2011 TCU schedule taking shape, but ink isn't dry

The 2011 TCU football schedule, which has been a source of rumors and speculation the last month, is close to being finalized.
TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said contracts still need to be signed but added the Horned Frogs schedule is close to completion. Del Conte declined to discuss potential opponents but sources inside the program have said the Frogs will host Louisiana-Monroe and Portland State at Amon G. Carter Stadium and play BYU at Cowboys Stadium Friday, Oct. 28. ESPN would likely broadcast the BYU game.
TCU was forced to scramble to fill two home games when Texas Tech backed out of a Sept. 10 game in Fort Worth in early January. Two weeks later the Mountain West Conference board of directors voted to move the Frogs' league game with Boise State, which was originally scheduled to be played at Amon G. Carter Stadium, to Boise, Idaho.
“I think you turn it right around and say if you want to win championships you have to win on the road,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said last week. “It’s just another challenge. No matter what, we’ll be a better football team because of it whether we win or lose at Boise. That’s the way we’ll approach it because if I don’t make excuses then my kids won’t make excuses. Our fans shouldn’t make excuses. They should go buy their tickets right now and try to be at the ballgame and support us and go about our business.”

Of course, fans can't yet make plans to attend the game in Boise because the exact date hasn’t been announced. The game has been rumored to be scheduled for the last week of league play, perhaps Saturday, Dec. 3.

The Star-Telegram’s source for the schedule seems to be in step with a source that told Spitbloodtcu.com, a Frogs’ fan site, the same nonconference schools.

Here’s my prediction on TCU’s 2011 schedule. The nonconference dates are from a reliable source, but the MWC dates are my best guesses, including the second bye week.

DISCLAIMER:This is not an official TCU football schedule.

Sept. 3 at Baylor
Sept. 10 bye
Sept. 17 Louisiana-Monroe
Sept. 24 Portland State
Oct. 1 SMU
Oct. 8 Colorado State
Oct. 15 at Air Force
Oct. 22 UNLV
Oct. 28 BYU (at Cowboys Stadium)
Nov. 5 bye
Nov. 12 at San Diego State
Nov. 19 at Wyoming
Nov. 26 New Mexico
Dec. 3 at Boise State

-- Stefan Stevenson
Follow me on Twitter @FollowtheFrogs

Comments

[JohnP]

I thought it was interesting to find out that TCU ducked a proposed game this season with Wisconsin (this is coming from the Wisconsin athletic department).

Since TCU was allegedly so upset with Texas Tech for dropping a game, why would the avoid an offered game against Wisconsin?

I've read a number of times that TT actually had some valid reasons for dropping TCU's game (i.e. no contract was in place and TCU wouldn't return the game to Lubbock plus they had to drop a game for the Big 12 schedule), but after all of TCU's complaining about the difficulty replacing the TT game it seems pretty disingenuous for TCU to duck a proposed game with Wisconsin.

Afterall, TCU's reason for getting upset with TT was that they wouldn't be able to find another marquee opponent to fill the spot. It looks like not only was TCU able to find another marquee opponent, but TCU ducked the opportunity to play them.

TCU seems to be talking out of both sides of it's mouth in order to play the mid-major card. But it's apparently TCU who is creating it's own problems.

[Mike]

It's not from the Wisc athletic dept, the rumor came from a fan board. No truth to it, but go ahead being jealous of TCU all you want.

[L.J.]

There is no way that Patterson rejects a football game with Wisconsin. A basketball pass against Wisconsin, by TCU, I would believe. I frankly do not know how the Frogs can compete effectively against the Big East basket ballers, however. They better shape up in that sport.

[Mikey]

The supposed game with Wisconsin wouldve bumped off Baylor, creating more scheduling woes. TCU did have a contract with TTU, the return game was supposed to have been last year, which tech canceled for moving the UT game to ESPN. As for TCU ducking opponents, check their contracted opponents for the next few years. You'll find Virginia, Oklahoma next year with 1 and 1s setup with lsu and arkansas the following 4 years. Might want to check your facts before you do the bucky JohnP. Sorry for your loss to the frogs on new years day, but eat your humble pie in silence.

[Frog_law]

It actually came from Wisconsin's coach. But the alleged offer was before Tech chickened out and TCU already has the Baylor game on the schedule for the proposed date. I love the attempted spin from the Tech fans, though. Please cite to one credible source supporting the claim that no contract was in place and TCU wouldn't return the game to Lubbock. I can cite to multiple media outlets, including this very newspaper, which state Tech's motivation was to avoid a guaranteed loss. Pansies.

[IOWA_HAWKEYE]

TCU wasn't going to play Wisconsin away from Fort Worth next year when they already had Texas Tech chicken out and the MWC moved the Boise game to Idaho. They also would've had to either cancel the Baylor game or ask Baylor to reschedule because that is when ESPN wanted to match up TCU and Wisconsin. There was no way that game was going to happen.

[biffula]

As per those who are ragging on TCU for 'ducking' Wisconsin, the game would have been in Madison. TCU already got hosed by the MWC by having to move the Boise game to Idaho, thus losing a home game. The Wisconsin game would just have been adding yet another road game. THAT was the reason for the decline.

[Scott]

spitbloodtcu.com is a sight dedicated to all things TCU. Unlike a certain other communist TCU site that likes to censor it's members and spread lies and will ban anyone who tries to challenge their Iron fisted power

[GolfDog]

Who the hel* wants to go to Boise in December? Reason #43 that i am glad we are leaving the mwc.

[www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1427905226]

I'm not sure that going to Boise in December is worse than, say...going to Connecticut, or Syracuse, or Pittsburgh in December... I doubt that the Big East is going to let TCU decide to play at home the last 3 weeks of the schedule just to avoid cold weather.

[Justin]

So you can play in Pittsburgh in December? :)

[sonny]

This would make more sense...
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/13/2844716/sure-wisconsin-wants-a-do-over.html#

[coach ppppppat]

tcu may finally have a year when they can sell out their jr high stadium.

2012 will be a different story when the whole stadium is open. Face it tcu, no one cares about you, not even your own fans.