Patterson Named Eddie Robinson Award Finalist
11/23/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2010
DALLAS -- The Football Writers Association of America, in conjunction with the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, has announced TCU's Gary Patterson as one of eight finalists for the 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.
Patterson was last year's recipient of the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. It was one of his nine national coach of the year honors in the 2009 campaign.
Patterson has third-ranked TCU one win away from its second-straight undefeated regular season. The Horned Frogs can clinch their second consecutive outright Mountain West Conference championship, and third in six years, with a victory Saturday at New Mexico.
Patterson has led TCU to at least 10 wins for the seventh time in the last nine years, including six seasons with at least 11 victories.
TCU defeated Oregon State and Baylor this season to improve to 15-3 in its last 18 games versus teams from BCS automatic-qualifying conferences. That includes a 6-2 mark against Big 12 opponents and a 4-0 record against the Pac-10.
The Horned Frogs have outscored their seven Mountain West Conference opponents by a 276-58 margin, allowing just seven offensive touchdowns and 8.3 points per game. MWC teams have scored on just 8-of-84 possessions.
TCU is leading the nation in total defense for the third straight season. The Horned Frogs also top the nation in scoring defense (10.9 points), pass defense (134.6 yards) and fewest first downs allowed per game (11.6). TCU is second in opponent third-down conversions (23.4 percent) and fifth in run defense (88.6 yards).
Offensively, TCU is second nationally in time of possession (34:53), fourth in third-down conversions (53.3 percent) and sixth in scoring (41.3 points) and first downs per game (25.9). The Horned Frogs are ninth in rushing (258.3 yards) and total offense (490.5 yards).
This year's other finalists for the 2010 Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award are Wisconsin's Bret Bielema, Auburn's Gene Chizik, Michigan State's Mark Dantonio, Oklahoma State's Mike Gundy, Stanford's Jim Harbaugh, Oregon's Chip Kelly and Boise State's Chris Petersen.
The winner will be announced Dec. 6 at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York City.
