15 UNT athletes fail drug test

Scott Doyle says:

1 out of 6 are juiced and they can't even scratch a tally in the win column? Scallywags!

And you only get suspended on your 4th offense? Tough as nails, Dodge!

Jason Rice says:

These are the guys you're buying a pretty new clubhouse, right ScoDo?

Pavel Lishin says:

Maybe they're using the wrong drugs, Scott.

Erin Rice says:

The philosophy on university athlete drug testing is basically that there's a distinction between the use of street drugs and performance enhancers.

In a non-NCAA test, if you test positive for street drugs, it's treated as more of a personal problem, something that affects the wellness of the athlete. Most universities have policies to help the students "get clean." Hence why they're not necessarily kicked off the team until the 4th offense.

When an athlete tests positive for a performance enhancer, the punishment is usually swifter and more severe because the student is seen as trying to cheat in his/her sport.

Granted, those are just for university-sponsored drug tests. If it's the same as when I was a college athlete, an NCAA sponsored test, which for most sports just comes around playoff time, testing positive for any banned substance can lose you a year or more of eligibility.

According to the article, the students weren't necessarily "juiced," they tested positive for street drugs, meaning marijuana or cocaine or something. I would guess if you're getting high all the time, it makes it a little harder to perform at your athletic best... hence the lack of wins.

James Scott says:

Yeah, I think that actually explains their record if almost a quarter of the team is worried about hangin' around getting high rather than focusing on ball (or school maybe?).

That's probably why Dodge ordered the drug tests..."...I know I don't suck that bad as a coach - these kids must be on something..."

Maybe they'll clear-headed enough to win in a few weeks for their last home game I was thinking of attending.

Pavel Lishin says:

I say, if you test positive for a street drug, you should have to be on that drug during the game. A few games where the quarterback is too stoned to remember which way to throw the ball, or where he's too methed out to stop counting the stitches on the football, and the problem will solve itself!

Unless of course they're on PCP, in which case someone might have to make some difficult phone calls explaining that someone's kid was eaten by a defensive lineman.

Scott Doyle says:

Touche, Erin. However, Dodge simply said the intent was to test for street drugs...performance enhancers could easily be found in the process.

The question is: <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=gallo/081027">What would Mike Singletary do</a>? It's explained above that the NCAA would suspend eligibility for the year if their accompanying test came back positive as well. I simply feel it's asinine that the NCAA has to do their dirty work for them - especially if scholarships are involved.

Speaking of, UNT's the 1st Sun Belt team to officially become bowl ineligible! We're #1!! (only o'fer company we have in Division 1-A is the U-Dub Huskies, and at least they have the excuse of playing in the Pac-10)

Jason, I ain't buying them s*&amp;@. All I can hope for is the new "green" stadium giving me enough of a contact high that players in view appear faster than they really are. And that's only after I bum a ticket off somebody because I'm too bitter to pay the cost of admission.

Sure hope they have awesome munchies at concession.

alexander troup says:

With the second comming on election day and taking drugs to play sports, cant t.v watching cure these kids like junk food has for million of people now defunt. Dr Pheibs, Holloween.

Todd Spigener says:

I think those players should share their "street drugs" with the team's fans. Maybe it would make the team easier to watch (and their losses easier to take).

Scott Doyle says:

Who's worried about the government? If they were concerned with laws being broken, they'd just make the players take tests administered by the authorities. Christ.

Any coach worth his salt is concerned with integrity of his players and preparing them for the world beyond (bad) college football. At the very least, they need something to blame a winless season on. C'mon now.

alexander troup says:

They shoot horses dont they......A.T. horse flesh dealer.

Chris Olson says:

Coach must have been on to something. Team got clean and they won.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?g...

Of course it's not like beat a team that was very good themselves.

Scott Doyle says:

WKY still put up 40 points on us and over 100 more total yards. =(