News Archive for Texas Tech

Disgraced Leach Fires First Legal Salvo At Texas Tech

Friday, January 15th, 2010

It didn’t long for the Mike Leach / Texas Tech controversy to hit the courtroom.  Attorney’s for Leach filed amended legal papers on January 8th, his latest legal salvo after his request for an injunction to be allowed to coach the Alamo Bowl led to his outright dismissal.   Leach was fired on December 30th, and since, former Auburn head coach Tommy Tuberville has been hired as Leach’s replacement.

Leach Files Suit Against Tech

Leach Files Suit Against Tech

Among the accusations made by Leach in the lawsuit filing:

  • Adam James slammed and broke a door in an angry rage, causing $1,100 of damage
  • Craig James harassed Texas Tech assistant coaches about his son Adam’s playing time
  • Adam James displayed misconduct to Texas Tech assistant coaches during practices before the Alamo Bowl
  • Adam James voluntarily placed himself in the electrical closet and took pictures with his cell phone
  • School Chancellor Kent Hance had a business relationship with Craig James that was a conflict of interest

Texas Tech officials responded to the lawsuit filing as flagrantly false allegations aimed at taking the focus off of Leach’s inappropriate handling off an injury and his very public insubordination to university officials.

As you read into these allegations, they come across terribly weak and really don’t do much to help Mike Leach’s case.  What it all comes down to is he was coaching a kid with an entitlement attitude and he melted down.  It can happen to the best of us, but he only has himself to blame for his actions.

When you are making over $2 million per year, you cannot digress with such poor behavior.

Regarding Craig James, what is Leach’s purpose of bringing this up?  First, its hard to believe James would carry himself in this manner.  Second, if he did, Leach could have hung James on a hook by simply making a call to ESPN Headquarters and demanding James be reprimanded.  As a football analyst, James’ interference in such a manner would be a conflict of interest, one so severe that ESPN would have had to consider his firing if he used his stature to pressure Leach.

This is likely just the first of many attempts by Leach to try to save face.  In the end, he will best be served by owning up to the poor judgment and asking for forgiveness.  He is still a talented football mind and there is a place for him in the NFL.  Dragging this out further only makes him look worse.

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Posted in Texas Tech University, college football | 1 Comment »

Red Raiders Hope To Put Mike Leach’s Dismissal Behind Them In Alamo Bowl

Saturday, January 2nd, 2010

Texas Tech is playing tonights Alamo Bowl against Michigan State with a distraction they did not see coming.

Texas tech will hope to win without Mike Leach tonight in the Alamo Bowl.

Texas tech will hope to win without Mike Leach tonight in the Alamo Bowl.

They are playing this football game under the dark cloud created by their former head coach Mike Leach.

Leach was let go on Wednesday,  because he took the university to court to try to turnover a suspension for his conduct to current player Adam James. It is alleged that Leach mistreated him when he was injured. I always though as Leach as being the “Bobby Knight” of college football. He is friends with Knight ,and it looks he acts with the same demeanor as him towards his players. There is no room in college athletics for coaches who push their players too hard. After all, it is suppose to be fun and it is just a game.

Ruffin McNeill will take over the duties tonight and it will be interesting how the Red Raiders will respond. I think they will respond brilliantly ,and McNeill will take full advantage ot this situation and show the university that he would like to be the permanent coach at Texas Tech.

Texas Tech (8-4)  has a vaunted passing attack that ranks second in the nation in passing yards with 4568 on the season. They also rank 9th in the nation in scoring 36.7 points per game. They have used three quarterbacks this season. They will pass early and often. The Spartans defense will have their hands full all night.

Michigan State (6-6) has some turmoil to deal with as well. They had 11 players suspended on November 22nd because of a dormitory  brawl. They have one of the best quarterbacks in the Big Ten in Kirk Cousins. Cousins will have a uphill battle to pull out a victory tonight. State will hope the head coach distraction will play in their favor to offset the suspensions.

I hope Texas Tech comes up big tonight. I would love for Mike Leach to get some more pie in his face.  Go Red Raiders.

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Posted in Michigan State University, Texas Tech University, college football | 4 Comments »

Texas Tech Fires Coach Mike Leach

Wednesday, December 30th, 2009
Leach Out at Texas Tech

Leach Out at Texas Tech

It didn’t take long for Texas Tech officials to act, firing outspoken and embattled coach Mike Leach today.  Leach was placed on suspension Monday for allegations of misconduct towards players, particularly following a complaint lodge by ESPN’s college football analyst Craig James’ son, Adam.

