The Saga of Mike Leach :: We Pick Up the Pieces
by Seth C on Jan 1, 2010 7:43 AM CST
in Texas Tech Football
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PrintHappy New Year
It may not feel like a Happy New Year, but at the very least, I hope everyone is safe and healthy as the new year arrived last night. I went to dinner with friends and as you would imagine the main topic of discussion was Leach. I'm still trying to figure out when is the right time to let things go. It's not now, but it's something that's on my mind.
In any event, if I've learned anything over the past week, it's that you are a part of my family. Sure, we let some f-bombs and s-bombs fly over the course of the past three days, but what's happened here is that this is an incredibly diverse, intelligent and passionate fanbase make their voices known and I'm incredibly proud of that.
Continue to Support
I'm not real sure how to say this, but I'll just come out and say that for Double-T Nation, it's been an amazing few days, which I think there's been a pretty fair assessment of how this entire situation has unraveled. On Tuesday, DTN had close to 25,000 visitors in just that day. I received over 200 emails (and continue to receive them) voicing the concern about how the administration has handled this entire situation.
I made it clear yesterday that I'll continue to follow the football program no matter what happens, however, I realize that I'm in a pretty unique situation. DTN started out as my hobby and until someone wants to pay me a large sum of money to do this on a full-time basis, it will continue to be a hobby. DTN is my passion in life, although my wife pokes fun of me because I "blog" for fun, but this is who I am. Perhaps this is an unwarranted concern on my part is that without you guys and gals caring about Texas Tech football, you no longer be passionate about DTN. I know, I'm probably overreacting about this entire situation, but it's easy to become apathetic.
The problem with all of this is that you are part of the machine.
There's no doubt that this machine failed at the very top of this entire process, but you are a cog in that machine whether you like it or not. Should you decide, which I would completely respect your decision, to no longer support this university and this program then this machine, which was gaining a head of steam, will simply drop dead in its tracks.
I do not want to imagine a day where I have to be sarcastic, quirky and witty about an awful football team.
The Players
There may be a disconnect between the player who actually play for the team that we love and it's fans. Despite everything that's gone on, I hope everyone realizes that the players are merely cogs in this machine too. Some of the players have openly discussed how they feel about Leach, some of them disapproving of Leach's coaching style. Again, whether you like it or not, these players are entitled to their opinions. Not only that, I would never expect that each and every player have an absolutely glowing review of Leach. It's just not realistic to think that when you have a group of 85 players that each and everyone one of them would think the same way.
The players and the fans are the victims in this entire situation. They have been dragged into this situation whether they like it or not. And no matter what has happened this week, they actually have a game to play tomorrow. They haven't done anything to deserve your displeasure. Again, I understand everyone's right to express your opinion about the dissatisfaction about how this administration has handled this entire ordeal, but I can't give up on this team or this group of players. I'm sure that makes me a walking contradiction, but I'd be willing to bet that a lot of us have a ton of mixed feelings about this situation.
For those of you who do not know, DTN user dbled53 is the father of Texas Tech DE Daniel Howard, Duane Howard. dbled53 posted this comment (you may have missed it, because it was posted relatively late) and it's stuck with me this entire time. When we consider what the James family and the administration has done, it's not only affected you as fans, but it's affected those who are actually a part of the program:
This all could have waited til after the season, but he chose to crap all over my son’s final game At Texas Tech, I feel for you and your son Craig but don’t expect an apology from me either, and if I see you I will tell you so. That’s the way my DAD raised me and he never once talked to any of my coaches about how I was treated. He told me to fade my own heat and you’ll be a better man. Mike Leach is a good man, it shows in the graduation rate and in his coaching record, and when I talk to Coach Leach he talks to me like a man because he is a man. When he makes a mistake he will hone up to it, not go off whimpering to the media, NCAA, or the Ad[m]inistration. He isn’t perfect, but he can [c}oach my son anytime, anywhere. Sometimes you need to turn the other cheek, it says so in the greatest book ever written.
The James family may have crapped on these seniors final game, but I hope that you don't do that too.
Last night, interim head coach Ruffin McNeill asked that we as fans of this team come together:
"We’ve got to unite our fan base, because I know it’s torn right now,’’ the interim head coach said an hour later. "I know that. I just said, ‘Hey, let’s get it rockin’. I looked at our kids in the boats and they were eyeballing me, and have been all week. I saw the fans that came out to support the group. I didn’t want to be a guy who’s scared or afraid to show his emotions.’’
Leach Speaks
Last night Mike Leach spoke on ESPN (video and transcript) and he didn't mince his words and remained steadfast to what his attorney has been saying all along. Leach said of Craig's meddling:
"When you call coaches, you call me, call his position coaches, both of them, you call other administrators on campus or you come to practices and want to have constant discussions on your son and their playing time. Craig James required more time than all of the other parents combined."
