Ok, so by making this post, I will likely point out why I obviously am not in, nor never will be, in the PR world. Given that and my admitted naiveté, why doesn’t TCU officially just put out a press release like the following?
As a result of the media attention given to quotes made by Wisconsin coach Brett Bulimia, we felt it necessary to disclose pertinent facts regarding this discussion that has generated such interest across the country.
· First and most importantly, unlike Wisconsin, we do not have an open date on September 3, 2011. We have the 2[sup]nd[/sup] half of a home and home series scheduled with Baylor, in Waco, Texas. This is not a new addition to our schedule but one that has been contractually negotiated years prior to today. Regardless of the prospects of any potential game with any other school, including Wisconsin, we would not back out on the existing obligation we have to Baylor. Other colleges have cancelled games against us, Texas Tech most recently, and we don’t like it and we won’t do it to others.
· We would love to play a home and home series against Wisconsin beginning in 2012, with the first game in Fort Worth. Given that the last meeting of the two schools, on a neutral field, resulted in a TCU win, we believe the winner should have the privilege of first home field advantage. Wisconsin may consider this an official invitation.
· We were never approached by anyone in any official capacity at the University of Wisconsin to discuss a game for 2012. While we believe that “one and done” road games are generally not in the best interest of the TCU football program at this time, reasonable people should always be willing to sit down and discuss alternatives. Should Wisconsin be truly interested in playing TCU in a one off game, our athletic director will be more than happy to take a phone call from the Wisconsin athletic director at any time. And we will happily welcome Wisconsin to visit Fort Worth in a one and done game anytime during the next five years, beginning in 2012, if Wisconsin believes that one and done games are beneficial to FBS football program.
· While we can’t comment knowingly on the 3[sup]rd[/sup] party that approached Coach Bulimic, the third party that approached TCU to suggest such a game is an existing 2011 opponent of Wisconsin that would not like to full fill its obligation to Wisconsin. Accordingly, this institution had no ability to guarantee any sort of television or monetary payout should a TCU / Wisconsin game have been scheduled. Accordingly, we are unsure how Coach Bulimia arrives at the conclusion that monetary and television benefits would accompany such a game, but we were unable to arrive at the same conclusion given our points of contact.
· Media personnel are welcome to contact Chris Del Conte, TCU AD, if any items in this release are ambiguous. We’d like to ensure the record is straight. Also, should any of those that receive this press release come in contact with E. Gordon Gee, please tell him we are still patiently waiting to schedule our home and home series with The Ohio State University.
As a result of the media attention given to quotes made by Wisconsin coach Brett Bulimia, we felt it necessary to disclose pertinent facts regarding this discussion that has generated such interest across the country.
· First and most importantly, unlike Wisconsin, we do not have an open date on September 3, 2011. We have the 2[sup]nd[/sup] half of a home and home series scheduled with Baylor, in Waco, Texas. This is not a new addition to our schedule but one that has been contractually negotiated years prior to today. Regardless of the prospects of any potential game with any other school, including Wisconsin, we would not back out on the existing obligation we have to Baylor. Other colleges have cancelled games against us, Texas Tech most recently, and we don’t like it and we won’t do it to others.
· We would love to play a home and home series against Wisconsin beginning in 2012, with the first game in Fort Worth. Given that the last meeting of the two schools, on a neutral field, resulted in a TCU win, we believe the winner should have the privilege of first home field advantage. Wisconsin may consider this an official invitation.
· We were never approached by anyone in any official capacity at the University of Wisconsin to discuss a game for 2012. While we believe that “one and done” road games are generally not in the best interest of the TCU football program at this time, reasonable people should always be willing to sit down and discuss alternatives. Should Wisconsin be truly interested in playing TCU in a one off game, our athletic director will be more than happy to take a phone call from the Wisconsin athletic director at any time. And we will happily welcome Wisconsin to visit Fort Worth in a one and done game anytime during the next five years, beginning in 2012, if Wisconsin believes that one and done games are beneficial to FBS football program.
· While we can’t comment knowingly on the 3[sup]rd[/sup] party that approached Coach Bulimic, the third party that approached TCU to suggest such a game is an existing 2011 opponent of Wisconsin that would not like to full fill its obligation to Wisconsin. Accordingly, this institution had no ability to guarantee any sort of television or monetary payout should a TCU / Wisconsin game have been scheduled. Accordingly, we are unsure how Coach Bulimia arrives at the conclusion that monetary and television benefits would accompany such a game, but we were unable to arrive at the same conclusion given our points of contact.
· Media personnel are welcome to contact Chris Del Conte, TCU AD, if any items in this release are ambiguous. We’d like to ensure the record is straight. Also, should any of those that receive this press release come in contact with E. Gordon Gee, please tell him we are still patiently waiting to schedule our home and home series with The Ohio State University.
