Just before noon Monday, TCU head coach Gary Patterson stood on the edge of the Mesa College football field, where his team had just finished its second practice in San Diego.
Football was the topic of choice, obviously, as Patterson met with the media to answer questions regarding the Frogs’ practice as they prepare to face Louisiana Tech Wednesday night in the Poinsettia Bowl.
Four hours later, X’s and O’s were the last thing on Patterson’s mind.
Patterson, along with several TCU players, met with children from the San Diego Make-A-Wish program Monday afternoon during a reception hosted by the Poinsettia Bowl committee.
Linebacker Tank Carder and running back Ed Wesley were among the selected Frogs to take part in the event, which, through the Make-A-Wish foundation, is designed to give disadvantaged children suffering from diseases or illnesses the chance to meet athletes and coaches as well as take part in other activities.
Patterson said events like Monday’s Make-A-Wish reception serve as a reminder as to what’s really at the heart of college football.
“We’re in a kids business,” Patterson said. “You can’t quit giving back. The reason I have a job is because we have kids who work hard and do the things they need to do.”
Offensive linemen Spencer Thompson and Blaize Foltz also participated in the event, which included a meet-and-greet session, where the children could take pictures with and chat with players from both TCU and Louisiana Tech.
Graduation Day
For football players, playing in a bowl game often means missing out on things normal college students take for granted.
Last year, for TCU, it was spending Christmas at home.
This year, it was graduation.
With the team leaving for San Diego Saturday, graduating TCU players were unable to attend graduation ceremonies, which were held the same day at the Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.
But the graduating Horned Frogs won’t go unnoticed.
Ten graduating members of the TCU football program, including eight current players, will be honored in a graduation ceremony Tuesday afternoon at the team hotel in San Diego.
Braylon Broughton, Tekerrein Cuba, Robert Deck, Kyle Dooley, Kris Gardner, Jonathan Jones, Jeff Olson and Spencer Thompson will receive their degrees Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Thompson will be earning his master’s degree.
Former TCU wide receivers and current student coaches Alonzo Adams and Garrett Winsett will also be receiving their degrees.
All players eligible
Keeping on the topic of academics, one of the fears of all coaches is that when the end of the semester comes and grades are turned in that one of their players will be ruled academically ineligible for the bowl game.
Up until this point, that hasn’t been the case for any TCU players.
Patterson said all of his players are academically eligible – for now, at least.
As Patterson pointed out, TCU won’t know for sure if everyone is available for Wednesday night until all the grades are posted.
Quotable
“This is not our first rodeo. If you can’t get focused to win, then you probably shouldn’t be wearing the uniform.” – TCU head coach Gary Patterson on his team’s readiness heading into Wednesday’s Poinsettia Bowl.
