TCU quarterback Casey Pachall failed a student-athlete drug test on Feb 1. and TCU Athletics knew about Pachall’s test results, according to a statement from head football coach Gary Patterson.
Patterson released the following statement on Friday evening after TCU 360 reported the story earlier in the day:
"We were aware of Casey testing positive on Feb. 1. I have always taken a very strong stand for student-athlete health and welfare. We have policies and educational programs in place to help guide our student-athletes. We are committed to helping them make healthy choices and have moved forward. We have had 25 drug tests in the last 18 months, including one by the NCAA at the Rose Bowl. We've had six drug tests since February."
Pachall told police in an interview on Feb. 15 that he had failed a recent student-athlete drug test. The police came to Pachall’s residence looking for his roommate, TCU football player Tanner Brock, who admittedly sold marijuana to an undercover police officer.
Pachall’s comments, shown below, were included in a police report obtained by TCU 360 through an open records request to the Fort Worth Police Department. On July 20, TCU 360 requested police reports pertaining to the arrests of those involved in the February drug raid. TCU 360 received the reports on August 3. Of the 13 police reports requested, 11 have been released so far; the status of one is pending with one still being processed.
Cohen said Pachall is not available to comment on this matter. Pachall has yet to return an interview request from TCU 360.
According to the police report, Pachall spoke with officer J. Sandoval and Sgt. R. Johnson on the morning of the arrests. He told them he was Brock’s roommate and in the last seven months, he observed people bring narcotics into his residence and using them:
Pachall told Sandoval he never witnessed any of the residents having or using narcotics, according to the police report. He went on to tell Sandoval he had smoked marijuana as recently as a week to two weeks prior to Feb. 15, 2012. He also said he smoked marijuana with Brock at least once in the past:
According to the arrest warrant affidavit for former TCU safety Devin Johnson, Johnson told an undercover police officer that 82 players failed the Feb. 1 student-athlete drug test. Those numbers were contrary to the ones released later by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, which cited an unnamed source, and said five players failed the test with 11 additional players testing positive for traces of marijuana.
Pachall told Sandoval he failed the TCU student-athlete drug test and smoked marijuana a day or two prior to the test:
Pachall told Sgt. Johnson he used cocaine possibly a year prior to February 15, 2012 and ecstasy seven months prior to February 15, 2012:
Both the student athletic handbook and the athletic handbook address substance abuse and athletics department policy.
On Friday, Director of Athletics Media Relations Mark Cohen said he could not comment on the policy. He went on to say he couldn’t comment on any actions taken with regards to the spring drug test.
“I couldn’t comment on that, on what happened to the football players surrounding the drug test in the spring. That’s an internal team policy. It’s something we don’t release information on per policy,” Cohen said.
Brock was among 16 students arrested and charged with various drug-related offenses by Fort Worth Police in February. He pleaded guilty on June 7 to a charge of delivery of marijuana in an amount of more than .25 ounces but less than five pounds.
Brock was sentenced to four years probation. He must also participate in a DWI Impact panel, complete a Drug Offender Education Program and pay a $1200 fine as well as court costs. If he fulfills the terms of his probation, the charges will be dropped from his record.