Leach had prepared to fight the suspension, requesting a court hearing today to obtain an injunction against the university to all him to coach in the Alamo Bowl on January 2nd.  Texas Tech officials clearly were not pleased by Leach’s actions, handing his attorney a termination letter prior to the hearing, ending Leach’s employment with university.  Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, informed the court that the hearing was no longer necessary given Leach’s firing.

Liggett informed the media that he plans to file a lawsuit against the university for wrongful termination.  When asked about the turn of events, Liggett shared that they had evidence the suspension was without merit and that the university “pulled the trigger, they don’t want that coming out.”  Liggett suggested they will pursue the entire $10 million remaining on the contract.

As noted by BenchwarmersUnited colleague Tim Daly’s recent column, Leach’s days were numbered once this complaint was filed.  When it comes from someone carrying Craig James’ weight, you are finished before you get started.  This will hopefully send a message to coaches like Leach and Mark Mangino that their conduct is simply deplorable.  Kansas and Texas Tech’s no tolerance approach to their firings is refreshing.

These college kids only receive a free education, a minor variable cost to a university which makes millions in return for their services.  The conduct displayed these coaches is perfectly fine in the professional ranks, but it has no place at the collegiate level.

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Posted in Kansas University, Texas Tech University, college football | No Comments »

Texas Tech Suspends Coach Mike Leach For Alamo Bowl

Monday, December 28th, 2009
Mike Leach Suspended by Texas Tech

Mike Leach Suspended by Texas Tech

Texas Tech University announced that it has suspended head coach Mike Leach for the Alamo Bowl due to a internal complaint filed by a player claiming misconduct.  Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be the interim coach for the team at the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 against Michigan State. McNeill will remain in charge of the team until the investigation is complete.

The complaint was filed by Adam James, a redshirt sophomore wide receiver for the Red Raiders.  James is the son of former NFL running back and ESPN college football analyst Craig James.

Details of the complainte are still somewhat unclear.  ESPN’s Joe Schad reports that the James family has accused Leach of mistreatment while their son recovered from a mild concussion.  The mistreatment includes James being confined to  an equipment room for over three hours and being locked in an electrical closet.  The complaint alleges that Leach ordered assistant coaches to carry out the punishment on James.

In a statement released by their attorney, the James family took the actions to “protect all the fine young men involved in Tech football and the University’s reputation for developing and educating young men and women.”  Further, the James’ statement noted “Over the past year, there has been a greatly enhanced recognition of the dangers of concussions and the potential for long term physical damage to players. At virtually every level of football coaching, cases where children and young men have sustained concussions have generated serious discussion of the importance of correct treatment and diagnosis.”

Leach is no stranger to negative headlines this season.  After a loss to the Texas Longhorns, Leach banned his players from using Twitter after linebacker Marlon Williams questioned with a Tweet why he had to be in the meeting room on time when the head coach can’t make it on time.  Reports then circulated in October that he scolded his players after a loss to Texas A&M for listening to “their fat little girlfriends,” and thinking the Aggies were pushovers.

Obviously, coming from an esteemed figure such as Craig James, these allegations carry significant weight.  It appears Mike Leach’s days are numbered in Lubbock and coaching days in the college ranks may be finished forever.


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Posted in Michigan State University, Texas Tech University, college football | 2 Comments »

College Bowl Game Predictions

Saturday, December 19th, 2009

BSCThe college bowl schedule kicks off today with two opening games on the schedule as Wyoming meets Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl and Central Florida hooks up with Rutgers in the St. Petersburg Bowl.   College football fans will be treated to 34 games over 20 days culminating with Alabama and Texas deciding this year’s national champions.

This year’s matchups pair what appear to be some with three teams favored by double-digit spreads and twelve team favored by a touchdown or more.  While Vegas is seeing a lot of mismatches, there appears to be some great upsets brewing.   I am projecting right now seven underdogs achieving outright victories and sixteen underdogs covering the spread.

My biggest underdog covers include SMU, Boston College, Northwestern, East Carolina and Boise State.  My biggest underdog outright victories are Texas A&M and Stanford.

