Metroplexing

A Great Day Trip - A Train Ride to Small Town America (for only $4) Can You Guess Where I Went?

I recently took a day trip via the train to one of the most charming towns in North Texas. A perfect excursion for antique shoppers, history buffs or just anyone who wants to spend a day in Mayberry USA. I bet you've heard of this town but didn't know about the train that stops in its downtown. Peruse the photos and try to guess where in Texas I am.

This is one of the oldest train stations in the state. Stop in and get a historic walking guide to the city.

The original High School dates back to the 1920's

The High School Auditorium was built during the depression by the WPA

The spectacular lobby of the depression era auditorium

This home in the Historic District had a seven sided porch.

I love the native landscaping of this restored home.

A friendly neighbor who let me take his picture and told me the history of his 100 year old house.

The homes in the Historic District or just a few steps west of the rail station and downtown.

The view from across the street from the Train Station. I love the brick streets. Have you figured out what town this is?

The Filmore Pub in Downtown. A local favorite.

The original home of the Oddfellows Lodge, in the 1930s it was 'modernized' to look like a art deco structure.

A new business opens up in the 100 year old town.

The George Building is 110 years old and houses a really cool Pizza Place with a Rooftop Lounge, a very hip surprise.

Notice the new loft apartments that were recently built. This community's downtown continues to thrive.

Just east of Downtown is the Old Town District. One of the town's more prominent residents.

The Carpenter House Bed and Breakfast in the Old Town District.

May I suggest lunch at Jorg's Cafe Vienna. The owner, Jorg, is from Austria and his food is both authentic and delicious.

Jorg met his American wife and moved with her back to her native Texas. Quite a surprise to find a little piece of Austria in this humble town. Where am I????

The Masonic Lodge is one of the oldest in Texas and still in use.

Have you figured out where I am?

Scroll Down for the Answer

Did you guess

Plano?

Didn't know that Plano had a downtown? You're probably not alone. Downtown Plano is over 100 years old and has buildings that date back to the days when it was a small farming community, north of Dallas. In 1960, Plano only had 3600 residents. By 1970, the number grew to 17,000. Today, it has over a quarter million people.

And the $4.00 round trip train ride? The was the Dart's Red Line from Mockingbird Station to the Downtown Plano stop.

To find Downtown Plano take the 15th Street exit (Exit 29) off US 75 and head east.

Click Here to find out more about Historic Downtown Plano

My Night at The Bridge

   If you drove by The Bridge, you might think it was a modern office complex or possibly loft apartments. You first guess probably wouldn't be that this modern building is a one of a kind, homeless assistance campus.

  Some might argue that "homeless assistance campus" is a fancy word for shelter. I would argue that you probably don't know much about the Bridge. Built in 1988, The Bridge is a non-profit facility run by the Metro Dallas Homeless Alliance. A combined effort of numerous charities and government agencies, The Bridge's goal is to end chronic homelessness in Dallas by 2014. I now believe it's a doable goal.

   The Bridge is a warm, clean and safe place where the homeless can wash clothes, take a shower, get a meal, get mail, get counseling for drug or alcohol addiction, visit a clinic, get help from a mental health professional, search for a job, store their possessions or visit with the Veterans Administration, the Social Security office, or Legal Aid. A homeless assistance campus. Guest (as they are referred to by The Bridge staff) are treated with respect and compassion.

   Yesterday, I spent the night at The Bridge. I was a guest on the men's transitional housing floor.

A cubicle on the transitional floor at The Bridge

   My small cubicle included a cot, a locker and a chair. Despite it's spartan setting, the transitional housing floor is warm, safe and clean. Three precious commodities for men and women who were living on the street a few months ago. To move up to this floor is a privilege and the guests who live their must also work at The Bridge to pay the rent.

   I've come to know quite a few of those who live there, as we are training together for a 5K run this Saturday. If you met my new friends, especially when they are in their top notch donated running gear, you'd think they were just another runner enjoying the city park. I know them as Freddie, Steve, Melvin, Kenneth, Sonja and Raymond. I know where they've come from.
   I know how hard they've worked to get where they are now. And I'm confident they will take that last step across The Bridge. Their goal is to join the 89% of those who have moved from The Bridge into permanent housing and are still there 2 years later.

   I believe it is a doable goal.

