2019 TCU-Oklahoma Gameday Experience Photos

November 23, 2019

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

The TCU Lettermen's Association coordinated a bus trip to Norman for the TCU-Oklahoma football game on Saturday, November 23. For the late-night/early-morning trip home after the game, it was nice to be able to "leave the driving to someone else!"

Cam Fenton (right, photo above), of the TCU Frog Club and TCU Lettermen's Association, and Austin Henry (left, photo above), of the TCU baseball team, coordinated the TCU-Oklahoma football game bus trip for Horned Frogs fans (photo below).

TCU alum Bob Dixon

Prior to the TCU-Oklahoma game, Oklahoma's lettermen's group -- the Varsity O Association -- hosted the TCU Lettermen's Association at a tailgate in historic McCasland Field House on the OU campus. Opened in 1928 and home of the Sooners' men's basketball team until 1975, the arena is home to Oklahoma's women's volleyball, men's wrestling and men's gymnastic teams. The field house is named for T. Howard McCasland, a two-sport star who was captain of the 1916 basketball team and an end on the football team. Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley held concerts in the arena in the 60s and 70s.

Sooner football legend Joe Washington (left) and TCU football legend and broadcaster John Denton address attendees at the joint Oklahoma Varsity O and TCU Lettermen's Association tailgate prior to the TCU-Oklahoma football game in Norman on November 23. Washington, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, was an All-American running back at Oklahoma. He was drafted fourth overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 1976 NFL Draft. He also played for the Baltimore Colts, Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons. He is the only NFL player to throw a touchdown, catch a touchdown and return a kickoff for a touchdown in a single game. Denton is TCU's associate athletics director for alumni relations and executive director of the TCU Lettermen's Association. He also is the color analyst for TCU football and men's basketball on the Horned Frogs Sports Network. Denton went from a walk-on to a four-year lettermen as a kicker and punter for TCU from 1981-84, under the late former TCU coach Jim Wacker.

John Denton, TCU's associate athletics director for alumni relations and executive director of the TCU Lettermen's Association, visits with TCU fans at the tailgate.

John Denton (left) and Tom "Midnite" Burke at the tailgate.

J.C. Watts was a quarterback for Oklahoma in the last 70s. He led the Sooners to two Orange Bowl victories and two Big Eight championships. He graduated in 1981 and joined the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League and that year was named the league's most valuable player. During his career, he also played for the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League. In 1987, Watts became a youth minister at a Baptist church in Oklahoma. In 1994, Watts was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma's 4th District. He was reelected in 1996, 1998 and 2000. Watts was born in Eufaula, Oklahoma. He was one of two children who integrated Jefferson Davis Elementary School in 1964.

The 2019 Oklahoma football campaign is the program's 125th. The Sooners have claimed seven national championships and 48 conference championships, including the past four Big 12 championships. Oklahoma will play for a fifth consecutive title on December 7, against Baylor, in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Sooners have produced seven Heisman Trophy winners and boast 165 First-Team All-Americans.

Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts (#1, left, red jersey) was one of the Sooners' senior players honored during Senior Night festivities that were held prior to the Oklahoma-TCU football game on Saturday, November 23.

(photos above and below) Prior to the TCU-Oklahoma game, a special ceremony saluted the Native American tribes and communities located in Oklahoma and represented at the University of Oklahoma.