And he didn't hold back on Adam either:
"I think he's lazy. I think that there's a sense of entitlement and really this isn't an independent thought on my part. It's pretty well documented in a number of statements by teammates and both of his position coaches. I can assure you that everybody in our program wants to win badly enough that it's far, far, far too important to all of them to play the best one instead of: A.) show preferential treatment or B.) deliberately cheat somebody that's got a father looking over our shoulder all the time, but also has a lot of money and influence and a big microphone."
I've given this a lot of thought, and just like you, I'm pretty ticked off at the entire James family, but I believe in karma. What goes around, comes around. I'm not going to waste my time hating them or thinking about them much longer.
The Emails
The emails are damning, and legal experts seem to think that this will only help Leach's cause. I tend to agree. I'm not a civil trial attorney, but these emails at the very least display a disdain for the coach and that there were a number of folks who never wanted Leach to coach another game after 2008. Jim Sowell has burned plenty of bridges because of his statements and I'll be very interested to see whether or not he continues to remain on the Board of Regents.
However, I think we all knew that these emails were being written, whether we have actually seen them or not. I've always maintained that Gerald Myers didn't act alone and these emails add credence to that. And don't think for a second that we've seen the last of the emails that reflect poorly on Leach. Those haven't even started yet. We all ignored this situation because we thought we were going to have a head coach for the foreseeable future. I talked about how this administration and the former head coach lacked communication and these emails are nothing more than a reflection of how some folks in the university and Leach felt.
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Seth, thanks
First I want to thank you for what you do. More real, tangible news has come from here that all other sources combined. This is the first place I turn for all things red and black.
Secondly, over the past several days I have delivered more than my share of alphabet bombs and I appologize. I let my passion for what is good and right cloud my judgement in my choice of words.
Thridly, I agree that karma will come into play here and that the James Gang will end up totally disgraced. That and $5.95 will get you a Starbucks. I will not cure the travesty that has befallen the Raider Nation.
I feel we must continue to pressure whoever it takes to clean up the disgraceful “boys club” we call an administration. Allowing Meyers to go quietly into the night this spring is not enough. He needs to be publicly fired for his incompetence. The same holds true for Hance, Sowell and all the other clowns in the bell tower.
I am second generation Red Raider. My father was a Matador and my wife and kids bleed red and black. It makes me sick to think about not going to games and flying the double T and all the other things that good fans do. I do support the program and the kids. Hell, I even went to the McWillams and Moore games. My first game to see pitted Donny Anderson against Walt Garrison when we played Oklahoma A&M at home and I have been a fan since.
I will most likely continue to go to the games, perhaps with a different passion than before, but I will go.
That being said, I will also channel my passion to getting rid of those that have caused and perpetuated the lies, etc.
We all know this is just about the money. Fact is, if the fat cats that want to hob-nob in the sutes would REALLY belly up instead of belly-ache, This would have never happened. As it is, TECH comes off as a cheap, gutless, lazy bunch.
Finally, the regents, chancellor, AD, and others need to read the words to the Matador Song and do what is right.
by blackbeard on Jan 1, 2010 8:06 AM CST reply actions 2 recs
Agree with you!
I totally agree with you blackbeard. I played FB at TT and I was also there when Meyers was coaching BB. So, I do know something about athletics at TT. Our program had come so far under Leach that I was confident that we would soon be mentioned in the same breath as UT and OU. But, our leadership, or lack there of, has once again relegated TT to a backseat in the Big 12. It is the athletes that will suffer the most. Not Myers, not Sowell, not Craig James, and not Hance. They are adults and not the young student athletes that are now caught in the middle of a political power struggle. Shame on you TT! Shame on you for letting these young men down. Shame on you for letting your egos and private agendas get in the way of your primary goal; the future of the TT football program and these players!
To Craig James; you personnally brought down SMU by playing for dollars and perks. Please take your son and go back to Dallas. I listened to your ranting on ESPN TV the other night and my stomach was sickened by your smerk attitude. You lied when you played at SMU and you lie now. ESPN needs to do a little better job of screening their employees.
I am a Red Raider and I will always be a Red Raider. My blood, sweat, and tears are on the turf of Jones Stadium and I will always support the young men that put on the red and black.
Good luck Saturday!! Guns up!!
Concerning question
Am I the only person that wants to know the rationale behind Leach having his player placed in the 2 different rooms?
What was he hoping to accomplish? Is he that arrogant to think he can do know wrong?
Don't really know what difference 2 different rooms makes.....
but Leach’s SOP is to have players (yes even concussed) near the playing field with the rest of their team. If you are upset about Baby James, you should show the same disdain that Taylor Pott’s was in the same room after the Kansas game and his concussion like regimen. If you think that is wrong to have hurt players do, I disagree but respect your opinion.
