Pirate Under Attack. Avast, Ye Swabs!
If Texas Tech fires Leach, there will be a mushroom cloud over Lubbock for thousands of miles and a likely revolt of Tech fans, alums, and former players.
95 comments
Tuesday, June 7th, 2011, 2:01 pm
Suzy says:
Today is June 7, 2011. And the cheating of Mike Leach out of his job as perpetrated by Kent Hance, Gerald Myers, John Scovell, Alan White, Jim Sowell, Pat Campbell, and Dicky Grigg; is considered to be the death of athletics in Lubbock. December 30, 2009: "A date that will live in infamy." The day "The Music Died." The conspirators named above simply weren’t getting enough credit for the success of the program. (Scovell still runs an ad in his company profile in remembrance of his athletic skills at Tech.) Get over it. Go away.
Tuesday, November 30th, 2010, 1:54 pm
Chef4U says:
Well they did fire Mike Leach and it has been almost 11 months since they did.
Your prediction came true, there is a huge mushroom cloud over Lubbock and is wrought with the biggest scandal in the school’s history. This scandal involves everyone at the top of the food chain at Tech, beginning with the Chancellor himself.
The fan base has been split in two. There is the side that bashes Leach and supports the firing, and the side that remains loyal to Leach.
The side that bashes Leach has stooped so low as to hack in to databases to destroy a fundraiser project. They have also made slanderous remarks about Mike Leach on Amazon.com. They have lied and continue to do so.
All the facts point to Texas Tech. A conspiracy to fire Mike Leach was being planned over a year before it actually happened.
Well, it’s all in the courts now.
In my opinion, I feel that Mike Leach is going to win this lawsuit. and win Big!
Monday, January 18th, 2010, 2:29 pm
Alamo 1836 says:
Texas Monthly I hope you will not let this story go. The Texas Tech administration needs investigating. This was the "perfect Storm" and I am embarrassed by the way Texas Tech has handled this situation.
Tuesday, January 12th, 2010, 12:11 am
Don Jones says:
Great article ! It all comes down to Myers hated Leach. I bet Leach would say that Myers is dumber than a stump. Same thing 60,000 other Tech fans are saying. Before the Tech fans will be halfway satisfied, Myers will have to be put to pasture. Thanks for writing this article.
Saturday, January 9th, 2010, 4:16 pm
Hunter says:
TTU fan & almuni have joined together on the facebook group TEAMLEACH. The group of Leach supporters is 58k strong & growing rapidly.We are determined to rid our university of the "James Cult".
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 11:12 pm
SWalkerTTU says:
It all goes back to the administration, which is patently idiotic, but then who put them there? The Board of Regents -- and who put them there? Emperor Goodhair, the Earl of Paint Creek. (I mean Rick Perry.) If you really want to blame somebody, blame him. He basically put them there. It figures; he’s an Aggie.
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 10:21 pm
Garrett Hargrove says:
Its hard to remember an organization so blatantly flipping the middle finger to its fans. I was there when the Oilers packed up and moved to Tennessee. This was much worse. I write for National Lampoon and here was my take:
http://splog.nationallampoon.com/articles/how-to-dick-over-your-fans-by-the-texas-tech-administration
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 9:33 pm
Jeff says:
I am not a TTU grad and I do not live in Lubbock. What the Administration has done to Mike Leach should not be done to anyone. I wish the TTU fans and alumni all the best. This Administration clearly does not have the best interest of TTU at the top of their list. I think I’ll go to Team Leach and donate to this fight.
One thing I have to say is that TTU will not be making any concessions on the Administration as long as the legal battle is under way. Traditional faulty logic of the good ol’ boy network prohibits such a smart move.
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 2:23 pm
TEAM LEACH! says:
http://www.facebook.com/#/event.php?eid=241496212041&ref=mf Donate to support this cause!! We have 3 billboards up and running around Lubbock now and have hired a PR firm to handle the local and national media. We just now raised enough $ to run 4 30 second commercial spots during the playoff games this weekend!!
Join TEAM LEACH on Facebook now!!!
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 2:20 pm
TECH Fan says:
Do not allow Craig James to be elected to ANYTHING or be allowed to represent Texas at all!! ESPN needs to fire James and stop providing one sided coverage over the Tech situation.
Fire Meyers and issue a public apology to Leach! And let Leach have the glory he deserves for being a great coach the last ten years.
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 10:43 am
Michelle Walker says:
Mike Leach’s only crime was creating a winning tradition, running a clean program, and having one of the highest player graduation rates in the nation for DI football.
Evidently that’s not what the big-time boosters and their puppet admininstration wants.
Go Coach!
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 10:31 am
Mike Faulkner says:
The hillbilly administrators, at Texas Tech, are circling the wagons over this one. Coach Leach’s only "crime" was that he was so successful that he made the good old boys in Lubbock more than a little nervous. Anytime the Texas Panhandle stumbles across something that the rest of the state and nation is infatuated with they find a way to ruin it, lose it, or, in this situation, run it off. Kent Hance’s ego is apparently a bigger priority than what’s best for the school and Lubbock, TX.
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 10:07 am
rongkirby says:
Not happy with Coach Leach’s firing. Then join 57,000+ Team Leach members on Facebook. Check the protest to be held Jan 14th on the campus.
Friday, January 8th, 2010, 10:04 am
Sam Goodrich says:
Thank you Texas Monthly for a fair and balaned report on the Coach Leach situation. The mushroom cloud will appear when season tickets are not renewed and donations to university coffers are not made. The only thing the Tech administrative vipers understand is a threat to their power and control in the form of money. They will pay!
Wednesday, January 6th, 2010, 2:11 pm
JJS says:
There are many things in life that are not considered "fair", however this is about right and wrong. TT did Mike Leach wrong. If there were so many people against him, why not let him have a respectable exit plan, as he mentioned in the ESPN interview. Do not discredit this accomplished coach because he doesn’t "bow down" or "conform". It is wrong to do this without a proper investigation. 2 days is not enough time to be thourough. The whole thing is wrong. TT needs to clean house before all the skeletons really start to come out of the closet.
