Gary Patterson, TCU's coach, criticized SMU's role in Saturday's Fort Worth scuffle and used one of Patterson's country tracks to mock his team.
Patterson said Tuesday that SMU attempted to plant the flag at Amon G. Carter Stadium's midfield if the Mustangs win. Many players attempted to plant the flag at midfield after SMU's victory by 42 to 34. TCU players responded to this attempt. Horned Frogs assistant coaches Jerry Kill sustained a concussion from being knocked down twice while on the field. Patterson stated that Kill, the former head coach of Northern Illinois and Minnesota, has epilepsy and is now back at work.
Kill, 60, was knocked down initially by a TCU student during the fracas. Patterson stated that he was not sure if Kill was knocked down by a TCU player or an SMU player.
"You don’t believe it was planned?" According to the Fort Worth Star Telegram, Patterson spoke out about Patterson's flag-planting effort. They had a media representative from their office who was filming the flag being set in the middle the field. ... Kill was hurt. Our kids pushed him down once, and he was hit. I have the proof.
"At the end, it doesn't matter if it's SMU or TCU, I cannot substantiate it. It wouldn't happen if the flag situation wasn't there.
In a Tuesday statement, Rick Hart, SMU's athletic director, stated that the school had examined all video and found no evidence that anyone was involved in Kill being struck on the field. Hart stated that he spoke with Jeremiah Donati from TCU, and that Donati agreed there was no evidence. Donati also told Hart that Patterson's initial claims would not be retracted.
Sonny Dykes, the Mustangs coach, declined to comment and said he listened to Hart's statement.
"Coach Patterson admitted that his postgame claim could not be supported, but he repeatedly accused our program of plotting to place our flag on the field after our win. Hart stated in his statement that this was a fabrication. Hart stated, "I can declare unambiguously that there was not such a plan."
Hart stated that SMU had several members of its "creative team" on the field following the game to capture footage for The Hilltop's ESPN+ show, The Hilltop. Dykes apologized for the incident to SMU after the game and said he would talk with players about it.
Dykes was an offensive analyst at Patterson at TCU during the 2017 season before he took the SMU coaching job.
Hart stated in his statement that "this activity was spontaneous and borne from emotion." Hart stated that it was irresponsible to suggest otherwise. I won't allow Coach Dykes, our team or our student-athletes be unfairly attacked. Sonny is a great leader and man of great integrity.
Patterson also had a problem with SMU's use of a song he wrote after the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was called "Take a Step Back" and was used to criticize TCU following the game. SMU's Twitter account tweeted Patterson's video, but added Dykes' face to Patterson's and used photos of SMU players and fans. The tweet said "THEY TOOK a STEP BACK."
Patterson has been writing songs for many years. He released two tracks last year on streaming services, including "Take A Step Back."
Patterson stated Tuesday that "they hate you 'cause a song you wrote about COVID, getting back to family and they make fun" of Patterson. Patterson said that if they had the time, they would have gone out to get all the copyright laws. But, right now, Longhorns are on their minds. They are not. They keep supporting our existence about where we are and how we do it.
This week, TCU hosts Texas and SMU hosts South Florida.
