TCU’s Patterson explains how team is preparing for a football season amid a pandemic
TCU coach Gary Patterson takes his temperature every morning before reporting to work. He hasn’t taken a day off in 39 years, but knows it could happen any day if his temperature is too high amid the coronavirus pandemic.
He also finds himself getting hand sanitizer whenever he walks by a dispenser. On the practice field, he’s barking not only football orders but instructions for players and staff to sanitize balls after drills, wear face coverings when possible and socially distance.
Just like most others in today’s pandemic-conscious society, Patterson has embraced the “new normal.” He’s willing to take those steps if it ensures a football season is played this fall. And, Patterson said, the players have bought in too.
“My hat goes off to our kids. A couple weeks ago, they didn’t even know if we’re going to play or not,” Patterson said this week. “You’re out here in the Texas heat doing what we’re doing and you don’t even know if you’re even going to actually play. The whole thing has really changed since we said, ‘Hey, we’re moving forward. We’ve got an opponent. We’re getting ready to go.’ You can see them starting to dial in like they would for a ballgame.
“It’s been fun. I’m really happy for them because they put in a lot of work. As much work as they put in, not to get an opportunity to play games would be terrible. So I’m really happy for our kids. They’ve done a fantastic job.”
TCU opens its season against SMU on Friday, Sept. 11. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
Patterson talked at length this week about how the program has handled the various measures and protocols taken during the pandemic. For now, Patterson expects his program to be close to 100% healthy when the season opens.
Quarterback Max Duggan is the only notable player who is sidelined. A heart condition Duggan has had since birth was discovered during enhanced COVID-19 testing protocols. Other than that, TCU has avoided any significant setbacks.
“As a general rule, we’ve stayed pretty healthy injury-wise, even with COVID,” Patterson said. “The only thing that has been the most bothersome is the close contact, but we should be almost 100% when we get to the SMU game unless we have some screwups.”
As far as on-field preparation, Patterson said he’s spent more time making sure the third team is ready for action than in any previous year, particularly on special teams.
With the possibility of players being forced to miss games the day before, having depth and backup plans are even more critical than in normal seasons.
Every team uses the “next man up” philosophy but this has the makings of being the “next next next man up” season.
“You’re going to be really embarrassed as a whole football team if you don’t have a clue what you have to do ‘cause you might be one test away from being a starter,” Patterson said. “We all know reality is that some of them can’t play like a senior, but at least you have to have an idea. We’ve tried to work very hard to make sure that we’ve got that accomplished. We still have a ways to go, but we’re working at it.”
TCU wants to have as much versatility among the roster as possible, too, but Patterson is not doing anything too far-fetched. In other words, a strong safety should be able to transition to free safety or a defensive end may be able to slide inside to tackle. But a running back isn’t going to line up as an offensive lineman.
Off the field, the Horned Frogs continue to preach and educate the players on the importance of following various COVID protocols. Most of the players are taking online-only classes to avoid in-person contact with the general student population. Additionally, Patterson said, there’s an added comfort level knowing the staff and players are being tested three times a week.
“On game day, you’re probably closer to being safer on the field than at any other point of time of your day in the seven-day work week,” Patterson said. “Everybody understands we’re going to have to follow the rules and we’re going to have to do things we need to do so we can play the game. We’re all going to do what we have to do to make sure we can do that.”
