TCU needs more fireworks after win

TCU now has the highest-scoring offense in the country. That's going to require more ammunition.

The Horned Frogs' 82-27 home victory over Texas Tech on Saturday came with a cost: They scored so many points that they burned through their season supply of fireworks.

Drew Martin, TCU's assistant AD for marketing and licensing, said Monday he's working with the school's game-day pyrotechnician to determine just how big a fireworks order the school needs to place for its final two home games.

TCU's pyro provider, Bill Crews of Extreme Pyro, ordered enough ammunition this season in preparation for 30 to 40 touchdowns at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The Frogs have already scored 45 this season, including 30 at home and 10 against the Red Raiders.

That supply of fireworks, launched after each touchdown and field goal from atop the Meyer-Martin Athletic Complex overlooking the south end zone, came up empty early in the fourth quarter. With TCU up 68-27, Crews radioed Martin to say they were almost out.

"He said, 'Just want to let you know, we've only got enough pyro to shoot one more touchdown,'" Martin said. "Sure enough, we scored two more times."

The weight of the pyrotechnics shot off for touchdowns and field goals in TCU's five home wins? Nearly 200 pounds.

Crews brings eight large tubs of fireworks each week. The Frogs' 239 points in home games have sent him home with less than a bucket of leftovers most weeks.

"He says we have fired enough pyro this year to do a 15-minute-long show," Martin said.

He and Crews put in an extra order earlier this month when TCU's prolific offense started outperforming all expectations. After what the Frogs did Saturday, they're wondering what it'll take to get through home games against Kansas State and Iowa State.

"We'd already ordered enough for 16 additional touchdowns," Martin said, "but that was before Saturday. So we're going to go back and take a look today with my pyro guy."

In their defense, TCU scored 37 touchdowns last season and just 23 in home games. Although Crews did increase his order this year in anticipation of new offensive coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie revitalizing the Frogs' offense, he and Martin didn't expect an offense quite this prolific.