Countdown to Kickoff: Spotlight on TCU Legend Bruce Alford Sr.
The TCU Horned Frogs are gearing up for the 2025 football season, with less than 100 days to go until their first game against the North Carolina Tar Heels. In anticipation of the season opener, we will spotlight a former or current Horned Frog whose jersey number corresponds to the number of days remaining until kickoff.
Alford Sr., a standout player for TCU, was inducted into the TCU Athletic Hall of Fame in 1973. He earned accolades such as Second-Team All-Southwest Conference in 1941 and went on to be named First-Team All-Southwest Conference and Third-Team All-American in 1942. Alford Sr. was the MVP of the 1942 Orange Bowl and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1943 NFL Draft. Instead of pursuing a professional football career, he chose to serve in the Army Air Corps during World War II before eventually playing for the New York Yankees in the AAFC in 1946.
During his six-year professional football career, Alford Sr. played a total of 75 games and recorded 81 receptions for 1,341 yards and nine touchdowns. After retiring as a player, he transitioned to officiating in the NFL, serving as a line judge for 20 years and officiating three Super Bowls (II, VII, and IX). His son, Bruce Alford Jr., followed in his footsteps by playing football for TCU as a place kicker and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1967.
As we look forward to the upcoming football season, Alford Sr.'s legacy serves as a reminder of the rich history and tradition of TCU football.