TCU To Play In Liberty Bowl
FORT WORTH, Texas – The TCU football team has been selected by the AutoZone Liberty Bowl to face Georgia Dec. 30 in Memphis.Kickoff will be at 11 a.m. with the game televised on ESPN.
Over the last three seasons, TCU is tied for the Big 12’s best overall record (29-9) while having the second-best conference mark (19-8).
The Horned Frogs will be making their second appearance in the Liberty Bowl and 14th trip to a bowl game in 16 seasons under head coach Gary Patterson. TCU also went to a bowl all three years (1998-00) when Patterson was defensive coordinator.
The Liberty Bowl was the site of Patterson’s first bowl win in 2002, when the Horned Frogs defeated Colorado State 17-3. The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will mark TCU’s first game in Memphis and the state of Tennessee since that contest.
TCU (6-6) and Georgia (7-5) will be meeting for just the fourth time in their history and first time since 1988, when the Bulldogs won 38-10 in Athens in the season opener. Georgia has won all three games in the series with the first contest being a 40-26 victory in the 1942 Orange Bowl. The Bulldogs also defeated the Horned Frogs, 34-3, in Athens in 1980 during their 12-0 national championship season.
TCU is facing an SEC team for the first time in a bowl game since its 42-3 win over No. 9 Ole Miss in the 2014 Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.
Under Patterson, the Horned Frogs are 2-2 versus SEC opponents. In addition to the victory over Ole Miss, TCU defeated Vanderbilt 30-14 in 2003 before dropping a 37-27 decision to No. 12 LSU in the 2013 season opener. TCU had a 41-38 double-overtime loss to Arkansas earlier this season.
“We can’t wait to get to Memphis,” TCU director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte said. “We are very appreciative of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl for the invitation. We know our TCU Horned Frogs Family will be well represented in Memphis. It’s a very exciting opportunity for our football program to face Georgia in a tradition-rich game like the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, where Coach Patterson earned his first bowl win.”
The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will mark the 32nd bowl appearance in TCU’s history. The Horned Frogs are 15-15-1 in bowl games. TCU is 11-5 in bowls with Patterson on its coaching staff and 9-5 with him as head coach. He was named head coach prior to the 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl. Before Patterson’s arrival on campus in 1998, the Horned Frogs had just four bowl wins in their history.
“We are very appreciative of the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on our selection,” Patterson said. “It’s exciting to be making our 17th bowl trip in 19 seasons. We have a great history with Memphis and the Liberty Bowl. In 2002, it was the site of our first bowl win as a staff. Being able to play a quality opponent in Georgia makes it a very attractive game for us and the TCU community. Bowls are a great reward for our players, and we’re looking forward to utilizing the game as a springboard for our offseason program, spring practice and next year.”
TCU season-ticket holders and Frog Club members have until Monday at 5 p.m. to make ticket requests through the Horned Frogs Priority Points System. Requests can be made online at GoFrogs.com, calling 817.257.FROG (3764) or dropping by the Parrish Family Athletics Ticket Office in the Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