A friend played OL at Mississippi state when Spike was his position coach (Bullard HC). Mike is the anti-Spike in that he holds everyone accountable including himself. I respect Spike and his contributions to Tech immensely, but I want my coach to be much more like Mike than Spike.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 1:57 PM CST up reply actions
Leach, during an on-air interview Thursday night with ESPN, said he had not suggested any place specific for James. “I said, find some place dark and one place was as good as the next, and that was close to the field, and plus they had the ice machine,” Leach said.
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4787194
It seems Bill Belichick is a Romer disciple as well.
Well said, blackbeard
I completely agree with all of it. Hats off to Seth (thank you for this site, my friend), and I agree with all Seth said EXCEPT for “The right time to let things go”. The right time to let it go is when justice has been served. We “Strive for Honor” at Texas Tech University, as Blackbeard alluded to and as is inscribed in my Alumni ring. I will not rest until Sowell, Myers, Hance, the Jameses, ESPN, and anyone else who helped railroad our Captain unfairly meets justice. Honorable men do not behave the way these people have behaved, and it reflects poorly on us, true Red Raiders. If they were were worried Leach was going to take the money and run, well, fine, let him do so….it would have been shame on him and TTU would have lived up to the terms of the agreement. Instead we look like a bunch of crooks. Strive for Honor evermore…..
Support our kids, go to the game, and use the game as a Soapbox (and a prelude of the battle to come). But DO NOT shrug your shoulders and move on. Yes, we need a new Coach (and I hope we get a great one as the kids deserve it) – but this goes way above and beyond football. It is about Principles, Honor, and Integrity. It is time to cut out the cancer.
Happy New Year. I hope that the wisdom of the Good Lord guides all of us to achieve his Will in 2010.
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 12:46 PM CST up reply actions
Agreed
We can all try our best to move on in our own ways, but the good fight is just beginning.
This is absolutely about honor, priniciples, and integrity.
The administration, regents, and knuckle dragging Good Ol’ Boys took more than my coach away from me…they took away the pride that it once was to be a Red Raider through and through.
I will never forgive them for that.
by Damien Franco on Jan 1, 2010 5:06 PM CST up reply actions
+100,000,000,000,000,000,000.00
My sentiments exactly.
Strive for Honor Evermore! Unless you’re a Regent or Administrator…
We will be judged as a school on how we come out of this!
We still need to make sure it does not happen again. By our reaction and action we show them that we are also a part of TTU!
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 12:12 PM CST up reply actions
Great Stuff Seth!
You have done a fantastic job in covering it and keeping your cool. It is easy to get caught up and worked up over such an explosive situation…You’ve kept a level head and that is a great tribute to you!
-P
The Program
Seth I love what you do and find the most educated informed posts here. However I have to disagree here. We are cogs in the program but we as drive it just as much as the admin. We buy the tickets and merch. We cheer till we are blue, the students line up for days to celebrate an upcomming game.
Seems to me that everyone is forgetting that we are all Red Raiders, just because a fun unique coach is no longer with us doesn’t make that stop. If we continue to have a high standard the program will survive. If we expect the worst then we will get what we deserve.
by Gus Mitchem on Jan 1, 2010 8:31 AM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
I think
we’re on the same page here, although I may not have said it. I’m ready to move forward.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
by Seth C on Jan 1, 2010 8:55 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Reday too
Seth, and Raider Nation, don’t misunderstand. I want to move on too. But if someone has to clean up after the party. We have a lot of trash to take out before we can invite someone new to town.
by blackbeard on Jan 1, 2010 9:39 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
oops
hard to type thru bloodshot eyes
by blackbeard on Jan 1, 2010 9:41 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Agreed.
the administration has not lived up to “a high standard” as mentioned by Gus. They have embarrassed us
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 12:49 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Leach did a good job. He didn’t come across as whiney or vindictive (much). I am concerned about an adult who comes out and trashes a player, though. I don’t think I would have commented directly on that question. I would have said something like, “It’s been well documented how people connected to the team feel about Adam’s ethic. I will leave it at that.”
by Tech92 on Jan 1, 2010 8:37 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
...
Still trying to give Mike Leach advice?
Sad.
It seems Bill Belichick is a Romer disciple as well.
Leach will
move on and be the prate in this story. He will take a huge sum of money and head to a school that respects it’s alumni and supporters. I seriously doubt that Hance and the other idiots covered their tracks with these alligations.
It’s always tough being a red raider and probably always will be with the lack of support and justice our school gets. This time around we self imploded and it’s shameful. I’m ready to move on in the next chapter of texas tech football. The justice will come and I hope it does even if it costs our school greatly. Ethics have been breached and integrity obviously meant nothing to our school administrators. Bring on the new coach and lets accept the facts we all know. I do believe with the strong alumni and fans our program can move forward even though it may take time.