Bowl Matchup Spread Winner Cover
New Mexico Bowl Wyoming vs. Fresno State Fresno State by 11 Fresno State Fresno State
St. Petersburg Bowl Central Florida vs. Rutgers EVEN Central Florida Central Florida
New Orleans Bowl Middle Tenn St vs.Southern Miss Southern Miss by 4 Southern Miss Middle Tenn St
Las Vegas Bowl BYU vs. Oregon State Oregon State by 3 BYU BYU
Poinsettia Bowl Utah vs. California EVEN Utah Utah
Hawaii Bowl SMU vs. Nevada Nevada by 15 Nevada SMU
Little Caesars Bowl Ohio vs. Marshall Ohio by 3 Ohio Ohio
Meineke Care Bowl North Carolina vs. Pittsburgh Pittsburgh by 3 Pitt North Carolina
Emerald Bowl Boston College vs. USC USC by 9 USC BC
Music City Bowl Kentucky vs. Clemson Clemson by 7½ Clemson Clemson
Independence Bowl Texas A&M vs. Georgia Georgia by 7 Texas A&M Texas A&M
Eagle Bank Bowl UCLA vs. Temple EVEN Temple Temple
Champs Sports Bowl Wisconsin vs. Miami Miami by 3 Miami Miami
Humanitarian Bowl Bowling Green vs. Idaho Bowling Green by 2 Bowling Green Bowling Green
Holiday Bowl Nebraska vs. Arizona Arizona by 1½ Nebraska Nebraska
Armed Forces Bowl Air Force vs. Houston Houston by 4½ Air Force Air Force
Sun Bowl Stanford vs. Oklahoma Oklahoma by 8 Stanford Stanford
Texas Bowl Navy vs. Missouri EVEN Navy Navy
Insight Bowl Iowa State vs. Minnesota Minnesota by 3 Minnesota Minnesota
Chick Fil-A Bowl Tennessee vs. Virginia Tech Virginia Tech by 4½ Virginia Tech Tennessee
Outback Bowl Northwestern vs. Auburn Auburn by 7½ Auburn Northwestern
Capital One Bowl LSU vs. Penn St. Penn St. by 3 Penn State Penn State
Gator Bowl Florida State vs. West Virginia West Virginia by 3 West Virginia West Virginia
Rose Bowl Ohio State vs. Oregon Oregon by 3½ Oregon Oregon
Sugar Bowl Cincinnati vs. Florida Florida by 11 Florida Florida
International Bowl Northern Illinois vs. South Florida South Florida by 7 South Florida South Florida
Papa John’s Bowl Connecticut vs. South Carolina South Carolina by 4½ Connecticut Connecticut
Cotton Bowl Mississippi vs. Oklahoma State Mississippi by 3 Oklahoma State Oklahoma State
Liberty Bowl Arkansas vs. East Carolina Arkansas by 8 Arkansas East Carolina
Alamo Bowl Michigan State vs. Texas Tech Texas Tech by 8 Texas Tech Texas Tech
Fiesta Bowl Boise State vs. TCU TCU by 7 TCU Boise State
Orange Bowl Iowa vs. Georgia Tech Georgia Tech by 4 Georgia Tech Iowa
Gmac Bowl Troy vs. Central Michigan Central Michigan by 3 Central Michigan Central Michigan
BCS Championship Texas vs. Alabama Alabama by 5 Alabama Alabama

Looking at conference performance, here’s how I see it playing out:

Bowl Matchup
Atlantic Coast 4-3
Big East 4-2
Big Ten 2-4
Big 12 4-4
C-USA 2-4
Mountain West 4-1
Pac-10 3-4
Southeastern 4-6
Western Athletic 2-2

The SEC might be the power conference, but they got some unfavorable matchup.  I think the Big 12 and Big East are going to surprise some opponents.  The Mountain West is going to do some damage and really stoke the argument that they deserve an automatic BCS invite.

As for the National Championship game, I am seeing a major blowout.  Given Texas’ performance against ranked opponents and closing out its season on some very poor play, this just seems like a mismatch of grand proportion.  TCU and Cincinnati were much more deserving of a spot in the Championship Game and Alabama is going to apply a major smackdown that will likely drop Colt McCoy’s NFL stock drop tremendously when he loses the game single-handedly.

Overall, this bowl season looks to be exciting.  We have a lot of underdogs with solid shots at upsets which should make the next 20 days enjoyable for all to watch.

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