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010, 12:09 pm
Paul says:
I have cancelled my [Texas Tech] alumni association membership, will not donate another dime and will not buy another athletic ticket of any sort until Myers and Hance are both gone. This is no longer about the anger over losing a popular coach, this is about rampant corruption at the helm of Tech. Mike Leach’s lasting legacy at TTU may not be ten wonderful seasons but for exposing the corrupt fools who run the place.
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010, 10:57 am
Jamie Fields says:
Does the Lubbock media not seem awfully deferential to the administration?
Sunday, January 3rd, 2010, 10:44 am
Jack Gordon says:
There seems to be common thread running through the history of the Tech sports programs and the episode with Coach Leach, it seems to be Myers. Rumor has it that other head coaches left Tech or retired because of the infighting between coaches and administration. It seems that they fired the wrong man. Gerald Myers seems to be the burr under the saddle not Mike Leach. Mike built the team and the stadium even the Mayor of Lubbock sees this. Go Tech - reinstate Mike Leach
Friday, January 1st, 2010, 3:04 pm
TTU 79 says:
Note to Hance:
"Thou Shalt Not Steal."
You and Myers should
go to Austin over the break and
check on your TRS.
Then retire.
Take Craig James and blow on your wind farm.
Thursday, December 31st, 2009, 11:51 pm
TMW says:
I would like to see a little research done on the fact that Kent Hance and Craig James are business partners in a wind farm project. I mean, the emails are out there... and speculation is that the James are pawns in the Meyers, Hance, Bailey game... but I am wondering why no one is looking at the truth of the Leach Conspiracy Theory.
Oh, we all know people that use their position to show a little nepotism towards their little ones that just seem to not be all that we wish them to be. But this is more than that. This is a direct attack. So... Texas Monthly, please explore this point of the business partnership.
Thursday, December 31st, 2009, 1:45 pm
smr says:
This is NOT about Leach being too harsh on a player. Knight NEVER would have been hired if questionable disciplinary tactics were a serious concern for decision makers at the university. The James story is an apparently very effective ploy to distract the public from the politics at work in this decision. Instead discourse is focused on either slamming the James family or canonizing Leach, while ignoring the people that made the actual series of decisions to hire, renew and fire Leach.
Thursday, December 31st, 2009, 10:25 am
Mark M says:
To the extent this is about a disgruntled child using means at his disposal to practically appeal a decision with which he disagreed, which is becoming an alarming epidemic in this country, ask yourselves this: what’s to stop kids from finding a means to appeal decisions by their parents with which the kid disagrees? Our society is on a very, very slippery slope here.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 8:14 pm
Tiger says:
Thank you Mike. Thank you Craig. Thank you Gerald. Thank you all for pushing me further off the headlines--especially with all the ’year in review’ stories due. And with all due respect to ’Independent Texan’ (Marilyn James?), good luck Adam. I think you’re going to need it judging from the negativity (fair or not) being posted about you. And if this story could have a more ’Texas’ ending, A&M would fire Sherman tonight and immediately hire Coach Leach. Wow. I’m just sayin’ it would really be fun to read about.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 7:39 pm
TechLaw10 says:
I can honestly say that today, I am a bit ashamed to be a current student at Texas Tech. We see our administration once again completely disregarding the morale, continuous support, and overall feelings of the student body and alumni. It disgusts me that the administration of the University which I have always been proud to be attending and giving my financial support to would go about this matter with such cowardice as to remove Coach Leach, who we all know is one of the top reasons why Tech has become a national name, literally 10 minutes before Leach’s court trial, and days prior to Leach’s 800k bonus. Now, as I have discovered today, once again, we students have to defend our collegiate choice and the education we are receiving; I personally am sick and tired of being treated like a second-class citizen by students and graduates of the other great universities we have in Texas, just because I decided to attend Tech (for the high-performing School of Law, nonetheless). I love my school and I feel honored to be graduating with my Business Administration degree from the Rawls College, and moving on to studying Law at Texas Tech. It really is just sad that our administration cannot put emphasis on its scholastic programs and its students. Honestly, I think this matter goes far beyond the issue with Coach Leach. Maybe there should be one of these "internal investigations" into the positions of Athletic Director, Chancellor, and Regents. Thank you Texas Tech administration for turning us into a joke...again.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 7:34 pm
TECH GRAD says:
I admire Mike Leach and everything he has done for the University. He will be missed. That said I do believe much of what the University requested was legitimate and Mike’s ego allowed this to escalate to a no win show down. The University wanted Mike to agree that trainers should decide treatment for players not coaches and Mike would not agree. Mike was a bit too big for his britches and would not agree to this reasonable request.
I think everyone is too hard on Craig James. I am sure this is not the outcome he was looking for. The shame should fall to his son who by all accounts was not willing to do the work.
Gerald Meyers is an ass and has always been an ass. I met him while I attended Tech 80-84 and he thought he was some type of god back then. He was incompetent then and has done harm to Tech for years. Recently he traded out a home game with TCU so we could play that power house Weber State in November no less.
I agree with all of the posts that say Meyers should be fired. I do not know enough about Hance’s involvement to have an opinion on him.
Lastly if Tech players walked off the field in support of Leach it would make me proud of them and my University.
