Patterson discusses San Diego State with the local media
11/14/2006 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 14, 2006
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU football coach Gary Patterson held his weekly media luncheon Tuesday in the John Justin Athletic Center on campus.Included below are excerpts from the news conference as the Horned Frogs prepare for Saturday's 3 p.m. home game with San Diego State. The contest will be nationally televised on VERSUS.
On San Diego State's talent level ...
"They're a very dangerous team. Defensively, their secondary plays extremely well and their two ends are a lot like ours. They were both high hurdlers in high school and can really run. Joe Martin, at middle linebacker, is one of the leading tacklers in the league. Offensively, (quarterback) Kevin O'Connell is starting to get healthy and he's completed 85 percent of his passes."
Talk about the "Pink Out" and your involvement ...
"One of the things we've tried to do as a family and program is give back to the community. The Pink Out is for breast cancer. We started it last year and had great success. We honor the survivors, and it's all about increasing the awareness of breast cancer and trying to find a cure. It makes you realize there are more important things out there than a football game."
Earlier in the season, you mentioned the team missing a swagger that it had last year. Has Lonta (Hobbs) stepped up and been that guy?
"He's helped along with Aaron Brown and now Jeff Ballard being healthy. Quentily Harmon and Michael DePriest are other guys as well. Michael has really been key in the special teams department. As a football team, we're all on one page. It's helped us realize it doesn't matter who's playing well and who's not playing well, because we all get charged with a loss."
Talk about the steady play of David Hawthorne at linebacker ...
"David's been a three-year starter and I consider him, Robert Henson and Jason Phillips all the same. Robert is the flashiest of the three and Jason was a Freshman All-American. David is always there when we need him. He's been the foundation, and he gets all the guys lined up."
What's your take on all the upsets you see around the country each week?
"It solidifies what I mean about just winning by one point. When you get into the league schedule, you better be ready to play every week. The parity in college football is going to keep climbing."
How did you dissect the offense from the first half to the second half at New Mexico?
"In the second half, they turned up the knob and we didn't answer on either side of the ball. The good thing about the situation is that we found a way to get a stop and the win. When you get to this time of year, you better just worry about staying healthy and finding a way to win the next game."
