🏈 Patterson heading to Alabama to study Crimson Tide’s recruiting

[Bamabww]

Big 12 Sports

Posted on March 3, 2015 | BY TIM GRIFFIN

TCU has become one of the nation’s emerging football powers thanks to its overachieving ability in recruiting.

But after the recent success, TCU coach Gary Patterson is wondering how to up his recruiting to match his on-the-field success.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that Patterson and his offensive staff will travel to Alabama after spring practice to study the Crimson Tide’s philosophy of attracting top recruits to their campus.

“We want to see some things recruiting-wise, how they do things,” Paterson told reporters after a recent practice. “You don’t just learn Xs and Os from people. You’re trying to learn things on a lot of different levels.”

The Crimson Tide are studying the No. 3 Horned Frogs as well. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and his father, Monte, attending a TCU practice last week to learn about Patterson’s philosophy.

Patterson said the Crimson Tide’s recruiting strength — they have attracted one of the nation’s top recruiting class virtually every year of Nick Saban’s tenure there — is something he particularly will be interesting in learning about.

“I need to grow analysts,” Patterson said. “You’ve got to have people who can help you find out about recruits faster. That’s somebody that’s won championships, that’s always had the No. 1, 2, 3 recruiting class.”

Rivals.com ranked Alabama with the nation’s No. 2 recruiting class. TCU was 34th.

Patterson said he continues to share information about his unconventional 4-2-5 defense. But he told the Star-Telegram he’s become more guarded in providing too much information since TCU now is in the Big 12, particularly with Texas high school coaching staffs who have Big 12 alumni from all over the conference in those schools.

“When we didn’t play in the state, you could let all of them come,” he said. “Because you weren’t going to play them. Now we have to be a little more selective. You’ve just got to be careful.”

Studying Alabama is a smart move by Patterson and his assistants, even if they might end up playing the Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoffs in the not-too-distant future.

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/big12/...to-alabama-to-study-crimson-tides-recruiting/

 

[planomateo]

TCU is heading east for some recruiting pointers.

Coach Gary Patterson and his staff are heading to Alabama when spring practice concludes to see how Alabama has been so successful in recent years on the recruiting trail.

“We want to see some things recruiting-wise, how they do things,” Patterson said via the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “You don’t just learn Xs and Os from people. You’re trying to learn things on a lot of different levels.”

In return, Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin and his father have been looking at the characteristics of the uptempo offense TCU installed for 2014 with great success (Yes, we still remember Nick Saban's comments about tempo and player safety). The Horned Frogs only lost to Baylor en route to a 12-1 season.

“I need to grow analysts,” Patterson said. “You’ve got to have people who can help you find out about recruits faster. That’s somebody that’s won championships, that’s always had the No. 1, 2, 3 recruiting class.”

It's a win-win for both programs, especially TCU. While the Horned Frogs were fourth in the Big 12 in Rivals' 2015 recruiting rankings, TCU was 34th in the country. While Alabama officially lost the 2015 recruiting title to USC per Rivals, it wasn't by much, if any at all.

WIth Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham, both savants of uptempo offenses, TCU was fifth in the country in total offense in 2014. The year before (which necessitated the offensive style change), the Horned Frogs were 108th. Imagine how potent the offense could be with higher-level recruits and another couple years of fine-tuning?

 

[bamaledge]

Why would we share that kind of information? Especially with a team that we might be recruiting against in the near future.

 

[planomateo]

Why would we share that kind of information? Especially with a team that we might be recruiting against in the near future.

These information sharing sessions happen all the time. To your point, our coaching staff would probably learn as much from them as they would from us. TCU's done very well over the last 5-7 years.

Think about all the assistants that have left since Saban started at Alabama or even LSU for that matter. His process is well known and in my opinion has been unsuccessfully duplicated by all of his assistants to this point who've left to do spread their wings. McElwain is probably the closest, I could see Pruitt being successful in the long run.

 

[psychojoe]

Matt, I have heard over the last few years that Patterson would have left TCU for the Texas job, but they disdained him because he was at TCU. To me he has been a terrific HC almost from the moment he took over the program. Have you heard anything along these lines.

 

[planomateo]

Yeah, I've heard it a few times. I don't know if Texas could handle Gary Patterson's intensity.

Texas turns their noses to everyone in the state of Texas. You'd think they were in the Ivy League. An example, if you graduate from high school in the top 10% of your class, there is a state rule that you get accepted by any of the state schools. Texas I believe has an exception, it's around 8% now.

I like Gary Patterson, I like what he's accomplished at TCU, and I like that he is still there.

 

[BamaFan334]

I wish he could help us get our defense to the level of intensity his team runs off of. They do a lot more with a lot less than any program in the country. I honestly think they would have kicked our tails last year and may even have the team to do it this Fall. I think this is a great opportunity for both programs. I respect both coaches so I know they can learn a ton from each other.

 

[Bamabww]

My wife has 2 cousins who are TCU alumni and live in that area. They love Coach Patterson.

 

[planomateo]

My wife has 2 cousins who are TCU alumni and live in that area. They love Coach Patterson.

I've been to two games there, both when they were in the MWC. Great experience with the fans, cool stadium too. Still not sure why every Texas school has a silly hand gesture...

Damn, 2 TCU alums...their parents are probably sill paying for that