FRIDAY MORNING FOOTBALL WITH FORT WORTH MAYOR MIKE MONCRIEF
Mac Engel: Did you play sports in high school or college?
Mike Moncrief: I played sports in high school. I played football, defensive end. Didn’t get too many sacks, especially after I hurt my knee, but I loved the camaraderie and hard work. And, as important, it taught me the value of being part of a team effort and working toward a common goal. That lesson is true on the football field and in life.
ME: Do you play sports now?
The Mayor: I stay active in a lot of ways. I hunt. I play golf. And I have four grandchildren and a great-grandchild — just keeping up with them is a full-time sport. I do work out with a trainer on a regular basis. It’s important to stay active.
ME: What team do you follow the most?
The Mayor: Since I started in college there, and since they are the hometown team, I am partial to TCU in college football and baseball, as well as all of the Horned Frogs sports. ... Let’s just say I’m a fan of North Texas sports.
ME: Favorite athlete of all-time?
The Mayor: Choosing one isn’t easy. But, I’d have to say my favorite is Nolan Ryan. His work ethic and will to win was pure Texan.
ME: Favorite quote?
The Mayor: Well, as far as college football goes, one of my favorites came from Lou Holtz. He was talking about people who were using “bad breaks” as an excuse for failure on the field. Lou didn’t put much stock in excuses. He said: “The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely to be the one who dropped it.”
ME: Book you're reading right now?
The Mayor: I’ve made it a point of late to try to read something other than reports and memos. Right now, I’m just getting started on the memoirs of the former First Lady, Laura Bush, “Spoken From the Heart.”
ME: Quality that impresses you most?
The Mayor: Honesty.
ME: Quality that impresses you the least?
The Mayor: Dishonesty.
ME: Do you know anything about college football?
The Mayor: I am a native Texan. I know A LOT about college football. It’s part of our DNA. I know that the Horned Frogs are a premier program. Fort Worth is rightfully proud of TCU and all that Gary Patterson has accomplished. But I know that there is a great tradition of outstanding college programs all across this state — not just Longhorns and Aggies and Red Raiders, but also the Mean Green and Mustangs and more. I know that we have alumni from all of those great schools here in Fort Worth and they loyally support their teams.
I do know this: Between TCU football and the Rangers, along with going to many of our grandchildren’s games, Rosie and I have attended more sporting events in this past year than we’ve ever attended in our lifetime. With ESPN coming to Fort Worth as part of the Super Bowl coverage, I’ve made it a point to try harder to keep up with news in the sports world so I can stay current and be as much help as possible to our new partners.
ME: Time to pick some games
Florida at Alabama
The Mayor: Alabama
ME: Oklahoma vs. Texas
The Mayor: TIE!
ME: TCU at Colorado St.
The Mayor: Frogs (of course)!
ME: Boise St. at New Mexico St.
The Mayor: Boise State ME: Stanford at Oregon
The Mayor: Oregon
ME: Kansas at Baylor
The Mayor: Baylor
- Mac Engel
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@MacEngelProf
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