Gary Patterson gone

[BowlBrother85]

With the players that Pat Sullivan recruited...LaDainian Tomlinson.

It's fair to say that Gary Patterson inherited a program that was trending upward with players that Pat Sullivan (1992-1997) and Dennis Franchione (1998-2000) had recruited, but obviously, Patterson didn't just win with those players. Patterson's tenure at TCU ran from 2001-2021. His best success ran from 2005-2018. Gary Patterson won at least 11 games in 10 of those 14 seasons. 2005 was his 5th season. All of Pat Sullivan's signees, and all but a handful of Dennis Franchione's 5th year seniors were gone by then.

2005 : 11-1
2006 : 11-2
2007 : 8-5
2008 : 11-2
2009 : 12-1
2010 : 13-0
2011 : 11-2
2012 : 7-6
2013 : 4-8
2014 : 12-1
2015 : 11-2
2016 : 6-7
2017 : 11-3
2018 : 11-3

Also, Gary Patterson showed tremendous loyalty to TCU. He turned down both Texas (in 2013) and Texas A&M (in 2011) to stay there. If this wasn't Patterson's decision, it's one of the dumbest things a college football program has ever done to itself.

 

[BowlBrother85]

Every since TCU won the Rose Bowl the program has gone steadily downhill. How many more years do you let the bleeding continue until you take steps to fix the problem? Patterson has been filling his staff with his old buddies recently and hasn't held them accountable for on field production. He became too comfortable and set in his ways and refused to take direction from superiors and refused to accept responsibility. For TCUs sake it was time for him to go.

The decision was made Thursday night at a meeting between the president of the university and two BMDs. If Patterson beat KState he would get more time, if not he was gone. KState not only won, they literally punked TCU.

Not really. They beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2010 season. They have posted at least an 11 win season, 5 times since then. They think things are bad now, because of their lack of self-awareness. They will get much worse.

 

[BUBear]

It's fair to say that Gary Patterson inherited a program that was trending upward with players that Pat Sullivan (1992-1997) and Dennis Franchione (1998-2000) had recruited, but obviously, Patterson didn't just win with those players. Patterson's tenure at TCU ran from 2001-2021. His best success ran from 2005-2018. Gary Patterson won at least 11 games in 10 of those 14 seasons. 2005 was his 5th season. All of Pat Sullivan's signees, and all but a handful of Dennis Franchione's 5th year seniors were gone by then.

2005 : 11-1
2006 : 11-2
2007 : 8-5
2008 : 11-2
2009 : 12-1
2010 : 13-0
2011 : 11-2
2012 : 7-6
2013 : 4-8
2014 : 12-1
2015 : 11-2
2016 : 6-7
2017 : 11-3
2018 : 11-3

Also, Gary Patterson showed tremendous loyalty to TCU. He turned down both Texas (in 2013) and Texas A&M (in 2011) to stay there. If this wasn't Patterson's decision, it's one of the dumbest things a college football program has ever done to itself.

The oil and gas options, plus his wife is high society in Ft Worth now, is what kept him at TCU. With the price of gasoline these days he will now lose between $3.5mm and $4.5mm dollars. It's a bad look to oil men when your coach is losing but putting out really crappy C&W music.

 

[BUBear]

Not really. They beat Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl at the end of the 2010 season. They have posted at least an 11 win season, 5 times since then. They think things are bad now, because of their lack of self-awareness. They will get much worse.

The internal problems were always there. Dick Bumpus and Chris Del Conte knew how to control him. Bumpus retired and Del Conte went Texas. Program went to hell after that.

 

[ShoalCreekVol]

With the players that Pat Sullivan recruited...LaDainian Tomlinson.

I may be missing something here, but I don't think LT played for Patterson. I think his senior year he played for Dennis Franchione. Seems like Patterson became head coach right after that.

 

[BowlBrother85]

The internal problems were always there. Dick Bumpus and Chris Del Conte knew how to control him. Bumpus retired and Del Conte went Texas. Program went to hell after that.

You are overstating the case against Patterson.

2018 : 7-6
2019 : 5-7
2020 : 6-4
2021 : 3-5

That is not hell by the historical standards of TCU football. Like I said, they have forgotten who they are.

 

[Carp]

Every since TCU won the Rose Bowl the program has gone steadily downhill. How many more years do you let the bleeding continue until you take steps to fix the problem? Patterson has been filling his staff with his old buddies recently and hasn't held them accountable for on field production. He became too comfortable and set in his ways and refused to take direction from superiors and refused to accept responsibility. For TCUs sake it was time for him to go.

