Q&A With Gary Patterson
5/17/2001 12:00:00 AM | Football
May 17, 2001
By Don Dowell Horned Frog Sports Report
Were you able to accomplish your goals this spring?
Really we did. Our first goal was to establish chemistry with our new coaches and players. After 15 practices, we came a long way to doing that. The second thing we wanted to make sure we did was starting to establish a physical presence. If you talk to the players, they will probably tell you that this is the hardest spring that we have had since we started here three years ago in regards to the amount of physical contact. Fortunately for us, and I think it has a lot to do with how strong we have become in the weight room, we had one cartilage tear (Hayes-Stoker), and that was the biggest injury we had going through spring. The off-season program is still one of our keys to success.
What are your expectations for this team?
This team has a chance to be a really good football team. When that point will come, will depend on how our young players work during two-a-days. If our football team will keep growing during the summer and be in the kind of shape they need to be in coming into two-a-days, it will be a big key to how successful we will be.
We believe we can be as good as we have ever been. I don't know that we can win 10 games. Our goal is to be the best team that we can put on the field. If we do that, I think we can be highly competitive. We still have really good team speed. The key issue will be the takeaway, turnover battle this year. Defensively, we have to be a little bit more proactive, but we have some better athletes that can do those kinds of things.
Who were some of the players that really improved this spring?
Reggie Harrell and Reuben Randle are big receivers that made a difference this spring. Shane Hudnall was overweight when he got here, but he lost a lot of weight and has become a good possession receiver. Robert Pollard had a great spring at defensive end. Nose tackle Brandon Johnson has made monumental strides since the fall. He has lost a lot of weight and gained some strength. Linebacker LaMarcus McDonald was probably our best defensive player as far as running around and making plays. His shoulder was banged up last year, but he had a phenomenal spring. Strong safety Marvin Godbolt has come a long way.
Will you continue to play a big role in calling signals on defense?
I would say Chuck Driesbach and I will work very closely on that. I don't believe you cut off the hand that fed you.
Who will call the offensive plays?
Mike Schultz will work very closely with Eddie Williamson and Dan Lounsbury. Mike (run game) and Dan (pass game) will be upstairs, and will working with Eddie on the field.
What changes have you made to the passing game?
Our philosophy in the passing game will be the west coast philosophy of taking what the defense gives you. Then pick your spots and throw downfield when they start creeping up. It's a little bit like Oklahoma when I saw them play Nebraska. They had a drive of about nine minutes and I think they only had two or three running plays. They were controlling the clock, playing throw and catch, and going about their business. Right now, we have a lot more in our offense, but with our young offensive line, until we improve in that aspect of the game, we are not putting them in a situation where they can't achieve. I would say we will throw to run, which is different than what we have done in the past.
What are your thoughts on next year's schedule?
We are going into a conference where we will play three bowl teams this year, and another one that should have been in one. We have a lot of things that we want to accomplish and look forward to. The nice thing about our schedule is that after Nebraska, we play four games in Texas, and two of those road games are in the metroplex. Our goal is still winning the conference and going to a bowl game, so the biggest game we have is the sixth game of the season, because that is our first conference game.
I think it will come down to that middle of the season and if we are starting to play really good football then. I think there will be some players finding themselves in the first five games when you have a younger football team. Last year, our two-deep was back, and we knew what to expect from day one. This season, I think we will be growing, not only as a football team, but also as a staff.
After losing so many players, and with the new coaching staff, why would you play Nebraska in your season opener?
My head coaching debut is different than most. First it was a bowl game, then Nebraska in Lincoln. There were several reasons why we felt we needed to take the game. Number one, we felt it was important for the image of TCU to step out. For us to keep climbing and building the program here, at some point in time we were going to have to answer that challenge. Whether we are ready or not as a young football team by that time, I don't know. It has helped our football team already, in that by scheduling that game, there is a lot more of a sense of urgency among our players and our coaches to become a better football team quicker. Whether it shows up in the Nebraska game or not, you will see us become a better football team down the road. Who knows, we have enough good football players here that anything could happen, especially in the first game of the season. Preparation and special teams play a big part in those first games. We made special teams an emphasis this spring.
Also for recruiting, if we want to keep climbing and recruiting the type of athlete we want here, we have to go out and play the Nebraskas of the world. I still think winning breeds success and that's how you grow, but at some point in time you have to play those teams.
Are you concerned with the extra game possibly making the season too long?
It will depend on how we handle it. Older football teams learn how to deal with the grind of the season. One of the bad things is we will have played half of our season, six games, by the end of September. The good part is that if we can survive that and are successful, we have an open date, and then we play two games, then have ten days to get ready for East Carolina, and another eleven days before we play UAB, then we have another open date. With our football team, because of our strength, if we can do a good job of planning and understanding what we have to accomplish in those first six games, and make it to that first open date, it will allow us to have more practice time and do extra work in the weight room. This will help us grow, become a better football team, and build some momentum.
Do you think that C-USA will be a stronger conference?
I think you will see that by the way the so-called power conferences treat Conference USA right now. They used to play them, but now they are backing away. Look at Southern Miss last year, they should have beaten Tennessee, and they beat Alabama and Oklahoma State. They were a good football team and they tied for third. Louisville has 9 or 10 starters back on offense. UAB has 10 starters back on a defense that only allowed 70 yards rushing a game. With the parity in college football because of the 85 scholarships, the only direction Conference USA is going is up.
What will be the keys to TCU's success in their first season in C-USA?
I think the reason we have been successful here at TCU is good defense and special teams, not making mistakes and having a really good running back. The keys for our success next year are to still play that strong defense, be good on special teams and being able to move the ball, but still control the clock. Conference USA is more of a one-back league, and we have the capability on both sides of the line to do those things. I still think the most physical teams are the ones that win games on Saturday.
How important is off-season conditioning in the continued development of this team?
This summer will be a critical area for us. We really felt we accomplished a lot as a staff and has a football team this spring. The key is losing that many seniors and where you feel like you need to be. I think you will see us continue to grow in the next three months and during the 29 practices this fall. I think we will be a lot different football team before it's all said and done.
Our weight room numbers were amazing this year. Last year, we only had one 700-pound squatter in our program. And we had 15 600-pound squatters. This year, we had 25 600-pound squatters, of which 9 of those were 700-pound squatters, and we had one 800-pounder. This fall, we may have our first defensive back bench over 500 pounds in Kenneth Hilliard.
Have you decided on a theme for this year's team?
We haven't decided for sure, but probably our motto for the whole team will be "Its Time To Step Up." We have been through three sayings, and we work very hard to find something that will represent us. The first year was "We Are All We Need," because really no one cared when we first got here. The next year was "A Point to Prove" because people thought we were lucky in the Sun Bowl game. Last year it was "Leave No Doubt." All good programs, if you want to stay at the top and win year after year, are going to lose people that are critical and there are always holes to fill. It's time for our new players to step up.
