Ray graduate and former NFL player Clint Gresham ready for TCU-Georgia showdown
Clint Gresham last played for TCU in 2009, but his connection with the Horned Frogs remains as strong as ever.
The 2005 Ray High School graduate and Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks has kept a close eye on the team — even before their run to the 2023 National Championship game.
"I feel so proud," Gresham said of the Horned Frogs' historic season. "I think this season has been the story of TCU for the last 20 years when Gary Patterson took over and built the program to what it is today. Coach Sonny Dykes has been able to come in and make something more of it."
No. 3 TCU (13-1) will play in the national championship game for the first time since 1938 when it takes the field against No. 1 Georgia (14-0) at 6:30 p.m. Monday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.
Although the Horned Frogs are 0-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, Gresham and other TCU fans have embraced the team's David vs. Goliath mentality.
TCU was left out of the College Football Top 25 preseason poll, and was picked by most to lose in Week 11 against Baylor, and recently against No. 2 Michigan in the Fiesta Bowl.
"I always liked us being the underdog," Gresham said. "I liked when people counted us out because it made our team scrappy. It's exciting to see TCU proving people wrong.
"The problem is TCU is a small brand," Gresham added. "If it was Alabama, they would be saying this is the greatest team in the last 100 years. I am so fired up."
Gresham transferred from Oklahoma to TCU in 2006 and joined the Seahawks in 2010. He played in the NFL until 2016 and remains the only college long snapper invited to participate in the NFL combine.
"I was welcomed with open arms at TCU by (former coach) Gary Patterson. "I still have a ton of relationships with the team, support staff. It's really cool to see what they've done to prove people wrong."
Gresham felt the turning point in TCU's season was Week 6 against Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs rallied for a 43-40 double overtime win to improve to 6-0.
TCU went on to win its next six games, including a 17-10 win against No. 18 Texas.
"When they finally won that game, I knew they had something special," Gresham said. "As a former long snapper on the team, it was great to see all of the hard work pay off."
Gresham said his favorite memory at TCU was playing against Clemson during his senior year. Playing at "Death Valley" in front of 90,000 people is a moment he'll never forget.
"I remember there being rain getting dumped the whole game and we beat them 13-10," Gresham said. "To go in to the place like Clemson and win was special."
Gresham currently resides in the Dallas area and has published the book Becoming: Loving the Process to Wholeness, which can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book stores and sites.
Gresham has continued to share his faith and testimony as a Young Life leader, and even volunteered to speak at the West side Helping Hand in Corpus Christi.
Gresham said he plans to share his faith at more events in the future and even plans to return to Corpus Christi in the near future.
Even though Gresham has kept a busy schedule off the the field, he still plans to be in attendance for Monday's National Championship game, and admitted he won't hold back on letting his voice be heard from the stands.
"I will be the loudest most obnoxious TCU fan there," Gresham said. "I am really fired up. Going to the National Championship is like going to the Super Bowl. When you have a chance to go, you spare no expense and enjoy the experience. It will nice to get some time alone with my wife and hopefully we'll enjoy a win."
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Corpus Christi's Clint Gresham ready for TCU-Georgia showdown