Can Gerald Meyers!!!!!!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 7:13 pm
Judy H. says:
Dear ESPN, please fire Craig James!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 6:45 pm
Team Mike Leach says:
"Independent Texan" has been showing up at all the blogs defending the James family...I wonder why.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 6:26 pm
Jeff says:
This is what happens when you take a player like Craig James who is still living the game through his "mediocre at best" son. The kid is not good enough compared to the other players on Tech’s team so he doesn’t play as much. This happens in life as well. Let’s see if Adam gets into sports broadcasting like his dad. Maybe ESPN will get sued because Adam isn’t calling Monday Night Football. He’s already done this cry baby crap with the baseball coach at Tech. Why has nobody brought that up yet? I have come to love Tech, not only because my daughter goes there and the people are friendly but also because of Leach and what he does for these kids. I think Gerald Myers didn’t like the attention Mike was getting. I respect the chancellor and hope he and the AD do something about it. Myers has to go!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 5:02 pm
Daddyball says:
Let the inmates run the asylum! I thought you pay coaches to coach and each player has a different button to push which motivates them. Mike Leach pushed the button that he thought would motivate this player. This did not put this player in physical harm, so now the Tech administration has proven they have the veto power and for it TTU will return to their "settled for mediocrity". Get your guns up, too bad it will be a dart gun!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 2:34 pm
Hold Your Horses says:
Now that Leach is out the door, Kevin Sumlin from Houston needs to be on our radar. The players love him, which is more than I can say for Leach (whom they respected / tolerated / obeyed but not loved).
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 1:32 pm
RAIDER4EVERTILNOW says:
Dear Independent Texan,
You are probably the same Mom or Dad that tells their kid that it is not important to win, or you got paid by Whiny b--- Craig’s dad. If
the little mistreated Craig had any internal fortitude at all we would not be having this discussion.
Mark my words, In the not so distant future, Craig James will have very few fans, little respect, and a very low regard from sport fans.
We have all come to realize just how shallow a person he is and what he has taught his son to be, a CRYBABY ! I expect that he will be just like his father, very forgettable! They need to enjoy their brief infamy now. It won’t be long before it will be over.
Craig James and Son, remember this-you are not welcome in Lubbock and if ever you are remembered it will be with disdain!
I would hate to be either of you. It must be hard to look at yourself in the mirror without getting sick.
Independent Texan, you also mentioned that Craig James at least received something Improper from SMU or other crooks.
My question is this--If a child steals a piece of candy is he better than a bank robber?
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 1:13 pm
Dianne S says:
Not a college football fan in general. College football, much like the military, is an opportunity to become a integral team player and it sounds like this kid was anything but.
I want to point out that the Craig family seems to be one of those "helicopter" parents whose parenting style consists of ongoing interference into their childrens’ education,social life, extracurricular activities,college and career choices, etc. Ultimately, this results in handicapping young adults into codependency on their parents. I suspect that the father will likely be sitting in on the kid’s job interviews one day. Watch out, CEO’s, you might get fired if you don’t give this kid a promotion.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 12:40 pm
IndependentTexan says:
Craig may be guilty of having been at SMU at the same time as a lot of shenanigans were going on, and I am not naive enough to think that Craig never received anything that the NCAA would have felt improper.
But that is a far cry from him being "instrumental in the scandal that brought down SMU football" as some of the inflammed Tech postings are alleging.
Back in 1989, a very good book was written on the whole SMU fiasco, it was called "A Payroll to Meet", and it unearthed all kinds of stuff involving a wide variety of players including Eric Dickerson. Nowhere did this investigative journalist mention Craig as having taken anything, or benefiting improperly.
The NCAA investigation, which named names, did not name Craig.
When Craig verbally committed to SMU, before his senior year at Stratford High School, he was not a nationally-regarded recruit (Texas and Alabama got onto him only after he set the single-season 4A rushing record). He wanted to go to SMU because his girlfriend (now wife) was already a student there. Plain and simple, Craig was in love and he followed his heart there. SMU might have been buying other talent in those days, but they definitely got Craig for free.
So, you can throw all the guilt-by-association innuendo you want about him and rehash stuff from 30 years ago when he was a 17 year old recruit. But let’s be fair to history here: SMU deserved what it got, but that doesn’t mean Craig was a significant element of the situation. He wasn’t.
This blog blizzard has been created by a bunch of Tech fans who only care about Leach’s ability to win games and do not slow down for truthfulness when sullying the reputations of Craig James.
It also doesn’t change the fact that Mike Leach is a stubborn jerk who was unwise to have his fingerprints on the disciplining of a third string wide receiver. Obviously, for whatever reasons, he wanted to make an example of a kid who was sitting out practice with a concussion. It appears that Leach had every opportunity to defuse the situation, but in his stubbornness decided to pick a fight with his own administration and a player with connections to ESPN.
I also think when Craig sent the letter to Gerald Myers, he was not looking for this to become public before the Alamo Bowl, or even that he was wanting Leach’s hide. Tech officials obviously had their own longstanding issues with Leach, and probably viewed the James situation as the last straw. So James is probably more of a catalyst here than a root cause of the suspension. It’s unfortunate that this occurred before the Alamo Bowl, where it was sure to get maximum media exposure. But Tech may have seen it as a golden opportunity to save some money in getting out of their deal with Leach. That’s not Craig’s fault, either.
