FWST: After Big 12 vote, TCU needs to continue winning

One of TCU coach Gary Patterson’s favorite fair-catch signals is to stand at the podium after a victory, even a major one over a Texas or a West Virginia, and chalk it up as being one notch closer to becoming bowl-eligible.

A brief homily on the gravity of bowl games usually ensues.

But most coaches who’ve won Rose Bowl games and conference championships know they aren’t being paid just to earn an invitation to the GoDaddy or Famous Idaho Potato bowls. TCU didn’t get asked to join the Big 12 Conference just by being masters of the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

Teams have to win, preferably at least nine or 10 times per season, and Patterson knows that.