Purple takes over Fort Worth on TCU football game days.
From the time fans start filling the area around Amon G. Carter Stadium to the final notes of the alma mater, fall Saturdays in north-central Texas are about more than football.
Traditions are a big part of what makes a Horned Frogs game special, from the pregame parties to the sights and sounds that make a Saturday at TCU uniquely TCU.
You’ll hear the chants before you see the players. You’ll spot purple everywhere you look. And before long, you’ll find yourself joining in.
You don’t have to be a TCU alum to appreciate the traditions. Just show up, take it all in and be ready to embrace Frog pride.
Some of these rituals have been around for decades. Others are newer. But each adds to the experience of a college football Saturday in Frog country.
Whether you’re a lifelong Horned Frog or making your first trip to Fort Worth, here are five experiences that belong on every TCU football fan’s bucket list:
Catch the Frog Walk before kickoff
Fans line Stadium Drive for the Frog Walk, where players make their way toward Amon G. Carter Stadium. For an even bigger pregame atmosphere, head to Frog Alley, where food, music and games turn the area around the stadium into a purple-powered tailgate.
Meet SuperFrog
The Horned Frog mascot has been part of the school’s identity since the late 19th century, but SuperFrog made his official debut in 1979. Get to the stadium early and keep an eye out for TCU’s beloved mascot as he works the crowd and leads the cheers before kickoff.
Throw up the Go Frogs hand sign
You’ll see it everywhere on a TCU game day: curl your fingers slightly and raise your hand to form the horns of the Horned Frog. The hand sign dates to 1980, when TCU cheerleader Chad Schrotel and his fellow cheerleaders came up with it as a symbol of Frog pride.
Join in on ‘Riff Ram’
Few cheers have as much history as TCU’s “Riff Ram.” More than a century old, the chant dates to the school’s days in the Southwest Conference and has become a game-day staple. When the crowd launches into “Riff, Ram, Bah Zoo,” you’ll know you’re in Frog country.
Hear the Frog Horn
TCU’s 3,000-pound Frog Horn blasts a train-like horn after touchdowns – and fireworks add another layer of celebration. The Frog Horn is operated by the TCU Rangers spirit group and has become one of the defining sounds of game day at Carter Stadium.
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Mike Garbett is a content specialist working with McClatchy’s Content Innovation Lab.