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
by Raider1992 on Jan 1, 2010 8:58 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
The Program
My favorite Raider Jim Clarke # 89 (1955,1956)(dad) says " Gerald was a dip shit 50 years ago,somethings never change." Leach was something special, an extraordinary talent surrounded by intrenched medocrity. It was just an unsustainable situation. The question is now, how do we honor the man and his legacy with integrity. We are Raiders. Its a time to close ranks and support the players with one exception and he should be harrassed into leaving. If Leach proved anything its that Texas Tech can be a contender. Time to build on what he started.
by texastechtom on Jan 1, 2010 9:13 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I'M HERE IN SAN ANTONIO AND WILL ATTEND THE BOWL GAME!
I had a different feeling putting on my Tech clothes to head down here. What really aggravates me is… even if the majority of the people dislike the most powerful man in the world, the President of the US, we can vote him out of office; but if we are not satisfied with the chancellor, president, and AD of the University, (evidently unless there is something I do not know, and please enlighten me) we have no way of getting rid of these clowns. I really believe that the three stooges and our board of regents really do not have our best interest at heart. Another thing I want to know is how many of you parents would be ignorant enough to leave your kid with the team after you got the most popular coach in Tech history fired. I would have had my kid on the plane home immediately.
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
by Extramp83 on Jan 1, 2010 9:27 AM CST reply actions 1 recs
I ALSO WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SETH!
You are the flagship leader of a very well informed site. With a lot of intelligent contributers.
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
by Extramp83 on Jan 1, 2010 12:51 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs
Glad you are going to the game to support the Raiders--all should go if you have a ticket!
Why is Adam James still at the Alamo Bowl? I think once again Craig James is so full of himself he is giving his son more bad advice. I’m not so sure that the family won’t be there!!!There is a word for people like that—narcisstic!
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 12:09 PM CST up reply actions
Thanks
Seth thanks for your passion all you do. It keeps thousands informed as to what is really happening. Also it is cheaper than going to a shrink for my depression
I hope Coach Leach hires some first class attorneys. I don’t believe he has adequate representation at this time.
Also he needs to stop talking negative about Adam James. This just hurts his cause.He only needs to focus on the university actions and lack of due process. I coached in high school for 23 years and have been an AD for the last 10. Many times I have dealt with complaints such as this and have had to let coaches know that they don’t need to let a player get under their skin. They are the “adults” and they already are in charge. What Leach did was stupid. Just cut the kids playing time to zero. The administration can’t even justify calling you in about that. When people are "out to get you the last thing you need to do is get stupid. Unfortunately the AD was out to get Coach Leach instead of help him. I am especially hacked at Craig James and ESPN. James should have gone to Leach and talked one on one. If that had happened then Leach would have probably said he would have done it differently and it would have been don’t. Because James spoke against Leach at halftime of a game he was working as an employee of ESPN, I hope Leachs attorneys go after him as well.
by TotalDef on Jan 1, 2010 9:28 AM CST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
ESPN
hHey guys a little off topic but Todd McDumbass on ESPN just said Tebow will be a late first or second round pick. He as great play action and great arm strength down the field. Although, he has a lot of work ahead of him to deal with the “spread” of the NFL. I though he and La Looks Kiper said last year Graham Harrell would not succeed because of the spread offense??? I am glad my gf and terrier dog are accustom to me yelling at the TV at any hour by now. I would pay my once alumni association dues to see Harrell throw on off of Mcdouchebag’s head and ego from about 35 yards on a line. My anger with ESPN is becoming hatred.
GREAT JOB SETH - HOWEVER THE 2009 DUMB ASS AWARD SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE PLAINS PIRATE
This pirate is an ego maniac who lost touch with reality. This situation is about one smart cookie who is also a weird, quirky, dumb insubordinate coach thinking he’s larger than the university. There’s more to coaching than "X’s & O’s" and eccentric mumbling on ESPN. In reality the Chancellor, President, and AD are his bosses. And the pirate never seemed to understand that, even though he was hired by the AD.
A University is thousands of students, faculty, and staff – not just a pirate who reports to absolutely NO-ONE and continually fingers the administration and board of regents. Texas Tech will be around in the next century. Coaches come and go – and I’m sure some major university will line up to hire this guy who flirted annually with job interviews. And when he eventually got suspended, his initial thought was to hire a lawyer to sue his employer.
This guy should be presented the "dumb ass" of the year award! All he needed to do was sign a piece of paper – everything is solved and he gets $2.4M in ’10 and the administration, alumni, and fans are pleased. This pirate "dumb ass" decides he would rather get into a chest bumping contest and sue the university. How can one be so smart and at the same time such a fool?
We need to get over this – and get our Gun’s up & back the Raiders! And, quit blaming the James kid for not taking his punishment, as he created the perfect storm for the Regents to send this quirky pirate to sea.
Yep, just close our eyes and this all goes away
Just sign this papeer, lie and say you did something you did not do, hush, hush, don’t be a man, and we will give you things. Yep that the kind of head coach I want, one that will sign anything at a drop of a dollar.
