DMN: Gary Patterson on expanding Big 12: ‘It’s not the conference’s job to make that university better’

If anyone knows what it’s like to be on the outside of the top tier of college football, it’s TCU and coach Gary Patterson.

Patterson has first-hand experience of leaving a conference game after midnight and getting into bed just before dawn. He knows what it’s like to have lesser facilities compared with those down the interstate.

And now, as the Horned Frogs enter their fifth season in the Big 12, TCU knows what it’s like to be in one of the “power five” conferences of college football. During this round of conference realignment talks, TCU is in a place other schools want to be.

There’s been talk about the Big 12 being better off with 12 teams instead of the current 10. Patterson told reporters at Wednesday’s team media day that any future members should be bringing something worth adding as he discussed the topic of realignment.