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TCU QB Boykin tweets apology for Alamo Bowl suspension, felony charge
SAN ANTONIO -- Trevone Boykin's brilliant college career has come to an abrupt and inglorious end even though TCU has one game left to play this season.
Boykin was arrested early Thursday and charged with felony assault of a police officer after the one-time Heisman Trophy contender slipped out of his team hotel past curfew, was allegedly heckled at a bar and ended up being subdued by authorities who said they had to threaten the quarterback with a Taser.
The 22-year-old Boykin was swiftly suspended for Saturday's Alamo Bowl against No. 15 Oregon, and later apologized on Twitter.
— Trevone BoyKING (@OGcURIOUSDEUCE) January 1, 2016
"I have no excuses for my very poor decision, and I'm embarrassed about it," Boykin wrote in a 216-word note posted as screen shot of a phone. "My teammates are my brothers. There's nothing I wanted to do more than play one last game with my fellow seniors."
The game would have been the last for Boykin, who shattered school passing records once held by Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton. But he was no doubt hoping to give NFL scouts one final look at his skills as the 11th-ranked Horned Frogs wrapped up their season.
Boykin was arrested shortly before 2 a.m. outside a bar near San Antonio's famous downtown River Walk. Police say an altercation inside spilled into the street and ended when Boykin took a swing and made contact with a police officer on bike patrol. Police Chief William McManus said it was not clear whether Boykin was swinging at the officer or someone else.
#TCU has suspended Trevone Boykin and Preston Miller for a violation of teams rules. #Oregon
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 31, 2015
The skirmish was set off by Boykin being heckled in the bar about the upcoming game, McManus said.
"His teammates had tried to take him back to the hotel, and he broke away from them and came back and he got into it with officer," McManus said. "Mr. Boykin was finally subdued after being threatened with a Taser."
Boykin was released on $5,000 bond. He left a Bexar County jail with a coat over his head and did not answer questions from reporters. TCU wide receiver Preston Miller was also suspended for bowl game for what coach Gary Patterson said was an unspecified violation of team rules.
"We are disappointed in their actions and apologize to the TCU Horned Frogs Nation, Valero Alamo Bowl and city of San Antonio," Patterson said in a statement.
According to a police report, Boykin had been fighting with employees at the bar, but people with the star quarterback told officers they would take him back to his hotel. Boykin then charged at responding officers and swung at one before he was taken to the ground, authorities said.
McManus said the officer allegedly struck by Boykin was treated for a swollen face and bruised but was otherwise OK.
Patterson did not speak to reporters Thursday, but co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham said Boykin was in his hotel room when the team did checks Wednesday night.
"I'm hurting for him. He's a good person," TCU running back Aaron Green said.
In his apology, Boykin thanked TCU for the opportunity to earn a degree.
"I hope others can learn from my mistake," he wrote. "I can assure you that I have because it took away the incredible honor and privilege it was to wear a TCU jersey."
Oregon defensive end DeForest Buckner said his teammates try avoiding potentially heated situations when out in public.
"Coach always preaches, when something hostile comes amongst one of the players, we got to get our guy out," Buckner said. "We're not here to be tough guys off the field, to try to start up fights and everything. We just try to get our guy out and kind of turn the other cheek in a way, just walk away."
Boykin finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting as a junior in 2014 and went into this season considered one of the front-runners for the award. The dual-threat quarterback from Dallas is second nationally with 381 total yards per game, but missed a game in November after awkwardly twisting his right ankle in a win over Kansas.
He sat out against Oklahoma game but returned for the TCU's regular-season finale, an overtime victory over Baylor that was played in heavy rain. He was expected to be fully healthy for the Alamo Bowl.
Boykin threw for 3,575 yards with 31 touchdowns and ran for 612 yards and 10 more scores this season. He has accounted for 56 percent of TCU's offense since 2012, and leaves with career school records for total yards (12,777), passing yards (10,728), passing touchdowns (86) and touchdowns responsible for (114).
Senior Bram Kohlhausen or redshirt freshman Foster Sawyer will start in Boykin's place.