It’s a sad situation for everyone involved. I know nothing about Adam’s work ethic or attitude, but I do know Craig well enough to know that he’s always been a team player. I don’t fault him at all for standing up for his son, and he’s doing it at great risk to his own professional standing. I admire his courage.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 12:34 pm
Audrey says:
So Texas Tech finally gets on the map due to the hard work of Coach Leach and because he is a little unorthodox and doesn’t play with the administrators and suck up he has to go. So much for being a Tech fan. Think I will turn back to UT. If they couldn’t afford to pay him the 800k they shouldn’t have signed the contract. Gerald Myers just cost Tech a lot more than 800k.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 12:03 pm
Linda says:
I have watched (in person) Gerald Myers condone bad behavior and almost a fist fight involving Bob Knight. His main concern was "getting him out of there" as well as ensuring that there was no publicity. This is the good old boy network at its finest. Now, I was not a huge Leach supporter but I think fair is fair. Coach Leach doesn’t play Gerald Myers’ (and obviously the admininistration’s) game so he gets his hands publicly slapped. I have heard both sides of this story.. One from someone high in administration as well as from the players. This is a power play pure and simple. Gerald Myers has an overinflated sense of importance and always has. When I first heard of the suspension, I was sure that it must be the NCAA that had dictated something that could so seriously hamper Texas Tech’s football program. I am embarrassed that we have become so small minded that we let someone with such limited experiences outside of Lubbbock, Texas (GERALD MYERS!!!) destroy the program that this alumnae has waited for so long to have. My husband and I have been long-term season ticket holders, donate to both ex-students and Red Raider club, as well as strongly support the Red Raiders in all areas. However, we will not continue to do so when we consistently see no repercussions for bad behavior from Gerald Myers. Coach Leach, as unorthodox as he is, has finally put Texas Tech on the national stage and helped our standings throughout the state. Love him or hate him, Mike Leach has been a successful coach. I wonder how many of these "Get rid of Coach Leach" supporters are truly Texas Tech fans or if they have another agenda. Now, I have two masters’ degrees in education and I can assure you that the room that Adam James was "locked in" is in no regard, criminal and is larger than most "time out" rooms for school children in the state of Texas. I saw the shed and room during Texas Tech football camp this summer. Adam James is an adult, he could have left at anytime but would have suffered consequences of his one making that his daddy couldn’t have fixed for him. We will be discontinuing our support of the university as will many of our friends around the state whom we have heard from this week if this ludicrous situation is not handled in an appropriate and professional manner. . In fact, I guess we will take our son to go visit TCU and even A&M this fall. It’s hard to be loyal to a university when an tamu graduate (Thanks again Rick Perry) is dictating our board of regents. (which aren’t all TTU grads....) Makes your wonder whose back is getting scratched and it is obviously not Texas Tech!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 11:45 am
John W says:
There is enough ignorance at Texas Tech that it should be an eight year university.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 10:57 am
Cory says:
It’s way past time for Gerald Myers to go! Hance needs to throw down the gauntlet and fire Myers and keep Leach. Sorry Gerald, but it’s time for you to go...and take Craig Wells with you. If he was any good at his job, then this public relations disaster would have been much better handled.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 10:57 am
Hold Your Horses says:
Former players know Leach better than reporters or fans. Myers is a good West Texan but probably has a grudge for reason other than what are coming out. The problem may be with Leach, or it may be with Adam James; you and I won’t know the whole story because lawyers are jockeying and the truth will only come out in managed bites. One thing is undeniable: this would have to either be a monumental moral failure to be a fireable offense, or else it is the straw that broke the camel’s back. On the face of it, it looks like James is a crybaby who’s been molified too much and won;t follow the coaches’ instructions (practice doing SOMETHING when you’re injured--you’re not getting out of practice even if you can’t play int he bowl game) AND Myers is using this to set up a scenario to get rid of a problematic coach that has 0 personality.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 10:54 am
Paul in Houston says:
Might I add that Leach is a classless, arrogant, and self-absorbed ass. He was interviewed by several major universities last year and ZERO/NONE were interested in his services. He is the type of guy that would go for a touchdown with 3 seconds left in a game that he was leading by 30 points. He is the type of guy that refuses to meet opposing coaches at mid-field after he loses with anything but anger. He brings your university down, but I guess Texas Tech likes this, they also hired Bobby Knight, another player bully.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 10:52 am
Carolyn says:
It seems that the James family has no regard for the TEAM, Texas Tech or the distraction that they have caused for this game. I cannot respect a family that puts themselves and their son above the team and players. This could have waited until next week. I hope that Adam does not play on Saturday. The fans will not be kind to him if he comes onto the field in San Antonio. In fact, it will probably be brutal,because that is how intense this situation is in Lubbock. Texas Tech knew about this incident weeks ago and failed to get in front of this media firestorm. They have let it spin out of control and now no one wins. It is long past time for Gerald Myers to retire. This is a power struggle between the coach and the Admin. Hopefully the Coach will win this round.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 10:18 am
Disappointed says:
May I suggest that the community of Lubbock refuse to attend any Texas Tech football games if Leach is fired. We will return to faithful support of the Red Raiders once Meyers has apologized to coach Leach. If Meyer’s fails to do so in 5 days he should be terminated.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 9:24 am
BooDog says:
Gerald Myers needed to GO a long time ago, and I do not see how Mike Leach (or any of us) would want to work for an employer who would take an outsider’s side without first investigating the matter.
I have been a season ticket holder for more than 25 years. Tech firmly believes fans will support the team no matter what the administration does.
They can look forward to a TON of empty seats if Mike Leach is not coaching next year.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 8:10 am
Paul says:
I’m getting tired of defending my degree and alma mater and it’s getting harder and harder with yokels like Kent Hance and Gerald Myers at the helm. This is purely a case of a spoiled brat, his vindictive parents and an administration who’s ego can’t handle the fact that Mike Leach is the most powerful man on campus. Mr. Hance if you really want Texas Tech to be first rate and no longer considered a second class citizen compared to the likes of Texas and Texas A&M here’s what you do:
1) Set aside your ego or step aside.
2) Fire Gerald Myers.
3) Hire Mike Leach as Athletic Director.
4) Spend your time and resources on academics and becoming a Tier One university.
5) Sit back and enjoy the credit and accolades of getting Texas Tech to the next level.
6) Don’t forsake the man who can get you to the promised land.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 7:50 am
RedRaiderFred says:
I think Lincoln Riley’s comments finally begin to tell the other side of the story. I suppose that if Craig had talked to the coaches instead of the TTU bureaucrats, he might have had a little different reaction to the whole thing.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 2:09 am
keith says:
ttu and leach supporters whom havent seen this should check out this story on CBS which was just recentaly released.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegefootball/story/12720824/emails-dispute-james-claims-of-mistreatment
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 1:40 am
sandi says:
As a supporter and a donor of the Texas Tech football program for over 30 years, we now find ourselves at an all time "low" of embarrassmet as Red Raider fans. While we "preach" to our student body the merits of honesty and integrity, we "scream" the opposite by accepting an administration that is both ego-centric and vendictive. Kent Hance should have one, and only one, agenda: to always put "the good" of Texas Tech University first under any circumstances!! The fact that he has not stood behind Coach Leach, who just happens to be one of the premier college coaches in the country, is cause for major concern of his accountability to the university. It is his job that should be in question, not Mike Leach’s; his lack of loyalty to his employee and his willingness to join forces with the James family is reason to call for his immediate resignation. He, and the Board of Regents, better be ready to underwrite the huge financial deficit that they are going to inherit if they fire Mike Leach!
