The Saga of Mike Leach and Texas Tech: The Board of Regents Set to Meet
by Seth C on Feb 18, 2009 6:48 AM CST
in Texas Tech Football
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I'm Not Happy
I've tried to reserve DTN to be a place where I do not curse on the front page and I'm going to keep that rule and try and be a little more creative rather than resort to what I really want to say. Buy me a beer one day and I'll let if fly.
So the deadline has come and gone and as of right now, we (yes that means you) are in the same position that we were in when this mess first started, which is we are waiting for both parties to come to their senses and try and get the deal done.
It was about a year ago that I was able to have dinner with T.B. from BOTC and we were talking about our respective head coaches and mentioned that Texas Tech fans were so damn lucky to have a coach like Leach because he was totally and 100% unique to Texas Tech. Leach made Texas Tech a fascinating experiment to watch. Over the course of a year, that relationship, which I never thought at the time, would be eroded to the point of a complete divorce.
I'm afraid that this marriage between the school that I love and the head coach that makes it incredibly interesting to follow his team (and love) could be ending sooner rather than later.
I'm also reminded that one year ago there were some major questions about whether or not Leach could win a big game, many were tired of his non-concern for the defense, and others were simply tired of his act. I wasn't one of those people.
I said it last night and I'll say it again, I'm not happy about the entire situation, but I blame Leach, Myers, IMG, Hance, O'Hagan, the Board of Regents and Baldwin for letting this situation get to the point that it is today.
Board of Regents Meeting
The Board of Regents (BOR) will be meeting on Friday and part of that meeting will be dealing with Section 02.03.2 of the Texas Tech's Regents' Rules (pdf):
Presidents' appointments. The provosts, vice presidents, vice pro-vosts, deans of schools and colleges, director of intercollegiate athletics, and head coaches of intercollegiate athletics programs shall be appointed by the president with prior approval of the chancellor and prior notification to the board. Any multi-year employment contract, employment contract modification, or contract extension related to persons filling such positions shall be approved by the president with prior approval of the chancellor and prior notification to the board.
Being a glass half-empty kinda guy, this led me to believe that the BOR was going to be making a decision that was not going to be a good outcome for Leach and Texas Tech. If you're a glass half-ful kinda guy (or gal) then perhaps this leads you to believe that there's going to be a contract extension.
I have no idea and no inside information. Your guess is as good as mine.
Gerald Myers
I still don't get why there's so much hate being hurled towards Gerald Myers. I completely get that he's the AD and as a result he's the spokesman for the athletic department, but I do want to remind everyone that Myers has done a ton for Texas Tech.
Just as a quick example, the section above quotes the BOR Rules require that the University President, Chancellor and Board of Regents all approve any sort of extension or contract modification for a head coach.
Quite simply it's real easy to blame Myers as the face of the athletic department, but the reality is that it's a decision made by multiple parties. It's not up to Myers to hire or fire Leach, this is going to be something that is handled by the University President, the BOR, Kent Hance and Gerald Myers.
When the four additional clauses were added to Leach's contract, Myers was skewered for being the guy who added those clauses because he felt that Leach should have been more loyal to Texas Tech, but considering that the University President, the BOR, the Chancellor and the Athletic Director all have to approve the contract extension, I'd imagine that they were all in on adding those items.
If you want to criticize Myers, then I think it is appropriate to include the entire Texas Tech administration.
We're Starting To Get A Little Attention
So, there's finally some folks talking about the situation, which could be a good thing to move this thing off-center. Let's run down the list:
- LAJ's Don Williams
- DMN's Brandon George
- ESPN's Tim Griffin
- CBSSports Dennis Dodd
- FWST's Dwain Price
- Dr. Saturday's Matt Hinton
Griffin's article has the most interesting quotes, which are from ESPN's Joe Schad who talked with Captain Leach. When asked about whether or not Leach was ready to move forward with just two years remaining, he said he was:
"I am prepared to finish out the last two years of my contract. I am not familiar with the notion of firing someone for failing to sign an extension to a contract. That notion to me is mind-numbing. But I guess stranger things have happened. I don't know what part of this is based in rumor or fact, but I can't fathom it. Maybe there are reasons I don't know about," Leach told Schad.
Much like Leach and my co-authors, Hinton believes that Leach will coach out his last two years of his contract and life will be fine.
The only problem with that scenario is that I have a hard time believing that this administration believes that Leach, as mysterious his ways may be, will be able to convince 18-year old boys to commit to a school where the coach that they want to play for may not be at that school for the foreseeable future.
