Gary Patterson sends ‘thank you’ to TCU football fans. He’ll be on hand for Senior Day
Gary Patterson issued his first statement since parting ways with TCU on Oct. 31. Patterson posted the message to his social media account, saying “Thank you to all!”
Patterson walked away as TCU’s all-time winningest coach on Halloween after TCU officials informed him that he would not be returning in 2022.
“After 24 years, Kelsey and I are at a loss for words to describe how we feel about Fort Worth and TCU,” Patterson wrote. “This is why it has taken me so long to respond.
“We just want to say thank you for your friendship and support. To all the players and staff that are our friends, we love you and thank you for all of your time, hard work and effort. They say it takes a village and that is absolutely true!
“Lastly, I want to thank my family for their sacrifices so that I could do something that I absolutely love to do!
“Always your friends, Kelsey and Gary.”
Earlier in the day, it was revealed that Patterson would be in the house for TCU’s Senior Day festivities before the Kansas game Saturday afternoon.
TCU posted a social media message announcing that Patterson and wife Kelsey would be in the tunnel to support the seniors taking part in their final home game at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
“We’ll be in house for pregame to honor our players & especially our SENIORS!” Kelsey wrote on Twitter. “Please come and support these fine young men. #40not4.”
The focus will be on the seniors taking part in the festivities, not Patterson’s attendance. Patterson does not wish to be “honored and celebrated” like TCU officials were hoping to do when they met Oct. 31 to inform Patterson that he would not be returning as coach in 2022.
TCU officials pleaded with Patterson to coach the rest of the season, but he declined. Instead, Patterson has made appearances at the football offices to help his assistants game plan and prepare for the upcoming opponent. Patterson and Kelsey took a brief trip to Austin last weekend.
On Tuesday, Patterson was seen alongside singer Leon Bridges distributing 10,000 Thanksgiving meals to North Texas families through their charity called The Big Good at the Tarrant Area Food Bank. He then issued his first public comment Thursday afternoon.
For the most part, though, Patterson has kept a low profile since parting ways with TCU. He left as the school’s all-time winningest coach, going 181-79 over 21 seasons. Patterson has said that Fort Worth will always be home and he continues to give back throughout the area.
Days after being let go, Patterson said all options were open as far as his future coaching plans. He certainly has the credentials that would warrant interest from just about any school with a head coach opening these days.
In the meantime, Patterson remains focused on TCU’s 2021 team and giving the seniors the best season possible. That includes being on hand for their final home game.
TCU is trying to use that to generate interest for the game, writing on its football Twitter account: “We need you in The Carter on Saturday to show up for this senior class one last time! Mrs. P and Coach P will be in the tunnel to send them off, we need you there to do the same!”
Honor roll
TCU had 19 players earn Academic All-Big 12 honors on Thursday.
Six players with at least a 3.20 GPA were named first-team, including RB Emari Demercado, TEs Dominic DiNunzio and Mitchell Hansen, QB Matthew Downing, WR Jack Powers and long snapper Antonio Ortiz.
Thirteen players were named second-team (3.0 to 3.19 GPA), including QB Max Duggan, RB Zach Evans, WRs Taye Barber, Blake Nowell and Gunnar Henderson, TE Brent Matiscik, offensive linemen John Lanz, Colson Altman and Andrew Coker, LBs Hilton Harris and Wyatt Harris and DBs Deshawn McCuin and Deryl Reynolds.
This story was originally published November 18, 2021 at 3:47 PM.
