While Texas Christian University will be making the trip up Interstate 79 Saturday for a visit to Morgantown, the team and staff will be spending its evening in Bridgeport. For the second time this year, the city will serve as the host for a visiting Big 12 team.

 

Two weeks ago, the Bridgeport Conference Center and the Wingate Inn had one client – Baylor University’s football program. The same situation will repeat itself today and tomorrow morning as TCU takes over the facility.

 

BCC General Manager Scott Duarte said much of the preparation is the same. And he said the level of detail the football operations staffs of the schools tend to is amazing.

 

“Both teams planned far in advance. We see this common with organizations that do this often. Both were very methodical and well organized,” said Duarte.

 

So was there anything that Baylor did that will likely be different with the Horned Frogs?

 

 “The big differences between the two would be more on menu specifics and preferences. While both teams were from the same general region along Interstate 35 (in Texas) the food interests were little different,” said Duarte. “Both had good combinations of fruits, vegetables, carbs and protein. When working with athletes there is a great importance in making proper meal selections and preparation techniques to ensure they are well fed.”

 

One thing, as it relates to food that is exactly the same is the portions.

 

“The portions are large! Big steaks, big chicken, big pasta and a lot of it,” said Duarte. “Specific team prep has its variations as well based on coach preferences. We’re happy to accommodate whatever those may be.”

 

Before stopping and staying the night at the Charles Pointe development, the team will be flying in at the North Central West Virginia Airport. Airport Director Rick Rock said it was less than 30 minutes from the time Baylor touched down recently until they were on the buses and on their way to the Bridgeport Conference Center.

 

TCU was anticipated to arrive in Bridgeport via charter at 4:30 p.m. today. Once Rock’s group does quick work, Duarte’s staff will handle plenty of the work from food, to security and to making sure there is plenty of meeting space available with technical needs being met as well.

 

“The staff is very excited. They have been looking forward to this for the past year since the planning begun. We’re all fans of football and of course fans of hospitality. It’s our kind of day and everyone gets into the spirit,” said Duarte.

 

After the last game, Baylor’s director of football operations told Duarte at the airport he would see him two years. And recently, he received a handwritten thank you note from BU Coach Art Briles thanking him for the hospitality. Duarte said the Horned Frogs will also get the red carpet treatment.

 

“TCU can expect a community that is glad to have them as our guest. This type of event doesn’t go on the shoulders of any one organization but the collaboration of many,” said Duarte. “Our citizens, local retailers, (the Greater Bridgeport) CVB, law enforcement, the airport and all our hospitality partners come together with an interest in making this the best road visit a team could ask for. That commitment shows.”

 

Duarte said that while it’s his staff’s goal and that of the partners he mentioned above to provide a quality experience, he said the staff, players and coaches at Baylor were also great to work with. The advance personnel from TCU, he said, have proven to be the same.

 

“The organizations of Baylor and TCU have been nothing but first class and when you have great guests to work with it makes it easy to provide great hospitality,” said Duarte.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows staff prepping prior to the Baylor dinner buffet,  while Scott Duarte shows some of the food stations that will be set up in side rooms. Bottom photo shows Chef Don Vilain at work in the kitchen.