The decision was made Thursday night at a meeting between the president of the university and two BMDs. If Patterson beat KState he would get more time, if not he was gone. KState not only won, they literally punked TCU.

I wouldn't say that. They joined the Big 12 shortly after that Rose Bowl victory. Had they stayed in the MWC, I'm quite certain he would still be dominating that conference and averaging 10 wins a season or more (or more likely, he would've been hired away at some point). It's really hard to average 10 wins a season in a Power 5 conference when you can only pull recruiting classes in the 30's and 40's. Yet, from 2014-2017, TCU did just that. And if we're being honest, everyone knows they got screwed out of the first CFP. Their 5 wins over ranked opponents was more than any of the CFP selections.

Now TCU has not faired well since that 2017 season, despite a surge in recruiting that saw them in the top 25 multiple times. That certainly is concerning. And maybe it is time for TCU to move on. But to act like the program has gone downhill since 2010 is not accurate. Patterson had them on the doorstep of the CFP in 2014 and was in the hunt for a couple more years after that.

 

[Carp]

It's fair to say that Gary Patterson inherited a program that was trending upward with players that Pat Sullivan (1992-1997) and Dennis Franchione (1998-2000) had recruited, but obviously, Patterson didn't just win with those players. Patterson's tenure at TCU ran from 2001-2021. His best success ran from 2005-2018. Gary Patterson won at least 11 games in 10 of those 14 seasons. 2005 was his 5th season. All of Pat Sullivan's signees, and all but a handful of Dennis Franchione's 5th year seniors were gone by then.

2005 : 11-1
2006 : 11-2
2007 : 8-5
2008 : 11-2
2009 : 12-1
2010 : 13-0
2011 : 11-2
2012 : 7-6
2013 : 4-8
2014 : 12-1
2015 : 11-2
2016 : 6-7
2017 : 11-3
2018 : 11-3

Also, Gary Patterson showed tremendous loyalty to TCU. He turned down both Texas (in 2013) and Texas A&M (in 2011) to stay there. If this wasn't Patterson's decision, it's one of the dumbest things a college football program has ever done to itself.

If they fired him right now, for sure it was a dumb decision. With what he did for that program, they absolutely should have allowed for him to step down at the end of the season. Especially if they don't plan on retaining any of the current staff. Maybe if they were high on Kill and wanted to see what he could do before beginning a coaching search, I could see it. But either way, it's a bad look.

 

[05_never_again]

True, but I am not sure really what TCU expects.

Even being in the DFW area, they are maybe 4th on the list of who people in the Metroplex root for. Even that may be a stretch. You just never see anybody wearing TCU gear. Hell, I saw more Tennessee gear when I lived in Dallas than TCU memorabilia.

Patterson basically built the program to what it is today.

I have really conflicted feelings about Patterson. That dude built their entire program, they are in the Big 12 because of him, and have had their best seasons in school history because of him. Statue in front of the stadium. He is the epitome of a guy who became the victim of his own success. It sucks that it ended this way for him - either they didn't let him finish out the season or the relationship is so broken that he just said "F y'all" and didn't want to finish.

TCU has been more bad than good since entering the Big 12 and I do think it is fair of them to expect better. Over the last decade, they've had just 3 good seasons. They are only 45-41 as a member of the Big 12. I think they expect to be more consistently competitive in conference play and they've gone 4 seasons in a row without doing so.

Having said that, this does have the feel of a Fulmer firing; the school isn't totally out of bounds in wanting to move on, but at the same time if you don't nail this next hire it could set them back even further.

 

[VolsFan-TX]

True, but I am not sure really what TCU expects.

Even being in the DFW area, they are maybe 4th on the list of who people in the Metroplex root for. Even that may be a stretch. You just never see anybody wearing TCU gear. Hell, I saw more Tennessee gear when I lived in Dallas than TCU memorabilia.

Patterson basically built the program to what it is today.

I actually live in Fort Worth and you don’t see that much TCU gear. I see more OU and TX stuff….unless it is my house where it is all Vols!

 

[BowlBrother85]

Over the last decade, they've had just 3 good seasons.

You are going back too far. Since 2014, they have had 4 seasons of at least 11 wins.

 

[05_never_again]

You are going back too far. Since 2014, they have had 4 seasons of at least 11 wins.

I was counting this season. This season marks a decade for them in the Big 12 and they've had 3 good seasons. 12 wins in 2014, 11 in 2015, 11 in 2017. They've had 3 great seasons, 4 mediocre ones, 3 downright bad ones (gonna go ahead and chalk up 2021 as a bad one). They've had 3 double-digit win seasons since 2014 and since joining the Big 12.

