TCU's Gary Patterson continues to be linked to coaching vacancies

TCU coach Gary Patterson’s job status continues to produce a lot of speculation, and Clemson, Tennessee and even Washington are now reportedly interested in the eighth-year head coach.

Reports from Tennessee and South Carolina say that Patterson has met with officials from the University of Tennessee and Clemson University.

Patterson neither confirmed nor denied meeting with Tennessee officials, and he said the report about his meeting with Clemson is “absolutely false.” He said he has received a phone message from Clemson’s search firm but hasn’t returned the call.

“I’m just telling you they’re doing the same thing Kansas State did,” Patterson said, referring to an Internet report a couple of weeks ago that Patterson had been hired as the Wildcats’ next coach.

Bill Snyder was introduced as K-State’s head coach Monday.

According to a source, Patterson was on Washington’s list but there’s no interest on his part.

Meanwhile, Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton says he has not offered the Vols coaching job to anyone yet, according to The Associated Press. There was at least one news report Wednesday that Tennessee had made an offer to former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and that Kiffin was believed to be assembling a staff of assistants.

Patterson and TCU athletic director Danny Morrison had their annual postseason meeting Monday, discussing everything from academics to Patterson’s contract, and both said it was a good meeting.

Patterson, whose 100th game coaching TCU will be at the bowl game, will spend the next few days with his two younger sons, who are in town for Thanksgiving. Then Patterson will be on a TCU plane Sunday night to visit recruits beginning Monday.

The 14th-ranked Frogs (10-2) await an official bowl invitation, which will probably be from either the Pioneer Las Vegas Bowl (Dec. 20) or the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (Dec. 23).

Meanwhile, Tennessee athletic director Mike Hamilton says he has not offered the Vols coaching job to anyone yet. There was at least one news report Wednesday that Tennessee had made an offer to former Oakland Raiders coach Lane Kiffin and that Kiffin was believed to be assembling a staff of assistants.