Patterson will not suspend Pachall. What a surprise

[lwjr]

Mac Engel came down pretty [deleted] the GP and the TCU program calling for them to suspend Pachall. I was a little surprise but hard to argue about the possibility of a suspension. But it will not happen according to you know who

By Mac Engel
[email protected]
All of those students, and the growing number of ex-lettermen, who insisted that TCU coach Gary Patterson was really pushing it with his starting quarterback, were right.
There was way more going on with Casey Pachall than the general public knew.
I was wrong -- guilty of wanting to believe the kid rather than my gut.
Turns out TCU quarterback Casey Pachall was one of the players who failed a drug test for smoking weed. And then he told the cops he used cocaine. And ecstasy, too.
Friday's news put his head coach in one of the worst positions possible.
Gary should suspend Pachall for the first four games of the 2012 season. But he told me a suspension is not coming.
In light of the fiasco at State College, Pa., now is really not the time for a college head football coach to even remotely be perceived as either covering up or permitting any illegal behavior on his watch in order to protect the status quo.As much as Gary Patterson needs Casey Pachall to win games, and ultimately wants to do what's right for the young man's well- being, neither he nor TCU can afford to give the appearance the punishment for these behaviors is running wind sprints after practice.
"Casey failed one drug test in 25 -- one," GP told me in a phone call Friday evening. "I tested him every Monday during the season. We followed every proper procedure the university has in place with a failed drug test."
By definition, Gary is absolutely, 100 percent correct. Both he and the school did act within the pre-established guidelines in regards to Pachall's off-the-field behavior.
One failed drug test, by TCU standards, means, according to the TCU Student Handbook, section 3.2.10 Drugs, "a. failing a non-incident motivated drug screen one time will result in mandatory drug education counseling and/or required drug treatment."
That is what Pachall has done.
Since failing the test on Feb. 1, GP told me Friday, Pachall has been tested an additional six times -- each with negative results.
Gary said he was unaware of the released police affidavit obtained by TCU360.com until Friday afternoon.
That is plausible because the entire report of this February arrest was only released a matter of days ago. Gary said he didn't know his QB admitted to the cops he used cocaine and ecstasy.
"I really don't know why he would say that," Gary said.
Pachall likely said it because he was being honest, and he was scared.
Officially, Pachall did not fail a drug test for anything other than weed. That's what TCU can go on.
But why would he lie about using two illegal narcotics?
Weed is one thing. Coke and X reside in an entirely different part of the illegal drug spectrum.
This is what you have: A football program that on Feb. 15 quickly dismissed four players who accused of dealing drugs; even if the amount was small, drug dealing is a deal breaker.
At that moment, the very least you have is a program that has a little bit of dirt on it, and that is actively moving forward to distance itself from the incident.
Now you have a starting quarterback who failed a drug test for marijuana on Feb. 1, and two weeks later, with no motivation other than being honest, admitted to police he has used cocaine and ecstasy as a one-time thing.
There is no way around the fact it just looks bad.
Now is not the right time to merely adhere to university policy regarding this type of conduct from such a high-profile person, or program. It furthers a perception that both the school and the team insist it is merely an aberration and not part of the culture of the program.
Gary said he will make his QB available Sunday for comment at the Horned Frogs' media day, which is the official start to fall practice. Expect Pachall to make a statement, and that is it.
Even if Casey issues a "no comment" to this the rest of the season, it will follow him all year. He is going to hear about it from Dallas to Norman to Morgantown.
According to TCU policy, he has no margin for error now in regard to drug testing. One more strike and it's buh-bye.
On July 23 at Big 12 media day, Pachall told me that some of his previous behavior helped create an unfavorable perception: "I regret a lot of that stuff, but I have learned from it. I know what is a stupid decision, and to not go around or attempt to be around [stupid decisions]. The scrutiny and the crap that comes along with that, that is the part I do regret."
I don't believe Gary is cheating the system to protect a kid who, he says, needs just 25 hours to earn a degree. But I do believe Gary is taking advantage of the fact the rules work in his favor.
In cases such as this and in times such as these, going above and beyond normal university protocol is the more prudent decision, even if it could mean a loss or two.
Mac Engel, 817-390-7697

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/08/03 ... rylink=cpy

[Sideline]

Wasn't aware people still read Mac Engel's work.

At this point, I could care less if tcu wins or loses every game for the remainder of his career. That info floats into the sea of minutiae each January. Just google image the kid; takes about three images to remind you that his lifestyle and off the field activity have proven unforgettable.

