Jan. 28, 2010

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The TCU football team will begin spring practice on March 4 and conclude April 10 with its Spring Game in Amon G. Carter Stadium.

The Horned Frogs return 16 of 22 starters from this past season's 12-1 squad which made its first BCS appearance and finished sixth in season-ending polls by the Associated Press and USA Today. It was TCU's third top-10 ranking in the last five years.

Per NCAA rules, the Horned Frogs will have 15 practices during spring drills. TCU will not practice the week of March 15-19 due to Spring Break.

The Horned Frogs' annual team banquet will be held April 10 in the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum. As part of the evening's festivities, the Bobby Dodd Foundation will present TCU's Gary Patterson with its Bobby Dodd Award which recognizes the 2009 National Coach of the Year.

Led by quarterback Andy Dalton, who will be in his fourth year as a starter, TCU will welcome back nine starters on offense. The Horned Frogs return seven starters on a defensive unit that has led the nation in total defense each of the last two seasons and four times in the last 10 years.

TCU was one of just two teams (Florida) to rank in the top-10 nationally in both total offense and defense in 2009.

TCU has won at least 10 games six times in the last eight seasons, including five campaigns with 11 or more wins.

Since 2005, TCU's 53-11 record (.828) ranks sixth nationally.