Gary Patterson shook up Saturday’s student tailgate by buying breakfast for football fans.

400 students, along with their friends and family, arrived at 8 a.m. Saturday to prepare for the game and enjoy free food.

Jamie D’Onofrio, a sophomore TCU student, said he thought the breakfast would help fill the stadium for. He also said he thought the breakfast showed Gary Patterson cared about student involvement.

Paige Michel, a sophomore at TCU, said she came out to the tailgate in part because of Coach Patterson buying breakfast.

"It builds school spirit," Michel said. "It gets us excited and ready to cheer for our Horned Frogs."

Justin Tubbs, a junior at TCU, said he thought Patterson buying breakfast for the students was a sign that Patterson cares about the fans.

Graham McMillan, SGA vice president of external affairs, said Patterson was welcome to the idea after SGA members emailed him about the concept.

TCU Athletics sent out an email to the student body Thursday afternoon, with a video from Patterson encouraging students to show up to the tailgate.

SGA President Brent Folan said approximately 400 student wristbands were distributed at the tailgate, with an unknown amount of non-students admitted into the tailgate. 1,250 student wristbands were passed out at the previous tailgate, an afternoon event before TCU played Grambling State.