Patterson meets with the media
11/20/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 20, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU head football coach Gary Patterson held his weekly media luncheon Tuesday in the John Justin Athletic Center.
The Horned Frogs are at San Diego State on Saturday. A victory would send TCU to its ninth bowl appearance in the last 10 seasons.
Included below are excerpts from Patterson's comments to the media:
Opening Statement ...
"We have to win one to get to a bowl game. Even though we are a little beat up, we had a pretty good practice Sunday night. Our players understand what's at stake and what they have to accomplish. Our biggest worry is that we have to make it personal. We have to take the game and put ourselves in a position to play a little longer."
On playing on the road ...
"When you go on the road, you need to find a way to hate somebody for three hours. You have to create your own intensity and passion. You are not going to have anyone or anything else to feed off of."
On playing the Saturday after Thanksgiving ...
"I think it is easier to play after Thanksgiving if you are at home, because your kids can stay with their families a little longer. We will practice Thursday morning and cut them loose so they will be able to go home for the afternoon. They'll come back the next morning to leave on the plane."
On this year's senior class ...
"One thing I can say about this group is that they have never quit. They have fought through a lot of stuff and showed a lot of character. They have never folded their tent and know what we have to get accomplished."
On facing San Diego State ...
"With the number of people we have banged up, we will have to show a lot of character to have a chance to play well against an athletic team like San Diego State."
On the Mountain West Conference ...
"The league was tougher this year. There are more senior-oriented teams in the conference and a lot of teams that had at least 18-to-21 starters back."
On saying that he has never been to a bad bowl game ...
"It's for the kids. A bowl game is a thank you for the players and they get four or five days to enjoy places they have never been. The kids all had a great experience last year in San Diego. All of them have been different to me. I can tell you that I have never been to a good bowl game that we lost. You never want to end on a sour note."