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 1:05 am
Lowry says:
I have long wondered why Kent Hance was chancellor of Texas Tech other than he was a lawyer/politician with no background in administration or university affairs. However, as a lawyer he should be aware of due process, which would prohibit the suspension of Leach for such a minor infraction. Certainly relegating an athlete, perceived as a slacker, to a large equipment room can hardly be seen as cruel, unusual, or abusive punishment. As the alleged leader of Texas Tech University, he should have made it very clear to Gerald Myers that if his distaste for Leach continued to interfere in his abilities to perform his duties as A.D. he should retire. Last year’s contract dispute made it very apparent that Myers has a vendetta against Leach, and some report that he has said off the record among "friends" that he wanted Leach fired. As a third generation Tech alum, with a B.A. and J.D. from TTU, I think that we alums must now begin to petition for new leadership.
The issues at hand are much more egregious than just Leach being suspended. The fact that the administration has allowed the university to be pulled into this media maelstrom indicates how very corrupt, short-sighted, and despotic it really is. Hance and Myers were more worried about pissing off Craig James, and hence ESPN, rather than having the integrity to support Leach. Undoubtedly finances play a tremendous role in this fiasco. Fortunately, I think that the Regents will be smart enough to know that Texas Tech alumni will not tolerate Leach’s dismissal nor the continued tenure of Gerald Myers.
This university that has struggled so hard and valiantly to gain national attention in scholarship and in athletics should not be subjected to further damage due to the incompetence of poor administrators.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 12:18 am
Garrett says:
Anyone reading this who has actually faced REAL punishment in their life would have to wonder why CJ would ever want to make such a joke of himself and his son. Special interview with CJ tonight, to discuss the dangers that dark rooms pose to college athletes with concussions. I wonder if he is happy about the reaction from TTU. He was probably looking for a little leverage to spring his son, not a fight. Now like it or not this has been elevated to a level which might expose him as being nothing more than a whining little leauge mom on steroids. We are talking the SMU of old. I wonder how concussions were handled on the pony express? Hazard pay maybe? This really is not even worth talking about, and points only to the stupidity of TTU administration for jepordizing their football program over it.
Wednesday, December 30th, 2009, 12:05 am
Luis says:
This entire fiasco is reflective of the increadibly corrupt dealings of recent TTU higher admin. If Leach is fired (which he probably will be, days before his $800k bonus) many alum, including myself, will be pulling their support from TTU. Clearly this PR diaster will also have a detrimental effect on the university’s desire to attain research intensive status. Did not the esteemed administrator say ealier this year that the path to "tier 1 status lay in the university’s athletic program?"
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 11:38 pm
Sarah says:
I am glad that people are finally waking up and smelling the the coffee about the corrupt state of the current Texas Tech Administration that seems hell-bent on soiling the good name of Texas Tech University. Hance and friend need to go now. In the past year, they have axed almost 50 year old popular student programs, like the student run radio station KTXT-FM, (A program that cost 80K a year and had over 100 student members.), and turned around hired such outstanding citizens as Alberto Gonzales for 100K? I am afraid that soon there will be nothing left for TTU alumni to look back on and be proud of, if these people are allowed to keep running this over there. Everyone knows that unfortunately favoritism is a fact of life, yet it is quite sickening to see how blatantly they flaunt their perceived power. It is completely hypocritical for a university to actively recruit someone with a record for treating student athletes with kidd gloves like Bobby Knight, and then turn around and unceremoniously reprimand Coach Leach for making some kid sit in an air-conditioned "dark" room?! I don’t think a player showing up with sunglasses on is good for overall team moral, and if he was that sick/injured, he should not have shown up for practice at all and had a doctor’s note stating that! Sadly I am not surprised at all about this story. In the past few years I have come to expect the Administration of Texas Tech University to make choices that completely lack common sense. I am sure they will continue to make these sort of PR blunders at the expense of the students and alumni, which will sadly leave a stain on the school much longer than their own tenure at Texas Tech.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 11:38 pm
Tech MBA says:
Injured players are subject to "tough love" treatment on every football team. If being injured was easy, players would fake injuries all the time or otherwise not give a full effort toward recovery. Under the current system injured players cannot wait to get back on the field with their teammates.
This is a simple case of blackmail brought on by a lazy player, his rich dad, and a university administration on the war path.
Irreparable harm is the most likely outcome should Leach be fired. Trust me every football team in America is scared to play Tech when Leach is coaching. It won’t last without him except on a fleeting basis. Let’s face it Tech/Lubbock is a stepping stone to better programs, and Leach is one of the few crazy enough to stay for more than a few years. We need him more than he needs us.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 11:16 pm
Toby T says:
The problem here is that Leach was supposed to be the adult and as usual was not. He was baited by James and fell for it. Played right into the kid’s hands and essentially lost his temper. I don’t care what any of the Tech fans think, you just simply can’t confine someone and make him stand in a dark room. Maybe he has done it before, I’m sure he has. But if other players go along with it and subject themselves to that punishment Leach gets away with it. But you don’t get away with that behavior if the kid’s parents have millions and don’t mind spending it on lawyers.
Leach will be done and won’t be hired anywhere else. Not that he really needs a job anyway.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 11:08 pm
keith says:
As a TTU grad i cannot express my discontent with the methods utilized by the University in this matter. The University is going to suffer on many fronts for years to come. TTU fans, students and Alumni need to stand up and and make sure the University knows how they feel. I wont be making any further contributions to the University until the school conducts an internal investigation into how this situation was handled and appropriate changes in the administration are made. How could a school of higher learning let themselves get caught up in such a P.R. mess?
