The Forth Worth Star Telegram has spoken to many ex-TCU football players, and the consensus opinion in the Horned Frog community is that of rallying around Gary Patterson and the program.
Jeff Olson, a senior offensive lineman in the 2011 season, Tweeted a clarification of sorts regarding the drugs used and sold by the accused players on Wednesday, and followed up with comments on Thursday:
"My first thought was definitely shock and disbelief," said Jeff Olson, who finished his career in December as a starting offensive lineman. "It quickly went to concern for their families, because everyone here is so close and you meet parents, brothers, sisters."
Former players also defended Patterson, who so far has not officially made figures or names public regarding the team-wide drug test administered to players on February 1:
Patterson is "just not that type of person to come wave the numbers in your face and tell you you're wrong," said Blake Schlueter, who was a center from 2005 to 2008. "He's not worried what outsiders are saying, because he knows he has a handle on the program and he's doing what needs to be done, along with all the other coaches and other officials. They don't need to tell the public how many people failed. It's not their concern, I don't feel."
Former receiver Curtis Clay commented that his friends in the TCU community lauded the school's open policy in working with the police and media:
"They just let the chips fall where they may -- if it was a football player, fine, if it was a rich kid, fine," he said. "They're really disappointed in those kids. They had a warm feeling for the families of those kids and how disappointed they must be. But they think TCU handled it right, and getting rid of them will make us have a stronger program."