‘We have resources to make adjustments.’ TCU’s AD reflects on 2019 football season.
Disappointing.
That’s the word TCU athletic director Jeremiah Donati used to describe the 2019 football season. The Horned Frogs finished 5-7, losing six games by one score or less and missing out on bowl eligibility for just the third time in Gary Patterson’s 19 seasons.
“Our standards are much higher,” Donati said. “I know that. Gary knows that. All of our fans know that.”
In the midst of the disappointment, though, Donati has found a silver lining. By not going to a bowl game, it’s allowed Patterson time to do a full evaluation of the program. He and Donati have spoken at length about ways to improve the program going forward.
“If you’re sprinting off to a bowl game in the middle of this early signing period, you don’t have a chance to do that,” Donati said. “So the silver lining of not going to a bowl game is you get a chance to evaluate the program in ways in which you probably wouldn’t have if you’d gone to one.
“I love the things we’ve done. We’ve done a lot of it quietly, but there will be some changes and some adjustments that are in the works that are all incredibly positive for our program.”
Donati refused to talk specifics of the football program or possible staff changes in the coming weeks. That’s for Patterson to discuss and publicize when the time is right.
For now, Patterson has not discussed possible staff changes. His last media availability was following the season-ending loss to West Virginia on Nov. 29, and he dismissed a question about staff evaluations.
Much speculation continues to center on co-offensive coordinator and play-caller Sonny Cumbie’s role going forward. As of Thursday morning, nothing had changed.
But nothing is set in stone at this point, either. Patterson is in the midst of putting together his staff with the departures of co-offensive coordinator Curtis Luper to Missouri, and offensive line coach Chris Thomsen to Florida State.
Asked if the university was in position to make a “splash” hire, Donati would only say: “We have resources to make adjustments.”
Donati refused to mention names of possible targets to fill the voids left by Luper and Thomsen. He doesn’t feel it’s fair to programs that may be preparing for bowl games to have a potential distraction.
But it’s clear TCU has the funds to make impact hires to improve the offense. It’s no secret that bettering the passing game is the No. 1 point of emphasis.
TCU ranked ninth among the 10 Big 12 teams in pass offense, averaging just 203.7 yards per game through the air. The Frogs were the league’s worst pass efficiency team (112.4) and threw the second-fewest TD passes with 15.
“Across the board we have to be better, from play calling to execution to making plays,” Donati said. “All of it. A lot of the efforts in the offseason have been geared to make improvements there.”
At the end of the day, Donati is optimistic that the football program will get things turned around and trending in the right direction again. He has full faith in Patterson to do so.
“He knows better than anyone how to build this program,” Donati said. “He’s had a lot of success. He knows how to win here and you’re not going to do that by starting over every year. Sometimes it’s the small adjustments, rather than the huge moves, that are going to be successful. And I know that we’re in a position to do that.
“His football mind is the best I’ve ever seen.”
Donati pointed to the strong recruiting class that signed Wednesday, as well as the expected development and growth of the younger players returning such as quarterback Max Duggan.
“There’s a lot more momentum going on with our program than a 5-7 record would suggest,” Donati said. “Sometimes level-setting is a good thing. Don’t get me wrong, we don’t want to do this often. The expectations are high.
“Winning is fun. Losing isn’t. Everyone is on board with that. Everyone is on the same page. The good news is that there’s a lot of really good work going on to make sure we’re not in this situation again.”