I think the period that really caused the expectation reset was 2014-15, even more than 2008-11. They joined the Big 12 in 2012, took a couple years to get their feet under them, then was in the national title conversation a couple years in a row as a member of a P5 conference. They thought that would persist.

 

[ToddyHill]

This morning on the Sports Animal in Knoxville, Will West said a source told him that Patterson was told he would be replaced at the end of the season. Instead of being 'lame duck' he resigned. Not certain if that's true or not true.

I lived in the Mid Cities area of the DFW Metroplex for many years. One of my daughters went to TCU...and went to the Rose Bowl when they beat Wisconsin (and finished the year undefeated and ranked #2 in the nation). Those TCU teams were amazing, considering how small that school is compared to counterparts in the State of Texas.

In my opinion, I don't think many people outside of Texas realize how much Patterson did for TCU. He took a program that Franchione had re-invigorated (what a terrible hire for A&M), and took it to the next level, so much so they literally built a new stadium around the football field.

If I have one criticism of Patterson, it was his recruiting style. Like I said, I used to live in DFW and I'd listen to sports radio all the time. One day they interviewed Patterson, and the topic was recruiting. Patterson said he recruited the DFW area exclusively, and he proudly boasted that he'd only spent three nights in hotels during the recruiting season. At the time, his programs were doing great, but I wondered if that would ever catch up with him.

I do think TCU has the potential to find a great up and coming coach. My goodness, Fisher is stuck in College Station, Aranda is stuck in Waco, but TCU is in an affluent area of Ft. Worth. Granted, they're not a big time program, but if UTSA can be competitive today, I'm sure TCU could as well.

 

[ToddyHill]

This morning on the Sports Animal in Knoxville, Will West said a source told him that Patterson was told he would be replaced at the end of the season. Instead of being 'lame duck' he resigned. Not certain if that's true or not true.

I lived in the Mid Cities area of the DFW Metroplex for many years. One of my daughters went to TCU...and went to the Rose Bowl when they beat Wisconsin (and finished the year undefeated and ranked #2 in the nation). Those TCU teams were amazing, considering how small that school is compared to counterparts in the State of Texas.

In my opinion, I don't think many people outside of Texas realize how much Patterson did for TCU. He took a program that Franchione had re-invigorated (what a terrible hire for A&M), and took it to the next level, so much so they literally built a new stadium around the football field.

If I have one criticism of Patterson, it was his recruiting style. Like I said, I used to live in DFW and I'd listen to sports radio all the time. One day they interviewed Patterson, and the topic was recruiting. Patterson said he recruited the DFW area exclusively, and he proudly boasted that he'd only spent three nights in hotels during the recruiting season. At the time, his programs were doing great, but I wondered if that would ever catch up with him.

I do think TCU has the potential to find a great up and coming coach. My goodness, Fisher is stuck in College Station, Aranda is stuck in Waco, but TCU is in an affluent area of Ft. Worth. Granted, they're not a big time program, but if UTSA can be competitive today, I'm sure TCU could as well.

 

[05_never_again]

This morning on the Sports Animal in Knoxville, Will West said a source told him that Patterson was told he would be replaced at the end of the season. Instead of being 'lame duck' he resigned. Not certain if that's true or not true.

I lived in the Mid Cities area of the DFW Metroplex for many years. One of my daughters went to TCU...and went to the Rose Bowl when they beat Wisconsin (and finished the year undefeated and ranked #2 in the nation). Those TCU teams were amazing, considering how small that school is compared to counterparts in the State of Texas.

In my opinion, I don't think many people outside of Texas realize how much Patterson did for TCU. He took a program that Franchione had re-invigorated (what a terrible hire for A&M), and took it to the next level, so much so they literally built a new stadium around the football field.

If I have one criticism of Patterson, it was his recruiting style. Like I said, I used to live in DFW and I'd listen to sports radio all the time. One day they interviewed Patterson, and the topic was recruiting. Patterson said he recruited the DFW area exclusively, and he proudly boasted that he'd only spent three nights in hotels during the recruiting season. At the time, his programs were doing great, but I wondered if that would ever catch up with him.

I do think TCU has the potential to find a great up and coming coach. My goodness, Fisher is stuck in College Station, Aranda is stuck in Waco, but TCU is in an affluent area of Ft. Worth. Granted, they're not a big time program, but if UTSA can be competitive today, I'm sure TCU could as well.

