College Confidential

TCU releases chancellor's statement on not revealing drug test results:

 

TCU's communications department just released this statement from chancellor Victor J. Boschini, Jr.:

 
"This has never been about who was using drugs or how many failed a drug test, therefore we will not release any results. Any student using drugs is one too many. Our students are primarily 18-21 years old. They come from all walks of life and they contribute to the University in different ways. Sometimes they make choices we don’t understand. We are proudest of them when they learn and grow from their mistakes. There is no doubt that students fall short from time to time, but we also know that they, as we, are committed to getting back up and moving forward."

 

Texas sets two open workouts for fans during spring football drills

Texas will hold two open practices as part of its spring football schedule, school officials announced today. The open workouts will be March 2 and March 3, at 4 p.m. on both days. Texas held no open practices last spring.

The Longhorns begin spring drills on Feb. 23. The spring game will be Sunday, April 1 at 2 p.m. in Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

_ Jimmy Burch

Five players leave Texas Tech program as Red Raiders prepare for start of spring football drills

Texas Tech officials announced that five players with remaining eligibility have left the program as the Red Raiders prepare for Friday's start of spring football drills: DE Aundrey Barr, DE Cooper Washington, LB Dion Chidozie, S Desmond Martin and S Russell Polk.

In addition, nine January enrollees will take part in spring drills: DE Lee Adams, WR Javon Bell, OL Rashad Fortenberry, ATH SaDale Foster, OL Jared Kaster, DB Thierry Nguema, LB Chris Payne, LB Will Smith and S Austin Stewart. Three former walk-ons have been given scholarships: Eugene Neboh, Omar Ontiveros and Tyson Williams.

Tech's first spring workout is Friday, earliest of any Big 12 school. The Red Raiders' spring game is March 24.

_ Jimmy Burch

Aggies complete 2012 football schedule with game against Sam Houston State

Texas A&M filled its final gap on the team’s 2012 football schedule Wednesday by agreeing to a Nov. 17 game against Sam Houston State, an FCS school, at Kyle Field. By adding a second FCS opponent to the slate, A&M must finish 7-5 or better to earn a bowl berth in the Aggies’ first season as a member of the Southeastern Conference. A&M meets South Carolina State, another FCS foe, Sept. 22 in College Station.

_ Jimmy Burch

TCU athletic director Chris Del Conte's releases statement:

TCU Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Chris Del Conte 

"I expect our student-athletes to serve as ambassadors for the university and will not tolerate behavior that reflects poorly on TCU, the athletics department, our teams or other student-athletes within the department. We educate individuals to think and act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens in the global community and it is disappointing to me, personally, when they fall far short of these goals.

 

"We have an excellent athletics program at TCU and an indicator of that excellence is the fact that we will not tolerate criminal conduct among our student-athletes.

 

"Our student-athletes are a microcosm of society and unfortunately that means some of our players reflect a culture that glorifies drugs and drug use. That mindset is not reflected by TCU nor will it be allowed within athletics."

 

Big 12 football teams to begin spring football drills Friday, with Texas Tech batting leadoff

Big 12 officials released the league’s 2012 football schedule Tuesday. Texas Tech begins its spring football drills Friday, becoming the first league school to take the field in organized workouts in preparation for next fall. Texas (Feb. 23) and TCU (Feb. 25) also are scheduled to begin spring drills in February.

Below is a look at the spring football schedules for schools that will be competing in the Big 12 during the 2012 season. The list also includes Texas A&M and Missouri, schools that are Big 12 members this season but will be moving to the SEC on July 1:

BAYLOR: Spring drills begin March 19. Spring game is April 14.
IOWA STATE: Spring schedule remains TBD.
KANSAS: Spring drills begin March 27. Spring game is April 28.
KANSAS STATE: Spring drills begin April 4. Spring game is April 28.
OKLAHOMA: Spring drills begin March 5. Spring game is April 14.
OKLAHOMA STATE: Spring drills begin March 12. Spring game is April 21.
TEXAS: Spring drills begin Feb. 23. Spring game is April 1.
TEXAS TECH: Spring drills begin Feb. 17. Spring game is March 24.
TCU: Spring drills begin Feb. 25. Spring game is TBD.
WEST VIRGINIA: Spring drills begin March 11. Spring game is TBD:

Current Big 12 teams headed to SEC next season:
TEXAS A&M: Spring drills begin March 31. Spring game is April 28.
MISSOURI: Spring drills begin March 6. Spring game is April 14.

