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Former TCU coach Gary Patterson reacts to upset over Baylor

Sean Labarby:Sean Labar•11/06/21•

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Tom Pennington via Getty Images.

Gary Patterson didn’t go through his gameday ritual and stayed at home to watch the TCU Horned Frogs battle the No. 14 Baylor Bears on Saturday.

Last week, it was announced Patterson would be stepping away from the program following the team’s loss to Kansas State on Saturday. He had been the Horned Frogs head coach for more than 20 years, but instead of finishing the season, handed the reigns over to now interim coach Jerry Kill.

On Saturday, Kill lead the TCU Horned Frogs to a 30-28 upset over No. 14 Baylor and Gary Patterson took to twitter to celebrate his former team’s massive victory.

According to one reputable ESPN reporter last week, nobody should be surprised if Patterson ends up on the sidelines in the future instead of stepping away from the game and relaxing on a beach somewhere.

“From talking with a few sources tonight, wouldn’t be surprised at all if Gary Patterson coaches again. Not really the retiring type,” ESPN’s Adam Rittenburg tweeted.

It’s far too early to speculate, but on Saturday, Patterson just sat back, relaxed and tuned in like a fan.

Still, the former TCU front man showed class and couldn’t resist to celebrate for his former squad.

Gary Patterson at TCU

While the initial news that Patterson was stepping away felt shocking for some, the timing makes sense.

The 2021 Horned Frogs had lost three-straight games, and with conference realignment talks, the transfer portal and the college football landscape getting even more competitive, the TCU brass felt now was the time for a change.

Below is an excerpt from the statement released when the move was announced:

“The story of Gary Patterson and the rise in the fortunes of the TCU football program over the last 20 years is clearly one of the most remarkable in the history of college football. We are grateful to Gary and Kelsey Patterson and appreciate everything they have meant to TCU and the Fort Worth community,” athletic director Jeremiah Donati said in a statement Sunday night. “Under his leadership, TCU has become a nationally recognized brand name in football and in collegiate athletics.

Patterson arrived at TCU as Dennis Franchione’s defensive coordinator in 1998 and took over as head coach in 2001. He went 181-79 at TCU and oversaw the Horned Frogs’ rise from being left behind after the breakup of the Southwest Conference back through Conference USA, the Mountain West and back into the Big 12, largely due to the success the school had under Patterson.

He was the second-longest tenured college football coach in the nation, trailing only Kirk Ferentz of Iowa.