From an ESPN article about Gary Patterson:
Patterson, who was just two years removed from winning the Rose Bowl back
then, wasn't interested in going into details but acknowledged that he's
talked with high-profile schools in the past.
He interviewed with Nebraska in 2008, when the Huskers hired Bo Pelini, and
also interviewed with Tennessee in 2009 after Phillip Fulmer was fired and
the Vols hired Lane Kiffin.
"Tennessee didn't think I could handle the big stage," Patterson said. "My
wife and I went to dinner with them, and I could tell they had already
decided on Kiffin. It was the same with Nebraska.
I interviewed and could tell they had already decided on Pelini. I think a
lot of these ADs now are more interesting in hiring guys who're going to
win the podium than they are in hiring football coaches,
and there's a lot more to it than that if you're going to win
championships."
Patterson smiled when asked whether he would have taken either the
Tennessee or Nebraska job had he been offered.
"It's sort of like the old Garth Brooks song. Sometimes the best prayers
are unanswered prayers," Patterson said.
