the South Central Regional. Twins Graydon Morris and Gracie Morris were our top performers for their respective teams at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships. Women's golf closed its fall season by setting a program record with a 17-under-par 271 at the Jim West Invitational. Men's golf also had bright moments, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Valero Texas Collegiate.
Volleyball is at Baylor for a pair of matches this weekend and had an impressive 3-1 win at UCF who was recently ranked in the top 25. Our women's soccer program finished third in the Big 12 Conference with a 6-2-2 league record. We were just short of making an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Both our basketball teams are off to 2-0 starts. Congratulations to Head Coach Mark Campbell on his first wins as the leader of our women's program! In our season-opening victory over Oral Roberts, Madison Conner's 30 points set a school record for the most in a TCU debut. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to have a sellout on men's basketball season tickets! Micah Peavy had a career-best 21 points in our win over Southern, while JaKobe Coles also scored 21 to equal a career high in a victory against Omaha.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE MATRIX ANNOUNCED
Our future 16-team Big 12 Conference brings a lot of anticipation and excitement. It was evident with the release last week of the football scheduling matrix for the next four seasons through 2027. Commissioner Brett Yormark and the conference did an outstanding job in ensuring there would be at least one home-and-home series with each conference member during this time. A complete list of our upcoming Big 12 football opponents is available HERE. Dates for next year's games will be announced when available.
SCHOLLMAIER LIVE RECAP
Schollmaier Live is fast becoming one of my favorite events of the year. It is a great way to celebrate the arrival of our basketball seasons and especially when you see the student-athletes in both programs having such a great time interacting with each other and our special guest for the evening. It was nine-time Grammy nominee Rick Ross this year, and he was outstanding! A special thank you as well to Kris Gardner on a job well done as our emcee. Kris brought great energy to the event. You might remember Kris from his days as a linebacker for our football program from 2008-11.
PACKING THEM IN
We appreciate all of you who helped us make history at our October 18 home volleyball match against Texas! The sellout crowd of 7,412 fans was not only a program record but also the largest attendance for a women's sporting event at TCU.
FLYING T CLUB
Supporting the Flying T Club, the NIL collective directly working with our student-athletes, continues to be critical to our current and future success.
If not a member already, you can join the Flying T Club at the Silver, Gold, or Platinum level and receive exclusive Flying T Club merchandise, access to FTC events with coaches and student-athletes and a free membership to Frogs Today. Another option is a Custom Donation. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to the Flying T Club are tax-deductible and make a great end-of-year gift. Just reach out to info@flyingtclub.com with any questions.
The Flying T Club also provides opportunities to support TCU student-athletes while promoting your business. You can become a corporate partner with four tiers ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 annually. Activation opportunities include student-athlete appearances, social media posts, official partner designation on the Flying T Club website and more. Please complete their contact form if you would like to learn more.
SHOP TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES
Through a new partnership with Athlete's Thread, a co-branded NIL product, you can purchase gear to support your favorite TCU student-athletes with a portion of the royalties going back to them. Current selection includes football, men's and women's basketball and women's soccer with additional sports and student-athletes to be added. Click HERE to begin your shopping spree.
THE GRAND MARSHAL
As a reminder if you are attending this year's Parade of Lights on Sunday, November 19, Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes will serve as Grand Marshal. The parade begins at 6:00 p.m.
DID YOU KNOW?
TCU was recognized recently with the Grand Award for excellence in grounds management from the Professional Grounds Management Society. TCU is truly one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, and a big part of that is our outstanding campus landscaping and grounds crew. Congratulations to Erik Trevino, Hector Rodriguez, Randy Chambers, Coco Mayorga, Greg Burdick, Roddy McCurley, Patrick Medford and everyone on their grounds team on this well-deserved recognition! Their work is very much appreciated by TCU and makes a terrific all-important first impression on campus visitors.
Go Frogs!
Jeremiah Donati, J.D.
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
We look forward to seeing you back in Amon G. Carter Stadium tomorrow for our 6:30 p.m. home football game versus Texas! Being on ABC in prime time provides great exposure for our football program and TCU as a whole.
