FORT WORTH — It's pretty much accepted that this is the biggest college football game in the country this weekend: The No. 4 Horned Frogs of TCU are hosting No. 16 Utah.
Some are calling it the one of the biggest TCU football games ever.
Everyone else just says, "bring it on."
So big is this weekend's game that if you aren't already a Horned Frogs fan, chances are you will become one.
Even newborns at Texas Health Fort Worth hospital are being crowned with a baby TCU toboggan.
Over at Flash, The University Store, much larger hats and shirts and other purple paraphernalia are flying off the shelves. Sales this week are up 400 percent.
"Every day just gets a little bit better," said Flash saleswoman Lucy Ortega.
Since Mayor Mike Moncrief proclaimed Friday "Wear Your Purple Day," some city employees made the most of it. One, Isabel Bargas, sported a purple shirt and even confessed that her hair was tinged with TCU's color.
But not everyone was sure about why this weekend's game is so special. While Jennifer Ernack was wearing a TCU T-shirt and cool purple high-top sneakers, she couldn't name the Horned Frogs' Saturday opponent.
So for a full understanding, we decided to ask the edified experts among the purple-and-white mums on the TCU campus. And whom better to ask than a smart looking guy in a suit (and purple tie)?
"First, we are undefeated," explained student Dan Paret. "They've only lost one game, they are our big rival, and if we win we are the front-runner for the Mountain West conference championship and hopefully be a BCS-buster, since we are a non-automatic qualifier and maybe — if we cross our fingers — we make it to the national championship."
OK, what did he just say? Student Chelsea Fielding (wearing a purple T-shirt) boiled it all down for us:
"We have a chance at the national championship!"
While the game is not until Saturday night, this campus will be packed early Saturday morning, as ESPN has selected TCU for its College Game Day broadcast live starting at 9 a.m.
That more or less validates that this game against Utah will be the biggest in the nation.
E-mail bshipp@wfaa.com