Firing Patterson is a "I get it, but be reeeeally careful" firing. Kind of like Tennessee firing Fulmer, although it sounds like GP is a bigger figure at TCU than Fulmer ever was at Tennessee. TCU is relevant as a football program purely because of GP...you can't say that Tennessee is/was relevant as a football program purely because of Fulmer.

 

[stolitonic]

Firing Patterson is a "I get it, but be reeeeally careful" firing. Kind of like Tennessee firing Fulmer, although it sounds like GP is a bigger figure at TCU than Fulmer ever was at Tennessee. TCU is relevant as a football program purely because of GP...you can't say that Tennessee is/was relevant as a football program purely because of Fulmer.

Patterson was much bigger to TCU than Fulmer was to UT.

In trying to think up something comparable, my best analogy is Bill Snyder at KSU. Both schools pretty much sucked for most of their history but became respectable under one coach.

Would not shock me at all to see TCU take a huge step back unless they get a UTR homerun hire who is going to be a lifer. The school has the money to do whatever they want honestly, TCU is certainly not hurting. I am just not sure how deeply the powers that be really care that much about athletics.

 

[BUBear]

If they fired him right now, for sure it was a dumb decision. With what he did for that program, they absolutely should have allowed for him to step down at the end of the season. Especially if they don't plan on retaining any of the current staff. Maybe if they were high on Kill and wanted to see what he could do before beginning a coaching search, I could see it. But either way, it's a bad look.

They made him that offer on Sunday afternoon and he declined so they fired him.

 

[butchna]

Patterson should have been hired as Fulmer’s replacement whenever we had the chance.

So you’d take him over Kiffin currently?

 

[BUBear]

I have really conflicted feelings about Patterson. That dude built their entire program, they are in the Big 12 because of him, and have had their best seasons in school history because of him. Statue in front of the stadium. He is the epitome of a guy who became the victim of his own success. It sucks that it ended this way for him - either they didn't let him finish out the season or the relationship is so broken that he just said "F y'all" and didn't want to finish.

TCU has been more bad than good since entering the Big 12 and I do think it is fair of them to expect better. Over the last decade, they've had just 3 good seasons. They are only 45-41 as a member of the Big 12. I think they expect to be more consistently competitive in conference play and they've gone 4 seasons in a row without doing so.

Having said that, this does have the feel of a Fulmer firing; the school isn't totally out of bounds in wanting to move on, but at the same time if you don't nail this next hire it could set them back even further.

When you make Top 10 money expectations are very high.

 

[05_never_again]

Patterson was much bigger to TCU than Fulmer was to UT.

In trying to think up something comparable, my best analogy is Bill Snyder at KSU. Both schools pretty much sucked for most of their history but became respectable under one coach.

Would not shock me at all to see TCU take a huge step back unless they get a UTR homerun hire who is going to be a lifer. The school has the money to do whatever they want honestly, TCU is certainly not hurting. I am just not sure how deeply the powers that be really care that much about athletics.

Or Barry Alvarez.

 

[Boston Vol]

Patterson was much bigger to TCU than Fulmer was to UT.

In trying to think up something comparable, my best analogy is Bill Snyder at KSU. Both schools pretty much sucked for most of their history but became respectable under one coach.

Would not shock me at all to see TCU take a huge step back unless they get a UTR homerun hire who is going to be a lifer. The school has the money to do whatever they want honestly, TCU is certainly not hurting. I am just not sure how deeply the powers that be really care that much about athletics.

Frank Beamer at Va Tech

 

[DOCTORLOOMIS]

Bottom line: who does TCU think they are?

 

[BUBear]

Bottom line: who does TCU think they are?

My guess is a school trying to get back to an NY6 game or make a serious run at the CFP. Patterson wasn't cutting it any more. He still has a statue in front of the stadium and that will never change.

 

[give_him 6]

If I were TCU, besides the usual names, I'd look at Jeff Lebby, Tom Herman, Kendal Briles, and Graham Harrell.

 

[BUBear]

If I were TCU, besides the usual names, I'd look at Jeff Lebby, Tom Herman, Kendal Briles, and Graham Harrell.

The Briles family literally hate TCU with a passion. Not sure why but it dates back to Art coaching HS ball in Stephenville. Both are better suited to coach at Tech but if the money were right then who knows.

Herman's name has been bounced around on the Baylor and Texas boards as a possible replacement for Fatterson. I guess they could probably do worse.

Harrell probably wouldn't get an interview unless TCU has to go deep down the list of candidates.