Explain to me the scenario where recruiting, the life-blood of a program, ticks upward as a result of the current situation.
But I've been wrong many times in my life, and perhaps my hand-wringing is nothing more than the nervous nature of my personality and is completely unwarranted, but the BOR are probably well aware of the impact of recruiting, or lack thereof, can have on a program.
Blogging as a Force
So I've been asked why I don't take a stand and call out one party, that party being the administration, and rally the troops. Perhaps I'm underestimating my place in the world, but I'm just a guy with a laptop. Nothing more. I don't have any influence over the organization, I've received one email from Texas Tech over the course of two years about a clarification they made on their website. I don't have anyone "inside" the administration or "inside" IMG to give anyone any kind of additional information. I've never thought that I could change anyone's mind about the situation because these are grown men that are more highly involved with this process than I ever could be.
You tell me, do you really think that DTN has any influence over this situation?
Five Years vs. Seven Years
I mentioned it briefly yesterday, but it doesn't make any sense for Leach and the administration to only agree to a 5 year contract. We'll be in the same situation this same time next year as we have to fight rumors that Leach will be shopping himself.
Perhaps this is the situation that could change negotiations. Like most folks, Leach probably wants some job security, which is why he may be asking for such a high buy-out. Meanwhile, Texas Tech wants some head coach security. Each party could give a little on the buy-out and although I'm not sure the relationship between Myers and Leach for the forseeable future, it's not often that they'll have to deal with each other especially if there is a long-term contract in place.
I'm all about thinking long-term rather than short-term and the more I consider the situation, the more I think that extending this deal to 7 years is in the best interest of the Texas Tech administration.
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Note what the Regents' rule says
It has do do with creating contracts, not terminating employment per the terms of the contract.
Perhaps they have to prepare a new one if an old one is about to be terminated. I am certain that the Board will discuss the negotiations and the situation surrounding them. However, consider the following 1) for the board to meet specifically to fire Leach is unnecessary because the contract allows for termination without cause, and 2) it is unlikely that they are preparing a new contract for someone else (unless they are promoting Ruff to head coach) because there has not been a search.
Gerald Myers
I still blame Myers. The only good thing he has done here is get Leach hired.
1) He is in over his head. He is not an athletic director. He is a basketball coach that got the job that was supposed to be just a token for retirement. Now it has become a little bit bigger than that.
2) He is a Texas Good Old Boy and that maybe fine for a coach like Spike Dykes, but that isn’t good with Leach.
3) He hired Bob Knight who has left Texas Tech Basketball in the worst shape I have seen in a long time. I didn’t like the hire in the first place. Bob Knight took the job because of Myers, so I blame Myers.
4) Myers has too big of an ego and can rub people wrong easily.
5) I think the Regents are meeting to fire Myers because he has helped make this contract extension a mess. Myers can rub people the wrong way and he has too big of an ego to apologize. Being the Athletic Director of a Div I school means you aren’t the top dog even if the title says so.
In the end blame is to go around to Leach and his agent, but I think it is time to move on with a new athletic director which isn’t a position for your old basketball coach anymore.
by Wheezer on Feb 18, 2009 7:13 AM CST reply actions
I’m still uncertain why everyone here thinks Myers reports to Leach. It’s the other way around. If Leach is rubbed wrong by Myers, Leach needs to figure it out and work with it. If Leach doesn’t like the fact that his BOSS is a good old boy, then the problem is with Leach. Like it or not, there is a reporting structure. Leach may make more money than anyone else in the Tech system, but as he and his family are about to find out he has zero authority or power.
Tech is going to take a gamble and cut the guy loose – hopefully with a replacement already on the hook. Leach will be unemployed for the next season. And we all collectively look stupid.
If Leach is rubbed wrong by Myers or doesn't like the fact that his BOSS is a good old boy....
Maybe he should start shopping himself around for other jobs… Hmm…
by Houston Raider on Feb 18, 2009 9:32 AM CST up reply actions
The reality is born out by their respective salaries
Myers is paid a LOT less than Leach. Myers job is to keep Leach happy & Myers has failed spectacularly. He thinks he’s managing a McDonalds and Leach is his fry cook. In reality Myers is the film producer & Leach is the star of the movie. The producer may be running the show on paper, but the movie will succeed or fail based on the star’s performance. And Leach performed this year.
Maybe we should...
…meet for dinner again, to see if that reverses the bad juju between Leach and Texas Tech.
We'll carry the banner high!
Bring On The Cats
Maybe if we name our place:
The Mike Leach Family Stadium, he will stay. That was a brilliant move by The Kansas Aggies.
