The university wants to make sure Gary Patterson remains in Horned Frog purple and white.

A new contract is one way of doing that.

Athletics director Eric Hyman said contract talks are in the early stages of discussion and nothing was finalized Monday.

“TCU wants to recognize excellence in all areas,” Hyman said. “We want to do what’s right.”

Patterson declined to comment about any contract negotiations, but acknowledged talks are ongoing.

Provost William Koehler said these things have a conversational life of their own. Hyman said dialogue is all that is going on right now.

“After the dialogue part, then we’ll get to the contractual part,” he said.

Koehler said there is no time table and no one is rushing or pushing to get anything done.

“Those conversations have been ongoing, and they’ve been ongoing because neither the AD nor the chancellor nor the coach are unusually anxious. There is no reason to be anxious,” Koehler said.

Hyman said there are no outside pressures leading to the renegotiations, but it’s merely a reward for the outstanding job Patterson has done as football coach.

Koehler said Patterson has had other important things on his mind. Patterson will be getting married Saturday and officials will not engage in contract negotiations until after recruiting, he said.

Koehler said they’ve allowed Patterson some room to handle these other issues but there should be no problems.

“Everything will work out fine,” Koehler said.

Patterson is in the second year of a contract that pays a reported $650,000 a year until 2006, according to an article in Saturday’s Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Patterson signed that extension after the 2002 season.

He led the Frogs to an 11-2 record last season, including the team’s sixth straight bowl appearance. He has amassed a 27-11 record since taking over for Dennis Franchione in 2000. He also led the team to the 2002 Conference USA title.