TCU quarterback Casey Pachall is off the football team indefinitely after his arrest early Thursday morning on a drunken-driving charge.
TCU starting quarterback Casey Pachall has been suspended indefinitely after being arrested near campus early Thursday 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. 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.
Pachall, 21, was arrested on a charge of driving while intoxicated with a blood alcohol concentration level greater than .15. NBC 5 has learned that Pachall's BAC was estimated to be .17, more than twice the legal limit. Pachall posted $1,000 bond and was released from jail at about 1:45 p.m.
His parents were there when Paschall got out of jail. His father said he learned his son had been arrested when he got a text from a member of the media.
"Well you gotta understand we raised this kid so when you see your little kid as a baby, you don't expect things like this to happen and it's just unfortunate," said Stan Paschall. "We're going to get through this, God is going to be with us and this is a wake-up call, for him, it's been more than a wake-up call, it's a wake-up call for all of us."
His father also questioned if Casey would get as much attention if he wasn't a football star at TCU.
"Casey's not the only one who's been in situations like this--you know, his problem is that he's a starting quarterback, you know, and that's why we're in this position right now. If he was just a regular student at TCU you guys wouldn't be talking to me right now," said Stan Paschall. "He's got a lot more responsibility on his shoulders and so he needs to be responsible for himself, and so we're going to start that journey and we'll see where it leads us."
In a statement released Thursday morning, head coach Gary Patterson said he has suspended Pachall indefinitely.
"Casey Pachall has been suspended indefinitely from competition. My job as a head coach is to win games, educate our kids and help them with their lives," Patterson said in a statement Thursday morning.
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Patterson is not expected to speak further on the arrest until after the Frogs game against Iowa State on Saturday.
TCU sophomore basketball player Kyan Anderson said learning of Pachall's arrest was disappointing.
"We’re all here trying to get free school. I think you should take advantage of that and just to throw it away like that is irresponsible," said Anderson. "Disappointing, representing your school and things like that, it’s disappointing."
Raymond Bozmans, a freshman track and field athlete at TCU, said that collegiate athletes are role models, though everyone makes bad decisions from time to time.
"Bad decision. Everyone has those ... It’s starting to add up, his perception is starting to go down with people on the outside," Bozmans said. "It does impact us a little bit negatively. That’s just one person, we do a lot of other good stuff here."
The university issued the following statement late Thursday morning:
TCU has clear expectations for its students: that they behave in an ethical manner, abide by campus policies and adhere to the law. The University has programs and policies in place to help students make healthy choices. Violations of university policies result in a judicial process that outlines University sanctions as well as students’ responsibilities. Ultimately students make their own choices, but the University’s goal is to help them stay in school, stay healthy and stay on track.
Redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin, out of West Mesquite High School, is now expected to start in place of Pachall for the Horned Frogs.
Quarterback Has History of Drug Use
Pachall had lived in the same house with former TCU linebacker Tanner Brock, who was among several players arrested last February for marijuana possession during a campus-wide drug bust.
After those arrests, in an interview with officers, Pachall admitted to drug use but was not arrested at that time. TCU later confirmed Pachall had failed a team drug test on Feb. 1, but was allowed to stay on the team after completing a drug and alcohol awareness program ordered by the university.
“We have policies and educational programs in place to help guide our student-athletes,” Patterson said in a statement when news of the drug test surfaced in August. “We are committed to helping them make healthy choices and have moved forward.”
NBC 5's Scott Gordon, Newy Scruggs, Kendra Lyn and Andres Gutierrez contributed to this report. Check back and refresh this page for the latest update.
