Gary Patterson media luncheon quotes
12/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 20, 2005
TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson
Media Luncheon - December 20, 2005
On playing in the EV1.net Houston Bowl
"We're excited about being in the bowl. We've got finals over, so we've crossed that hurdle. Our kids are excited. Even from the beginning, we've had really good practices. We've had really high enthusiasm and effort throughout. The worry I have is that it's been 40-some days since we've played. But the break has allowed us to get back and get healthy."
On the importance of the bowl game
"I think this is the second biggest bowl game for us since we've been here, next to the Sun Bowl in `98. This has the same ramifications of getting us where we want to go as far as the program stands. I believe it's going to be one of the better bowl games in the country because of the way we both do things."
On the Iowa State Cyclones
"Coach (Dan) McCarney has put together a very good team. They have some very good players. They could have been a 10-1 football team. We won two overtime games, and they lost three. It's that close. They're very good on defense. We're No. 2 in the nation in takeaways and they're No. 5. They're ranked 14th in the nation against the run and we're 23rd. I don't think they've allowed a 100-yard rusher this year."
On Cyclone head coach Dan McCarney
"They've done a great job. In some ways it's hard to recruit there. They're well coached and he's doing things the right way. Usually they (the successful programs) have done a good job recruiting and evaluating. Except for about 10 teams that don't recruit, they select, everyone else has to evaluate. The key is you have to evaluate and you have to spend time at it."
On how the Horned Frogs have prepared with the long layoff between games
"One of the things we've done has been a lot of good-on-good (first team offense vs. first team defense) live work. We're trying to make sure we're getting into the speed of the game."
On TCU's future potential
"One thing that TCU does have from the chancellor on down is patience. When we do something, we're going to do it right. We have a plan. Everyone is on the same page regarding what we want to get accomplished. Are we where some other teams are? Not yet. But we're ahead of others. I think we have the potential to do everything that we talk about. Not only top 25, but to get to the top 10. It's important for us to win football games, but it's also important how we do it. That's important to me."
On the benefits of playing in the Houston Bowl
"(The bowl) just keeps getting better every year. Obviously, Reliant Stadium is a great venue. There are a lot of benefits of playing there. We have a lot of kids from Houston and it's a great recruiting area for us."
On why TCU quarterbacks coach Dick Winder has been so successful
"He cares, No. 1. He coaches them like linebackers and he makes practice harder than ballgames. Putting that kind of pressure and that kind of meaning into practice makes game situations easier. All Jeff Ballard has to know is that he has to score one more point. Whether is 51-50 or 7-6. He doesn't have to play a certain way."
On why running back Robert Merrill has been so consistent
"It's important to him. One of the things I've been most proud of him for is his inside runs. He's also one of our best pass protectors. He does it all in a very quiet manner. He doesn't need someone telling him he did a great job. He's overcome a lot of things to be where he is."