NO WHAT WE NEED!
Is a coach that is the administrations puppet. So he can cow down every time they pull his string. Hell maybe even Hance can throw in a few plays from his luxury box. We need some more 3-9 seasons and a 20% player graduation rate. Give me a Break!
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
Not everyone is willing
to eat a shit sandwich….and I do blame the James family along with the admin.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 10:16 AM CST up reply actions
Maybe you should join the administration. You seem like a good fit
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
Just a piece of paper
If you knew what you were talking about, you’d know that piece of paper contained an admission to a lie.
TDSTAR
Grab your ears and pull, my friend. Once you get your head out of there, I am sure you will be able to see what is going on here. :)
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 1:15 PM CST up reply actions
You're are seriously pushing people.....
If you feel the need to voice your opinion fine, but you have posted this more than once. You have received the same reactions.
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
Tech Supporters
At the top of the list are the people that probably really control the school. The “old money” people that make the biggest contributions. These are the ones that have been here for many years, bought and paid for the school and probably get what they want from the administration. These supporters are permanently attached and can never leave without killing the school.
Then there’s the alumni. The ones that have become rich since graduating and will one day be the “old money”. They too probably have a large influence over the school and are permanently attached and also are holding lifelines to the school.
The members of the alumni that haven’t gotten financially independent, but can still send large donations as the economy will allow, are a larger group that feel they owe their allegiance to the school and would probably never leave no matter what.
The rest of the graduates or students that are just fanatic of being a “Red Raider” help the school through their purchasing power. These are another group of loyals that feel that they owe allegiance to the school as long as they are not humiliated by the actions of the school, but tend to forget the past humiliations very quickly and will continue to support the school.
At last there is the group that I belong to. The kind of fan that began to notice that there was something going on in Lubbock that brought attention to the school. Something that could be displayed to the rest of the nation as source of pride for being from Lubbock Texas. Buddy Holly is a huge example I try to promote to anyone who will listen anywhere I go. Mike Leach is solely responsible for my pride in “Red Raider” football. He is the reason I bought my first TT t-shirt and cap and the tickets to go the games.
This is the group of fans the school will have to win back. Leach is gone and there is nothing there at the moment to encourage me to spend my money. I will have the tv on Saturday and watch the game and root for the home team. But after Saturday, someone at Texas Tech is gonna have to win me back. Otherwise I’m through.
SBNation and DTN
I’ll still follow DTN because Seth makes it worth reading. I am one of the ones that will not be following the team, but you can count on me for page hit and maybe the occasional constructive comment. The bets part of this is that I’ve discovered SBNation at a time when I need an alternative to ESPN.
Happy New Year, Seth
and thank you for this professionally run source of information and a place to vent. It is always a breath of fresh air compared to the message boards and “news” sites that don’t have their facts straight.
Since my connection to the program is directly tied to my son’s involvement in coaching this team, as long as he is involved with Tech football I will be here. Understandably, if he moves on with the coaching staff to other pastures I will follow him there.
Jeff
Happy New Year to you, your son and your whole family. I feel your new year is going to be one of movement. As much as I would like to see the coaches at Tech remain (I think they are as good a group as there is in the whole nation, and improving every day), I feel the administration will bring in a new head coach that will take the team a different direction (not necessarily up, down or sideways, but play selection-wise). As a result, he will probably bring in coaches he already has a relationship with or whom he feels will work better with his “scheme”. For despite what the news media have said about the “scheme” Texas Tech uses—-used—-over the last ten years, all coaches teach their own version of some “scheme”. Whatever happens, however, I will continue to appreciate the talent possessed by the present coaches and wish them all well in future endeavors, whether at Texas Tech or elsewhere. Despite Mike Leach’s quirkiness, hardheadedness and mouthiness, he is a very good head coach and an even better offensive coordinator. I am sure all of his assistants have learned valuable lessons while working with and for him, good, bad or indifferent. May God bless them all.
TTpilk
Thanks pilk
I believe everything will work out for everyone concerned.
by jeffinhouston on Jan 1, 2010 12:15 PM CST up reply actions
I have thoughts
that might help take DTN even further. I will wait for you Seth to get to my email, but I think Linked In might help us network with each in a profession way. We know how well aggies (just threw up a bit) network and this might be an aid for us if we can exchange Linked In info.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 10:19 AM CST reply actions
Call me what you want, but don't dare call me fair weather...
… that being said, I think this may just be too much.
I can sit through the most humiliating and painful losses (Houston and A&M this year, the perennial loss to North Texas under Dykes) with my eyes glued to the field, television, or box score.
What I don’t know is whether I am willing to cheer for a team that has become nothing more to me than a shill for an unjust administration. Watching other bowl games on TV, I can’t even stand to see some other team line up in the shotgun! It makes me sick! Do you really think I’ll be back watching Tech?
