SMU, TCU honor 9-year-old Texas flood victim as rivals unite in memory

SMU and TCU paid tribute to Lila Bonner, a 9-year-old Texas girl who died in the Guadalupe River flash floods during Camp Mystic on the Fourth of July, before the last scheduled game in their long-running football rivalry.

Before kickoff, the two universities posted a joint message describing Lila as having a vibrant spirit and a boundless love for animals that lives on through her foundation, Lila’s Light, which is dedicated to saving animals and spreading kindness. Lila’s parents are alumni of the two universities— Blake Bonner, a TCU alumnus, and Caitlin Bonner, an SMU alum— and were joined by Lila’s two younger sisters, other relatives and friends at the game. The post noted that Lila wore both schools’ colors—TCU purple and SMU red and blue—reflecting a family that celebrated loyalties across the rivalry that she made her own.

The contest between the traditional Southwest Conference rivals has a long history dating back to 1915, and Saturday’s game was the final matchup in that era. The tribute to Lila was part of a broader remembrance of a girl who, by all accounts, loved animals, helped others through her foundation and carried a bright light into a season marked by tragedy in Texas. The schools also drew attention to Lila’s Light, a charity effort named for her that aims to aid animals and spread kindness in communities.

On the field before kickoff, Caitlin Bonner spoke of the family’s long connection to the schools. “We’ve been bringing our girls to TCU games since they were born. Lila was a total super fan,” she said, adding that the tribute from the two universities was a meaningful expression for a family that supports both programs. Her father, Blake, and mother, Caitlin, were in attendance with Lila’s two younger sisters, a reminder of the parenting teams who navigated their split loyalties by sharing a common cause.

The tribute comes as Texas endures one of its deadliest flood events in recent memory. Officials have said at least 136 people were killed when floodwaters swept through multiple towns, washing away homes and vehicles and rearranging the landscape of communities across the Hill Country and beyond. In the note accompanying the tribute, the schools urged fans to join in a moment of unity that transcends rivalry, calling on the public to support Lila’s Light and other charitable efforts in memory of the girl who brought light to both programs even as she left an enduring impact on her family.

Together, SMU and TCU used the moment to highlight not only a memory but a message: that competition, even between two storied programs, can serve a larger purpose when it honors a life and a cause greater than the game.