Patterson's Talks Utah At Weekly Presser
11/10/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2009
PHOTO GALLERY | VIDEO
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU football coach Gary Patterson held his weekly news conference Tuesday in the Four Sevens Team Room of the Meyer-Martin Athletic Complex.The fourth-ranked Horned Frogs (9-0, 5-0) face No. 14 Utah (8-1, 5-0) in a battle of the final two teams undefeated in Mountain West Conference play.
Included below are excerpts from Patterson's comments to the approximately 65 media members in attendance.
Opening Statement ...
"Every year when we play Utah, it has been a close, physical game with two very athletic teams. It's exciting to be at this point where we get to play them for something that matters. That is what you try to get to. We are fired up to be playing at home and to play in front of a sellout crowd. I would sure like to thank everybody that is going to be a part of this ball game. Like we always say, you get them ready for the games you are supposed to win, and games like these take care of themselves."
On playing the defending Mountain West Conference champions ...
"We understand that every ball game we have played against Utah has been very close. They have never played us here when we have had this kind of crowd, so it'll be interesting. It's like I told my kids. It doesn't matter about uniforms or crowd size, you've got to go play. A lot of people across the country play in front of 85,000-90,000 people every week and get beat. If history repeats itself, we will play at a very high level, because we have done that when we have had a big crowd here.
"We've got the ultimate respect for both programs in Utah, both Utah and BYU. We understand the historic part of how many games they have won, how they've played and how they are coached. This year is no different. They have only lost one game this year and only a couple the last few years. They know how to win. They know how to play in big games. We know how to win, and we know how to play in big games. Every year, it's a title fight. Like I said when I was coming off the field Saturday, it's going to be a showdown in Cowtown. That's where we are at."
On Utah's defense ...
"Clemson was very good, and they are very comparable. They are both big, physical, very fast and aggressive. They will come at you. They are not going to give you anything. You have to go take it. They are going to come at you like every other Kyle Whittingham defense that I have had to face. They will hit you in the mouth."
On last year's loss to Utah ...
"I have never been in a locker room that had a hundred people with tears in their eyes. You understood that this really means something. You have guys that you have been with for four years who won 41 ball games, and this hurt. That's where you want to get your program. When you play these kinds of ball games and when it doesn't go your way, it hurts. For me, as a leader, you put it on your shoulders. It's my job to find a way to get it done. It's my job to get that extra third down. It's my job to make sure that our kids are growing up. It's my job to make sure we stop them on the last drive. That's what head coaches are supposed to do. You can't look at anyone else until you look at yourself."
On being selected by Nike to debut new uniforms against Utah ...
"The changing of the uniforms isn't something that started two weeks ago. It started all the way back to last spring with Nike. This is not something about Utah. This is about telling the story of TCU. That's what this uniform is about and nine other schools across the country will do the same thing. We were hoping that this would be a big game and that it would be played for something, and I think our kids are really excited about it. I've had about a hundred calls telling me don't change it because we're superstitious, and I've got a hundred calls from folks that are really excited. I'm excited because my kids are excited. It's kind of like last year when we wore the black tops against BYU. The kids were excited, so they played that way. It's kind of like when you're a parent. When your kids are happy and they are excited about something, you can get them to do things you couldn't get them to do before.
"It's a one-game change. It's not going to be here next week. When you see GameDay, you will see the traditional TCU helmet. That's what TCU is. You will see the other helmet when we run out on the field Saturday. That's as close as I get to having fun at a football game, changing up the uniforms. I really appreciate Nike that they asked and chose TCU to be one of those schools to try this. I take it as a compliment. It will still come down to the fact that you have to tackle, run, block and do the things you need to do. If our kids feel like that's a Superman suit, then great."
On ESPN College GameDay being on campus and the sellout crowd ...
"We are going to concentrate on Utah and what they do. With all of this, it's harder to deal with when you're at home. When you go on the road to play, no one is asking for tickets, no one's calling, family isn't coming into town and wondering what you are doing after the game. When we are on the road, we'll get on the bus, the plane and then we are home. Here, we have the intangible of the big crowd and enthusiasm, which is good, as long as we focus and take care of it. We've done our part by winning and putting ourselves in this position, but now we need to get it done."
On the play of TCU quarterback Andy Dalton ...
"I don't think you can measure how valuable he has been in the last season and a half. He went through his lumps as a freshman, like freshmen do. He's grown up and matured. The game is slower and he goes about his business. You want great players to play in great games, and he is going to have an opportunity Saturday."
On what TCU needs to do to prepare for Utah ...
"They are going to do what they do. We are going to go play Utah. The biggest thing is that you better play the read option, you better play the vertical game and you better understand that someone other than the quarterback is going to line up in the backfield and run the football. They are going to make plays. That's how they have won the amount of ball games they have. I'm more worried about TCU. All you want to do as a football coach is make sure your team plays the best ball game that they can possibly play. The worst feeling in the world for a coach, especially a head coach, is when you walk off and say that I didn't get them ready."
