Patterson’s posse focus on next game
John Ashley Menzies

Reporters and cameras from ESPN and local news stations gathered to listen to head coach Gary Patterson’s thoughts on the Bowl Championship Series at his weekly media luncheon Tuesday afternoon.

Patterson made it clear to the media how little he cares about the BCS standings right now.

“The only thing we worry about is Southern Miss,” Patterson said.

For Patterson and the Horned Frogs, it was just a typical Tuesday, even though the team fell two spots in the latest BCS standings.

Patterson said the drop from No. 6 to No. 8 in the BCS standings means nothing to the team. Instead, he said the Frogs only care about Southern Miss Thursday night.

“Nothing is going to matter if we don’t go 2-0 for the rest of the season,” he said.

This is another short week for the Frogs, but Patterson said the players have done a good job and that injuries should not be a problem.

Patterson said the two teams have developed a good rivalry over the past couple of seasons, and he expects the Golden Eagles to come out trying to prove something.

“It’s not a hate rivalry,” Patterson said. “It is more of a respect rivalry.”

Junior quarterback Brandon Hassell said the team understands the importance of the final two games this season.

“We have to go out there, stay focused and do what we know we need to do,” Hassell said.

Hassell said the offense is playing with a lot of confidence right now, and everybody is doing their job.

It was not the offense that needed to gain confidence though.

Senior defensive end Bo Schobel said the defense regained its confidence against Cincinnati.

Patterson said the Horned Frogs and the Golden Eagles are coming into the game only worried about winning the C-USA title. He said the players are doing what it takes to win the important game.

“We very easily could have quit and the wheels fallen off,” Patterson said.

Patterson said Thursday’s game is so important and compares it to the 1998 Sun Bowl when the Frogs upset Southern California.

“That game put us on the map,” Patterson said.

Whether a victory over Southern Miss in front of a national audience can put TCU on the BCS map is still to be determined.