Leach's possible termination
Should the decision be made to fire the Cap’n, how long will this fiasco be played out in the courts and national media? How much dirty laundry will be exposed on all sides? I would bet that the bruised egos we now have will turn out to be double black eyes for all concerned. The stigma of having fired a teacher for winning, increasing the graduation rate of his students, etc, not to mention the favorable national press garnered will last for looong time.
Who will be the real loser, Texas Tech!!
Either way Tech loses
Ok I’m back to add my 2 cents worth. In talking to just about everybody who raises the conversation about Tech around the Plano area I can say that most feel Tech is making the biggest mistake in college football history. Some are refering to it as the death penalty the SMU faced. I tend to agree and yes I would love to add a couple of 4 letter words that describe my true feelings but I’ve come to the realization that it’s over. Tech will let capt. Mike go and we will all miss those days of glory in 2008. Fact is I don’t see a replacement for Leach. All the names mentioned don’t make me feel any better. All parties involved are to balme including Mike but I do feel like the 4 additional items added to the contract are unfair to Mike and were put there to force him out. Our administration will suffer along with our school as the monies stop rolling in to support Tech football. People get bored watching a 6-5 team and I sure as hell don’t plan on making that drive to home games to watch them play a 500 season. Yes I will renew my season tickets this year again but the future isn’t looking good. I say replace Myers and Hance both after Leach is fired. Both those idiots combined should have been able to make this thing work and shouldn’t have waited for the season to end to do so. Unfortunately fellow raiders we will not prosper from this awful mistake our school made. The Big 12 is way to competitive to have this kind of childish nonsense. This situation will grow like a cancer for a long time and effect all parts of our school. Imagine just how stupid we look after being all over ESPN and 60 minutes. I can’t say anymore as I’m about to go postal over this.
Please don't go postal
I live in Plano too :-) Or if you do, can you stear clear of the Park and Preston area? There are plenty of good places to go postal in East Plano.
To Suggest...
Raider 1992 – To suggest Hance gets fired over this is simply ludicrous. His job is about so much more than Mike Leach and the football program. I have had a few encounters with Chancellor, and he is the best person we could possibly have in that position right now.
I dissagree
This has gotten way beyond logical and should have been addressed as a major priority. Hance was directly involved and he let things slip. I understand your point that this is just football and not the whole institution but we have reached a level off of Mike Leach’s style of football that has brought huge attention to our school. How could he let things get this bad? They all need to share the blame including Hance. Just my opinion.
once upon a time...
There was a coach. That coach was “creative” and brought “exciting football”. He built his program up over a few years until they finally had a ten win season and finished first in the Big 12 South division. His team was then annihilated in their bowl game and finished the season out of the top 10. They did well enough the next season but after that were terrible and the coach was fired. That coach was John Mackovic, and his successor was Mack Brown.
I think Mike Leach is a better coach than Mackovic was, but here’s another set of numbers:
4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 3, 3
That is our final DIVISIONAL (South Division) ranking for Mike Leach’s run as our Head Coach. If you want to say “they’re improving”, ok, if you want to say there’s a #2 in there, ok. Here’s our divisional rankings for the end of the Spike Dykes era (Big 12 only):
2, 3, 3, 4
Mike Leach has been great, and he has won games, and honestly, I REALLY hope/wish he will stay (I think there’s a great chance years 10-15 could be great). But he hasn’t yet done anything “spectacular” and if we must part ways here, I’ll be hopefully (albeit disappointed) that we can continue to build.
No postal in east plano either!
Hey, lots of Raiders in East Plano also.
Drive to College Station then cut loose…
by CoryCardwell on Feb 18, 2009 11:26 AM CST up reply actions
Myer's has done alot
There is no doubt Myers has done alot for Tech as a student and employee. I give him credit for hiring Knight eventhough I wouldn’t have gone there but his first few years whether we like it or not was the best record wise ever at Tech. Having said that, it would seem that Myer’s is really over his head in so many ways. Leach is to blame here as well but we do need a new, fresh face as our AD. It is time for Myer’s to retire and keep the Cap’t! Wreck’em Tech Keep Leach
Blogging as a force, Myers as a farse.
Myers is the AD. He therefore has direct input into and some modicum of control over the situation. If Myers wanted to keep Leach, he would be acting as a peace maker or advocate and we would see some evidence of it. Myers is not the only culprit but he is certainly a key player. If he wanted Leach to stay, we would not have this level of public controversy.
