FORT COLLINS — The big speculation in New York City last week had TCU under consideration for Big East membership.
TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte said that’s all it is, speculation. No one has contacted TCU.
“The Mountain West Conference is a great fit for TCU,” he said at halftime of TCU’s 27-0 blanking of Colorado State. His priority is gaining BCS automatic qualifying status for the Mountain West and is excited about membership additions Boise State, Nevada and Fresno State.
It’s a much stronger vote of confidence in the MWC than BYU gave before announcing intentions to bolt next year for independent status.
TCU had been rumored for Big 12 consideration when Nebraska and Colorado announced intentions to leave, but the league indicated a desire to stay at 10 members. Keeping away from Kerley.
After TCU return specialist Jeremy Kerley torched CSU on a punt return a year ago, he didn’t see very much in the way of returnable punts. Pete Kontodiakos punted eight times for a 49.8-yard average. Kerley returned just three for 35 yards.
Footnotes.
For the first time since the 2007 finale, someone other than Scott Albritton handled the long snaps for CSU. Albritton, the reliable senior, injured his knee late in the first half. His replacement was Tanner Hedstrom, a redshirt freshman walk-on from Fort Collins. Also, running back Raymond Carter left the locker room with a knee brace. . . . There was a moment of silence before the game for ex-Ram offensive guard Anthony Cesario, who died a week ago at age 34 of a heart ailment. . . . CSU coach Steve Fairchild said he and his wife, Nancy, would donate 10 cents a person to the Food Bank of Larimer County for everyone who attended the game. With the crowd at 22,553, the Fairchilds owe $2,255.30.
