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The west side of TCU's football stadium was reduced to a huge pile of rubble Sunday in the first step of a $105 million modernization project.
A planned implosion brought down the high-rising stands and press box at Amon G. Carter Stadium on TCU's campus.
It took only about 30 seconds for the structure to come down. Workers had been preparing for the implosion since the third-ranked Horned Frogs played their final home game three weeks ago.
The Frogs will play their home games at the stadium next season even though the renovation isn't scheduled to be completed until mid-2012.
The work is causing the Armed Forces Bowl to move to the SMU campus for its Dec. 30 game between SMU and Army.
Amon G. Carter Stadium opened in 1930 and the upper deck on the west side was added in 1956, making it visible from miles around campus.
''Slingin' Sammy'' Baugh played in the stadium in the mid-30s before become a Pro Football Hall of Famer, Davey O'Brien won a Heisman Trophy and national championship in 1938, Bob Lilly played there before being the first-ever draft pick of the Dallas Cowboys and LaDainian Tomlinson set an NCAA single-game rushing record with 406 yards in a home game in 1999.
The implosion came on the same day as the Bowl Championship Series invitations. The Horned Frogs (12-0), who also played in a BCS game last season, are going to the Rose Bowl.
TCU won its last 20 home games since a loss to Utah there in October 2007.