Join us Saturday for our 5K Run or 2 Mile Walk to Help the Homeless

Find out more about The Bridge

The Ruins of the Metroplex - Part 1

A Detroit Mansion from the Gilded Age slowly decays

I've always been fascinated by a website called The Ruins of Detroit. The city, which was once so beautiful, it was dubbed the "Paris of the West" began to lose both industry and population in the 1960's. Over the course of the next 50 years, over one million people moved either to the suburbs or out of the region entirely. Entire neighborhoods have been abandoned, some even reverted to prairie. Skyscrapers, hotels, churches sit empty and deteriorate all over the city

I've wondered about similar fate here in the metroplex. The decay of old Dallas is well documented. But what about other areas. We build newer and newer suburbs in far reaching cities like Allen and McKinney. What happened to the first wave of suburbia?

Though not nearly as extensive or devastating as Detroit, there are pockets of abandonment, so called modern day ruins. Buildings that haven't necessarily outlived their usefulness, they just happen to be built in a part of town that is no longer in fashion.

A Downtown Detroit Movie Palace falls apart.

The Once Proud Michigan Central Terminal sits abandoned. Imagine if a new form of transportation was invented and DFW Airport was abandoned

Follow Me on Twitter

The Ruins of the Metroplex - Garland Shopping Center

UPDATE: Since this post was written, the shopping center has been torn down and a Wal Mart is being built in it' place. Below is the original post.

I first noticed this beautiful mid-century sign at the intersection of Garland Road and Miller on my way to old Downtown Garland. It's vast parking lot offer clues that it once served a bustling suburb that was romanced by the automobile.

The only sign of life left is this lonely mailbox which sits in the middle of the development. A few weeks ago during the premier episode of the new show LONE STAR, I noticed the sign in the background. This empty mid century shopping plaza was being used as the set for a couple of grifters. A odd second life, for a once modern complex. (Ironically, the TV series was cancelled after 2 episodes)

Side note: Though the shopping center is left to decay, the neighborhood of mid century ranch homes are in surprisingly excellent condition.

Remnants of tile flooring from a row a buildings

I found the remains of a gas station. Here is where the pumps once sat.

The Ruins of Detroit

Map to Garland Shopping Center

Enjoy my blog? Then check out my book,

The Travis Club

Intrigue + Mystery + Romance + San Antonio

"What a surprise! . . .a page-turner . . . extremely well-written and well researched. . . I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers . . . a great read. . . couldn't wait to find out what would happen next . . . I love a book you can't put down, and this certainly fit the bill . . . very engaging . . . I really couldn't stop reading it . . . a fantastic and completely believable story"

Reviews From Amazon.com Readers

A Little Taste of Hawaii, Right here in the Metroplex

The people of Hawaii love Spam. And when I say "love", I really mean "love". For some reason, Hawaiians see Spam as a delicacy.

So it was no surprise to me when I walked into the L&L Hawaiian Barbecue in Plano to find Spam prominently on the menu. SpamBurger, Spam & Eggs, Spam Musubi and Spam Saimin.

   Now do yo believe me, Hawaiians love Spam.

   What really surprises me is that a Hawaiian institution like L&L is located here, and that it took me so long to find it. Imagine if you lived in Hawaii for 10 years and then all of a sudden you discover there is a Whataburger located in Honolulu.

   If Spam isn't your thing, don't worry. They stay plenty kine onolicious Hawaian kau kau. (translation: There are plenty of other delicious Hawaiian dishes)
   I would recommend the Kailua pork or the Pork Lau Lau. Both are served with the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch accouterments: A scoop of sticky rice and macaroni salad. The menu does allow for substituting an extra scoop of rice rather than the mac salad.

   For the unadventurous there are a variety of other options from Shrimp, Mahi Mahi, Barbeque Chicken and Burgers. I suggest you stick with the regular size plates, the Aloha size is way too much food.

I do suggest you skip the standard soft drink and try one of the many Hawaiian Sun punches and nectars. Imported directly from Hawaii, these are very hard to find on the mainland. Passion Fruit / Guava Nectar is one of my favorites.

L&L is located in far north Plano just south of Highway 121 and the Ikea store. And if you travel to New York, apparently there's one there also.

For More Info on L&L Hawaiian Barbecue

Go Back In Time - At The Dairyette

"It's like a heart attack made of wood, but it's delicious"

A quote from my daughter Meranda

In 1956, Ed and Andy Prikryl opened The Dairyette in East Dallas. 50 plus years later, not much has changed. They still offer car hop service. They still make hand made shakes, malts, burgers and fries. And they still make their own root beer in the big barrel. (The female carhops complain that only the guys are allowed to make the root beer, another example of things that haven't changed.)