I agree with Wheezer that all that Myers has touched has not turned to gold. The hire for women’s basketball coach has not been all that impressive. Look how long he let Hays remain as baseball coach. We should have let him go years ago and retained Frank Anderson who is now at OK State. Frank is a good recruiter and coach and was the reason Tech had some success in the late 90’s.
Again, Myers is the AD. He is responsible for the personnel decisions. The administration ratifies or rejects his recommendations. But we can blame them all.
Seth, this blog has power. Your public opinion polls, if voted upon by a statistically significant number of members, are a window into the opinions and beliefs of the Raider Nation. Given the available information, your readers can express their opinions to Leach and his agents and the Administration through statistics. I believe this is power that can influence both sides. Try a poll entitled, “If we Lose Leach, Will You Continue to Contribute?” or “If Leach Goes, Do We Need a Stadium Expansion?” Just a couple of poll questions off the top of my head that may get some attention from the participants.
I understand that you do not have sufficient information to determine which side is correct. You have done a great job of providing a neutral site for us to discuss the issues. But providing the forum to express ideas and opinions will not influence the outcome. Conveying those opinions to the University in the form of surveys and polls would be more effective and still not cause you to lose your neutrality and objectiveness. If there is a way to contact the Administration to inform them of your readers’ opinions, you should do it. It will give your bloggers real input into the process much as election polls do.
My Two Cents
The TTU Alumni Association called to other day to ask if I wanted to renew my membership. I told them no.
I am ashamed of this situation and really have zero enthusiasm to support Tech. The administration with their 11th hour addition of four points that no coach in their right mind would sign demonstrates to me that the do not want to retain Leach.
I have been involved in numerous employment contracts including some in the senior levels of Fortune 500 companies and I have never seen seen or heard of this before. It really is stranger than fiction.
Myers is a my way or the highway type of guy and that is where the conflict is. It’s a bad sign that your number one producer (Leach) does no want to report to you as the AD or your boss (the president), but request to report to your boss’ boss (the chancellor).
This tension has been simmering publicly since Leach blew through the recruiting budget back in the early 2000’s as he tried to recruit nationally and I imagine has escalated many times over ever since.
Myers has been a tireless worker for Tech for many years, but the days of an old ball coach being elevated to AD as a tribute to him before retiring is long over. These athletic departments are multimillion dollar businesses that require a certain acumen to handle large egos, the quirkiness of people’s personalities, and an outstanding eye to hire coaching talent while raising money and managing the process.
If I was in charge of hiring a person to run a multimillion business with large egos, Myers would not be a candidate that I would consider because he is not strong enough in the areas needed to build this business.
He must realize one the reasons that he still has a job is because of Leach. Myers would most likely be gone if Leach flopped. Top producers have the power in these situations and Leach’s teams have produced on the field and 80% of them graduate.
You can’t argue with the numbers. Should the BOR terminate Mike, it will send a clear message to the players, coaches, recruits, alum, and supporters that they are more interested in keeping Myers long term, rather than the man largely responsible for:
1. building your most critical business into a national power.
2. energizing your customer base so that you can generate more revenue to fund your other businesses like track and field that will never break even.
3. bringing you national attention that advertising can’t buy because of his success employing an innovative style and interesting personality.
4. opening the doors for the Red Raider Club, the Alumni Association, the Foundation, and the athletic department to raise millions and millions of dollars so that your business can remain competitive and you can recruit better talent. (students, faculty, administration).
You can also hire another administrator, but you can’t always hire another football coach and get the same results, just as Jerry Jones.
by Arizona Raider on Feb 18, 2009 10:45 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
Multi-million dollar business is the problem
Interesting comments Arizona Raider. It’s sad that the business attitude has overcome the game. Many of the comments of this blog are from fans that care about their team. Loyalty and sacrifice have been replaced by Fortune 500 suits and lawyers that couldn’t recognize a zone defense.
So why aren’t you renewing your TTU Alumni membership?
Reason that I am not renewing my membership
Hey Texas 1836 -
Love your name! Honestly, I am disgusted and ashamed of my university. In my eyes there is a serious void of leadership and vision. I can’t bring myself to give to an organization that lacks that while there are many other deserving organizations that do. With a limited number of dollars that I can give each year, I have to be a good steward of resources and give to organizations that have their act together.
I love my university and it bums me out that I have come to this decision. I am rooting for them to turn it around and when they do in a convincing fashion, my dollars will return to my university that I love so much.
