TCU’s Bram Kohlhausen wishes he could have prevented Alamo Bowl trouble for Boykin | Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Last year in Atlanta, TCU quarterback Bram Kohlhausen told his Uber driver to turn around so they could pick up some teammates before they broke curfew at the Peach Bowl.

“It was completely out of the way,” he said. “But I ended up getting them. It is what it is. Nobody got in trouble.”

If only he could have done the same for Trevone Boykin last week.

Maybe then, Boykin wouldn’t have gotten into the bar fight that led him to being accused of hitting a police officer. Certainly then, Boykin would not have been suspended for the Alamo Bowl.

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But in turn, Kohlhausen would have not been the starter in his place Saturday night. And he would not have led the 31-point comeback that landed him in TCU lore.

And he would not be doing what he spent Monday doing — interviews with Dan Patrick, ESPN, Fox Sports and other outlets, “spending more time on the phone with reporters,” as he put it, since his high school signing day four years ago.

None of it would have happened, if he had could have helped it.

“I wish I would have known he was out. I wish that would have never happened,” Kohlhausen said. “I would definitely trade Trevone not getting in trouble for all of this in a heartbeat. That was his stage and his game to win.”

The Uber story is the first example TCU coach Gary Patterson used when he was asked to describe Kohlhausen’s personality.

Her son’s selflessness did not surprise Donna Kohlhausen.

It was his last chance. Kohlhausen has no more games to play. His 28-for-45 passing performance for 351 yards (all TCU bowl records) against Oregon, two touchdown passes and two touchdown runs, his only career start, left him satisfied.

“I’m ready to go spend some time with my family,” he said after the game. “I really don’t want to talk about football or me and how I did a good job. I want to talk to them about how their day went. I’m done with football. I’m happy this is my last note.”

But he left his name in TCU history. So where did it come from? Is Bram short for something, a nickname, a family name?

“My mom was reading Dracula,” he said.

Ah, Bram Stoker. The author.

“My oldest child was in middle school, and I was reading Dracula when I was pregnant with Bram,” Donna Kohlhausen said. “I wanted a name which went with his middle name, which is Baker. Bram Baker sounded awfully good.”

It’s sort of a family tradition. Older brother Dash is named for mystery writer Dashiell Hammett, who gave the literary world Sam Spade; another older brother is named for Gareth, one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table.

Donna Kohlhausen remembered Bram wasn’t impressed at first, perhaps failing to make the connection — or maybe he did and was spooked by the vampire idea as a child.

But he likes it now, and she bursts with motherly pride.

“I bet a whole lot more kids are named Bram after this,” she said. “I think the name is going to become more common. I think it’s wonderful.”

Now she has one more request for her Bram: finish his last 18 hours and get his TCU degree.

“His father and I both are lawyers; I have an MBA,” she said. “His brothers all have their degrees. He needs to get his degree.”

But he’s got an Alamo Bowl MVP trophy.

“Well, the Alamo Bowl’s pretty good,” she said. “Only one of us has that.”