There will come a time where people won't cover for him or his athletic ability won't numb his superior's chosen tact of punishment, unless he heads back to Brownwood and opens a tat parlor decorated to resemble a purple locker room. (had to get one cheap shot in)

I don't even have a take on whether Patterson should suspend him. It's his program, let karma run its course. But for anyone's sake, I hope and pray a culture of enabling and sweeping under the rug doesn't equate to continuing down a path that can take an unsuspecting "partier" and grip him with a life-altering substance abuse or mental health problem once an ability to escape a pass rush and throw on the run has dimished. I cannot be alone in saying I've seen it firsthand and it can happen to any of us.

I'm supposed to be mowing the lawn and still wondering why I'm voicing an opinion in the first place. I guess I just want to encourage to spew tcu hate whenever possible, but don't get cheap on the kid, unless you're talking tats. As the owner of a really poor tattoo myself, those are open season and all ribbing is deserved. He may not be able to help his proclivity for a buzz, but he knowingly sat in the chair and handed over control to an artist. (apparently in a remote part of centralish/westish texas)

As for patterson, get as cheap as you want. His ego has officially outgrown his gut when he referenced himself in the third person at big 12 media days. I dont care how wizardry your defense can be, that's getting a bit too powerful in his own mind.

M

[CalallenStang]

Gary said he didn't know his QB admitted to the cops he used cocaine and ecstasy.
"I really don't know why he would say that," Gary said.

"I told him to lie, but I guess he was more concerned with being honest than winning football games."

[ALEX LIFESON]

It's just weed, cocaine and X, no big deal. Wait a scecond, who was his roommate again?

[BIGHORSE]

We need some Big distracting signs for him in the endzone during the froggie game.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

That is plausible because the entire report of this February arrest was only released a matter of days ago. Gary said he didn't know his QB admitted to the cops he used cocaine and ecstasy.
"I really don't know why he would say that," Gary said.
Pachall likely said it because he was being honest, and he was scared.

So Fatterson supports lying to the police. I guess that doesn't surprise me.

[ReedFrawg]

Do you know how many players fail drug tests at schools across the country? It happens all the time...it is just never made public. Not happy about any player using drugs...or buying a hooker...but it happens.

[mrydel]

Do you know how many players fail drug tests at schools across the country? It happens all the time...it is just never made public. Not happy about any player using drugs...or buying a hooker...but it happens.

This. Plus I am kind of impressed that he did not lie to the police. Could be a lot worse if down the road someone shows up with a video of him trying cocaine in the past after he had told the police he had not. From what I have seen of him, and granted it is not much, I am not real impressed with how he lives his life, but impressed he did not lie to the authorities.

[SMU89]

Do you know how many players fail drug tests at schools across the country? It happens all the time...it is just never made public. Not happy about any player using drugs...or buying a hooker...but it happens.

If you don't inhale or buy, is it ok?

[sbsmith]

We need some Big distracting signs for him in the endzone during the froggie game.

Are we sure he can read?

[Rayburn]

Would you expect anything more from Patterson?

Do you sneer at the turd for stinking?

[ReedFrawg]

Do you know how many players fail drug tests at schools across the country? It happens all the time...it is just never made public. Not happy about any player using drugs...or buying a hooker...but it happens.

This. Plus I am kind of impressed that he did not lie to the police. Could be a lot worse if down the road someone shows up with a video of him trying cocaine in the past after he had told the police he had not. From what I have seen of him, and granted it is not much, I am not real impressed with how he lives his life, but impressed he did not lie to the authorities.

I agree with you...I hope for his sake as a person that this whole series of events serves as a wake-up call. I don't condone any of it but he wouldn't have been the first kid to lie to the cops. Ironically, if he would have done so then no one would have known whether or not he failed the test.

[Junior]

Ooohh! I get it now.

As long as everyone else is doing it, we should just let it go. Linda like everyone overlooked the fact that everyone was paying players in the 80's.

[malonish]

Limit of my creativity: Casey Pot-hall. That is all.

[ojaipony]

Be careful with all the drug signs, etc, at the game. The last time we gave a guy tons of grief about his drugs was Chris Herren at Fresno State. I was at that game and we gave him so much [deleted] and they destroyed us (he had his best game in his entire college career that night I believe). So, anyway, no extra motivation please. Let's just take care of biz.