I too am saddened by how money drives the athletic department, but not surprised. When deep pockets at larger universities like UT and NU begin to fund the latest and greatest in weight room technology, locker rooms, suites, and pay the coaches they more than what they can get elsewhere, it creates an arms race. Smaller schools like TTU and OSU have to keep up with the Jones’ if they want the best players and coaches.
Not to mention the Title IX court mandated requirements of having an equal number of scholarships for both men and women, not equal number of sports, but scholarships. The football team alone has 85 scholarships, so that means that each school has to create enough women’s sports teams to equal 85 scholarships.
Where is any university going to find money to fund 85 scholarships for non-revenue sports? Enter the BCS, TV contracts, merchandising and licensing, suites, Personal Seat Licenses and all the rest for the sports that generate the revenue…mainly football in Tech’s case.
This is why it is paramount for an university to get the right guy as the football coach. Football is the driver. It generates the most media exposure, sells the most merchandise, and creates the most revenue to fund the rest of the needs of the athletic department
Football coaches know this and I suspect that is part of the reason Leach is holding out for a better deal. Universities need a football coach who can produce and those are few and far between.
by Arizona Raider on Feb 18, 2009 8:17 PM CST up reply actions
My crystal ball is fogged over
So I will flip a coin.
Heads: Coach Leach stays on this year and the Red Raiders compete for the Big XII title.
Tails: Coach Leach is gone and the Red Raiders lose to the Aggies in Lubbock!
I think I’m going to puke.
Even with Leach gone...
Tech wouldn’t lose to the aggies in Lubbock. My 4 year old could coach them to a win in that game.
Nebraska fired Frank Solich
after a 9 -3 season in 1993. Nebraska went 5-6 the very next season. They lost to:
University of Southern Mississippi 21-17
Texas Tech 70-10
KSU 45-21
Iowa State 34-27
OU 30-3
Colorado 26-20
I hear you but...
I just feel like Tech has a lot more talent left on this football team in comparison to A&M. A&M has major problems with the O-line and D-line.
I agree we do more with less and develop players better, but hey guess what that guy that did that is going to be gone.
I hope not either, I don’t know why the admin. wants him out? and wants to have all these communist clauses in his contract but the whole thing sucks.
In the words of steve spurrier if you can’t get a contract in 24 hrs somebody is cheating somebody.
hope I haven’t rubbed anyone the wrong way, I just see this being bad for the whole school. ie: a&m and nebraska
I hear you...
The contract is good as far as $ but the 4 points of concern are insane and no coach would agree to those items that make it purely one sided. These items tell the tale as far as it being the issue of forcing a coach out. That is part I have a real problem with.
Arizona Raider has nailed it.
Vote with your wallet. This is a business. We need a much more sophisticated and business like approach which appears to escape Myers and the boys.
I dont know if this has been mentioned anywhere on here yet.....
is everyone aware that Seth Litrell our running backs coach and top recruiter left for Arizona?
To me, I think that is a big loss and does not bode well for Leach’s near-term future
Did he leave because Myers is pushing out Leach???
If so this is just the begining…look out what you ask for, you just might get it Tech!!!
TRUMP
If Tech decides to part ways…….. I can see Leach and IMG getting Donald Trump to " YOUR FIRED" , for exposure and mockery, after the fact.
The one thing about Leach I don't like
His friendship with Donald Trump. What a weasel. Trump filed for bankruptcy yesterday for the 3rd time. I guess he sees it as a way to screw over creditors. I hate Donald Trump. Besides, every major city in the country has wealthy real estate developers & nobody outside their country club knows who they are. What makes Trump any different that we have to hear about him all the time? It’s Paris Hilton Syndrome – Inexplicable Celebrity Status.
Just like Seth...
I always took for granted that Leach would be our coach. Now, I just don’t know. Like Seth, I thought we were so lucky to have found such a unique fit. I guess now, like the high school girlfriend you were SO in love with, and then couldn’t stand six months later, the relationship betwixt Myers & co. and Leach & co. has grown sour.
¡Viva los Matadores!
The National Media Begins to Weigh In
The Lubbock AJ Redraider.com web site has the live links. The rest of the country seems to think it makes as much sense as most of us do:
CBS Sports: Mike Leach’s job in danger?
Sports Illustrated: Firing Mike Leach would be program suicide for Texas Tech
Houston Chronicle: Leadership failure at Texas Tech
Dallas Morning News: What a disaster at Texas Tech
Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Tech will be in the Big 12 South cellar if it fires Leach
College Sports Examiner: No one puts Mike Leach in a corner
Daily Camera: Leach situation could have big impact
Rivals.com: Would Texas Tech really fire Mike Leach?
