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9/24 Update: If Thomas' alleged drug test was for Weed, then this new report from John Infante on the NCAA perhaps retroactively reduce marijuana penalties could be big, big news.
Florida State announced that Matthew Thomas is suspended indefinitely for a violation of team rules. The announcement comes three days after a more specific report from Rick Ballou, below.
Original story
Florida State linebacker Matthew Thomas has been missing practices for several weeks now due to what Florida State says is an ankle injury. However, during that time, rumors have swirled that there is more to the story of the red-shirt freshman's absence. When asked about Thomas, Jimbo Fisher has been adamant that Thomas is suffering from an ankle injury.
Monday, 1010XL Jacksonville's Rick Ballou, a talk show host with long-time connections in Tallahassee, fired off a long series of tweets about Thomas.
Jimbo come clean on Mathew Thomas. Too many people have the story. Can't keep us all jammed up forever. I expect a call from Monk. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014What's frustrating about the Thomas situation is a trusted source who's giving me plenty of accurate info told me it was an ankle. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014I went with story to try and calm down FSU fans. Since then I've been told numerous times its not accurate. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Story goes back to last year I'm told and exploded at The Rose Bowl. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Lawyers are involved w the NCAA. I'm told gone for year with a possibility of 6 games. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014FSU local media won't go with story because they either don't know about it or fear they'll get no access. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Remember I tried to do a solid on this... but lying to me or anyone for that matter is nasty business. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Because of code of conduct or student athlete protection rights I won't say what he did.... but it shouldn't be hard to figure out. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Final Thomas tweet: Its not a legal situation and it has nothing to do with USC. This is an FSU/NCAA eligibility issue.#FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Not a grade issue either. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 1, 2014Trying to clear up not create panic on Thomas. No games vacated, he didn't take a gift. Its an investigation w the NCAA. #FSU
— Rick Ballou (@Ballou1010xl) September 2, 2014Tuesday on his radio show, Ballou revealed what some in the media have heard but were trying to confirm with multiple sources, or one the record, etc. Ballou claims to have two solid sources confirming the suspicion.
Listen for yourself ...
Listen: Rick Ballou on Matthew Thomas (Audio File)
Bowl game tests are not like regular drug tests. Since they're run by the NCAA, they carry stiff penalties. For tests administered before August 1 2014 (this one would qualify), the penalty is a full year. Even for weed.
The penalty for new positive tests administered after August 1, 2014, is a half year. But the alleged failed test in this case falls under the old standard, so the penalty would be a year.
And yes, Thomas was eligible to be tested, even though he was hurt (shoulder surgery). Any player on the roster at the event is eligible to be tested, even if the player is obviously redshirting.
This seems like a very similar story to that of Mitch McGary:
Of course, that fast-approaching consensus will arrive too late for Mitch McGary, the Michigan center who smoked a joint while inactive with a back injury, tested positive for it in March, and was handed a one-year suspension. He's heading into the NBA Draft, because the alternative is playing his next college basketball game in November of 2015.
McGary's appealed on the grounds that the new standard should be applied to him was denied because his test occurred before August 1 of 2014.
Ballou says that he was told that FSU is appealing to try to get the suspension reduced from a full season to six games.
More on Thomas from the media guide:
PERSONAL: Was one of the most sought after prospects in the entire nation in 2013...a consensus five-star recruit who was also a consensus top 15 national prospect...ESPN had Thomas No. 6 in the ESPN150, he was 14th in the Top247 and 15th in the Rivals 100... US Army All-American...invited to "The Opening" on the Nike campus and Gridiron Kings...rated the fourth-best player in Florida by Rivals, 247Sports and Rivals...ESPN had Thomas listed as the No. 1 OLB prospect in the nation that year, Scout and Rivals listed him at No. 2 and 247Sports had him at No. 3...registered 102 tackles and 13 sacks in 2011...numbers dropped to 53 tackles and seven sacks during the regular season as a senior as his Booker T. Washington beat opponents by an average of nearly 42 points and starters played less throughout the regular season...won a state championship playing both LB and DE as Booker T. Washington defeated Bolles and Thomas registered nine solo tackles...named first team All-Dade...ESPN clocked him at 4.59 in the 40 with a 35.6-inch vertical and a SPARQ rating of 114.36...Thomas’ mother is a native of the Republic of Suriname, a small South American Country bordered on its north side by the Atlantic Ocean...chose FSU over Miami, Alabama, USC, Georgia, Florida and more than 20 other offers.