TCU coach Gary Patterson is one of the most well-respected coaches in college football. But back in 2009, some programs still weren't sold on his success with the Horned Frogs, whom he had coached to a 73-27 record against mostly Conference USA and Mountain West opponents.
Patterson, in an ESPN feature on the TCU coach, said Tennessee was one of those programs.
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The Vols had just fired long-time coach Phillip Fulmer, whose 5-7 season in 2008 was his worst ever in Knoxville. Patterson, already eight full seasons in at TCU, interviewed for the Vols' open coaching position, but said he felt like Tennessee snubbed him because his team hadn't played high-level competition.
"Tennessee didn't think I could handle the big stage," Patterson said (via ESPN). "My wife and I went to dinner with them, and I could tell they had already decided on (Lane) Kiffin. It was the same with Nebraska. I interviewed and could tell they had already decided on Pelini. I think a lot of these ADs now are more interesting in hiring guys who're going to win the podium than they are in hiring football coaches, and there's a lot more to it than that if you're going to win championships."
At the time, Patterson had averaged eight wins per season at TCU, and had five seasons of at least 10 wins. He was 5-3 against top-25 teams and 10-5 against what would have been considered Power 5 conferences. Still, he doesn't mind the way things have turned out for him in Fort Worth.
Since that interview, Patterson's teams have gone 84-28, while Tennessee has gone 56-55. He went 12-1 the year Kiffin went 7-6, went 31-8 from 2010-12 compared to Derek Dooley's 15-21 mark and has gone 41-19 since 2013, compared to Butch Jones' 34-26 record. And, ever since the Horned Frogs joined the Big 12, Patterson has gone 48-25 and 30-21 in conference play.
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This season alone, he has No. 8 TCU in contention for a Big 12 title, while Tennessee sits at 4-5 and sixth in the SEC East.
"It's sort of like the old Garth Brooks song," Patterson said. "Sometimes the best prayers are unanswered prayers."