Scout.com: Mike Leach situation scary for UA
DeadSpin.com: Mike Leach May Have Strong-Arm Negotiated Himself Right Out Of A Job
SportsByBrooks.com: Texas Tech Actually Might Fire Mike Leach? No!
Fanblogs.com: The beginning of the end of the Leach era at Tech
We are basically a joke nationally....
Honestly I can’t say that I do not blame them.
From an outsider looking, it looks like we may be potentially getting ready to fire a coach who has:
A) Just finished the most sucessful season in recent Tech history
B) still has 2 years remaining on his contract
C) the dispute is not even over money but some petty 11th hour contract clauses
Personally, Im embarassed…
no to mention he has won more bowl games than any other coach, Gone to a bowl every year he has been the Head coach, and is only 6 wins way from being the all time winningest coach.
Personally Im Pissed.
If I didn’t live 9hrs away I would go to campus and just yell outside of hance’s and myer’s offices. Or maybe get an Axe handle and take care of the contract my own way.
On the radio too...
I am in Chicago on business and caught one of the local sports talk shows discussing it. They thought Tech (read: Myers, admin) was crazy. Also heard it discussed on Van Pelt’s show this afternoon while in the car. They are all siding with Leach, of course.
Just wait until Friday…regardless of the outcome, it will be all over the news outlets.
At this point, I say give Leach what he wants.
It’s not like the dispute is over $10 million. Just $1million. If Tech can’t afford to pony that up, then that’s pathetic. He’s worth it. He wants to stay. Myers & co. need to get over themselves.
¡Viva los Matadores!
Just lower the buyout a little bit. It’s not unheard of to have a buyout, but make it reasonable. I really have started to sway on this clause a little as the news reports keep churning out. I understand if Tech lets him go, but not like this…not over negotiable clauses.
There is too much misinformation about the personal rights thing. ALL money Leach would generate on this clause would go directly back into his pocket. It would hit the Tech books for accounting purposes so they’d know exactly how much they’d have to make up for his non-salary guarantee, but it’s still LEACH’S money. Let’s make that one point clear. From Leach’s perspective, this should not be a huge deal breaker.
Leach and IMG have already agreed to allow an interview notification clause in the contract…not sure if they agreed to the penalty of not notifiying Tech, though.
No he would get a precentage of this money via a set formula. That is what I read on one of the PDFs that was released. You are right though it is stupid for him to leave like this.
According to ESPN
The provision that sticks in Leach’s craw the most is one that would trigger his firing and a $1.5 million penalty if he interviews for another job without athletic director Gerald Myers’ permission. Leach’s current deal has no such restriction.
“I don’t have to have hall passes on this one,” Leach said during an interview near his office a few hours before a deadline to accept what Myers said was a “last and final offer” that would be pulled off the table.
As I’ve said throughout, I WANT to keep Coach Leach, but if he can’t commit to the program then I’d rather just deal with that now and move on, unless anyone else thinks we’re staring at big success in the short term after this circus. -_-
And supposedly the counteroffer said that Mike Leach would inform the administration before he interviews for other jobs, but there is no penalty for not doing so (AFAIK), so I don’t really see how that is “enforced” besides just whether or not he wants to.
People!
We have no idea what the BOR meeting will entail. It is pure speculation that the intent of the meeting is to fire Leach. Even if they are considering it, they certainly understand the gravity of the situation. Many of them are not in Lubbock, and certainly they are seeing and hearing the negative press. The BOR must approve the contracts listed above and changes to them. What if Tech has decided to change the terms offered? The BOR would have to approve. It could be the rumors that ayleein has heard are true and Gerald Myers is planning to retire, so they must review the changes to his contract and perhaps that of his replacement. There are any number of reasons why they might be discussing contracts other than Mike Leach. They have said they will discuss the situation during the meeting, but that is all we know. It might simply be to discuss the strategy of how to move forward with negotiations.
Again, all we know is that there is a meeting. Step back from the edge of the cliff until Friday. And don’t blow up Plano. There is some strong recruiting potential there.
How about Frisco?
I already blew up Frisco. I may have singed the north end of Plano in the process. Sorry.
Correction
The BOR doesn’t approve contracts. The section mentioned above only requires “prior notification to the board”. No board approval.
ESPN is all over the story now
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3916256&name=feldman_bruce&action=upsell&appRedirect=http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index3fentryID3d391625626name3dfeldman_bruce
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3914101
ESPN radio too...
