Del Conte says Trevone Boykin will be welcomed back at TCU: ‘He’s ours’

Former TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin will be welcomed back on campus and embraced, “ever in our hearts and minds,” athletic director Chris Del Conte told season-ticket holders and donors Tuesday night.

“He’s ours. We all make mistakes, right?” Del Conte said to applause during a town-hall style meeting at Schollmaier Arena.

Boykin was arrested at a San Antonio bar on the morning of Dec. 31, two days before TCU’s Alamo Bowl game against Oregon, accused of hitting a police officer during a struggle. He was released on $500 bond and has an appearance scheduled Feb. 17 in Bexar County to answer a charge of assault on a public servant.

Del Conte said Boykin made a mistake, knew what he was doing when he broke a midnight curfew, but deserves a second chance.

“I am proud of the fact I stand before you as a second-chance child, giving Casey Pachall the chance we did,” Del Conte said, referring to another former TCU quarterback, who continued playing after acknowl- edging alcohol and drug use. “I will tell you, I will do that every day, any day. That is who we are. We don’t cast away our own. We do the very best we can to educate young people to make the right decisions. Look back on the decisions you made in your life, and if you’re pure in every decision you made, you’re the best. I can assure you I’m not.”

Del Conte said he thought he was being prank-called when he received a phone call at 2:45 a.m. following Boykin’s arrest.

“My heart sunk for him. Heart sunk for TCU,” he said. “Because so many good things he did for us.”

Boykin finished tied for ninth in the Heisman Trophy balloting last year and fourth two years ago. Already admired for his advocacy of animal care, he became a symbol of goodwill for the university with his gesture of friendliness toward a young Iowa State fan in a wheelchair. A Star-Telegram photo capturing the moment drew attention to the young girl and her illness, inspiring thousands in donations from TCU fans and others.

Boykin is training in San Diego to prepare for the NFL Draft. He is scheduled to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl on Saturday in Carson, Calif. (5 p.m., ESPN2).

Del Conte said Boykin will be welcomed back at TCU Pro Day in the spring.

“I will welcome him back on this campus with open arms,” he said. “He made a mistake. But there are so many good things he did for us. And that team will never forget.”

Del Conte’s remarks drew compliments on social media.

Del Conte said he was inspired by the postgame comments of backup quarterback Bram Kohlhausen, who led the Horned Frogs’ Alamo Bowl rally from a 31-point deficit.

“Think about what he did — the selfless act of humanity when he got up there and said he will always be my brother, this is his team, he taught me how to play, taught me how to be a man, taught me how to be a football player. That act of humility taught me a lesson myself. I sat there and was so overwhelmed with emotion for him to do that, because that was his spotlight. Yet he forgave, embraced, and said this was his team.”

Del Conte said TCU will follow Kohlhausen’s example and embrace Boykin as a family member.

“He will be ever here in our hearts and minds,” Del Conte said. “That moment was a blemish. That’s it.”

This story was originally published January 20, 2016 at 10:46 AM with the headline "Del Conte says Trevone Boykin will be welcomed back at TCU: ‘He’s ours’."