According
to a pair of sources, former TCU quarterback Casey Pachall has completed the
necessary paper work process to re-enroll at TCU in the spring. According
to a source, all of the necessary requirements for Pachall to return to TCU
have been met.
As far as Pachall actually returning to the TCU football team, however, no decision has been made - that's according to TCU media relations director Mark Cohen. TCU's fall semester is about to end, students have already enrolled for spring classes, so an announcement should be coming sooner rather than later.
On Oct. 9, TCU head coach Gary Patterson announced that Pachall was going to disenroll from the university to enter a treatment facility. Patterson left open the possibility of Pachall returning and re-joining the football team in the spring. That announcement came after Pachall had been arrested for driving while intoxicated a few days prior. According to Patterson on Oct. 9, Pachall needed about two semesters worth of credits to graduate.
The question now becomes whether Pachall returning is the best move for both parties. You want to do right by the kid, who appears to be trying to do right by his school and his team but … there is the distraction element, not to mention Trevone Boykin, too.
No way will, or should, Pachall return to TCU if he is not playing football. And does he return if he thinks there is even a chance he is not the starting quarterback?
Provided Pachall has satisfied whatever requirements were set, he should come back and compete for the starting quarterback job with Boykin. May the best man win.
At the time of Pachall left TCU was 4-0 and Boykin was preparing to play running back for a home game against Iowa State.
Since then Boykin, who is a redshirt freshman, has done about as well as a player could be asked given the circumstances. Boykin completed 58.6 percent of passes (154-263) with 15 TDs and 9 Ints. He had huge wins at Baylor, West Virginia and Texas, and he has TCU in a bowl game against Michigan State.
Boykin is a superior runner, has a big arm and can throw the deep ball but he is not as accurate as Pachall.
Pachall is a better pocket passer, but his return will bring a certain distraction element that GP can't be excited about dealing with. How will his teammates react to it? Pachall is going to be a rather large story. And handing Pachall his starting job back would nearly be impossible given what Boykin has done.
He was thrown into a very difficult situation, won some big games, took more than his share of hits, and demonstrated durability and toughness. Those are endearing qualities to teammates.
Clearly his coaches don't trust him on certain throws. If TCU is going to make a run at 10 wins next season Boykin will have to be the player who makes the biggest improvement.
Are 10 wins more realistic under Pachall or Boykin? This is not an easy call either way, and feelings are going to be hurt.
If Pachall does return to the school and the team he should have the right to compete for the starting job. And so does Boykin.
@MacEngelProf
tengel@star-telegram.com
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