Just a day after the TCU basketball program recorded a stunning overtime win over No. 11 UNLV, the school was rocked by the news of a campus-wide drug bust.
Seventeen students, including four members of the Horned Frog football team, were arrested Wednesday morning as part of a six-month drug sting carried out by Fort Worth and TCU campus police. The drugs involved included marijuana, cocaine, “molly” (a pure and powdered form of ecstasy), ecstasy pills and prescription drugs such as Oxycontin, Xanax and Hydrocodone, said TCU police chief Steven McGee.
“There are days people want to be a head football coach, but today is not one of those days,” said TCU coach Gary Patterson. “As I heard the news [Wednesday] morning, I was first shocked, then hurt and now I’m mad.”
The players arrested, who have since been kicked off the football team, include top linebacker Tanner Brock, defensive lineman D.J. Yendrey, offensive tackle Ty Horn and cornerback Devin Johnson.
“There’s no doubt all arrested [Wednesday] are drug dealers,” McGee said. “These students engaged in hand-to-hand delivery with undercover officers.”
In an affidavit released Wednesday afternoon by Forth Worth police, both Brock and Johnson admit to failing drug tests. Brock, who is currently being held in a Tarrant County jail on a $3,000 bail, is facing felony charges for the delivery of up to five pounds of marijuana.
“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,” said TCU director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte. “That mindset is not reflected by TCU, nor will it be allowed within athletics.”
According to Brock’s affidavit, an undercover police officer first purchased marijuana from both Horn and Yendrey on Nov. 3. After the initial exchange, the undercover officer continued to purchase illegal narcotics from the players until early January. On Jan. 18 the officer in charge of the investigation once again contacted Horn in search of marijuana, but was told by Horn to contact Brock, who had some “fire” (street terminology for what would be considered good marijuana). Brock met the undercover officer in a nearby grocery store parking lot and drove him to his residence off campus. The officer was able to purchase half an ounce of marijuana from Brock on Jan. 18, and on Jan. 25 as well.
A mandatory urinalysis for narcotics and other illegal substances was conducted by the TCU athletic department per Patterson’s request on Feb 1. In Brock’s affidavit he calls the test “bullshit,” and said that he “failed that bitch for sure.”
According to the affidavit, on the night of Feb. 1 the same undercover officer that had previously bought marijuana from Brock contacted the linebacker about buying more drugs. While at Brock’s residence, the officer and Brock talked about the urinalysis and Brock is quoted as saying he and Horn looked through the football roster and estimated that only 20 players would pass. Brock also stated that he used to buy Xanax and Hydrocodone from two other players who have since graduated. Johnson’s affidavit states that on the same night a different undercover officer purchased an ounce of marijuana from Johnson. After the officer inquired about the recent “piss test,” Johnson said, “What can they do, 82 people failed the test.”
All 17 students arrested face immediate expulsion from the university.
“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,” Patterson said. “At the end of the day, though, sometimes young people make poor choices.”
Printed on Thursday, February 16, 2012 as: TCU drug bust weeds out guilty athletes
