As a Ranger, Fravel and other students run the flags at key moments of the football games and for other sports to engage the crowd.
January 03, 2023
By Jen Floyd Engel
When we say TCU has had an epic and historic football season on the verge of a possible National Championship team, we mean the whole team--the band, the cheerleaders and the Rangers.
All of these students make game days special. The TCU Ralph Lowe Energy Institute (RLEI) is especially proud of and excited for our students who have poured so much into making game days at this university great, including junior Luke Fravel. He is a member of the Texas Rangers, a co-ed spirit team for football and other Horned Frog sports, and he will be in Los Angeles representing the school once again.
What is your favorite memory as a Ranger?
I was raised in Oklahoma so being able to watch my smaller private university beat Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in football is always a great experience. Those are memories I will cherish forever.
What is the best game you have experienced?
The Kansas State blackout game this year was my favorite game I have run flags at. It was great to see the student body come out in record numbers to see TCU come back from a large deficit to continue our undefeated regular season.
What do you do for the Rangers?
We manage the section banners, t-shirt cannons, field goal nets, flag running, and other specific duties depending upon the particular sport. Most know us for taking care of the Frog Horn, my personal favorite TCU tradition. The trademark earsplitting train horn is blown after each touchdown in the [Amon G.] Carter and after each goal at Garvey-Rosenthal Stadium.
What is your favorite part of being a Ranger?
Running the “Fear the Frog” flags. In a usual season, you would see us running the flags in front of each tunnel run-out and after each touchdown in the end zone. This season some changes have been occurring where we sometimes will run “Who Wah Wah Who” flags in the end zone. Rangers are known for running the flags, “Fear the Frog” since 2011, along with the TCU Battle Flag. People look forward to seeing us do what we have been doing, due in part to how TCU is blessed to have a tradition that is unlike anything at any other university. The TCU Battle Flag was designed for the Rangers back in 2011 as well. This iconic symbol is used in the tunnel run-out, during the Alma Mater, and after touchdowns. Nothing feels better as a Ranger than being able to carry on these time-honored traditions. Hearing the crowd cheer for us when we run the flags and knowing that we have support throughout the community really means a lot to all of us.
Why did you join Rangers?
I joined Rangers to be involved in the unique part of TCU that I detailed above and to be more involved in the game-day experience for all sports. We also support the community through participation in the Parade of Lights, Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo, and the BNSF Family Day. A huge plus is the ability to support the football team at postseason events such as the conference championship game, bowl games like the Fiesta Bowl and now the National Championship!
Why did you choose TCU?
Coming into college, I was not sure what I wanted from my education. One big plus for TCU is that the university has a wealth of prestigious programs to choose from. The small student population and great resources, while not sacrificing any of the big school amenities. has allowed for me to pursue a path that I believe will lead to my future success. I am blessed to call TCU my home.
Why an interest in energy?
I have always wanted to work in an industry or position where I felt that my work mattered and had some sort of forward momentum. This is one of the most exciting times to be learning about energy business as the landscape is changing quickly with the energy transition. Working in the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute has given me a great opportunity to learn from experienced professionals and do work that is visible and matters for the success of what we do here. This is something I am very proud of and is something that I do not think many student workers can say for their jobs. I also really appreciated my Energy in Society class with Dr. John Fanchi, because it gave me a great overview of the industry as a whole and how different resources and past initiatives have shaped how we all consume energy. Working in energy will give me a great opportunity to not only grow as a young professional in a rapidly changing marketplace, but also help me learn more about the world as a whole.