Veterans Day will be celebrated with various recognitions and tributes, including military vehicles on display, mini-American flags available at gates, a pregame flyover with two C-130Js and a giant American flag held on the field. At halftime, the TCU Band will play the Military Medley while TCU students, faculty and staff who are Veterans will be honored. We will also have a special patriotic-themed performance by TCU Cheer and Showgirls.
We will host Baylor the following Saturday, November 18, with some exciting elements to close our home season. Thanks to the leadership of TCU Student Body President Joe Winick and Vice President Dominic Mendlik, as well as their counterparts in Waco, the Student Government Associations at TCU and Baylor have created the Bluebonnet Battle trophy for our annual meetings on the gridiron. We are proud of our association with Baylor, not just as members of the Big 12 Conference but also in sharing a rich football history together. With 118 all-time meetings, we have played Baylor more than any other opponent. It is a great and healthy rivalry as well as one of just four protected annual games in the new Big 12 scheduling matrix.
There is more fun news to share in regards to the Baylor game, but I apologize that I cannot say anything publicly yet on that -- stay tuned for next week. You will not be disappointed!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES WEEK/INVESTITURE OF PRESIDENT PULLIN
It was great to have TCU's Board of Trustees on campus this week. Many of our Trustees serve on the Intercollegiate Athletics Committee, led by Chairman Elliott Hill. We had a very productive meeting in providing updates with an open discussion on all the key topics and challenges facing us and intercollegiate athletics as a whole. With the Trustees in town, the investiture of TCU President Daniel Pullin took place. Since his arrival on campus, President Pullin has been a strong advocate and supporter of our athletics program. During his time as Dean of the Neeley School of Business, he was instrumental in establishing our industry-leading Neeley NIL. Located in the south end zone of Amon G. Carter Stadium, Neeley NIL features student-athlete centered workshops and content on brand enhancement, contract management, business formation, opportunity recognition, taxation and legal information as well as financial literacy.
Congratulations to President Pullin on his investiture! It is an honor to serve under his leadership.
WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to the Texas Rangers on their World Series Championship! At a restaurant in Lubbock last Wednesday night, we had a fun watch party with TCU administrative staff enjoying the title-clinching Game 5 win. We are very proud of the great relationship we have with the Rangers. They have always been supportive of TCU and especially our baseball program. Between the World Series champion Rangers and Big 12 Conference champion Horned Frogs, baseball is thriving in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex! Both of us look to defend our respective titles at Globe Life Field as we could not be more pleased to have the Big 12 Baseball Championship remaining there through 2028. To get you ready for our upcoming season, the 2024 schedule is set.
PARDON OUR PROGRESS
Our $50 million Athletics Human Performance Center Renovation and Expansion project will break ground in two months and further enhance the TCU student-athlete experience. All 500-plus student-athletes in our athletics program will be impacted positively in utilizing the facility to focus on every aspect of their mental health and well-being, including strength, nutrition, wellness and restoration. Included in the project is a renovation of the existing Bob Lilly Performance Center, construction of a new state-of-the-art Football Performance Center and development of a Restoration and Wellness Center for all TCU student-athletes.
SPORTS REPORT
It has been a full fall season with plenty of success across the board.
The momentum continues for our beach volleyball program as Hailey Hamlett and Anhelina Khmil won the AVCA Collegiate Beach National Pairs Championship in Huntsville, Alabama. Equestrian is ranked No. 1 in the nation and defeated Baylor 14-6 today to close the fall season with a 6-0 record. Rifle is ranked second nationally with recent victories over defending national champion Alaska and No. 3 Nebraska.
Women's triathlon, in its inaugural season, has advanced to the National Championships in Tempe, Arizona, this weekend. Congratulations to Head Coach Jenny Garrison, her student-athletes and staff on such a remarkable accomplishment in their debut campaign. We are fast becoming a brand name in collegiate triathlon.
Men's tennis represented well at the ITA National Fall Championships in San Diego as Jack Pinnington was a finalist and we advanced a nation's best five players to the quarterfinals. We were the only team to qualify a singles player and doubles team for the semifinals. Women's tennis also had a successful fall, including eight wins at the TCU Invitational.
