TCU Coach Gary Patterson Criticizes Les Miles' Reinstatement of RB Jeremy Hill

Gary Patterson isn't really a fan of the way Les Miles has handled star running back Jeremy Hill's off-field transgressions. 

According to Stefan Stevenson of the Star-Telegram, the fiery TCU Horned Frogs coach sounded off on Miles' recent decision to reinstate Hill after a team vote paved the way for the embattled star to re-join the team.

Patterson wonders if Miles would have put the player's future up to a team vote if LSU were playing a lesser opponent in Week 1, as opposed to No. 20 TCU, saying, "I'm sure if it was some opponent they'd beat by 100 points, [the players] wouldn't have a vote. It's not my worry. I've got to play whoever they put on the field."

TCU and LSU are set to meet in the 2013 Cowboys Classic in Arlington, Tex. on Aug. 31. 

Hill had been suspended from team activities after his April 27 arrest for hitting a man.

Patterson's team will be without star defensive end Devonte Fields for the prime time showdown. The reigning Big 12 defensive player of the year was suspended by Patterson for the first two games of the season due to "a violation of university and team policy." 

So why doesn't Patterson put Fields' eligibility up to a team vote? 

Because he knows that Fields would be on the field against the Tigers if his status was left to a vote, and Patterson doesn't believe that's how things should be handled, telling Stevenson, "My whole team would vote Devonte to be back on the team because they all want to win. That doesn't teach life lessons."

Patterson has a history of taking a caring, yet firm approach to player discipline. He didn't hesitate to dismiss quarterback Casey Pachall from the team in 2012 after a myriad of off-field issues including a DWI, but left the door open for him to come back to the team after seeking rehabilitation. 

Pachall is expected be the Frogs quarterback when they take on the Tigers in the highly anticipated showdown. 

The pairing of these two teams just got a bit more interesting with Miles and Patterson now apparently at odds with how they go about their business.