My daughter discovered the Dairyette during her freshman year at Bishop Lynch High School, which sits across the street. After school, the place is packed with uniformed students. But the Dairyette, which is opened till ten, draws a very diverse crowd throughout the day.

The Dairyette offers service at your car, but you'd be missing part of the experience if you don't go inside. The interior, a celebration of wood and vinyl, hasn't changed since it opened. The aroma of greasy burgers immediately assaults your senses. It is quite possible that you might be smelling the first burger ever cooked.

A east Dallas icon, the Dairyette is located at 9785 Ferguson Road, just around the corner from Fonzie's garage.

The Forgotten Grave of Rube Waddell

(Note: Pardon me for the departure from stories about Dallas - Fort Worth, but my friends know I have a deep affinity for San Antonio. If I ever get around to publishing a third edition of San Antonio Uncovered, this story will definitely be added)

On Block 5, Lot 182, Space 2 of the Mission Burial Park South in San Antonio, sits the rather impressive grave of George Edward "Rube" Waddell. Buried in 1914, the grave site doesn't get many visitors. Few in San Antonio remember him and even know he is buried here. If it wasn't for the generosity of baseball legend Connie Mack who paid for the monument, Rube Waddell would have remained interned in a unmarked paupers grave.

Who is Rube Waddell? Perhaps the greatest left handed pitcher to ever play baseball.

   Rube Waddell played in the major leagues from 1897 - 1910. Some of his more amazing statistics:

- A lifetime ERA of 2.16
- A career total of 50 shutouts
- 4 20 win seasons
- Set record for strikeouts in a season (349)
- Only pitcher to win 10 games in one month (July 1902, Philadelphia Athletics)
- First pitcher to strike out the side with 9 consecutive pitches
- A career total of 2316 strike outs, 193 wins and 261 complete games.
- Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946

   More importantly, Rube Waddell was arguably the first celebrity in the fledgling endeavor known as professional baseball. Rube Wadell biographer Alan Howard Levy noted:
   "He was among the game's first real drawing cards, among its first honest-to-goodness celebrities, and the first player to have teams of newspaper reporters following him, and the first to have a mass following of idol-worshiping kids yelling out his nickname like he was their buddy."

   Many say that the upstart American League would not have survived had it not been for the draw of Rube Waddell. But is was not his blazing fastball and terrific curve that earned him the endearment of fans. Rather it was his eccentric behavior the also brought the nickname "Rube."

   Often described as having the emotional and intellectual maturity of a child, Rube Waddell was a constant source of grief for his managers, but a favorite of the fans.
   Between pitching performances, he would often disappear for days and be found playing in pick up games with neighborhood children. Once he disappeared from spring training in Jacksonville and found later leading a parade.
   Opposing players often distracted him with shiny objects and puppies, which was said to put him in a trance like state while on the mound,
   He was so bad with his money, that once year the Philadelphia Athletics paid him in one dollar bills to keep him from spending it too fast.
   He had a fascination with fires and often would be found assisting local firefighters.
   Many feel that he probably suffered from a social disorder, autism or some other mental disorder that were not diagnosed in the early part of the 20th century.

   In 1911, Rube Waddell caught pneumonia after helping a town stave off flood waters from a nearby icy river. He never recovered and in 1913 was sent to San Antonio to live with his sister and later to a sanatorium to recover and regain his strength (It's often falsely reported that he was sent to a mental institution.) In 1914 Rube Waddell passed away and was buried in a unmarked grave. Connie Mack and his business partner Ben Shibe paid to have Rube buried with an impressive monument, just like they paid to have him cared for at the sanatorium.

   Today in south San Antonio sits the grave of perhaps the greatest southpaw to ever play the game. Upon his passing, Hall of Fame pitcher Walter Johnson noted:

   "Rube Waddell had more sheer pitching ability than any man I ever saw. That doesn't say he was the greatest pitcher, by a good deal. Rube had defects of character that prevented him from using his talents to the best effect. He is dead and gone, so there is no need for me to enlarge on his weaknesses. They were well enough known. I would prefer to dwell on his strong points. And he had plenty."

