Patterson meets with the media to discuss Baylor
8/28/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 28, 2007
FORT WORTH, Texas -- Included below are excerpts from TCU head football coach Gary Patterson's Tuesday meeting with the media.
The No. 22 Horned Frogs open the 2007 campaign with a 5 p.m. home game versus Baylor.
Opening Statement ...
"It's another football season and a lot of things have changed. The new indoor facility looks great and we've used it a couple of times. It's been an interesting two-a-days. We are definitely focused in, and all the different distractions the past two or three weeks have made us closer as a team. You never know what kind of team you have until you play on that first Saturday. We're playing another measuring stick game against a Big 12 school. When you play emotional games against teams from the state of Texas, you can throw out the records because everyone knows a lot about each other."
How do you handle the hype surrounding your team this season?
"Our kids haven't really thought about the hype. We're worried about Baylor and taking it one day at a time."
What are your thoughts on opening the season with Baylor?
"This is a big game to TCU. The first game of the season is always big no matter who you play. It has a lot of magnitude. When it's over, you then go on to the next one."
Has anything specifically caught your eye about Baylor?
"They play hard and are on a mission. I think they have more chemistry and want to get to a bowl game. I have a lot of respect for (head coach) Guy Morriss and his entire staff. Baylor has come a long way since Guy got there."
What are the expectations for your defense?
"I've never had any expectations for our defense other than being the best we can be. Our No. 1 goal is to hold the opponent to one less point than we score."
How do you feel about the experience you have on defense?
"I think all of us feel good about our experience because you know what you have going in. I do believe you have to be very careful about the hunger factor. We are probably as young as we've been the past four or five years. We'll find out in the first few games what we're made of. As a head coach, you have to understand all the intangibles that could happen."
Has Andy Dalton been any different since being named the starting quarterback?
"It's been a good thing. Everyone forgets that Andy Dalton was a 5A starting quarterback in high school (Katy) who played in a Texas championship game in front of 40,000 people and on television. As a freshman here, why should he be any more nervous than when he was playing for a state championship?"
How is your depth on defense?
"I'm not sure you know what type of depth you have until the first few games. What we have tried to do this pre-season is work our twos and threes. That is a key development. If you want to have the type of season you'd like, somebody is going to have to step up who's further down the depth chart."
What have you seen in Baylor's quarterbacks who are battling for the starting job?
"Both quarterbacks have the same characteristics. They have strong arms and can beat you with their feet. I don't see much difference in either of them. They can both run the football and get out of some things because of their feet."
How do you feel about opening at home for the first time in three years?
"To be honest, I don't think it's a great thing. I always believe there are more distractions when you play at home. You don't want anything to surprise a kid on game day. We do play very well here because we have a great home crowd."
