Olaf Growald
TCU’s Halloween-night announcement that Gary Patterson was out as head coach of the football team was no less than a shock heard ’round Fort Worth as Horned Frog fans, still clad in their costumes, sat grappling with the fact that Coach P’s 20-plus-year tenure was over.
Among those Frog fans was me, a proud TCU alumna who’s had the pleasure of covering Patterson since my days as a wide-eyed student journalist. Admittedly, one of my most memorable moments with Patterson was also perhaps my worst. The very first time I interviewed him one-on-one, I asked about how his signature 4-2-5 “offense” — the, ahem, defensive scheme which utilized four defensive linemen, two linebackers, and five defensive backs — helped prepare players for the NFL. I asked this on camera, not realizing my mistake until I was in the editing room of TCU’s Moudy South Building, digging my face into my palms, asking how I could have been so stupid.
I chuckle about it now, but the realization that the final chapter of the Patterson era has officially closed, albeit so suddenly, has a way of striking memories.
Patterson joined TCU in 1998 as defensive coordinator and safeties coach. After then-head coach Dennis Franchione took a gig with Alabama in 2000, Patterson stepped in, leading TCU to what would be a whirlwind two decades and national recognition the school would never have dreamed of.
Under Patterson, TCU hopped conferences from the WAC to Conference USA to the Mountain West. While there, star quarterback Andy Dalton helped lead the team to a perfect season and Rose Bowl win in 2011 — a moment that was not only a turning point for the program, but for the city of Fort Worth. The win put Cowtown on the proverbial sports map, and the city suddenly saw an influx of Southern Californians who were no doubt impressed by the play of the Horned Frogs in Pasadena. TCU football, meanwhile, seemed destined for bigger things.
The program confirmed that notion when the Frogs received an invitation to the Big 12 Conference and embarked on a $164 million renovation of Amon G. Carter Stadium. The team’s first three years in the Big 12 would play out somewhat poetically — a decent 7-6 season in 2012, a disappointing 4-8 season in 2013, and then a dream season in 2014 when the Frogs finished 12-1 and routed Ole Miss in the Peach Bowl.
Patterson would become TCU’s winningest coach with an overall 181-79 record, six conference championships, and a bronze statue just outside the stadium.
But beyond the trophies and accolades, Patterson also became known for his signature quirks now etched into TCU lore: the way he’d pull his pants up on the sidelines, yell himself hoarse by the end of each game, and string together odd metaphors about life and football during postgame press conferences. Fans fondly remember when Patterson changed from a black shirt to a purple shirt at halftime during the 2016 Alamo Bowl — which totally accounts for the Frogs’ miraculous 31-point rally to beat Oregon 47-41 after triple overtime. Needless to say, Horned Frog Nation loved Gary for both his football prowess and endearing qualities.
Which is part of what makes the move to let Patterson go, despite the team’s rough season this year, so surprising. Considering Patterson’s legacy, one would think he would have eventually led the team to a national championship and ridden off into the sunset, as is what most coaches dream of. But something wasn’t clicking between Patterson and TCU, and after three losses in a row leading up to the Revivalry game against then-No. 12 Baylor, both decided to part ways. Immediately.
A few days after the announcement, Patterson told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that he wanted to “stop the noise” of negativity surrounding TCU’s football program after three straight losses: “I have all options open. I don’t know which direction I will go. Right now, I want to help my coaches and players the best I can to have a good finish to the season.”
Patterson’s abrupt exit wasn’t out of ill will; he just didn’t want to be a distraction. Even at the end, he wanted what was best for the team.
That following Saturday against Baylor, Patterson took the “TCU” off his Twitter handle (it’s @FBCoachP now) but remained vocal about his support for his former team. After a tight bout led by backup quarterback Chandler Morris, TCU pulled off the upset, handing Baylor its second loss of the season, and Patterson tweeted, “Yesssssssssssssssss! Go Frogs!” following the game.
Clearly, he still loved his guys.
That’s because, for Patterson, football was big — but life was bigger. Outside coaching, he was heavily involved with his Gary Patterson Foundation and The Big Good with Leon Bridges, conducting food drives and fundraisers for local families in need. Fort Worth was also the place Patterson made his musical debut, releasing two country singles and even performing for charity at Billy Bob’s Texas.
As of press time, it’s unclear what’s next for Patterson or TCU for that matter. Jerry Kill is serving as interim head coach, and there’s no announcement on Patterson’s replacement.
What’s for sure, though, is that Patterson will be missed, and his legacy won’t be forgotten.
Neither will I forget my golden moment with Coach P, when I erroneously asked about his 4-2-5 “offense” during my college years. Patterson didn’t call me out for this mistake, answered the question, and treated me as he would any professional from the Star-Telegram or ESPN. Perhaps he didn’t mind. Perhaps he understood that I misspoke, that I was talking too fast, or that I was a student reporter who deserved a little grace.
That or he just wasn’t paying attention.