The Faded Queen of Swiss Avenue

An Update

Below is a story I posted in 2010 after visiting the Swiss Avenue Tour of Homes.
On May 13th, 2012 my family and I once again visited the Swiss Avenue Tour of Homes. We were quite surprised that 4949 Swiss Avenue was back on the tour, but even more surprised to find the the home had been purchased in late 2011.
What is amazing is that the home is approaching its 100th year, but it has had only four owners. It was purchased by Mr. Cameron Kinvig, who graciously allowed us to tour all three floors of the home. One of his discoveries was a third floor ballroom that featured murals and other decorations from Maddie Caruth's debutante ball. (The Caruth's are the family that sold the home to Mary Ellen Bendtsen's family in 1949).
Touring the home in its current state gives you an appreciation for the endeavor Mr. Kinvig has chosen to undertake. The home has had virtually no upgrades since 1949.
In Mr. Kinvigs first few months of ownership he has stripped the kitchen and a downstairs bathroom and is preparing to take the first of many steps into repairing the shine to the jewel of Swiss Avenue.

My Original Story May 2010

Sunday, my wife and I visited the Swiss Avenue Tour of Homes. Arguably the most beautiful street in Dallas, most of these 1920 era mansions have been beautifully restored to their early grandeur. One however, continues to slowly decay. The only thing sadder than the fading glory of 4949 Swiss Avenue, is the story of its last resident.

4949 Swiss Avenue was built in 1918 when Swiss Avenue was the showcase for Dallas elite. The Caruth family bought the home in 1922. (The Caruths once owned all the land north on Mockingbird to what is now Forest Hill. They donated the land to build the SMU Campus).

In 1949, when Swiss Avenue was losing many of its prominent families and many homes were becoming boarding houses, the Caruth's sold the home to John Logan. Logan's daughter Mary Ellen was a fashion model of such stunning beauty that Life Magazine once named her "The Most Beautiful Woman in America". She was the model for the Art Deco statue that appear outside the Hall of State in Fair Park.

Mary Ellen Logan, later Mary Ellen Bendtsen outlived most of her family and her husband. By 1985, she was the only person living in the giant home. As she got older and her income shrank, Mary Ellen closed off more of the house. Living on just $800 a month, the widow lived in just a few small rooms and heated the home with the oven, which was constantly on during the winter months. A three car garage behind the home caught fire and was never repaired. Plaster was falling from the walls. A post was installed on the front porch to keep it from collapsing. Unable to afford a washing machine, she took her clothes to her daughters home to be laundered. Her daughter desperately wanted her mom to move from the fading mansion, but Mary Ellen would not hear of it. Her home was her identity, often telling people she met that she was the woman of 4949 Swiss Avenue.

Two of the few people who visited the lonely widow in her aging home were a couple of unscrupulous antiques dealers. The family was never comfortable with the two young men who had a history of befriending other elderly couples and often seeking their financial assistance. The family's suspisions were validated when the pair and got Mary Ellen to change her will a few days before her passing in 2005.

Prior to her passing, she had lived alone in the house for 20 years, Unable to afford repairs, the house like her health continued to deteriorate. After her death, it sat empty for years while the court tried to decide who were the rightful heirs to the mansion, the family or the two young men.

Five years since Mary Ellen Bendtsen's passing, the home is still vacant. I was lucky enough to walk through the mansion during the Tour of Homes. The 7400 square foot home, listing for sale at $795,000, is in need of tremendous repair and updating. The windows have been replaced by plywood to keep out the vandals who have stripped the home of its antique features. The garage roof is in danger of collapsing. The faded star of Swiss Avenue sits alone, waiting for someone to once again restore her tremendous beauty.

Google Maps to 4949 Swiss Avenue

The Story of Swiss Avenue, Dallas' Most Beautiful Street

Swiss Avenue was the brainchild of Robert Munger, who conceived the neighborhood in 1905 as part of his Munger Place development. In its day, Swiss Avenue was the most elite address in Dallas. By the 1920's, Swiss Avenue stretched to just west of White Rock Lake.

After World War II, Dallas begin to grow to the north and many of the original families sold their East Dallas mansions. A post war housing shortage caused many of the mansions to be split into boarding houses. Nearby mansions on Gaston Avenue were being torn down for modern apartments. Unable to compete with the sleek new apartments, many of the families that owned the Swiss Avenue mansions / boarding houses sought to sell their homes to developers.

A bitter fight among homeowners was won by preservationists. The street became the city's first historic district in 1973. However, by then the surrounding neighborhoods were in serious decline. The once sleek apartments on Gaston Avenue were in disrepair. Junius Hieghts and Munger Place also suffered from neglect. Swiss Avenue's mansions were being restored, but the street had become an elegant island in the middle of urban decay.

