SMU head coach June Jones knew it was coming.
As he walked over to meet the media after Wednesday's practice, he smiled, knowing exactly what the topic of the day would be: TCU head coach Gary Patterson's comments at his own Tuesday press conference that included claims that SMU didn't appreciate TCU's effort to "help" SMU and that TCU was the target of disrespectful comments from SMU.
"I don't really have a reaction," Jones said. "I was disappointed" at Patterson's reaction. "I feel like I was making a compliment. Obviously it got misconstrued to him, but that stuff happens."
Jones acknowledged that Patterson and TCU have been helpful to SMU.
"He has been very helpful — their whole group has," Jones said. "I know a loss sometimes makes you say things you sometimes wish you hadn't said."
Jones said he has not reached out to Patterson to clear the air, but said he will "after he settles down a little bit."
Part of Patterson's complaints Tuesday referred to a comment after Saturday's SMU victory at TCU by Mustang wide receiver Darius Johnson, who said, "I don't like these TCU people."
"I think if you ask their kids, they would say something similar about us," Jones said. "That comes with the territory" in rivalry games.
Jones said that after evaluating the film of Saturday's game, he agreed that some of the calls by the officials were not the right calls, but said Patterson's assertion that the calls were lopsided in SMU's favor was not accurate.
"There were some calls that were not good (that were made) against us, too," Jones said. "It evens out. I think it's just frustrating when you lose."
Jones even found a silver lining in Patterson's comments and the strong reaction from supporters of both schools.
"I know he said he wasn't going to help us anymore," Jones said, "but it probably guarantees a sellout for next year."