Having senior quarterback Andy Dalton on the front cover of Sports Illustrated will not only help with national exposure for the football team, but across the board for all sports at TCU, the director for athletics media relations said Wednesday.

Director of Athletics Media Relations Mark Cohen said that it’s great to see TCU with this level of national exposure and it is a testament to what the football program has done under the leadership of head football coach Gary Patterson.

“It helps further spread the TCU name and increase our visibility,” Cohen said.

Dalton is featured on the front cover along with Auburn University’s Heisman Trophy hopeful, quarterback Cam Newton and University of Oregon running back LaMichael James. The cover story is about the need for college football to adopt a playoff to decide the national title.

Whether or not having Dalton on the cover will help TCU’s chances for a bid into the championship game, Cohen said it’s just great to have TCU in the discussion to play for the title.

“When all the national media are talking about the Horned Frogs that’s a positive,” Cohen said.

There was not any confirmation from the school about Dalton being on the front cover before the cover was released, but Cohen said there was a strong inkling after the game on Saturday that it was a possibility.

“Sports Illustrated had multiple photographers and a couple of writers at the game in Salt Lake City,” Cohen said. “So when they are sending multiple photographers and writers you always know there is a chance you can pop up somewhere like the front cover.”

Patterson said in his press conference Tuesday that this is the first time a Horned Frog has been on the front cover of Sports Illustrated since former TCU quarterback Sonny Gibbs in 1962.

Cohen said Gibbs will be in attendance at the game Saturday against San Diego State University as one of about 500 former football lettermen being honored at the final game in Amon G. Carter Stadium before renovation begins.