Slowly, the surrounding area began to turn around. The Munger Place and Junius Heights neighborhoods are now designated historic districts and property values have climbed significantly. Area apartments are being restored to the former glory. The influence of Swiss Avenue has spread throughout the area.

Recently a mansion at 4519 Gaston that had been empty for 30 years was purchased and is being restored, further proof that Swiss Avenue is continuing to spread its magic.

Enjoy my blog? Then check out my book,

The Travis Club

Intrigue + Mystery + Romance + San Antonio

Reviews From Amazon.com Readers

My Trip to Cooper's BBQ (Finally)

Yesterday, I finally got a chance to visit Cooper's Old Time Pit BBQ, the famous LLano, Texas outpost that has opened up a location in the Fort Worth Stockyards across from Billy Bob's. Some, including Texas Monthly and President Bush (who legend says placed to go orders to be delivered to Washington) say this is the best barbeque in Texas.

Realizing that choosing the best BBQ is subjective, I decline to place any joint at the top of the list. That being said, it is definitely on the list. It's an amazing meat experience. ("Amazing Meat Experience" is a copyrighted phrase of Hawkeye inc)

The Meat Experience starts the moment you walk off the street into the Meat Room. Before you even realize you are in the restaurant, the pit master has taken your meat order, cut it and plopped it on a plastic tray.

Cooper's is known for the big pork chop (pictured below). Be warned. I ordered one and before I knew it, a pound and half chop which cost me $17.39 was plopped and I was sent to the next room to have my chop weighed, wrapped and and replopped.

If you desire sides (as if a pound and a half of meat isn't enough) they'll sell potato salad and coleslaw for $2.50. However, big pots of free beans are placed around the restaurant for you to plop on your tray. Don't expect a plate, just a sheet a butcher paper to line your tray, (oddly, it's given to you after your meat has already been placed on the tray. The whole experience is a bit overwheling for a first time visiter, but the meat is a slice of heaven. I'll visit again, but next time I probably will order a little less.

Cooper's Website

The Owner of Neiman-Marcus Told Her To Live Here.

   I had lunch recently at a taco joint (aptly titled The Taco Joint) that recently opened up on Gaston Ave. and Peak Street, in the urban no man's land between Lakewood and Deep Ellum. Across the street sat the Hotel Adler. The window unit air conditioners and the bars on the door reveal a few subtle clues that this may not be the nicest hotel in Dallas.

   "I used to live in that building." The unsolicited comment came from a well dressed elderly woman who sat next to my wife and me at the lunch counter.
   "I had just graduated from college in Denver and I was hired to work at Neiman-Marcus. I asked Mr. Marcus where a single woman in Dallas should live and he suggested the Hotel Adler"
   "What year was that" my wife asked?
   "It was in the 50's. This was such a great neighborhood back then. There were movie theaters, little shops, a street car line leading into downtown. At the other end of Gaston, you had big mansions just like on Swiss Avenue. Old money. Cotton Money. The oil people, they all lived in Highland Park. That was new money, this was old money"

   Lakewood is still home to impressive, well tended homes. But Gaston Avenue, which runs parallel to Swiss Avenue and its stately mansions, has become a fascinating mismatch of restored mansions and mid century apartments. Some of the apartments have been renovated and updated. Others, often next to 70 year old mansions, look dangerous and poorly kept.

   New business is slowly coming back to Gaston. Old homes are being bought and restored. Some of the apartments are being replaced or restored. No master city plan. No grand scheme. Just a city breathing new life into an old neighborhood.

   "I still keep a home here in Dallas, though I mainly live in San Francisco," the woman added. "How long have you two lived here?"

Google Map to the Adler Hotel and The Taco Joint

My Day At Cowboys Stadium

Today, I experienced my first Cowboy game at Jerry's new stadium. I'd been to the venue for George Strait but haven't had the opportunity to see a game there.

Here are a few of my impressions.

I paid $30 dollars to park at a Jack in the Box a mile away. There were 35 spots that they were using for Cowboys parking. The Jack in the Box owner made $1050 today just on parking. That's $8400 for the 8 Cowboy regular season games. And that was the cheapest parking we could find.

During the game, Dallas Mayor Tom Leppart was shown on the Jumbotron. My friend commented that he was "the mayor of the city that lost the Cowboys". I've heard this a lot. I thought Irving lost the Cowboys.

