TCU game moved day later
Longhorns to host Frogs on Friday after Thanksgiving.
IRVING — This fall’s Texas-TCU game, originally scheduled for Thanksgiving, has been moved back a day to Friday, Nov. 25, school officials announced.
A kickoff time was not announced, but Texas men’s athletic director Mike Perrin told the American-Statesman that it would be an afternoon kickoff no later than 5 p.m.
The move means Texas will no longer compete with an NFL game on Thanksgiving. It will be the second Big 12 game that Friday; Texas Tech and Baylor are scheduled to play at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.
“I’m very positive about it,” Perrin said. “There were several inquiries about moving it, but the conference was neutral about it.”
The Big 12 is obligated to provide four Thursday games to television partners ESPN and Fox — two apiece, typically — but league spokesman Bob Burda said any Friday date, including the Texas-TCU game this season, or a Sunday game could count against that number. Texas Tech-Kansas also has been moved to a Thursday — Sept. 29 — after it was originally scheduled for Oct. 1.
Perrin said part of the reason for the Texas-TCU move was “complaints” that Texas had received from students, staffers and alumni about playing on Thanksgiving. By moving it to Friday, Perrin said, some students would return to campus for the game. Perrin said he’d discussed the move with football coach Charlie Strong and university President Gregory L. Fenves and received approval from both.
TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said he’s fully on board with the change.
“It’s OK,” Del Conte said. “We had a game on the Saturday before, so this will give us a little more rest. I’m fine with it.”
TCU hosts Oklahoma State the Saturday before Thanksgiving while Texas plays at Kansas, so the switch provides both teams an extra day of recovery. That was a big reason Perrin supported the move.
Del Conte enjoys the national limelight a game on Thanksgiving provides and thinks this will not be a permanent move.
“I love playing on Thanksgiving,” Del Conte said. “It’s great exposure for our schools, the league. The kids love it.”
Asked if this could spur a shift away from home-only games during Thanksgiving week, Perrin said he has had “no discussions at all about that, but I’d consider it with an open mind.”
Perrin also said he didn’t agree with those who feel Texas’ home games on Thanksgiving have lost their luster. The last three announced crowds on Thanksgiving have been 94,299 (a 48-45 loss to Texas Tech in 2015), 96,496 (a 48-10 loss to TCU in 2014) and 100,668 (a 41-16 win over Tech in 2013).
“I wouldn’t say that,” he said. “It’s just been different from all the traditions we’ve had. It’s just different.”