If Tech wants to unify its fanbase, it needs to do at least two things:
1 – Beat MSU by about 100 points. Give us some hope about the future of our team and don’t embarrass us in public again.
2 – Roll some freakin’ heads. I’d love to see Sowell, Hance, Bailey, and Myers all lose their positions…. but at least I need to see Myers gone. He’s the lowest on the totem pole and the most vulnerable. Sacrifice him to the masses, and I think you’ve taken a step in the right direction.
Meyers is gone.............but not till spring
and he will be allowed to leave on his own terms. what a crock.
Just Pray He Doesn't Get The Satisfaction Of Installing Dykes As Head Coach!
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
We've been hearing this for years
He has more lives than Freddy Krueger. I would give a tidy sum to be able to fire his ass.
Without pressure from the masses……Gerald could be the AD when my 13 year old son attends Tech.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 1:48 PM CST up reply actions
and that means a big fat retirement package from the teacher retirement fund.
Awesome… he screws over Tech all these years and will still be rewarded.
by conservative hitman on Jan 1, 2010 2:40 PM CST up reply actions
Sowell is no longer on the Board of Regents
Sowell is a booster now, he cannot lose his position. You have to change a corrupt system in order for him to lose his influence. There are 9 BOR and they are appointed by the governor for 6 year terms. The only way to remove them is through an act of the State Congress. Myers, Hance and Bailey are all approved or disapproved by the regents. The only way to get them removed is to bring down enough pressure on the regents to force their hand. Which means a large amount of political pressure.
by conservative hitman on Jan 1, 2010 2:38 PM CST up reply actions
Karma
If karma always worked, Craig James would have paid for his cheating at SMU. Instead he’s a millionaire. I can’t believe ESPN puts him out there as a representative of their company. What’s next? Are they going to hire Barry Bonds as a baseball analyst?
Your passion and commitment to Texas Tech is admirable.
I have really enjoyed reading your perspective and the emotion that you have expressed is genuine. From a journalism standpoint, you have worked very hard to take the high road even though you and so many others are hurt by what happened.
I’ll drop in and check things out when times are good for you guys and you are celebrating the success of the Raiders. Don’t know if you cover baseball, but no one is more fun to listen to (thought a lot of coaches and players from other teams with disagree!) than the Tech Hecklers (is that the right name?). They are a hoot and contribute to the awesome environment that is Big XII baseball!
by jon's only friend on Jan 1, 2010 11:16 AM CST reply actions
The Huskers looked good the other night...
Looks like you guys have got things pointed in the right direction.. Congratulations!
After that little preview, I hope to goodness we don’t hire Sonny Dykes…
by Houston Raider on Jan 1, 2010 11:39 AM CST up reply actions
Mutliple thoughts: I'll be there for the team players who are left...
OK, so we have an AD and at least one member of the BOR who are completely out of touch with reality. I will always respect Myers for the manner in which he played at Tech, and I think he was a pretty good BB coach, too, although I wonder what skeletons there are in that closet (a strict disciplinarian). And Sowell, I helped the guy finance some of those damn strip centers he liked to build and he seemed like a fair enough guy. When did he get so far removed from us?
Either way, I admire Leach for his inventiveness. I liked his quirkiness and felt he fit well into the underlying oddball personality of the Tech campus and surrounding little “l” city. Tech is a tight group, smaller than some others, but very devoted and there is an instant bond. Now Leach has been railroaded, split the family and it seems there are only a few on the Admin’s side . One question is: what legal liability falls on the rest of us for having buffoons in charge? If their poor and egomaniac thinking leads to multi-millions of $ in a wrongful firing suit award, can the University community go after them?
My greatest admiration is and remains to the athletes themselves. I will pull for their success, in every sport. Please don’t punish the players or remaining coaches because of the Leach firing. They need our support more than ever.
I hope that the idiots behind this fiasco at least try to make up by getting us a coach who can go from here. We are going to have to get someone who can reassure fans, players, and recruits that the program will continue to improve. Pull us together again. Someone who can expand the offense in some original directions and still maintain our offensive dominance. Build on Leach’s greatness. Hell, we are in a great position for next year.
Although I have not heard it said, I have harbored a secret fear that Leach’s offense is being caught up with and worried whether he could adapt. To me, it seems like our offense has gotten slightly less consistent over the past five years. Thank goodness the D is improving.
I’ll be at every game I can, in person, on TV, radio, or whatever. Raider Power!
