The Horned Frogs were not the only ones winning during basketball season.
The TCU Men’s Basketball Student Rewards Program awarded around $10,000 worth of prizes to Frogs fans who participated, Evan Spoon, assistant director of athletics marketing, said.
More than 650 students accumulated points. Rewards included a PlayStation 3, a flat screen television and an all-expense-paid trip to Las Vegas.
Sophomore David Shaver won the points program but said he would have attended the games regardless of whether the university had the points program.
Attendance at basketball games, head coach Jim Christian’s radio show and posting photographs of their seats to Twitter are just a few ways students could earn points in the program.
This is the first season that men’s basketball provided a rewards program for students, Spoon said. Student attendance increased 130 percent over the last season.
Sophomore Trevor Thompson finished sixth and won a TCU polo shirt, a Nike Dri-FIT shirt and a TCU basketball hoodie. TCU’s schedule, which included two wins against ranked opponents, also served as a motivation for Thompson.
The team defeated then-No. 11 UNLV and then-No. 18 New Mexico – the first time the Frogs defeated two ranked opponents in a season since 1997-98.
Besides a winning team, other prizes included TCU apparel, a free party for 10 at a local business and an iHome.
The grand prize for the Student Rewards Program was a trip to Las Vegas to watch the 2012 Conoco Mountain West Men’s Basketball Championship this weekend. The winner and a guest will receive free flights, a four-night hotel stay and spending money.
The TCU athletics marketing department pulled funds within their own program with help from the men’s basketball program to purchase prizes.
Athletics plans to have the rewards program again next year during the men’s basketball season, and plans to add the program to other sports such as soccer and volleyball, Spoon said.
2011-2012 TCU Men’s Basketball Student Rewards Leaderboard
1. David Shaver – 86 points
2. Matt Sherman – 78 points
3. Justin Shaw – 73 points
4. Andrew Felts – 72 points
5. Megan Affrica – 71 points
6. Cece Williams – 70 points*
Kevin Bartlett – 70 points*
Steven Stults – 70 points*
Trevor Thompson – 70 points*
Taylor Baker – 70 points*
*Tied for 6th place
