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Fort Worth StarTelegram
TCU-SMU ‘iron skillet’ rivalry: See historic game-day photos of Horned Frogs over decades
By Amanda McCoy,
8 days ago
TCU will travel to Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas this Saturday for possibly one of the last Battles for the Iron Skillet contests against rival SMU.
The two programs had their first meeting in 1915 and have played every year since, with the exception of six seasons. But the tradition will be “indefinitely paused” after the 2025 season, a fact that only increases the pressure on both teams to leave Saturday with a win.
Here’s a look back at memorable TCU-SMU matchups over the decades from the Star-Telegram archives.
TCU wide receiver Blake Lowell (87) is tackled by SMU defender Brandon Crossley (1) at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Chris Torres/ctorres@star-telegram.com TCU mascot Super Frog hops into the student section during a college football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the SMU Mustangs at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Chris Torres/ctorres@star-telegram.com The SMU Mustangs mascot Peruna plays the TCU Horned Frogs mascot Super Frog in a game of rock-em-sock-em robots during a college football game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the SMU Mustangs at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on Saturday, Sept. 23, 2023. Chris Torres/ctorres@star-telegram.com TCU runs onto the field before their rivalry game against SMU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Gerald Ford Stadium in the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Madeleine Cook/mcook@star-telegram.com TCU quarterback Max Duggan passes the ball during their rivalry game against SMU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Gerald Ford Stadium in the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Madeleine Cook/mcook@star-telegram.com TCU head coach Sonny Dykes reacts to a referee call during their game against SMU on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, at the Gerald Ford Stadium in the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Madeleine Cook/mcook@star-telegram.com SMU safety Bryan Massey celebrates with fans in the stands after a NCAA football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. The SMU Mustangs defeated TCU Horned Frogs 42-34 to retain the Iron Skillet for another year. Bob Booth/Bob Booth TCU head coach Gary Patterson congratulates SMU head coach Sonny Dykes after SMU’s win of a NCAA football game at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021. Bob Booth/Bob Booth TCU Horned Frogs running back Sewo Olonilua (33) celebrates with the Iron Skillet following a 42-12 win against the Southern Methodist Mustangs on Friday, Sept. 7, 2018. Brad Loper TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Kenny Hill (7) gets hit by SMU defenders while running the ball in the first quarter as TCU beats SMU 56-36 in their annual Iron Skillet game in Fort Worth, Saturday, September 16, 2017. Paul Moseley/pmoseley@star-telegram.com TCU Horned Frogs tight end Charlie Reid (82) hoists the Iron Skillet after TCU beat SMU 56-36 in their annual game in Fort Worth, Saturday, September 16, 2017. Paul Moseley/pmoseley@star-telegram.com TCU Horned Frogs celebrating retaining the Iron Skillet as TCU beat SMU 33 - 3 in college football at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, TX, Friday, Sept. 23, 2016. Max Faulkner/mfaulkner@star-telegram.com TCU Horned Frogs quarterback Trevone Boykin (2) and linebacker Paul Dawson (47) say a prayer at the goalpost before the game. The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs beat the Southern Methodist Mustangs, 48-17, in their annual Iron Skillet game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, September 28, 2013. Paul Moseley/Star-Telegram A sea of Horned Frog fans in the student section before the game. The Texas Christian University Horned Frogs beat the Southern Methodist Mustangs, 48-17, in their annual Iron Skillet game in Fort Worth, Texas, Saturday, September 28, 2013. Paul Moseley/Star-Telegram The SMU Mustangs take the field before SMU’s game with TCU at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas, Texas Friday September 24, 2010. Ron Jenkins/Star-Telegram/Ron Jenkins TCU players toss the ball around during pregame over the “Pony Up” that was marked into the field by SMU fans before the TCU vs SMU College Football game at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on September 22, 2007. Sharon M. Steinman/STAR-TELEGRAM/SHARON M. STEINMAN Fans spelling out “Go Frogs” boo as SMU takes the field during the TCU vs SMU College Football game at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth on September 22, 2007. Sharon M. Steinman/STAR-TELEGRAM/SHARON M. STEINMAN TCU officials examine the sproutings on the Amon Carter Stadium Tuesday, Feburary 15, 2000. Winter rye grass growing at TCU is part of prank played by the SMU band that left the SMU band’s Diamond M in the middle of the Amon Carter Stadium. Jeffery Washington/STAR-TELEGRAM David Yarbrough, field supervisor at TCU Amon Carter Stadium looks over the winter rye grass growing on the TCU stadium. The grass is part of prank played by the SMU band that left the SMU band’s Diamond M in the middle of the Amon Carter Stadium. Jeffery Washington/STAR-TELEGRAM TCU’s LaDainian Tomlinson rushed for 125 yards against SMU to clinch the NCAA Division IA rushing title on November 26, 1999 in Amon Carter Stadium. Alison Woodworth/STAR-TELEGRAM Jerry Levias, first African American football player for Southern Methodist University, leaves the stadium at Texas Christian University’s Amon G. Carter Stadium escorted by patrolman G. R. Killough and plainclothes officer L. W. Spinks, extreme left, after the TCU-SMU football game in 1966. Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection/Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections Despite pressure from two Texas Christian University tacklers Don Meredith gets off a touchdown pass to Tirey Wilemon in 1958. Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections Airview of stadium made during TCU vs. SMU homecoming game when stadium was dedicated to Amon G. Carter in 1951. Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections Bobby Jack Floyd, the Frogs’ jumping fullback, prepares for a crash landing as Neal Franklin (61) of Southern Methodist University (SMU) grasps his legs in 1950. Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections Ray Mallouff, Southern Methodist University, hurdling a fallen team mate during the TCU vs SMU football game in 1940. Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections Members of the Texas Christian University band performing during the TCU-SMU football game in 1937 During the game, Amon G. Carter was presented with a scroll naming him “honorary band leader for life” by TCU band leader Don Gillis. Fort Worth Star-Telegram collection/UT Arlington Special Collections
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