Men's and women's cross country are in Fayetteville, Arkansas, for the South Central Regional. Twins Graydon Morris and Gracie Morris were our top performers for their respective teams at the Big 12 Cross Country Championships. Women's golf closed its fall season by setting a program record with a 17-under-par 271 at the Jim West Invitational. Men's golf also had bright moments, highlighted by a second-place finish at the Valero Texas Collegiate.
Volleyball is at Baylor for a pair of matches this weekend and had an impressive 3-1 win at UCF who was recently ranked in the top 25. Our women's soccer program finished third in the Big 12 Conference with a 6-2-2 league record. We were just short of making an eighth straight NCAA Tournament appearance.
Both our basketball teams are off to 2-0 starts. Congratulations to Head Coach Mark Campbell on his first wins as the leader of our women's program! In our season-opening victory over Oral Roberts, Madison Conner's 30 points set a school record for the most in a TCU debut. Thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to have a sellout on men's basketball season tickets! Micah Peavy had a career-best 21 points in our win over Southern, while JaKobe Coles also scored 21 to equal a career high in a victory against Omaha.
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE MATRIX ANNOUNCED
Our future 16-team Big 12 Conference brings a lot of anticipation and excitement. It was evident with the release last week of the football scheduling matrix for the next four seasons through 2027. Commissioner Brett Yormark and the conference did an outstanding job in ensuring there would be at least one home-and-home series with each conference member during this time. A complete list of our upcoming Big 12 football opponents is available HERE. Dates for next year's games will be announced when available.
SCHOLLMAIER LIVE RECAP
Schollmaier Live is fast becoming one of my favorite events of the year. It is a great way to celebrate the arrival of our basketball seasons and especially when you see the student-athletes in both programs having such a great time interacting with each other and our special guest for the evening. It was nine-time Grammy nominee Rick Ross this year, and he was outstanding! A special thank you as well to Kris Gardner on a job well done as our emcee. Kris brought great energy to the event. You might remember Kris from his days as a linebacker for our football program from 2008-11.
PACKING THEM IN
We appreciate all of you who helped us make history at our October 18 home volleyball match against Texas! The sellout crowd of 7,412 fans was not only a program record but also the largest attendance for a women's sporting event at TCU.
FLYING T CLUB
Supporting the Flying T Club, the NIL collective directly working with our student-athletes, continues to be critical to our current and future success.
If not a member already, you can join the Flying T Club at the Silver, Gold, or Platinum level and receive exclusive Flying T Club merchandise, access to FTC events with coaches and student-athletes and a free membership to Frogs Today. Another option is a Custom Donation. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to the Flying T Club are tax-deductible and make a great end-of-year gift. Just reach out to info@flyingtclub.com with any questions.
The Flying T Club also provides opportunities to support TCU student-athletes while promoting your business. You can become a corporate partner with four tiers ranging from $2,500 to $25,000 annually. Activation opportunities include student-athlete appearances, social media posts, official partner designation on the Flying T Club website and more. Please complete their contact form if you would like to learn more.
SHOP TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENT-ATHLETES
Through a new partnership with Athlete's Thread, a co-branded NIL product, you can purchase gear to support your favorite TCU student-athletes with a portion of the royalties going back to them. Current selection includes football, men's and women's basketball and women's soccer with additional sports and student-athletes to be added. Click HERE to begin your shopping spree.
THE GRAND MARSHAL
As a reminder if you are attending this year's Parade of Lights on Sunday, November 19, Head Football Coach Sonny Dykes will serve as Grand Marshal. The parade begins at 6:00 p.m.
DID YOU KNOW?
TCU was recognized recently with the Grand Award for excellence in grounds management from the Professional Grounds Management Society. TCU is truly one of the most beautiful campuses in the country, and a big part of that is our outstanding campus landscaping and grounds crew. Congratulations to Erik Trevino, Hector Rodriguez, Randy Chambers, Coco Mayorga, Greg Burdick, Roddy McCurley, Patrick Medford and everyone on their grounds team on this well-deserved recognition! Their work is very much appreciated by TCU and makes a terrific all-important first impression on campus visitors.
Go Frogs!
Jeremiah Donati, J.D.
Director of Intercollegiate Athletics
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