While TCU’s move to the Big XII has been a smooth transition on the field so far, off the field it’s been a completely different story. In February the university suffered an embarrassing internal drug probe that led to the arrests of 17 students, including six football players.
And while he wasn’t one of the players arrested, it did leave a black eye for starting quarterback Casey Pachall as well. Pachall, whose roommate Tanner Brock was arrested in the bust, admitted to police that he had failed a February 1 drug test, and also admitted that he’d tried drugs such as cocaine and ecstasy at least once. Pachall took a drug and alcohol counseling class after failing the test, and was never suspended from the team.
Since then, things had been relatively quiet for Pachall and the Horned Frogs football program, as TCU has jumped out to a 4-0 start, including their first ever Big XII win over Kansas in Week 2.
Unfortunately that hot start appears to be in jeopardy, after Pachall was allegedly arrested for a DWI on Wednesday night. The arrest was first reported by NBC News in Fort Worth.
Here are the details from NBC News:
TCU starting quarterback Casey Pachall was arrested near campus Wednesday night on a charge of driving while intoxicated.
According to the Fort Worth police, an officer observed a driver fail to stop at a stop sign when he pulled out in front of him on the 3000-block of W. Devitt Street shortly before 1 a.m. Thursday. The officer also said the driver hit the curb.
The officer stopped the driver and that's when he learned the driver was the Horned Frogs starting quarterback.
This definitely isn’t a good look for Pachall, and definitely not for TCU either which enters a huge showdown Saturday with Iowa State at home. According to NBC News, Pachall was still in jail as of 9 a.m. CT and had not yet paid a $1,000 bond.
So what does it mean for TCU as they enter a showdown Saturday with Iowa State? Well, it’s not a good look.
Given that Pachall’s blood alcohol level was nearly twice the legal limit at .17, it’s hard to imagine Gary Patterson letting him play Saturday, which will be a huge hit when the Horned Frogs face a Cyclones team which is ranked 17th nationally in scoring defense. Look for little used freshman Trevone Boykin (who to his credit, has completed nine of 10 passes this season) to get the start.
As of 11:00 a.m. EST (10 a.m. CT), TCU coach Gary Patterson had yet to release a statement on Pachall’s status with the team.
Update:
According to ESPNDallas.com, TCU head coach Gary Patterson has suspended Pachall indefinitely.
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