quote:
TCU simply doesn't have the fanbase to compete with teams in the SEC. They struggle to sell out their stadium in the biggest games of the year.

OK... FOOTBALL:

That is changing quickly. They ranked 4th in the NCAA for highest rise in attendance between their 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons with a +7800 per game increase. That figure will likely show an increase of about another +5000 when the figures for this season come out as they have sold out 4 of their 6 home games (and you could factor in the approx. 50,000 attending the opener in JerryWorld if you like as well).

The locals are buying in.

FWIW - TCU's Baseball attendance figured would have ranked in the top half of the SEC for the last 2 seasons.

quote:
Another thing is their religious affiliation.

Now you're just pulling stuff out of your arse.

They were not founded as a "church" school - but were later affiliated with the Christian Church in the the late 1800s. TCU not owned and governed by their church like BYU, Notre Dame, et al. It is self-owned and self-governing. The modern "partnership" is based on a common Disciples heritage and shared values The only religion-related curriculum requirement for the university's enrollment is to take one class from a list of classes which contextualize religion in a historical perspective, a general overview of world religions (past or present), comparative religious studies, etc... in order to increase understanding of other cultures/values.

Nothing that promotes one particular faith over another.

ETA:

punctuation

ETA 2:

Usually this site gets the early scoop on NCAA goings-on... which I proliferate elsewhere.

I'm actually loving the fact that this little piece hit my "other" message board first.