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 10:44 pm
Raider Red says:
Bill, you ignorance of this issue and the facts is blatantly obvious. Last year Mike Leach’s program was #8 in the country with a 79% graduation rate behind only Notre Dame(1), Stanford(2), BC(T3), Duke(T3), Northwestern(T3), Vanderbilt(6) and Wake Forest(7). You can see the results for yourself at http://www.fanblogs.com/ncaa/007839.php. It’s not all about winning football games but that’s a big part of what he is paid to do. Duh! Tech has a newly expanded stadium, a new 5 star hotel in Lubbock Texas and national recognition for a program which has (for the past 10 years) consistently competed with the big boys. If all you can do is criticize his unique style of coaching and some of his quirks, you should also criticize his highly sucessful yet unorthodox style of offense which has recently produced NFL players like Danny Amendola, Michael Crabtree, Darcel McBath, Sammy Morris, Manny Ramirez, Louis Vasquez and Wes Welker. You got any more lame criticisms of Coach Leach?
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 10:33 pm
John says:
Bill you have no idea what you are talking about. Mike Leach is more intelligent than you can understand and there in lies the problem. The blizzard was due to academic problems with ed britton, so he placed a desk and chair on the field for him to study. Tech has one of the highest ncaa football graduation rates of ANY school in the country. As far as fat little girlfriends comment, that was merely an analogy for listening to the ego boosting girlfriends versus reality (leach). And Gerald Meyers needs to go, plain and simple. I personally lost faith in TTU administration when they decided to give Alberto Gonzalez a job.....that is disgusting....
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 10:32 pm
Jason says:
I cannot believe that a punishment that seems to be equivalent to putting a child in time-out has turned into a national news story and put Leach’s job on the line. At this point there definitely seems to be some personal agendas at play here to get Leach out the door. If TTU has made a decision to cut Leach (not sure why) then step up and cut the ties; don’t make a 20 year old’s complaint be the excuse to do so.
To add to all of this, the fact that a comment about ’girlfriends’ can be considered a reprimand-able offense shows how overly sensitive people have become these days. If the story, as it is known now, results in Leach’s firing we’ll see a number of coaching professionals lined up on the chopping block for their ’abusive’ tactics. I can see the headlines now: "Coach fired for forcing exercise upon team." "Offensive coordinator suspended for demanding receivers catch football."
I suppose the best thing to do is just let all college players be starters and give all college teams the national championship. With this model there will be no need to demand more from players and any questionable punishments will be avoided.
Good luck Leach.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 10:25 pm
Bevo says:
Published November 1, 2008 - Texas Tech has the 8th highest graduation rate for football players at Division I schools. The graduation rate of 79% is the highest of any Big 12 schools. Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, and Duke are right above Tech in football graduation rates.
Did Leach’s treatment of James cause a relapse? Did it worsen his concussion? What exactly was the physical harm done to James? Did Leach demand he practice? Leach gave James a dark place from which he could be as close to practice as possible. Isn’t that what James said he needed? Grow up and stop having your parents fight your battles. Reinstate Leach!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 10:04 pm
Bill says:
It is surprising the amount of support that a man can get just becasue he wins football games. This man made a player sit at a desk in a blizzard for two hours and no one said anything. This man talks about pirates and rambles on and on about all sorts of things when he talks. I am sure the player is at fault to some degree, but this man is a disgrace to TT and to the coaching profession. The comment about the fat little girl friends should have gotten him a severe repremand. Someone said he has brought millions to the school and has a high graduation rate. How many millions would that be and what is his graduation rate.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:52 pm
anne says:
Don’t blame all this on Gerald Myers. Anyone who knows anything about the way things work at TTU these days knows that nothing happens without the full approval of Kent Hance. Hance, who has the regents in the palm of his hand, has been furious about the way he had to go hat-in-hand to Leach during the contract negotiations last season, and now he’s getting even. He works behind the scenes and like all politicians will put up a smokescreen of administrative ghosts for plausible deniability, but this has Hance stamped all over it.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:38 pm
Sherry says:
Craig James has a God complex & his kid is an immature, spoiled prima dona. If Leach is fired, I will never support any TTU athletics again because I don’t support corruption. James, send the rest of your spoled brats somewhere else besides Lubbock,because your family is just not worth it! All you are is Trouble!!! Please stop saying how you’ve prayed about all this, because if you had, this would all have been handled quite differently, wouldn’t it?
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:24 pm
Mike says:
If this is how TTU treats winners, don’t be surprised when we go back to the old familiar days of habitual losing. Remember all those years thinking 6-6 bowl eligibility was a great achievement?
I respect due process and a fair investigation, but this has the look of neither. And after the whole contract debacle, I really don’t feel like Myers has a lot of credibility here. 11-2 in 2008 and we didn’t want to try to keep him? Really, Gerald?
Note to Mr. Hance: If Leach goes like this, so do my alumni dollars.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:17 pm
Yurgus says:
I’m sorry guys, everything I said earlier was way out of line. I love TTU as much as any other Longhorn fan.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:14 pm
94Pirate says:
A cool-headed friend of my suggested that the University Administration has full knowledge of what is going on and knew the lawsuit would come, especially when 3rd string James wasn’t on the roster to travel with the team. By suspending Leach the malestrom erupts and gives way to prove Leach in the right, James in the wrong and maybe, just maybe Myers is washed away in the wake. (Would be nice if James could leave and go to another school - I suppose if daddy got paid to go to SMU maybe sonny boy can too)
We can only hope and pray this is the case.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 9:08 pm
Gayle says:
Calling all Tech Fans..... We have to do something to right the wrong done by the "James Gang" at the Alamo Bowl!! Signs... Shirts... Any other ideas? We have to show our support for Coach Leach!! I have had season tickets for many years and will not renew if Coach Leach is made to walk the plank... Good news all, Ted Liggett is an awesome attorney!! He is one aggressive beast!!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:59 pm
Robert says:
I am guessing that James wanted to leave TT (insert reason here) and was looking for a way out. I suspect he has been eyeballing and salivating over the June revival going on at SMU and would like to play where daddy played. I am also guessing that if he takes voluntarily takes a walk, he loses too much eligibility. But if he leaves because of alleged abuse by the coaching staff, he may be able to keep all his eligibility. Got bad news for you son, your football career is through, no matter where you go. No coach is going to EVER take a chance on an athlete that has caused as much trouble as you and your family have now created in Lubbock. Take a look at the ESPN commentator in your family and just say "Thanks Dad".
