Patterson Talks Poinsettia Bowl
12/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 4, 2011
FORT WORTH, Texas -- TCU football coach Gary Patterson held a Sunday night news conference to discuss his 15th-ranked Horned Frogs' Dec. 21 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl date versus Louisiana Tech.The Poinsettia Bowl is one of just four bowl games this season to match conference champions, joining the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl and GoDaddy.com Bowl.
Included below are excerpts from Patterson's meeting with the media.
On TCU's selection to the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl ...
"I'm just as excited to be going to the Poinsettia Bowl as I was when we went the first time to play Northern Illinois in 2006. It's a great bowl. The redcoats treat us unbelievably."
On facing Louisiana Tech ...
"We get the chance to play a great opponent in Louisiana Tech. They have won a lot of big ballgames. They beat an SEC team (Ole Miss). (Head Coach) Sonny Dykes has done a tremendous job. They are very explosive on offense and very physical on defense. I got the chance to take a sneak peek at them last week, kind of knowing we might have the opportunity to play."
On what can be accomplished in the bowl game ...
"It's a great opportunity for our seniors to win 47 games. If you want to be ranked in the preseason going into our inaugural year in the Big 12, you have to win your bowl game. We'll have extra practices to get where we need to be."
On what he sees from Louisiana Tech ...
"They beat Ole Miss. They took Mississippi State to overtime. They got beat 35-34 by Houston. They are a really good football team. They are right there with Boise State and Baylor as far as skill players. They are all over the place with their wide receivers. They've got a good quarterback and a great running back with a big offensive front. Defensively, they've shown they can hold an SEC team to seven points."
On not playing in a BCS game for a third straight season ...
"You have a No. 6 Arkansas team that isn't going to a BCS bowl either. Only a certain number of teams get the opportunity to go, and you have to be very lucky. We were fortunate a year ago that Boise State got beat. The key to it is you've got to be good, and you have to be a little bit lucky. I believe the football gods make sure things happen the way they are supposed to happen. We had our two losses. It's a compliment to the program, just where we've come in three years to be considered an outside shot to a BCS game with two losses."
On the trip to San Diego ...
"We get an opportunity to go to Sea World and see the zoo. We'll be on an aircraft carrier and see all the tradition that goes along with that great city. They've always treated us unbelievably. When you come during the regular season, the kids don't get the chance to enjoy the ambience of the city of San Diego."