Jerry Jones has taken game presentation to another level. Jumbotrons, Video Ribbon Boards, Cheerleaders, Pole Dancers, Clubs, Suites, Party Pass Levels, Water Fountains. Oh yeah, there was a great football game also.

Jerry wants you to stay in your section. If you are supposed to sit in section 300, don't be wandering over to another section. Not even in the concourse. If your bathroom is to crowded, tuff. Wait it out. If you have a party pass, than please stay in your designated area, even if you can't see the game. Or if you really have to pee.

If you haven't been to a game at the new Stadium, it is a whole new ballgame. (Note: Tickets can be very expensive)

Dallas - Home to the Wild Parakeets?

A few weeks ago I was driving home and noticed a parrot flying in my neighborhood. Like any other person, I thought, "Wow, a parrot, flying around my neighborhood." I felt a bit saddened that somebody's pet had escaped and probably wouldn't survive in the wild for long.

   A week later, I saw 2 more parakeets. I started to think there might be more than just a few escaped parrots flying around East Dallas. After a little research, I discovered that White Rock Lake is home to a rather large parakeet colony. (Another thing I learned, parakeets are a type of parrots.)

   Apparently, a few escaped parakeets found a home on a electrical substation that generates enough heat to make their nest warm enough to live year round. A couple of escaped parakeets became a colony over the course of many years. I drove around the White Rock area and found the substation behind the dam about 200 yards southwest of the old pumphouse. The best time to spot the parrots is at dusk, when they return to their giant nests. It's quite a site, to see the colony of South American birds return home each night. Hats of to TU Electric which decided to leaved the parrots undisturbed after East Dallas neighbors voiced theire desire to leave the colony intact.

   I mentioned this discovery one morning on our radio show and received reports of similar colonies on electrical substations in Irving and Everman.

Directions The Parakeet's nests are about the High Voltage towers across from the White Rock Lake Filter Building

I never would have imagined that in the year since moving to East Dallas, I would have spotted parrots flying around my neighborhood. I add them to my list that includes foxes, hawks, coyotes and Gary Cogill.

Enjoy my blog? Then check out my book,

The Travis Club

Intrigue + Mystery + Romance + San Antonio

Reviews From Amazon.com Readers

In Defense of 32,000 Frog Fans

This has been an exciting season for the TCU Horned Frog Football Squad. The November 2nd edition of the USA has the Purple and White ranked as the nation's 4th best team.

However, this past few weeks has been a interesting one for TCU fans and the city of Fort Worth. On October 17th, Jennifer Floyd Engel of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram wrote a column suggesting that the Frogs deserved larger crowds to witness this special season. Earlier this week, Head Coach Gary Patterson spent part of his weekly press conference imploring more fans to fill Amon Carter Stadium.

I agree. I would like to see the stadium packed for all home games. It would be great on so many levels.

But Saturday when the Versus broadcasters and the studio hosts mocked the city of Fort Worth for not supporting the Horned Frogs while showing an empty section of Amon Carter Stadium, I had to throw a penalty flag.

The one thing that is never mentioned is that TCU is a really small school, one of the smallest in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision. There are only 8,000 students. Compare that to the University of Texas and A&M which have nearly 50,000 students. Texas Tech has over 30,000 students. Those schools churn out thousands of alumni every year. And any college Athletic Director will tell you that alumni buy the bulk of season tickets.

Texas is averaging 101,000 fans per game. That's about twice the size of their student body. Texas A&M averages 82,000. That's not even twice the size of their student body. TCU is averaging 32,000. That's 4 times their student body. Name another Division 1 school that draws 4 times their student body. (Answer: Notre Dame)

Boise State has been mentioned in this debate as a small school that sells out at home and gives their team a home field advantage. But Boise State's stadium only holds 33,000. Basically, they are drawing the same as TCU. Plus they have an enrollment of 18,000.

Here in the Dallas - Fort Worth area. Can you name another team that averages more fans per game than the Frogs? There is only one, The Cowboys. The Frogs average attendance is higher than the Rangers, Mavericks and the Stars.

Still, it would be great if the Frogs could draw 5 1/2 times their student body and fill 44,000 seats in Amon Carter Stadium, even when they play Mountain West Conference teams and their small cadre of traveling fans. Or at the very least, have the tailgators come into the stadium for the start of the game.

Read Jennifer Floyd Engel's column on the Frogs