TCU’s Patterson says he regrets post-OU remarks

Upon further review, TCU football coach Gary Patterson said he is more understanding of the circumstances surrounding a key intentional grounding call on Horned Frogs’ quarterback Kenny Hill during the team’s final drive in last week’s 52-46 loss to Oklahoma.

Patterson said he “could easily see” why a penalty was called after watching the play unfold from a different angle than the one had from his spot on the TCU sideline. He also offered a verbal olive branch for his post-game comments critical of the officiating crew in that contest.

“They’re going to make mistakes. So are we,” Patterson said of the crew that worked Saturday’s game during his Tuesday news conference. “In my 19 years here, I think I can count six times that I’ve said things that, usually by the next day, I regret. That’s a good officiating crew. This game goes really fast. It’s hard to be an officiating crew any more.

“So, from a football coach, that’s probably as close to an apology as you’ll ever get.”

On the play that resulted in the grounding call, Hill released the ball under duress and officials initially ruled there was no infraction because he had gotten out of the pocket. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops lobbied otherwise and, apparently after a review, the penalty was enforced. TCU faced a second-and-23 situation from its own 15-yard line and could not generate the first down needed to extend its final drive.

After the contest, Patterson said he was not happy with the officiating. As of Tuesday, Patterson expressed his respect for Stoops and the officiating crew although the situation got heated on the field.

“You have some suspect things that go on but the bottom line to it is, I’ve had some of those things go my way,” Patterson said. “If you stay in this profession long enough, you’re going to have some things that are good for you and some that aren’t.”

This story was originally published October 4, 2016 at 3:47 PM with the headline "TCU’s Patterson says he regrets post-OU remarks."