Oct. 10, 2011

Gary Patterson - TCU Football Head Coach
On moving to the Big 12 Conference:
"Every move that we have ever had to make has had a different theme song, and I don't think the Big 12 is going to be any different. We aren't here just to be another member. It's just like when you guys laughed at me back in 2004 when I said I wanted to get to BCS games. Our ultimate goal is to win the conference at some point and time, but we don't have a timetable on that. Our other goal is to get into a national championship game."

On what TCU brings to the Big 12: "We feel like we have some elements here that no other university in the Big 12 has. We are going to be the only team in Big 12 history to be the Metroplex's team."

On how the move will change recruiting: "If you look at what kids think, the only thing that has ever been held against us as a program was not being part of the Big 12. Now with all of the changes we have made with our facilities and the way that we have been able to play, it should help. There is no doubt that on a day-to-day basis, it is a tough conference. There are some very good football coaches and players in this league. We have recruited a lot of those players and they have said that we would love to come to TCU, but you aren't part of the Big 12. Well now, here we are."

On the road ahead for TCU: "It isn't going to get any easier, but we will do it like we have always done it at this university. We will never back down. We understand it is going to be quite a challenge and that everything in front of us is going to be tougher. That is what we always wanted. Since I got here 14 years ago, this place has always been a challenge. Getting to the Rose Bowl was a challenge. Winning the Rose Bowl was a challenge. There have been a lot of people that have told us that we couldn't do a lot of different things. We have to take it one step at a time."

Jim Schlossnagle -- TCU Baseball Head Coach
On moving to the Big 12 Conference:
"Obviously, this is a great day for TCU. On one hand, it's the culmination of a lot of hard work, sacrifice and generosity by many people over many years. On the other hand, today is the beginning of a new challenge on the field of play. We look forward to competing against all the great programs in the Big 12."

Jim Christian - TCU Men's Basketball Head Coach
On how the conference change will influence recruiting:
"I really don't think it will change all that much, because one thing that came out of the move to the Big East was that it was giving us so much credibility in the state of Texas. That move helped us so much in our own state and now it's a chance for us to keep preaching the same message that they will have the chance to play at the highest level of college basketball. Now with less travel, the geographical rivals and the fact that our kids grew up in this league, it shouldn't diminish anything that we have been doing."

On how the move will change the game-day atmosphere at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum: "I think we will have different issues now. With the Mountain West, it was all about getting people into the arena, because they weren't familiar with the teams. Now, it will be more about keeping them in the arena with in-game entertainment and in-game excitement. It is a totally different ball game. We shouldn't have to worry about people coming, because of the close proximity of the schools and the natural rivalries that have been formed forever. I think it can be real special."

Jeff Mittie -- TCU Women's Basketball Head Coach
On TCU's decision to join the Big 12:
"It's an exciting day. A lot of people have put in a lot of hard work. This is going into my 13th season and this university has done such a great job of focusing on ourselves and what we need to do to get better everyday. In the back of their minds, everybody knows the Big 12 was the conference that we saw we would fit very well with and today, a lot of people's hard work is paying off."