Elgrande
Thanks Seth
I don’t know how you do it bro. The amount of time you must pour into this has to be staggering. Regardless of my disdain for the Tech Admin, I will continue to use this site for all things related to Texas Tech Athletics. It’s obvious that a rift will exist between us fans for quite some time. We’ve all had 10 years to become familiar with Coach Leach and we’ve obviously been seduced by what he’s done with our program all the way around and I truly feel like we were finally on the brink of competing for a Big XII title next year. One can’t expect us to have a “I’m moving on” attitude so early on in the process. This may sound a little corny, but I truly feel like I’m going thru some sort of grieving process. I mean I truly feel a pit in my stomach when I consider not only losing a great offensive mind, but all the progress and momentum that will be lost as well. I’m not saying we’ll never get back to where we are, but it will take years. And during that time, we’ll watch UT and OU continue to steamroll and watch A&M stride towards improvement. I certainly understand that Leach has a malignant ego, but so what. He graduates his kids and kept us competitive in a very tough conference and division. They should’ve just left him alone and let him coach. I’m embarrassed by our leadership and as much as I hate to say it, this Administration most certainly deserves the “Classless Clowns” emblem and unfortunately as part of the Red Raider Family we will all have to answer for it. I’ll leave you with this:
Thanks Seth & Happy New Year
I don’t have much to add since so many have so much so well. I do have some ideas about the situation. I do agree with the that the statement that Myers is not alone in this is matter. I would like (1) to see the names of all those who sent emails in the conspiracy, (2) find out what business they are an employee of or owner of, (3) boycott those business products or services, (4) support Texas Tech sports teams and the student athletes, (5) help Tech in the strive for Tier 1 status, and (6) push the Texas Tech administration to improve its process so that it may become a Tier 1 school (get rid of Myers). The last statement is made because I believe that Myers let and/or encouraged the Rich supporters in there quest to chase Leach away. Lastly, this to me is similar to the situation of Tech in the 70’s when I was a student. Jim Carlen was successful at challenging UT and the powers of the old Southwest Conference and was chased away. We had 2 good years with Steve Sloan who was not happy here, and then slid into mediocrity. I hope that we don’t do that again because 15 years of mediocrity will put me into my 70’s and with more changes coming to college football I do not think Tech football can survive mediocrity.
BlackBeard and I......
BlackBeard and I seem to have the same story…..the reason I have 44 in my name is Donny Anderson who will always be my favorite athlete of all time….So I hav seen it all since the 60’s and this all so sad…..I know Leach is Leach but again compare what he has done for TTech compared to the “others” involved here and that says it all. I live in the Jackson, MS area and I’m the RR on the local talk shows and as has been said before, TTech was relavent nationally, and in SEC country because of Leach, graduation rate, and winning…..so this all is so sad because we are have imploded from the inside and I guess now I wish this would have happen last year and at least we could have moved on…..Last year I thought Hance had at least a clue but it obvious that he was just lying about the whole thing of “bring the Raider Nation together”…..So always a RR but I no confidene in this Admin. that we will get anyting other than Dykes/Briles and that again is just so sad. Wreck’Em Tech
5Oth season...
I have been an avid follower of Texas Tech football since the fall of 1960. I am a graduate of Tech (August 1971). I have never been so ashamed or so hurt by the actions of the administrators in the firing of Mike Leach. This will end my station as an avid fan and follower. My heart just wouldn’t be in it. I will become a fan of whichever school Mike Leach winds up coaching. And if he is through coaching, I find a more useful way of spending my time than watching football. It is all about the money like most things in life anyway. So I will spend NO money on anything Tech Tech the rest of my life. I am 64 so I won’t have to suffer these fools too much longer…
Its been great having your support
I understand completely.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 2:07 PM CST up reply actions
I have been moving all week into a new place and have not been on DTN until now. I will say this, Tech is and always will be my team. However I find it very hard to support the program right now with Meyers running the show. Until he is gone I probably won’t attend another game. Meyers has screwed us all because of his personal ego and I can’t stand the man. He doesn’t love Tech he loves himself. He is a loser and a joke. Do you people realize we FIRED our best coach ever. Not to mention will probably lose our best recruiting class ever. We were poised for a big 12 championship run in the coming years. Until Meyers goes I will not renew my season tickets. I will not go to another Tech game. Yeah it hurts the players but we have to do something to get rid of the guy. Tech loses millions on this deal. Millions in litigation that we will lose, millions to buy out Leach’s contract, millions in ticket revenue. When you sit back and think on what Meyers cost our entire university its baffling. The man is evil and self centered. I cannot even begin to describe how much I despise him.
That being said if I had Alamo bowl tickets I would either bring a sign that said “Fire Meyers” or I would not go to the game in protest. I largely empty stadium would be a great protest. To the players who don’t like Leach, who cares. They are probably kids with bad work ethic that leach made work harder. To Craig James and Adam James, what losers. Both of them are wusses. But make no mistake they did not get Leach fired. Meyers did. James provided some excuse although I still don’t see what Leach did wrong, but Meyers just wanted him gone. WHY DO YOU WANT TO GET RID OF THE BEST COACH WE HAVE EVER HAD?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Idiots all idiots. The sky is falling in Lubbock and I hope it lands on Meyers. The Board of Regents are a bunch of Dallas snobs that don’t even like football. They do not have the universities interests at heart they have their own. The egos are amazing here. And yeah Leach has an ego but he needs one b/c he has talent. And you have to have an ego with talent. Leach’s job isn’t to make parents happy or to make Meyers or the board happy. His job is to WIN. Thats it. His only job is to win. And he did that and did it damn well.