I’ve been in the car quite a bit today in Chicago on business and it has been a topic on just about every ESPN show on the national feed…and even one of the local shows on the ESPN affiliate here talked about it. It went something like this (insert Chicago accent here) “Da Red Raiders would be morons to fire Leach after the season he had. He might be quircky but at least he isn’t fake. I think Mack Brown puts on a bit of a show when he talks to the press.” Pretty interesting commentary to hear up in the midwest.
The story definitely has legs now…
I would be real surprised if Tech fired Leach this year. A Lame ducking coach in this case, is better than hiring someone you really dont want, or cant get. Besides Leach needs a good showing for other potential sucker schools. The Other scenario is put Ruff at Head Coach and move someone up within the Tech offensive staff as off coor…..or Hire Kingsbury or Dykes as an off. coordinator, with Ruff on defense.I think it will work a lot better than you would think. We would have the same offense as we would have had with Leach.
I am so pissed off.
I don’t think there are any clean hands here, but at least Mike Leach still has a counter-offer on the table. For the University, with millions of dollars of other people’s money, to busch-league state FINAL OFFER in Round 2 is simply unacceptable. They have given no indication that they trust the process whatsoever, and if you aren’t willing to trust the process you, flat out, are not willing to negotiate.
More nuts is that both parties have agreed in principal to the amount of 12.7M over 5 years, which is THE negotiated point in any employment contract. If you can sort out compensation, the other business is just marginalia. But the University takes the INSANE position that four clauses, that weren’t even in a December 5th offer, are now just months later so necessary as to be NON-NEGOTIABLE.
Again, I don’t think Leach or his agents handled this as well as they should have, but they’ve respected the process throughout and have offered and counter-offered and continue to do so (with an offer sitting with the BOR, right now, that they refuse to respond to). You cannot have a negotiation with one party negotiating against its last offer, that simply is not how the world works. If Tech thinks that ultimatums are the way to get a deal brokered, they’re nuts.
The entire thing disgusts me. I have no doubt whatsoever that the parties are close enough on the essential terms to get a deal done. It smells to me like hurt feelings have made this unworkable, and the four clauses are essentially poison pills designed to railroad this thing off a cliff. If he will coach for 12.7M, and you will pay him 12.7M, find a way to make it work. The school needs to send Leach a counter-offer immediately and respect the process.
Should they eventually come to terms...
<sarcasm- Tech should be prepared to parade about and interview every available coach before each bowl season, just in case they find someone they like better than Leach. -sarcasm>
That is, in essence, what Leach has been doing and would like to continue to do. All TTU asks is to be notified.
Sure.
If by “All TTU asks is to be notified” you mean “All TTU asks is Leach pay the school 1.5M on top of his 1.5M buyout if he interviews for a job they do not give him permission.”
Go read the terms; this is not about notification. The clause that Leach refuses to sign requires PERMISSION. Leach is fine with “notification” per this source:
In an email to Myers on Tuesday [the 10th], Matt Baldwin, an IMG executive, said that Leach was "ready and willing to accept" the compensation and incentive packages offered by the university in January as well as a provision requiring the ninth-year coach to notify Texas Tech before interviewing for another position.
If all TTU wants is to be notified, they can have it. Instead they want the ability to fire Leach for cause if he interviews without permission AND force him to pay a 1.5M penalty. Which means not only does he NOT get the 1.5M termination fee but he owes another 1.5M on top of that; a 3M swing. That wasn’t a provision of a 12.1M contract the team offered Leach on December 5th, but suddenly, after a mere 600K increase in total compensation over 5 years, that’s a necessary, non-negotiable term? That’s fucking crazy.
Fair enough.
I agree that the penalty for not seeking permission is outrageous and, hopefully, negotiable. But the whole concept of permission/notification for interviews is mind-boggling. It seems more like a courtesy someone would grant as opposed to a negotiation issue that would keep a coach from staying where he is happy.
What’s the difference between requiring notification of an interview with no penalty for failing to do so and requiring permission and agreeing not to be unreasonable in granting that permission? They’re both just promises of civil behavior with no penalty.
Finding out your coach is interviewing for another job through the media is as embarrassing as finding out your school is interviewing other coaches for your position through the media. Why would you want something in your contract that enables you to do that?
Re:
What’s the difference between requiring notification of an interview with no penalty for failing to do so and requiring permission and agreeing not to be unreasonable in granting that permission? They’re both just promises of civil behavior with no penalty.
