Patterson looks to ‘Own the Process’

By Carolina Olivares

Published Aug 3, 2018

The pyramid to success

“Own the process.”

The Horned Frogs’ goal pyramid hanging on the wall of the Four Sevens Team Meeting Room. Photo by Carolina Olivares.

These are the inspiring words hanging in the Four Sevens Team Meeting Room that have replaced last season’s “Take Everything, Give Nothing.” TCU Head Coach Gary Patterson said he adopted a new team motto this season to serve as motivation to understand the process and beat it.

process /ˈpräˌses,ˈprōˌses/ n. 1. a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular end.

Tomorrow, we’re back on our grind. #OwnTheProcess pic.twitter.com/MmvX9zVIsO

— TCU Football (@TCUFootball) August 1, 2018

Unlike the popular “Trust the Process” slogan popularized by the Philadelphia 76ers, Patterson said he wants to own the process rather than have to convince his players to believe in it.

Sophomore defensive tackle Ross Blacklock answers questions from the media in the Four Sevens Team Meeting Room Thursday afternoon. Photo by Cristian ArguetaSoto.

Sophomore defensive tackle Ross Blacklock said he uses the motto to drive their team workouts when in 100-degree weather.

“We take each challenge and attack it,” 2017 Big 12 Co-Defensive Freshman of the Year Ross Blacklock said.

Senior safety Niko Small said the process is nothing new to him because of his leadership role.

“I live the motto by knowing where to fit, how to fit, and knowing how to communicate to my teammates,” said Small.

In with the old and in with the new

Patterson said former quarterback Kenny Hill will return to Fort Worth as a student coach while also finishing his degree at TCU.

“Being able to have him, especially after everything he’s been through since December with NFL camps, he’ll be whatever we need him to be out there,” Patterson said.

His hope is for Hill to bring a different set of eyes and get his perspective as a recent player.

Sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson is expected to start this season and may share playing time with the university’s first five- star recruit Justin Rogers once he is declared healthy enough to play.

Leaders ready for take-off

The Horned Frogs lost 35 seniors last season and with that a lot of leadership.

Despite the losses, the team will return a very talented roster with multiple preseason award winners, including senior defensive end Ben Banogu and return specialist/wide receiver

KaVontae Turpin. Banogu took home the honor of Preseason Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year in early July.

Junior running back Darius “Jet” Anderson was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list late July. The award is presented to the nation’s top college running back. Anderson playing alongside fellow running back Sewo Olonilua, who had seven touchdowns last season, compliment one another well in the backfield.

“We’re asking those guys to be leaders,” said co-offensive coordinator and running back coach Curtis Luper.

Growing up a military brat, Anderson said he was ready to take the leadership position of the players that graduated.

Junior running back Darius Anderson talking about his life growing up with army veteran parents whose discipline helped instill a coachable personality in him. Photo by Cristian Argueta Soto.

“I was born on an army base,” said Anderson. “My parents are very tough and very disciplined which helped me in football to be coachable and become a better player.”

He said his parents taught him to keep working hard and put his faith in God because there will always be downfalls.

With the incoming players adapting to the campus, Patterson said they are training separately from the veteran players.

Blacklock said he hopes to welcome the first-year players with some advice: “Enjoy every day. You don’t get these days back.”