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:58 pm
Sean T says:
It almost seems as if Meyers and James were working together and thought they had the perfect plan to get Coach Leach fired. I think this was a setup….
I am looking forward to seeing this backfire on Meyers and James. James and Meyers are crooks. We all know about the scandals that James was in at SMU… They ran into the wrong person to bully around. With Leach’s background in law, I look for him to pull out some crazy Texas Tech comeback and come out on top…, and I agree with Billy’s post below, if Meyers stays then I’m done with my donations, if Leach stays and Meyers goes, put me in for double!
Swing your Sword & Wreck Em’ Texas Tech!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:56 pm
Yurgus says:
Brandon King says:
And what line would that be that he crossed???
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:53 pm
Yurgus says:
S. C. Gwynne wrote:
"If Texas Tech fires Leach, there will be a mushroom cloud over Lubbock for thousands of miles and a likely revolt of Tech fans, alums, and former players."
Har - now that’s what I call a "balanced" article! I’ll sure remember to call someone out the next time I write something - it’s the Texas (Monthly) yellow-journalism way! H.L. Mencken would be proud of you.
I can’t decide if this article was written by Fred Gwynne while playing Herman Munster or Anne Gwynne in the middle of a shriek. I do know one thing - preaching to the choir couldn’t be easier.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:50 pm
Brandon King says:
And what line would that be that he crossed???
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:45 pm
Yurgus says:
Randall says: "I sincerely hope Adam transfers and they move him out of Lubbock before the Spring semester begins.If not, he could see some serious harm come his way from angry students. Tech students have a long, vindictive memory.
Glad someone defined the murky level of discourse here - I’d join the rest of the polemicists and demagogues here, but I wouldn’t want to offend that hog of a Leach. As long as Leach is winning, the TTU alumni mouthpieces here could care less if he crosses the line yet again.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:45 pm
Raider Red says:
The impact of this premature, overly harsh suspension has put into question the Tech administration’s ability to lead our great University. They have cast a very dark shadow on our University, its alumni and the City of Lubbock. Coach Leach will be successful regardless of how this plays out. I would be surprised if he stays at Texas Tech with such opposition at the so called “Leadership†Level of the University. The ramifications of the way Kent Hance and the Board of Regents have chosen to handle this situation will haunt our great University the way Mr. James’ indiscretions in the mid 80’s have haunted SMU. I’m just shocked they did not consider the source before you jumped on the band wagon like a bunch of sheep! Make ours the second football program Craig James has had a significant role in bringing down!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:38 pm
Shaina Slentz says:
If Tech gets rid of Leach, it will be the end of Tech as we know it today. No one would know anything about Texas Tech Football without Mike Leach! And wasn’t Craig James involved in a scandal at SMU too? Smells like corruption to me! Leach is Tech’s claim to fame! He has brought the school MILLIONS of dollars, and without him, they’ll lose so much. I’m willing to give rides back to Lubbock to any of the players wanting to walk the game. There are rumors of many not playing and finding another way back home if Leach doesn’t coach on Saturday. I want everyone to understand that Ruffin McNeill is perfectly capable of coaching the team, but it isn’t anything against him, but Leach has built this football program and was suspended because Harry Potter (Adam James) didn’t like being in a closet. I have heard of coaches putting players in dark rooms or something when head injuries are involved. Adam James should feel secure in knowing his coach cared enough to let him out of practice. I mean you’re 3rd string Adam, it’s not like you’re Brandon Carter or Steven Sheffield... dry up your tears and put your big girl panties back on, and leave your dad out of it. You’re in college now. Welcome to grown up world.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:36 pm
yurgus says:
Randall says:
"I sincerely hope Adam transfers and they move him out of Lubbock before the Spring semester begins.If not, he could see some serious harm come his way from angry students. Tech students have a long, vindictive memory."
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:25 pm
JD Arredondo says:
Why is TECH trying to get rid of our winning-est coach who has one of the highest graduation rates IN THE NATION and has brought our school million of dollars? All because of some spoiled brat’s dad works for ESPN and Gerald Meyers is a complete IDIOT!?!? This week, I am ashamed to have received my degree from this institution. Guilty until ...investigated? but then its too late. I hope Leach finds a school that will appreciate him if he is forced to and I hope the brass at Texas Tech suffer from nagging incurable annoyance of a disease for the rest of their lives.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:16 pm
Billy says:
Thanks for the balanced article. I am a big Tech fan and a big Leach fan. This whole thing has smelled since the start. Like mentioned in the article, Leach has no record of previous player abuse. The timing is very suspect too. If Leach leaves because of this I will not give another dime to the school. But if its Meyers that ends up leaving because of this, put me down for double what I gave in 2009.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:04 pm
TG says:
Great reporting job Sam, and I agree wholeheartedly with your view and the comments. The James Gang, as some have said, are spoiled as all get out and making it clear they will have their way, to hell be damned with the rest of us!
Myers’ ego is much too big for the small stadium he’s trying to keep filled.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:03 pm
Brandon King says:
Thank you so much for this article.