NOTE: All dates are subject to change at the discretion of the school.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

TCU coach Gary Patterson comments released in statement:

TCU Head Football Coach Gary Patterson:

"There are days people want to be a head football coach, but today is not one of those days. As I heard the news this morning, I was first shocked, then hurt and now I’m mad. 

 

"Under my watch, drugs and drug use by TCU’s student-athletes will not be tolerated by me or any member of my coaching staff. Period. Our program is respected nationally for its strong ethics and for that reason the players arrested today were separated from TCU by the University. I believe strongly that young people’s lives are more important than wins or losses. 

 

"This situation isn’t unique to TCU—it is a global issue that we all have to address. This isn’t just about bad decisions made by a small percentage of my team. It is about a bigger issue across this country and world.

 

"As a coach, I do the best I can to educate members of my team. We have programs in place that teach student-athletes about what they should and shouldn’t do and how to be successful in life. I talk to them about how to be students and upstanding men that uphold the TCU name and its traditions.

 

"At the end of the day, though, sometimes young people make poor choices. The Horned Frogs are bigger and stronger than those involved." 

 

Oklahoma completes 2012 non-conference football schedule with games against UTEP, Florida A&M

Oklahoma completed the non-conference portion of its 2012 football schedule today by announcing it has added games against UTEP (Sept. 1, El Paso) and Florida A&M (Sept. 8, Norman, Okla.). The Sooners’ schedule already included an Oct. 27 contest against Notre Dame in Norman.

The Sept. 1 opener in El Paso will mark the Sooners’ first regular-season contest in that city. Florida A&M, an FCS school, is OU’s first FCS opponent since the Sooners defeated Chattanooga, 57-2, in the 2008 season opener.

Oklahoma begins spring football drills March 5, with the spring game set for April 14.

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Details released on West Virginia, Big East settlement that allowed school to join Big 12 for 2012 FB season

For those curious about the details of West Virginia’s settlement with the Big East that freed the Mountaineers to join the Big 12 for the 2012 football season, school officials already have released a 25-page settlement document to media outlets that submitted a Freedom of Information request.

Among the outlets receiving and posting the information is BlueGoldNews.com, a website that covers the school for Scout.com. In a post summarizing the settlement, the website reports that the documents show:

1. The total value of the settlement is $20 million.

2. The amount is due in multiple payments. West Virginia submitted a $2.5 million withdrawal fee in October when notifying the league of its intent to leave. A lump sum of $8.5 million is due to the Big East by Feb. 17 (Friday). West Virginia also agreed to forfeit all of its 2011-12 conference revenues, which is estimated to be $9 million. If the figure exceeds $9 million, the Big East will pay the difference to the school.

3. Both parties agreed that payments on West Virginia’s behalf could come from a third party (either the Big 12 or the private WVU Foundation would qualify). The documents show the WVU Foundation created a “Big 12 Transition Fund” to be used in the settlement. The Foundation is scheduled to deposit $10 million into the fund to cover the Big East’s $8.5 million payment by Friday. The money in the fund, according to documents, can be used “at the discretion of the university.”

4. West Virginia will not be entitled to any revenue distributions from the league after its June 30 exit, even if those revenues were earned while the Mountaineers were part of the Big East. That includes NCAA Tournament credits and withdrawal fees collected by fellow Big East departees Syracuse and Pittsburgh, two schools set to join the ACC in 2014.

5. West Virginia and the Big 12 pledged to use their “reasonable best efforts to help (Big East) conference members schedule additional football games for the 2012-13 season.” The school specifically has been asked to assist Pittsburgh and Syrcacuse in scheduling a game against a Big 12 member this fall “if possible.” The settlement document shows West Virginia is not required to take any steps in regard to scheduling “if another school announces it is joining the Big East for football for the 2012-13 season.”

6. There is a “no disparagement” agreement between West Virginia and the Big East prohibiting each side from engaging in negative public comments about the other.

 Those are the highlights. For the full report, click this link:

http://westvirginia.scout.com/2/1158842.html

_ Jimmy Burch

 

Four former Baylor players, including RG3, headed to NFL combine

Four former Baylor players, including Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Robert Griffin III, have accepted invitations to take part in the NFL Combine, Feb. 22-28 in Indianapolis. The list also includes receiver Kendall Wright, running back Terrance Ganaway and offensive lineman Philip Blake.

_ Jimmy Burch