Patterson plans to put TCU distractions ‘in a bag’ Saturday, if necessary
TCU coach Gary Patterson always likes to limit distractions for his players, but he may go one step further on Saturday morning.
“I may take their cellphones and put them in a bag,” he said. “We’ve done it before, like at the Rose Bowl. We did it before we played Oregon State because we were playing in town and everybody was coming to town and everybody wants to talk to you. But I haven’t decided yet.”
The Horned Frogs have a chance to clinch a share of the Big 12 championship on Saturday with a victory against Iowa State. On top of that, they are trying to secure a spot in the College Football Playoff. They are ranked No. 3, but teams such as Ohio State and Baylor are pushing them and No. 4 Florida State.
“We should be just thinking about a championship,” Patterson said. “Championships are hard to win. It’s hard to go through a season and only lose one game. What are there, six or seven one-loss teams left in college football? We’ve got to take care of our business, make sure that everything we can do, we’ve done. And I have no reason to believe they won’t. They’ve been doing it all season. I have no reason to believe they won’t get up on Saturday morning and be ready to play.”
Patterson said he wanted a little more energy out of Wednesday’s practice, but is generally pleased. He just wants the Horned Frogs to remember the simple things — like getting their rest.
“You’ve got to sleep tonight, and you’ve got to sleep tomorrow. You’re not going to sleep Friday night,” he said. “Too much going on.”
Boykin a Camp finalist
TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin is one of five finalists announced Wednesday for the Walter Camp player of the year award.
A junior, Boykin has passed for 3,254 yards and 26 touchdowns for the third-ranked Frogs.
Quarterback Marcus Mariota of second-ranked Oregon, a top Heisman Trophy candidate, and Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon, who has set a Big Ten single-season rushing record with 2,260 yards this season, are joined by Alabama receiver Amari Cooper and Arizona linebacker Scooby Wright III.
Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston won the award last season.
Careful reminder
Patterson reminded his team on Sunday, the first practice of the week, that Iowa State came to Fort Worth and won in 2012. Much of this year’s roster played in that game, including quarterback Trevone Boykin.
But Patterson doesn’t want to over-emphasize that game.
“If you’re not careful, you remind people so much, that stuff comes true,” he said. “You remind them, you go about your business and you start thinking positive thoughts.”
Home advantage
TCU is aiming for its fifth undefeated home season in the past 10 years. Patterson said playing at home could help the Horned Frogs avoid a struggle such as the 21-17 victory at Ames, Iowa, last year.
“The stadium is going to be rocking, and to me, that’s a big deal,” Patterson said. “Anybody who didn’t think home-field advantage isn’t an advantage — it’s an advantage. We’ve been a lot better football team at home than we’ve been on the road.”
The season-high Amon G. Carter crowd of 48,012 for the last home game, against Kansas State, included a school-record 5,278 students in attendance.
The Horned Frogs were undefeated at home in 2010, 2009, 2008 and 2005.
Pick talk
Junior safety Chris Hackett, who leads TCU and the Big 12 with six interceptions, is used to being around the ball. He had 12 interceptions as a senior at Tyler John Tyler High School.
“I think that’s pretty much my game,” he said with a smile, expressing no disappointment that his four-game streak with a pick ended at Texas. “I pretty much did that in high school. I like being around the ball. I guess a ‘ball hawk.’ That’s what everybody calls me around the team.”
The Horned Frogs have 21 interceptions this season. They have a streak of 13 games with an interception.
This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 10:28 PM with the headline "Patterson plans to put TCU distractions ‘in a bag’ Saturday, if necessary."