Big 12 Player Spit on by Teammate Before Release: Report

TCU dismissed transfer safety Jacob Fields from the program due to violating team rules, according to a report. Fields, a senior safety from Melissa, Texas, was expected to replace Bud Clark, who had been drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the second round. Fields had been recognized as USA Co-Defensive Player of the Year the previous season at Louisiana Tech, where he recorded 91 tackles, three interceptions, two touchdowns, and five passes defended.

According to a source, the dismissal took place after a fight between Fields and an offensive player. The source stated that the fight could have been avoided since the coaching staff had been made aware of Fields receiving threats from teammates early in the camp. One player allegedly spat on the transfer safety. Tensions had been brewing between Fields and his teammates earlier this month in fall camp, with Fields feeling targeted by insults and threats, including multiple instances of being spat on by a teammate.

Despite reaching out to the coaching staff multiple times, no attempts were made to de-escalate the situation, leading to the confrontation in the locker room. The source claimed that TCU head coach Sonny Dykes did not fully understand the extent of the situation regarding Fields and his teammates. With less than two weeks before the team's season opener against North Carolina in Dublin, Ireland on August 29, the situation does not appear favorable for TCU.

The coaching staff should have taken more action if they were aware that Fields was being targeted by multiple teammates, as letting the problem fester in the locker room could negatively impact the team's morale before the regular season began. TCU had a 9-4 overall record and a 5-4 record in the Big 12 last season.