When you walk into the Sam Baugh Indoor Practice Facility, it’s easy to see why Horned Frog football is at its prime.
With two BCS Bowl appearances in the last three years, TCU football coaches and athletic administrators decided now would be the perfect time to do some redecorating to the other place the team calls home.
Associate Director of Athletics for Operations Ross Bailey said they wanted to incorporate all aspects of the program that have given TCU football its rich history and tradition.
“When we went into the project, we not only wanted to recognize the heritage that got us to where we are, but also the past bowl games and the different sayings the team has each year,” he said.
Head coach Gary Patterson said along with hard work, nice and shiny facilities play an important role in a program’s success.
“Even though I’m not a big fan of the ‘bling,’ or what our kids call ‘swag,’ crossing over from the old to the new, you have to have this,” he said. “Younger kids like shiny things, but you still have to have the hard work to go with it.”
Bailey said the idea to dress up the facility originally came from Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.
“The coach from the Steelers said, ‘Boy, you have a lot of history, but you don’t show it anywhere,’” Bailey said.
The facility features banners from past bowl games, team slogans and awards and a tribute to some of the Horned Frog legends that helped make the program what it is today.
The additions also serve as a reminder to current players of those who came before them and the expectations that come with wearing a Horned Frog uniform, Bailey said.
“It reminds the student athletes, when they come in, of the heritage of what they’re doing and who they represent,” he said.
Former TCU quarterback and current Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton said the quality of the Frogs’ facilities makes it a great place to revisit during the off-season.
“It’s been nice to be back around here,” he said. “These facilities are unbelievable, so it’s good to be back.”
With renovations to Amon Carter Stadium scheduled to be completed in August, the Frogs’ facilities would have a completely new look as they enter the Big 12 Conference.