TCU head football coach Gary Patterson revealed the team’s uniform for the season opener against LSU to his players and the media Friday afternoon, but had words of caution for his players.

“The uniform doesn’t make the team. The team makes the uniform,” the coach said before the unveiling.

After Patterson’s warning, defensive end Devonte Fields walked into the team’s meeting room behind a black curtain. When the curtain was pulled away, his teammates voiced their approval loud and clear, yelling and shouting.

The players came to get a closer look after the meeting, admiring the details in the uniform and the helmet. Patterson eventually had to tell some of the players to leave because they were spending so much time looking at the design.

The new uniform stays true to TCU’s designs from the last two years, with black jerseys and pants, and a similar font for the numbers. The chief difference is red accents on the helmet, gloves and cleats.

The red is based on how horned frogs shoot blood out of their eyes, and Patterson said what he wants his players to think of when they see the red: “Battle.”

The design, and the helmet in particular, which has red streaks on either side of it, are a departure from TCU’s more traditional uniforms, but Patterson said he will always keep tradition in mind when deciding on designs. The coach said there will be a small horned frog on the helmet for that very reason.

A number of people voiced their displeasure with the design on social media when Nike leaked pictures of the uniform before the meeting, but Patterson said he liked the design from the start.

Patterson said his chief concern with uniform designs is appealing to recruits.

“Remember, we’re talking about an audience of 16 to 22-year-olds,” Patterson said. “As far as recruiting, as far as catching kids’ eyes. So Nike was perfect [with the design].”

Patterson said the team will wear the uniform for two or three games this season.

Editor's note: New photos of the uniform were added from the Meet the Frogs event on Saturday Aug. 24, 2013.