TCU quarterback Kenny Hill's celebration gesture in the end zone was part of his religious belief, coach Gary Patterson said, and something he would have liked to have known about before the game.
"If he wants to do something like that, he just needs to let me know. That way I can do a better job of backing him up," Patterson said Monday during the Big 12 coaches conference call with reporters. "We've learned a lesson."
Hill made a gesture with his right hand, bringing it from his left shoulder near his throat and down across his chest, after scoring to put TCU ahead late in last week's game against Arkansas. The celebration drew an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, assessed on the kickoff, and Arkansas used the short field to tie the game and then win in two overtimes, 41-38.
Patterson said the SEC crew wouldn't have picked up the flag had Patterson told them it was a religious gesture, but that he could have advised the officials before the game. He also said he and Hill could have talked about whether to make the gesture.
He said Hill did it after a previous score, as well.
"LT used to just hand the ball," Patterson said, referencing LaDainian Tomlinson, TCU's all-time touchdown leader. "Act like we've been there. That's been a TCU tradition forever, if you watch our guys. It's one of those things where it's too bad it happened. We all need to learn from it, try not to do it again."
Patterson said he and Hill talked before he came to TCU that he would draw extra scrutiny. He said Hill has not disappointed him.
"To be honest, he's been unbelievable," Patterson said. "I haven't had any problems with how he's acted and done things or anything. He's been unbelievable, and every week, he just keeps getting better as a leader."
