Women’s hoops WAC trophy presentation postponed for financial gain
Commentary

For those of us who are athletically challenged, but continue to fill our lives with as many sporting events as possible, there is only one way to win a championship: living vicariously through the players who make it happen.

Right now, there is nobody better to live vicariously through than the TCU women’s basketball team.

The Frogs, following an outstanding season, clinched their very first conference championship Tuesday with a, 66-54, victory over San Jose State and will enter the Western Athletic Conference Tournament next week as the No. 1 seed.

The only thing missing is the trophy.

Don’t worry, it’s theirs. They just haven’t been presented with it yet.

Why?

Well, the university has decided to present the trophy following the last regular season game vs. long-time rival, Southern Methodist. The ceremony will come complete with a presentation of the WAC trophy, senior recognition and each player will be able to aid in the traditional cutting down of the nets.

Nice idea. Five days late.

Sure, there is nothing wrong with extending the sweetness of victory, but unfortunately there will never be another moment as meaningful as when the Frogs captured a tie for the WAC title Sunday afternoon vs. Hawaii or when they secured the outright crown Tuesday.

As the game came to a close Monday to the sound of 1,571 fans serenading the team with a standing ovation at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum, the players may have been experiencing the most memorable moments of their lives.

In the eyes of the players, coaches and fans pure joy could be seen. In the eyes of TCU, pure dollar signs could be seen.

Forget about whether or not the Frogs actually beat SMU, saving the trophy presentation until Saturday will draw even more attention to the always fan-gathering TCU/SMU match up.

The Frogs defeated SMU earlier in the season as part of their 11-game winning streak, but with the championship secured, attendance would likely dwindle regardless of the rivalry.

But with the seniors being recognized and the nets coming down, who wouldn’t want to be a part of that moment? After all, they will get to witness the always exciting match up between the two teams.

The problem is that SMU is already upset by its loss to the Frogs earlier in the season, and the Frogs have already secured their No. 1 WAC Tournament seed. Together, these circumstances equal possible defeat for the Frogs.

So, there they’ll be, excited by the trophy, remembering the record number of wins this season, but still feeling the pain of a loss to their No. 1 rival.

Hopefully, the Frogs will continue their phenomenal season, prove me wrong and end the season on a high note.

Hopefully, the players will feel a little bit of the excitement they felt in their victories as they cut down the net.

Hopefully, TCU has better motives for postponing the celebration than it appears.

Opinion Editor James Zwilling is a sophomore news-editorial journalism major from Phoenix.
He can be reached at (j.g.zwilling@student.tcu.edu).