TCU athletics director Danny Morrison announced Tuesday that head football coach Gary Patterson signed a contract extension to stay at TCU through 2012.The details of the contract were not immediately available.

“We are excited with coach Patterson and with what he’s done with the team,” Morrison said.

Morrison also announced TCU has accepted a bid to play in the Houston Bowl on Dec. 31. Patterson has led TCU to four bowl games in five years, Morrison said.

Patterson said TCU will face a Big 12 Conference team – Nebraska, Missouri or Iowa State – in the game.

“We can play against anybody,” Patterson said.

TCU is going into the bowl game, which has a $1.2-million payout, with a record of 10-1 but will most likely not be favored in Houston, Patterson said.

“We usually win as the underdogs,” he said.

The key is to play in a bowl game that best fits you, Patterson said. The Houston Bowl is a great opportunity to show off what kind of football program TCU has, he said.

A bowl game helps the team grow up, helps with recruiting freshman and gives seniors with NFL possibilities a chance to show recruiters that they can play at a high level, Patterson said.

He said that the opportunity to play in a game with the quality of the Houston Bowl proves an athlete can go to a great school, get a great education and still play football in a top-15 program.

Morrison said fans will be delighted to hear that the game will be played in Houston, a location that allows for a sea of purple at the game.

“Houston is a great city and a great facility,” he said.

Morrison said four or five teams in the Mountain West Conference will be offered bowl bids. Five teams are bowl eligible.