There are legal differences. Permission can be withheld, notification is just notice. So you’ve successfully gotten past permission when the other party says “I permit you” and you’ve successfully notified them when you say “I’m going to interview”. The contract also requires permission, not only with the penalty, but failure to seek permission leads to a for cause termination, which means the school doesn’t have to pay Leach his money.
I agree that this is all pretty marginal, unimportant stuff when we’re talking about a 12.7M contract. Whether it be permission or notification, I think both parties should meet halfway. Notification is appropriate. Permission (not to be unreasonably withheld) without a millions of dollar penalty and without the for cause termination element would also strike me as acceptable. At the end of the day, this should NOT be the issue that decides this contract, and that’s what the school has done when it declares that issue non-negotiable.
As embarrassing as finding out your head coach is interviewing elsewhere from the media might be, that’s not exactly the reason for the new provisions. Leach’s interview with Washington was broken at the beginning of December before TTU offered him the first, December 5th contract, which did NOT have the permission clause or the increased buyout clause or the licensing clause etc. On Leach’s end, he’s agreed to sign a contract requiring he notify the school if he interviews elsewhere. The school refuses to even respond to this offer, essentially ending the negotiation.
That’s a problem, in my opinion.
Good News
The whole scenario has been orchestrated by Tech with the complicity of Leach. Even so called bad publicity is good. Tech has now reached the national media, and now it can be scaled back. It is amazing what lengths we have to go to, to promote our brand.
Wake me up when this whole thing is over
I’m so sick of this. I’ve caught myself just not wanting to know anything more about this situation. I’ll wait for a headline to tell me what the outcome is. There’s not anything I can do about it, and the more I find out, the less I understand or want to understand everything.
Dear Arizona Red Raider
Money talks and bullsh— walks. Have you ever heard of the PUF. That stands for Permanent University Fund. It is basically money from oil royalties ( a majority in West Texas) owned by the state of Texas that is funneled to The University of Texas (75) and A & M (25). This is “BIG” money.
Besides the fact that we have 50,000 + attendees at our games and they have 100,000 + at theirs. More “BIG MONEY”.
I like Mike, but if they money is not there, it is not there, at Tech. If anything you should be calling upon the fans, large donors and alumni to give more, not state you giving up because of your disliking of the situation.
I think Tech should allow Mike his marketing rights and Mike should ask the AD for other interviews in the future at no cost to him. As far as the buyout, if Mike wins the Big 12 outright have a clause that this can be reviewed and changed. Please don’t dog our school because of our situation. Money talks. Write the Texas legislators and ask for more PUF Funds.
TTechson76
Pardge
The PUF
Hi TTechson76 -
Thanks for the comment!
I could be wrong, but I believe the PUF is set up for the academic side of things. All the publicly funded university athletic departments in Texas receives zero dollars from the legislature. UT, aTm, UH, Tech and all the rest of the athletic departments must generate their own revenue.
The deep pockets that I am speak of include Joe Jamail, a Houston litigation attorney, who settled the Pennzoil/Shell case back in the late eighties and his cut I believe was hundreds of millions of dollars. He contributes heavily to UT athletics. He has something named after him in their stadium. There are scores of these cats willing to shell out whatever it takes to make their university the latest and greatest.
I would argue that the reason why many of these people give is the vision and commitment that the athletic department has toward excellence, not solely based on loyalty. The point person to create such vision and commitment is the AD. Once the department produces results in the form of championships, grad rates, and general overall improvement, they will give more.
UT has a monster stadium because it has consistently produced winners over the years. I envison that if we continue to have the same success that we are trending toward, we would have a stadium that rivals the big boys too. People will come see a winner. That’s how many people become loyal to a team.
by Arizona Raider on Feb 19, 2009 3:49 PM CST up reply actions
Funding
Hi Arizona Raider,
I believe you are correct about the athletic departments funding. That is why Tech has chosen to build suites at Jones, instead of more seats. Five million was raised for the renovation of the east side of the stadium, through donations, matching funds, etc. Regardless of where the PUF fund is spent, it still enhances tu and a&m to empress future students.
Regarding your premise that people must believe in a vision and commitment that is correct but, I believe loyalty comes first. Tell me how many Big 12 or SWC Championships, Tech won in golf before Jerry Rawls donated to build the Rawls course. Zero, I think. Also I need to know about ut’s golf course? Where is it? They have had much more vision regarding golf and championships. Plain and simple these guys like Jamal and Rawls have egos and like to see there names on buildings, but they also have loyalty. ie-Boone Pickens.
Thanks go out to to Jerry Rawls for his vision and loyalty. The Rawls course is rated the 3rd best college course in the nation in 4 years since it’s inception.
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