TopFrog
Lifelong Frog
http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/04/29/21...cruits-for.html
[SIZE=14pt]Christian touts new recruits for first time before fans[/SIZE]
By STEFAN STEVENSON
sstevenson@star-telegram.com
Jim Christian will be in his ninth year as a college head basketball coach when his third season at TCU gets under way in November.
Even when you add in his years as an assistant coach, which gives him 20 years of experience on the bench, he never has done what he did Thursday before a packed crowd of Horned Frogs boosters, fans and TCU administrators: He celebrated a class of incoming recruits.
The open luncheon of season ticket holders and Fast Break club members -- who filled the Cox Room at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center -- says as much about Christian's genuine excitement about the six players joining the Frogs' roster next fall as it does about the hopes that the TCU men's basketball program can turn around sooner rather than later.
The idea germinated between Christian and his assistants as the April 13 signing day drew closer. They believed the four new signees (three talented junior college players and New Orleans prep star Jarvis Ray), plus Hank Thorns (a transfer last year from Virginia Tech) and Amric Fields (a November signee), warranted a showcase before the Frogs' faithful.
"It's usually a football thing," Christian said. "We decided it would be good to promote the program. The idea kept going and it kind of snowballed. I think it turned out pretty well."
Nearly 200 Frogs devotees listened to Christian and assistant coaches Billy Wuczynski and Eric Haut talk about the new players, with edited highlight clips to slam home the point they were making: TCU basketball should be more exciting (and better) next season.
"I think we're adding quality depth, so hopefully good things are about happen," Christian said. "That doesn't guarantee anything. It's all video clips, and I could make Billy Wuczynski look like a good player with video clips."
That elicited a big laugh from the crowd, but Christian, an obviously talented motivator, then turned to the fans. He pivoted from his praise of the recruits to the appreciation of TCU's loyal fans, who have endured five consecutive losing seasons and a 13-year absence from the NCAA Tournament.
"These new recruits will always hold a special place in my heart because they want to be a part of what's going to happen here," Christian said. "They share the vision that I have, and I can tell them, beyond a shadow of doubt, what I think can happen here. The support we get and the support we are going to receive is going to be tenfold what it is right now. More than anything, these players believe, whole-heartedly, that this place is going to be special."
The acrobatic highlights of the six recruits had fans buzzing, and Christian, although cautious, was excited as well.
"I'm excited about the whole program," Christian said to the crowd. "I want you to be excited to come to games. That's the goal here. I'm more excited about the support you've shown me in this room. This, to me, is a great, great statement for what TCU can be. It just makes me more anxious to get this thing going."
Stefan Stevenson, 817-390-7760
[SIZE=14pt]Christian touts new recruits for first time before fans[/SIZE]
By STEFAN STEVENSON
sstevenson@star-telegram.com
Jim Christian will be in his ninth year as a college head basketball coach when his third season at TCU gets under way in November.
Even when you add in his years as an assistant coach, which gives him 20 years of experience on the bench, he never has done what he did Thursday before a packed crowd of Horned Frogs boosters, fans and TCU administrators: He celebrated a class of incoming recruits.
The open luncheon of season ticket holders and Fast Break club members -- who filled the Cox Room at the Dee J. Kelly Alumni and Visitors Center -- says as much about Christian's genuine excitement about the six players joining the Frogs' roster next fall as it does about the hopes that the TCU men's basketball program can turn around sooner rather than later.
The idea germinated between Christian and his assistants as the April 13 signing day drew closer. They believed the four new signees (three talented junior college players and New Orleans prep star Jarvis Ray), plus Hank Thorns (a transfer last year from Virginia Tech) and Amric Fields (a November signee), warranted a showcase before the Frogs' faithful.
"It's usually a football thing," Christian said. "We decided it would be good to promote the program. The idea kept going and it kind of snowballed. I think it turned out pretty well."
Nearly 200 Frogs devotees listened to Christian and assistant coaches Billy Wuczynski and Eric Haut talk about the new players, with edited highlight clips to slam home the point they were making: TCU basketball should be more exciting (and better) next season.
"I think we're adding quality depth, so hopefully good things are about happen," Christian said. "That doesn't guarantee anything. It's all video clips, and I could make Billy Wuczynski look like a good player with video clips."
That elicited a big laugh from the crowd, but Christian, an obviously talented motivator, then turned to the fans. He pivoted from his praise of the recruits to the appreciation of TCU's loyal fans, who have endured five consecutive losing seasons and a 13-year absence from the NCAA Tournament.
"These new recruits will always hold a special place in my heart because they want to be a part of what's going to happen here," Christian said. "They share the vision that I have, and I can tell them, beyond a shadow of doubt, what I think can happen here. The support we get and the support we are going to receive is going to be tenfold what it is right now. More than anything, these players believe, whole-heartedly, that this place is going to be special."
The acrobatic highlights of the six recruits had fans buzzing, and Christian, although cautious, was excited as well.
"I'm excited about the whole program," Christian said to the crowd. "I want you to be excited to come to games. That's the goal here. I'm more excited about the support you've shown me in this room. This, to me, is a great, great statement for what TCU can be. It just makes me more anxious to get this thing going."
Stefan Stevenson, 817-390-7760
