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[SIZE=+2]North Texas football players fail drug tests
[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1] [/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:51 PM CDT on Monday, October 27, 2008
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle
bvito@dentonrc.com [/SIZE] Nearly 18 percent of North Texas football players failed drug tests conducted this fall at the request of head coach Todd Dodge, according to documents obtained by the Denton Record-Chronicle.
Fifteen members of the team tested positive out of a pool of 86 players selected by the coaching staff. UNT tested members of the team who were contributing on a regular basis.
"I don't think we have a problem with drugs, but I will say that it's every coach's prerogative to test his team," Dodge said. "It's a great tool to help players stay away from drugs and temptations.
"When I talked to my team about drug testing all of them, I told them that if there was one young man on our team who secretly needed help, if it saved one young man from getting in trouble or ending up dead, then it is worth it."
Players who fail a drug test must attend drug counseling and are subject to additional tests. A second offense results in a suspension, additional testing and mandatory counseling. A third offense leads to a suspension from the team while he undergoes a rehabilitation program.
A fourth offense results in a player being dismissed from the team and having his scholarship revoked.
UNT conducted its tests from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15.
The NCAA tested 20 UNT players Sept. 30. The university has not yet received the results of those tests. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal declined to comment on the results of the tests.
The school normally tests athletes at random.
"We call ourselves a team, and it was appropriate to test the entire team," Dodge said. "I don't go by the protocol of what every other team has done.
"We are past it now and can go down the road."
That road has been a rough one for UNT.
The Mean Green is 0-8, its worst start ever, and has lost nine in a row overall.
Dodge came to UNT after winning four state titles in his last five seasons at Southlake Carroll and has increased interest in the program. UNT averaged 17,734 fans per game last season, its highest total since 2003, and is averaging 18,754 fans this season.
[/SIZE] [SIZE=+1] [/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]11:51 PM CDT on Monday, October 27, 2008
[/SIZE] [SIZE=-1]By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle
bvito@dentonrc.com [/SIZE] Nearly 18 percent of North Texas football players failed drug tests conducted this fall at the request of head coach Todd Dodge, according to documents obtained by the Denton Record-Chronicle.
Fifteen members of the team tested positive out of a pool of 86 players selected by the coaching staff. UNT tested members of the team who were contributing on a regular basis.
"I don't think we have a problem with drugs, but I will say that it's every coach's prerogative to test his team," Dodge said. "It's a great tool to help players stay away from drugs and temptations.
"When I talked to my team about drug testing all of them, I told them that if there was one young man on our team who secretly needed help, if it saved one young man from getting in trouble or ending up dead, then it is worth it."
Players who fail a drug test must attend drug counseling and are subject to additional tests. A second offense results in a suspension, additional testing and mandatory counseling. A third offense leads to a suspension from the team while he undergoes a rehabilitation program.
A fourth offense results in a player being dismissed from the team and having his scholarship revoked.
UNT conducted its tests from Sept. 24 to Oct. 15.
The NCAA tested 20 UNT players Sept. 30. The university has not yet received the results of those tests. UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal declined to comment on the results of the tests.
The school normally tests athletes at random.
"We call ourselves a team, and it was appropriate to test the entire team," Dodge said. "I don't go by the protocol of what every other team has done.
"We are past it now and can go down the road."
That road has been a rough one for UNT.
The Mean Green is 0-8, its worst start ever, and has lost nine in a row overall.
Dodge came to UNT after winning four state titles in his last five seasons at Southlake Carroll and has increased interest in the program. UNT averaged 17,734 fans per game last season, its highest total since 2003, and is averaging 18,754 fans this season.
