I guess nearly getting blanked 3 years ago in the Natty makes them think they can look down on all the newcomers.
https://www.star-telegram.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/mac-engel/article314472972.html
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What’s funny is he talks mad attendance trash, and the article is about us, but the article is actually him ranking the expansion schools, and then says Houston is the 3rd best expansion school under only BYU and ASU.
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How about a do over on the TCU instead of Houston to the Big-12 back whenever A&M bolted for the SEC. Yeah, they were smart and got a head start in upping their game once the SWC broke apart. We would likely be a powerhouse now if we had been chosen instead. They may have never gotten in
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Gary Patterson had TCU on a multi-year winning streak when they joined in 2012. Andy Dalton beating Wisconsin in Jan‘11 Rose 
Bowl really sealed the deal for them.
Coogs were not as strong with a 5-7 record in 2010 hurting our bid.
Painful to say it but B12 made the right decision for the conference at the time.
EDIT —
Here’s Grok comparing TCU & UH facilities upgrades prior to TCU joining the B12
TCU joined the Big 12 Conference on July 1, 2012. The 10-year period prior spans 2002 through 2011 (or approximately 2002–2012 pre-join).
TCU athletic facilities upgrades (primarily football-focused, as context emphasizes football):
- Major project: Amon G. Carter Stadium underwent a comprehensive $164 million reconstruction/renovation from 2010 to 2012. Announced in August 2010 (initial $105 million for west side and north end zone), construction began November 2010 after the final 2010 home game, completed for 2012 season opening. Fully donor-funded (no debt). Included rebuilt seating bowl, premium seating, suites, club areas, wider concourses, improved restrooms/concessions, and enhanced fan amenities. This represented a near-total rebuild of significant portions of the 1930-opened stadium (last major prior addition: upper deck in 1956).
- Other facilities: Limited major upgrades documented in this window beyond football. Schollmaier Basketball Complex completed in 2004 (outside the exact 10-year window but noted in era context). Overall, TCU’s upgrades accelerated significantly in the final 2–3 years pre-Big 12 entry, aligning with on-field success and conference transition.
University of Houston athletic facilities upgrades:
- Football: Robertson Stadium (primary venue until 2012) saw incremental improvements. Renovated in 1999 (to NCAA I-A standards, pre-window). In 2006: $1.7 million upgrades (lighting, new scoreboard, Philips Vidiwall video screen), partly funded by Houston Dynamo partnership. No large-scale reconstruction occurred 2002–2011. In June 2010, UH announced plans to raze Robertson Stadium and build a replacement (new stadium feasibility study 2010), but groundbreaking delayed until December 2012 (post-TCU join date), opening as TDECU Stadium in 2014 (~$105–128 million).
- Basketball: Hofheinz Pavilion targeted for major renovations announced June 2010 (new practice floors, seating, high-tech signage), but execution post-2012 (major work later, e.g., 2016+).
- Other: Minor or isolated projects (e.g., softball stadium enhancements noted later; track/field smaller updates). No equivalent to TCU’s $164 million single-project scale in the 2002–2011 period. UH’s major capital push (new stadium, arena overhaul) initiated planning in 2010 but materialized after 2012.
Comparison summary:
- Scale and investment: TCU executed a far larger, immediate capital commitment in the period ($164 million stadium reconstruction 2010–2012, completed pre-join). UH focused on planning for future builds (2010 announcements) with only modest incremental upgrades to existing venues (e.g., 2006 Robertson improvements).
- Timing: TCU’s upgrades peaked immediately pre-join, enhancing competitiveness for Big 12 entry. UH’s significant facilities transformation occurred post-2012 (TDECU 2014, later arena work).
- Scope: TCU concentrated on football stadium overhaul. UH spread across incremental football enhancements and early multi-sport planning without equivalent completed scale.
Data derived from official athletic sites, Wikipedia timelines, and contemporaneous reports. No speculation on unverified minor projects.
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Seemed a pretty fair assessment to me
Did they sell out their Alamo bowl allotment?
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You expecting a positive story from a TCU writer? Only Kansas wanted us kept out of the Big 12 more than TCU. We can laugh in their face again when we beat Arizona and win a 3rd BB title in a row. and we’ll be better than them in FB next year, too. The hate radiates from Fort Worth and Waco as well as Lawrence…Revel in it!!!
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And Lubbock lol
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Remember when coaches just put a ‘W’ on their schedule next to TCU when we were both in the SWC? I do.
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I used to be very indifferent about TCU but I went to the UNC-TCU game to start the season wearing my HOUSTON gear and some of their students were such snotty little spoiled bitche$ that I hate them now…
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Dark days ahead for TCU. I’m sure they are already seeing the struggles going on over at Baylor and know they face the same fate. Houston and TTU are quickly turning up the intensity on a rivalry while TCU and Baylor seem to be fading away into irrelevance.
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He makes some relevant points. We all know ourselves on this board we should have better attendance at least enough to come close to filling over 3/4th of our 40k stadium with the remainder being filled by the opposing team to come close having a full stadium. But he also gives us our props saying we’re the 3rd best team in the expansion. I think thats a compliment. I even think if this is revisited in a few years. We can be #2 on that list.
I think we’ll be #1 on that list…
Not a TCU beat writer. He has more backhanded comments on the school than positive ones. On the main TCU forum, his name is changed to “Big Steaming Pile” when they post links to his articles. Half (including me) do not click on his links.
To other comments, comparing UH to TCU in overall football programs is probably not a winning argument for UH. Basketball - no contest Coogs don’t even have to try.
Though do agree with Kyle’s comments on current student body. When I was there is was 55% greek and the rest from middle class midwest. Now still 55% greek but a lot more from upper crust California.
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Back in the 70’s, TCU used to be fun. They had the hottest women and knew their place. Fun to go to their games and party with them afterwards.
I miss the old TCU. 
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Agree with the sentiment, but Baylor actively worked to keep UH out. They nearly succeeded.
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Seeing how their football and basketball teams have been performing since we joined the conference, it kinda makes sense now why they wanted to keep us out so badly
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True story Ryan.
Go Coogs !
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I saw the article on TCU message board….they had a few knowledgeable posters said the article was basically trash and that UH was 100% a great add for the conference.
The writing is something of the level you might see in a HS newspaper….maybe lower.
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What about Oklahoma State = they lost their stronghold on Houston recruits in football.
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