Lincoln Riley needs to give Gary Patterson a phone call
Gary Patterson, the architect of an immensely successful TCU football program who sustained the Horned Frogs as a major player in college football for nearly 20 years, spent last year as an assistant to Steve Sarkisian at the University of Texas. It is clear that Patterson wanted to stay connected to football and coaching, but without the level of work and responsibility a head coach must sustain on a daily basis.
Longhorns Wire picked up on a 247Sports report that Patterson is stepping down from his role at Texas.
Patterson wants to spend time with his family, including his grandchildren. He is 63 and wants to be sure to stop and smell the roses. He doesn’t want a job which will consume him.
He also doesn’t seem like a man who wants to be done with football and coaching, either.
Hmmmm…
It’s as though USC football — which did not engage in an overhaul of its defensive coaching staff, and did not bring aboard a special teams coordinator because of limitations on on-field staff — could use a defensive analyst, someone in a “support staff” position who doesn’t have to be on the field, who doesn’t have to fly with the team on road games.
A consultant, maybe.
Hmmm…
Lincoln Riley went up against Gary Patterson all the time in the Big 12 when he was at Oklahoma and Patterson coached TCU.
Hmmm…
This seems all too obvious, doesn’t it? Pay Gary Patterson a few extra dollars and bring him on as a defensive analyst/consultant to share ideas with Alex Grinch and get a wise voice in the room.
Patterson would stay in coaching but would not have to be on the field, on a plane, or on standby all the time.
Hmmm…
The Trojans could stand pat, or they could try to do everything possible to get that little extra edge and squeeze every last ounce of potential out of their operation in Heritage Hall.
Your move, Lincoln.
