Garza off staff with pay for now
By John Ashley Menzies
Staff Reporter

Assistant football coach Willie Mack Garza has been suspended with pay while the investigation about his involvement in a car accident early Saturday morning continues, athletics director Eric Hyman said in a press release Tuesday.

“We are deeply saddened by the events of the weekend and are concerned for all involved,” Hyman said in the press release. “At this point the matter involving coach Garza is in the hands of the local law enforcement officials.”

Garza is still part of the football team but will not be involved in football operations, head coach Gary Patterson said. Garza will not be in his office and will not take part in practices or speak to potential recruits, Patterson said.

Garza was arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of failure to stop and render aid with bodily injury and driving while intoxicated, Forest Hill Police Department Sgt. Sharon Sexton said.

Patterson said that both he and safeties coach Chad Glasgow will take over responsibilities for the cornerbacks, whom Garza coached.

Patterson said the suspension is in the best interest of the university, the football team and Garza. Patterson met with Garza Saturday before deciding Garza would not participate in Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt University, Hyman said Monday.

The suspension is not intended as a comment on Garza’s guilt or innocence, but to express that members of TCU’s athletic staff must be positive role models, Hyman said in the press release.

“We are doing this for two reasons,” Patterson said. “One is so that this does not become a distraction for the team, and two, for coach Garza’s sake.”

Patterson said he is unsure if there are any more facts to be found and is not sure how long the investigation will take.

“It will go on until everything is known,” he said. “We will let the judicial process take its course before any further decision is made.”

Patterson said Garza has been a good role model for the players and that he had never actually seen Garza with alcohol. Patterson said Garza had apologized and was embarrassed about what happened.

“A mistake was made,” Patterson said. “We want to make sure it is out of the picture so the rest of the team can move forward.”

Although football players are bound by curfews on eve of game days, coaches are not, and Patterson said he doesn’t plan to institute curfews for coaches.

“I would find a new coach before that could happen,” he said.

Fink said Patterson is the only person speaking on this matter.