Shortly after wringing the sweat from his soaked purple shirt after a humid morning practice in the indoor facility, head football coach Gary Patterson poured out his thoughts on something TCU football has strived for since becoming the Mountain West Conference’s newest addition: respect.

“You have to be careful with respect because we are acting like we weren’t a good football team before this point,” Patterson said. “We have good players. We are probably more highly respected as a team and university outside of the state of Texas than inside because of the (University of Texas) and (Texas) A&M and the old Southwest Conference ties.”

Despite losing five starters to the NFL draft in 2009, TCU had five players named to 2009 national award watch lists and placed a league-high seven players on the preseason All-Mountain West Conference team.

“You have five guys drafted last year and people start taking notice,” Patterson said. “For us this is a situation that’s a compliment, but that’s about all it is. You have to leave it where it’s at.”

While Patterson said the offense is more experienced – it wasn’t coincidence that senior offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse was the only Frog named to the 2009 Preseason All-MWC offense – he said the defense must hold their end of the deal.

“To win a championship you have to play on both sides of the ball,” Patterson said. “In this league you can’t just outscore people, you have to play defense.”

Here is a look at the 2009 Frogs who are on awards watch lists or were named Preseason All-MWC players:

Senior defensive end Jerry Hughes- Walter Camp Player of the Year Award Watch List, awarded to college football’s player of the year, Bronko Nagurski Trophy Watch List, awarded to college football’s defensive player of the year by the Football Writers Association of America, Chuck Bednarik Award Watch List, awarded to college football’s defensive player of the year by the Maxwell Football Club, Rotary Lombardi Trophy Watch List, awarded to college football’s top lineman, Ted Hendricks Award Watch List, awarded to college football’s top defensive end and the Lott Trophy Watch List, awarded to college football’s defensive I.M.P.A.C.T. (Integrity, Maturity, Performance, Academics, Community and Tenacity) player of the year. Hughes was also named preseason MWC Defensive Player of the Year, the preseason All-MWC team and also received preseason All-America honors from Sports Illustrated, Sporting News, CollegeFootballNews.com, Lindy’s, Athlon, Phil Steele’s, NationalChamps.net and The Kickoff.

Senior linebacker Daryl Washington- Bronko Nagurski Watch List, Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, preseason All-MWC team.

Senior offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse- Rotary Lombardi Award Watch List, preseason All-MWC team.

Junior quarterback Andy Dalton- Manning Award Watch List, awarded to college football’s top quarterback.

Senior running back Joseph Turner- Doak Walker Award Watch List, awarded to college football’s top running back.

Junior kick returner/punt returner Jeremy Kerley- preseason MWC Special Teams Player of the Year, preseason All-MWC team.

Senior defensive back Rafael Priest- All-MWC team.

Senior defensive back Nick Sanders- All-MWC team.

Sophomore punter Anson Kelton- preseason All-MWC team.

Freshman running back Ed Wesley- preseason MWC Freshman of the Year.