TCU football is in a transition after parting ways with longtime coach Gary Patterson on Halloween. So is Patterson.
Interim coach Jerry Kill understands the coaching industry as well as anyone and feels bad to see what his close friend Patterson is going through.
“Coach Patterson has done this his whole life,” Kill said during a radio appearance on the TCU coach’s show Thursday night on 92.1 Hank-FM.
“It’s tough for him right now, trying to figure out what to do. I feel bad for him.”
Kill and host Landry Burdine discussed different options for Patterson such as heading on a vacation or even tailgating before a game. But Patterson is still focused on coaching and assisting this year’s team as much as possible.
Patterson showed up to work the day after he was let go and continues to make appearances at TCU’s football offices.
“I told him, I’d take that money and go somewhere,” Kill said, with a chuckle. “Nothing against Fort Worth, but I’d load up and be on some ocean watching the game.”
Kill went on to talk about the money he and Patterson made working for Dennis Franchione at Pittsburg State even though Kill and Patterson were never on the same staff. Kill worked as Pitt State’s defensive coordinator from 1985-87 for $250 a month and Patterson followed as the linebackers coach in 1988 for a similar stipend.
“The money is great (these days),” Kill said. “But I coached just as hard then as I do now. If you love coaching ball …”
For now, Kill remains focused on getting the most out of this year’s TCU team. He credited the staff and players for rallying together after the abrupt end to the Patterson era. TCU stunned then-No. 12 Baylor with a 30-28 upset victory last weekend, and is looking to carry that momentum into its game at No. 10 Oklahoma State this weekend.
“Our coaches, most of us know we don’t have jobs, but we owe it to the kids,” Kill said. “We need to bring them together and do something a little bit different and go to work.”
Kill said the staff has focused on “being positive” with the players given that the head coach they signed up to play for is no longer in the position.
“Do it right, do it light,” Kill said.
Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. Saturday in Stillwater.
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