Coach puts Central Market into a ‘Purple Haze’
Head Football Coach Gary Patterson cooked up a storm this weekend at Central Market’s “Purple Haze,” a celebration of the TCU spirit.
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

Whether it’s recruiting, extra game-planning or getting the team back to fundamentals, an off-week from games allows coaches to accomplish many different tasks.

In the case of TCU head coach Gary Patterson, it was a few extra hours to show off his cooking abilities.

The Frogs’ coach volunteered at Central Market in Fort Worth Saturday, to take part in “Purple Haze,” a week-long celebration of TCU.

Armed with his entourage of SuperFrog and the TCU Showgirls, Patterson kept the black shirt reserved for Saturday contests in the closet, instead electing to go with the more traditional TCU purple and white.

He also cooked in front of a crowd that included athletic director Eric Hyman and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs William Koehler.

Patterson said he was pleased with the outcome.

“This was fun,” Patterson said. “It was nice to see people come out to this.”

Patterson entertained the crowd from noon to 1 p.m. as he cooked catfish po-boys with purple coleslaw, purple potato salad and his own chips, which were of course purple. He also had a jar of spices, in which he jokingly labeled his own brand of purple haze.

Patterson said that cooking is something he can do, but that he does it differently when at the house.

“I love to cook in the spring and the summer time,” he said. “I’m actually a pretty good cook.”“Usually if I was cooking for myself, I’d be eating while I cooked,” he added. Then by the time it’s time for everybody else to eat, he said there’s nothing left for the cook.

Patterson, approached to do the demonstration six months ago, said he was happy to comply.

“Central Market is somebody that has actually represented TCU on game day with sponsorships,” Patterson said. “We love to give back, completing the circle. Everybody believes that athletes don’t do that — that they always just want, want, want. One of the things we try to do at TCU is to be able to enjoy the community, because it’s a great group of people.”

Patterson said he has already agreed to come back again to do the event next year.