I was getting so tired of the one side reporting found on ESPN, CNN, and other outlets who are more interested in hearing what people like Eddie George have to say on the subject then any credible person who is actually close to the football program and situation at hand.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 8:00 pm
Big12Fan says:
What I find interesting is why anybody is paying any attention to Craig James. He was involved big time in the SMU Payola racket (along with Eric Dickerson) that caused SMU to get the only NCAA death sentence. Craig James is a crook and has been from the time he played college ball. Plus whenever a Mommy and Daddy intervene for their college age child, its proof positive the kid isn’t ready to live away from home.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:59 pm
Jodi says:
I have been a faithful Red Raider for as long as I can remember even after moving to the land of Longhorns. If [Mike] Leach is fired...I’m out. I will no longer support a school that will not stand behind their staff because they are being bullied by some two-bit sports announcer that is as crooked as Nixon. Good luck on filling seats if Leach is gone. My guess is [athletic director Gerald Myers] already has someone waiting in the wings similar to what he did to Dickey years ago to bring in Knight. That was a good move wasn’t it? What exactly did he do for the TT basketball program?
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:55 pm
Shirley says:
Thanks for the most objective article I’ve seen on this topic to date. (Don’t even get me started on ESPN’s so-called coverage of the Leach suspension.) There has got to be more to this than has surfaced so far, and it will be interesting to see how it plays out. Somehow this scenario hasn’t smelled right from the beginning. I am not Mike Leach’s biggest fan, but I particularly dislike Gerald Myers and his handling of the TTU Athletic Department. It’s time TTU’s Board of Regents wakes up to the fact that Myers, despite his history with the university, has overstayed his welcome.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:43 pm
Tech13 says:
Thank you for your article. You are spot on. While Leach is certainly not a mainstream coach, he is getting a bum deal on this. He simply got tired of a slacker player, and wasn’t real nice to him. He didn’t humiliate him, and he certainly didn’t place him in harm’s way. Right now there are no winner’s in this mess. I just hope that Chancellor Hance can mount up on his white horse once again and ride in and save the day. (I am very convinced that Myers and Hance did not have any idea what kind of back lash would be heading their way over this.)
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:42 pm
Lana says:
I am a huge Tech fan, live in Lubbock, and have Tech insiders as friends and in my family. Meyers is and always has been a problem where Coach Leach is concerned. It is well known that Meyers and Bobby Knight were big buddies and Knight got away with a LOT at Tech with nary a slap on the wrist. If Leach is forced to leave Tech, it will be a travesty. Meyers is way past retirement age and needs to GO. If Leach isn’t the head coach next year and this incident is the cause of it you will see a mostly empty stadium. Not very prudent of the Tech administration! And I will keep my comments to myself regarding The James Gang.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:37 pm
Randall says:
I completely agree with the subheading. If the admin wants a war, then a war they will get. Students and alumni alike are going to be so angry that heads will roll. It appears that some in the admin do not like a coach that has more power than them. I sincerely hope Adam transfers and they move him out of Lubbock before the Spring semester begins. If not, he could see some serious harm come his way from angry students. Tech students have a long, vindictive memory.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:31 pm
cody says:
I am also a Tech alumni and unhappy with the way the administration has handled this.
The situation has been blown way out of proportion.
Regardless, thanks for the concise, balanced article.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:17 pm
Sarah says:
Not the world’s biggest Pirate fan am I, but Coach Leach’s actions don’t seem to me to rise to the level of Myers’ and Baldwin’s actions against him.
Thanks for covering this so well.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 7:13 pm
Shane says:
This is NOT right! My wife and I are alumni and Texas Tech Football fanatics. If they run Leach off, they runoff our support too. Myers should go, not Leach. Leach is great for Texas Tech! Myers is NOT.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 6:58 pm
Edward Porras says:
It has bothered me all year that the elder James has been broadcasting Tech games. It seemed odd to me that he could portray an unbias view of the Raiders. It does not surprise me of his involvement in his son’s playing time. I graduated in 1984 and have seen Gerald Myers as both a coach and an athletic director. It surprises me that he is best of friends with Bobby Knight, yet despises Leach. I am a very proud Red Raider, and Leach has done nothing but raise my level of involvement and pride. Dealing with this situation improperly(as they appear to be doing) will set our program back light years!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 6:22 pm
Ben says:
The TTU administration has backed itself into a corner because it’s clear either Leach or Myers has to go. Firing Leach is ludicrous but unless they’re prepared to fire or force Myers to resign, Leach will almost certainly be looking to leave for more pleasant pastures.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 6:16 pm
Jim says:
Thanks so much for an objective analysis. You have filled in some blanks from the spin being propagated by ESPN, the "James Gang," and others who are feeling threatened by Tech’s approaching consistent parity with "the big boys." You added added first-hand relevant info.
Bringing out the effects of the Mangino and concussion research, which are really not relevant, is the type of in-depth analysis missing from the non-Tech talk shows and articles. IMO, Tech acted to position itself for lawsuits from the Jameses. However, they are falling into powerful suits by Coach Leach. It is unfortunate for Tech fans and players (who do seem to support Leach) that an admin "spitting contest" or PC cave-in will bomb our interests.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 6:09 pm
Mandy says:
It’s nice to see facts to back up the hinkey feeling this whole situation has given me. It seemed sketchy, but we didn’t really have any evidence to point to that.
Tech Administration has handled this situation so poorly regardless of whoever turns out to be at fault.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 5:39 pm
Mike says:
Thank you so much for this piece. It’s nice to see someone looking at things coolly and logically instead of jumping on the bandwagon against Coach Leach.
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 5:28 pm
travis l says:
This is the first media report I’ve read that actually covers BOTH sides of this story... Thank you Gwynne for your honest reporting!
kindest regards- Travis
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 4:45 pm
ginger says:
if this is some sort of retaliation, this will backfire in Texas Tech’s face. They just added on to the stadium, and need all the fan support. Coach Leach will land on his feet, Tech may not!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 4:13 pm
Kara says:
Thank you for this article. It is the best written one I have seen so far on this subject. I’m all for the investigation, but this Tech Alum is not at all happy with the way Tech administration is handling this, shame on them!
Tuesday, December 29th, 2009, 3:52 pm
Fred says:
This is indeed an odd situation. I hope Tech conducts a fair and thorough investigation. Hopefully the truth will come out and all sides will get what’s coming to them.
FACEBOOK
RSS
TUMBLR
TM
Read Later