If 7 holds its standard meaning of being lucky (OK, not so much currently I admit), gotta give it to Jalen Collins or Ronald Martin. My guess is their playing time just went up exponentially.
@BFeldmanCBS: If Tyrann Mathieu became ineligible bc of a 3rd failed drug test, he will not be able to play this yr at another NCAA school.
Good post and I was wondering about that. IF it is such a big deal to fail 3 drug tests then you should be penalized for it even if you decide to play football at another university. Of course, he would have to sit a year anyway if he transfered to an FBS school, so that is no penalty I guess. Plus, Mathieu didn't RS his freshman season, so he can use the redshirt at his new university to avoid losing that year of eligibility.
If I'm not mistaken NCAA drug tests and school issued drug test are not the same. If an athlete tests positive for a PED or street drug when randomly tested by the NCAA it results in a one-year suspension for first offense. Each university is given the autonomy to set punishments for school issued drug tests. So if TM failed a school issued drug test he is not subject to the NCAA penalty but the LSU penalty instead. However, LSU must comply with its own drug policy or face NCAA sanctions. Since the penalty was administered by LSU and not the NCAA, it appears TM failed an LSU drug test. If the school policy is three-strikes you're out then that would explain the expulsion.
Great info!!! I knew about the NCAA and school drug tests but didn't know they had different penalties. From what I have heard, this was an LSU drug test just like the one last year was. Supposedly Miles pulled a Gary Patterson (TCU coach) tactic and did a surprise drug screening recently...a few weeks ago. I thought the NCAA penalty was 3 strikes and you are out (that is what ESPN said this morning) but I believe you over them since IF it was an NCAA problem why would a transfer make a difference? So what if he transfers to McNeese...STILL can't play. The fact that Les Miles mentioned dropping down an NCAA level leads me to believe you are correct and it was an LSU drug test issue and penalty AND that means he could go to non-FBS school and play immediately since he would have violated no McNeese policy for example. Thanks for your post! BTW, the BR Advocate says some things make sense now....the closing of practices...the fact that Tyrann Mathieu didn't do go to Media Day this year...the fact that Miles hasn't really talked very much about Mathieu and has been concentrating him comments about other guys including other secondary guys. With 20-20 hindsight, it does appear like something was up and this was known probably a minimum of 2 or 3 weeks ago but whatever reason (test confirmation, school process red tape, etc), they had to wait to do the annoucement.
The NCAA penalty for first offense is loss of one year of eligibility and athlete is withheld from competition for one year. Second offense for street drugs is the same as first offense, another lost year of eligibility. Second offense for PED is permanent ineligibility.
I came down hard on Matthieu last time this happened and caught flack for it....guess I wasn't crazy after all.
