TCU receives lion’s share of attention at Big 12 media day
Gary Patterson entered the Dallas Omni Hotel on Monday unlike he did 12 months ago.
He remembered.
“Walking up here last year 4-8,” he said.
“Changed offenses — 12-1.”
In those few words, the TCU coach told the story of the first day of the conference’s Media Days. Last July, he and the Horned Frogs had nothing remarkable to show for two years in the Big 12. Monday, they had a share of the conference title, the No. 1 spot in the preseason media poll and the preseason offensive player of the year.
Patterson and Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Trevone Boykin attracted more reporters than anyone, reinforcing the consideration TCU is getting attention not only a conference title favorite, but also a national championship contender. The Frogs are expected to debut in the top five when the AP and coaches’ polls are released in August.
“It’s a nice feeling, but the bottom line is, I’ve been in this business too long to get caught up in it,” Patterson said. “I know that last year we didn’t have any linebackers, we didn’t have a quarterback. This year I’ve got to replace six starters on defense.”
Well, sure. There’s work to be done.
But Patterson has replaced defensive starters before. The media believe he’ll do it again. He and Boykin were Monday’s story.
“When you can get turnarounds like that, you’re doing something right,” Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said. “And obviously, Gary’s got it rolling.”
So if Patterson looked and sounded like a conference-winning coach proud of a massive one-year turnaround, who could blame him?
“I would hope he would be, and he has every right to be, and should be,” Kansas State coach Bill Snyder said. “I think Gary’s done marvelous. I’ve always had great respect for him, even when he wasn’t at the top. Good person. I like so many things that Gary does.”
So does the Big 12.
“They were a really good football team before they joined our league,” Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said. “They have good players, they have good coaches, they’ve invested in facilities, they’ve got good administrative leadership. Their future is really bright. They’ve gotten to the top of our league, but they didn’t start at the bottom. I couldn’t be more pleased for them.”
The Horned Frogs were not caught by surprise. Monday’s scenes come with the territory for a 12-1 team.
“People notice you when you go from 4-8 to 12-1,” Boykin said. “So it’s just a little different. I feel like our team has handled the success very well. We just need to continue doing things well.”
On Monday, that meant handling questions. Boykin talked to reporters for almost 90 minutes, continuing an off-season of activity that included picking up or being a finalist for a bevy of quarterback awards. Two weeks ago, he threw out the first pitch at a Rangers game.
“I just try to be the same guy I’ve been since Day 1,” Boykin said. “It’s all about playing ball. Everything else just comes with the territory. I try not to let it affect the team or me at all.”
On Tuesday, Baylor and Texas take the spotlight, which is fine with Patterson. Whatever new interest TCU football holds for the reporters who cover the conference, he’d rather just get on with the business he knows — getting ready for a game; in this case, the season opener at Minnesota on Sept. 3.
“The thing I’ve found is just, for me, if I stay even keel with how we need to do things, then my team will,” he said. “Everything that we’ve been able to accomplish at TCU in the last 18 years, it’s all great and fine, but it’s kind of like winning any awards; you can put them all in the closet because it doesn’t mean anything to anybody anymore when we play Minnesota.
“Right now we’ve been moving forward. I really like the attitude of our football team. This summer has been very businesslike. We’re moving forward recruiting-wise, football-wise, all of the above. Things have not stopped at TCU.”
As the media noticed.
Carlos Mendez 817-390-7760
This story was originally published July 20, 2015 at 9:51 PM with the headline "TCU receives lion’s share of attention at Big 12 media day."