Mem’ries Sweet: Part Two - 2,000 Stories And We’ve Only Just Begun
It’s been a journey! Last week, our KillerFrogs|FanNation site crossed a milestone – we have now produced over 2,000 pieces of content highlighting TCU sports. We launched the site in September 2021. We started with a team of three, which has now grown to an outstanding group of 15 writers.
As the milestone approached, I asked each of our writers to share the highlights of their time with KillerFrogs, whether it be a favorite article they wrote, a favorite article someone else on the team wrote, an interview they did, an opportunity or event they got to cover, or just a fond memory.
The KillerFrogs team in December under the watchful eyes of the Hypnotoad - David, Tori (photo), Ryann, Zion, Barry, Tyler, Brett (photo), Ian, Nate (photo), Jake
Barry Lewis
This week, we are sharing those highlights with you. If you missed yesterday’s first part, read it here. Here is the second part of our writers’ highlights:
Part Two – KillerFrogs|FanNation Highlights
Barry Lewis
Managing Editor/Publisher
Joined the team – August 2021
There are so many highlights for me. I’ve been a fan of TCU for decades, including the Pat Sullivan years. If you had told me in the early 1990s that one day, I’d be sitting in the press box of the college football national championship team, and TCU was playing, I probably would have asked what you were smoking.
But for me, it’s the relationships, friendships, and bonds that have become a part of my life over the last 18 months. I didn’t know any of this team when we launched, so getting to know them has been such a pleasure. I can tell you a personal story about each of our writers, but I must mention four particular moments (and my apologies to the others on the team that don’t get mentioned here).
First, I go back to one football game. TCU versus West Virginia on October 23, 2021 – Patterson’s last home game (though we didn’t know it). The game sucked. The Frogs lost, but it was still one of the best days ever for me as a fan. I met Andrew Bauhs of College Football Tour as TCU was his 88th stop on a journey to experience game day at all 131 FBS stadiums. Not only did I have a great day showcasing TCU, but I met three dear friends that day – Andrew, his husband Olin, and their friend Brett. I’ve traveled to Chicago to spend time with Andrew and Olin since they’ve also returned to Texas. And Brett – well, he immediately became a writer on our team and profoundly set us on course to be recognized on a national level as well as becoming a friend.
Andrew Bauhs (College Football Tour), Ryann Zeller (KillerFrogs), Brett Gibbons (Road to CFB and KillerFrogs), Olin Eargle (College Football Tour), and Barry Lewis (KillerFrogs)
Barry Lewis
Then there was the day I decided to let Tyler, our self-proclaimed Sports Ignoramus, live tweet the TCU versus Dallas Baptist baseball game last season. Let’s say the wheels came off that bus so quickly. I’ve never laughed so much at a baseball game.
I met Nate’s mom before a football game. She hugged me and thanked me for all the opportunities I’d provided Nate in just a few months. She called me his mentor, and it was at that moment that I realized that this was probably the real reason I’m part of this team – to form bonds with these young adults and help them advance their future careers. That moment stuck with me, and I recall it frequently.
Then there was the day, three nights before the National Championship Game when our writer Ian and I decided to explore SoFi Stadium. It was a quiet afternoon, the rains had yet to arrive, and the sunset was just spectacular. I will treasure that time and that memory Ian and I shared that day.
Ian and Barry at SoFi Stadium a few days before the National Championship Game.
David Tucker
Joined the team – October 2021
David’s highlight was when Marshall Harris, an alum and former football player, gave TCU the rights to his “Flying T” logo. It took 40 years for the school to acquire the rights. David wrote the story right after the announcement was made. It has become a widely-viewed article on our site. Please read it here.
Nate Cross
Joined the team – June 2022
I’ve told Nate to forget the Nick Saban coaching tree – we have the Nate Cross writers’ tree. Ryann and I met Nate and his family at the FCA banquet in April. He was our first student. He brought us the next, who then brought on several more. Had we not met Nate that night, our team wouldn’t be where we are now. “My favorite highlight would be the experience of the whole playoffs and being able to go to Arizona, and the selection show was really awesome!”
Nate and Barry at the Fiesta Bowl
Jake Peterson
Joined the team – December 2022
Jake is another of our TCU students, and he’s interning with us this semester. He joined our team in early December, just in time to be a part of our Fiesta Bowl coverage. Jake wrote articles previewing the Alamo and Cheez-It Bowls as his first ones for KillerFrogs. But it was his third article that, so far, is his favorite. In this article, “Fiesta Bowl QB Spotlight,” he compared TCU’s Max Duggan to Michigan’s JJ McCarthy. It was a great read telling the story of two quarterbacks; neither named the starting quarterback in Week 1, who led their teams to the semifinal game.
Nick Girimonte
Joined the team – February 2023
Our newest team member joined us just a week ago. And since he’s the second “Nick” and has already been referred to as the “Newest Nick.” Nick is another of our TCU students, and we met outside Lupton Stadium after Sunday’s win over Florida State. He’s already jumped in to cover some of the spring sports at TCU. “I decided to join KillerFrogs because their coverage of TCU sports was better than any place I had seen,” said Nick. “They have been extremely welcoming to me as I began my journey here, offering me guidance and support the whole way. I look forward to trying to show just how killer horned frogs truly are.”
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