I DISAGREE WITH MOST OF YOU ALUMNI !
The pirate is an ego maniac who lost touch with reality. This situation is about one smart but weird, quirky, insubordinate coach thinking he is larger than the university. There is more to coaching than “X’s & O’s” and eccentric mumbling. In reality the Chancellor, President, and AD are his bosses and the pirate seemed to never understand that, even though he was hired by the AD. A University is thousands of students, faculty, staff, and money – not just a pirate who reports to absolutely no-one and continually fingers the administration and board of regents.
Texas Tech U will be around in the ext century. Coaches come and go – and I’m sure major universities will line up to hire this guy who got suspended, and his initial thought was to hire a lawyer and go to court.
We need to get over this – There is not one thing we can do – it’s over, final, finished, done, terminated….. move on and get your Gun’s up & back the Raiders! And, quit blaming the James kid for not taking his punishment, as he created the perfect storm for the Regents to send this quirky pirate to sea.
Leach’s attitude doesn’t matter and how he got along with his bosses doesn’t matter. His job is to win. He built this program from the ground up. Before he got here we averaged 30K a game and were about a .500 team. I hope our program is above that now but we shall see. It is totally senseless what Meyers did and to argue otherwise is crazy.
Again?!
haven’t you posted this like 5 times? Good Lord, TDSTAR, give it a rest.
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 1:18 PM CST up reply actions
Your entitled to your opinion...
even though it may lack common sense. The fact is we enjoyed winning and Leach didn’t do anything wrong in this case. How would you like to be fired from a job paying 25 million for a punk kid’s attaitude that has no place in football? We all know Leach had issues but none were bad enough to warrant firing him. You must be a very young or a misguided individual.
"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
This is NOT a social network.
Quit posting this garbage. If you aren’t able to leave the rest of us with something intelligent and insightful, don’t post.
" Answers -- Become Resources."
Without Questions; There are limited Resources...
I agree
at some point, this becomes spam. If you feel strongly, then fine, but have some interaction, otherwise you’ll be completely ignored.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Why are you copying and pasting the same comment in multiple posts?
That is frowned upon here. And really unnecessary. Your point(s) do not become more persuasive the more times you say the same thing.
Consider this... it will start to eat at you I promise.
I also can’t help but wonder how much of this was just a plain old fashion set-up. Myers and crew are steaming all year after the contract negotiations (because they are boneheads), Adam James and his father are upset over playing time (to an unusual degree due to their warped better than thou self view) and then the team has a couple of public incidents early on to create an under current. Craig James is on the phone with the admin constantly according to some reports. After it becomes clear that Adam will not get significant playing time – Craig and Myers begin, maybe not in a sinister manner at first, "imagining" the scenario if Leach ever "crosses the line". Adam is repeatedly in the doghouse for reasons stated by numerous witnesses and is bitter, as is Dad. Adam gets a mild concussion and things kind of start rolling. What if Adam (possibly prompted by his father in concert with Myers and possibly others) makes the decision to really push Leach on this one. Shows an attitude of outright disrespect when he walks out in those sunglasses? What if they are hoping that Leach will do what just about any coach would do and react to it? After all that has come out – this thought occurred to me last night and I haven’t been able to shake it. I find the actions of the admin, Craig James to lend themselves to just this kind of deviousness. And I may not have any inside info on this – but that makes my statements at least as valid as ESPN on how this thing may have gone down. For the moment – I buy my story, because ESPN has already been shown to be skewed.
There's no doubt...
…this is collusion. They were trying to push Leach’s buttons and he didn’t fall for it. We all know that Cry Baby James’ allegations are all fabrications, and I suspect that Hance’s version of coach Leach’s insubordination may be as well. Leach is too smart for these guys. He’d been expecting this.
This is exactly why even though there is still a lot of support for the team, there should still be concerted effort to get these guys out of the system or Tech will never really be a tier one school.
And another thing!
I truly hope that Leach doesn’t try to just settle with these guys on a severance. Someone on CBS pointed out that coach needs not to just take what he can get and move on, he has to clear his good name if he is to continue to a be relevant coach in the FBS. These frauds we have running our school need to be exposed!
Please DO NOT!!
Please do not punish our players!!! Go to the game…..take your signs or what ever…but let the PLAYERS know you love and support them. They are the ones that must stay focused and play a good team. They need us now more than ever!! Please do not let them down. We can take care of Myers next week. They play for you!!
I respect your opinion...
but the fact that I’m lettinng my wife and my tickets go unused and sending them to Hance is my protest. There isn’t enough Zantac in Texas that could have me sit through the game. Most of the kids are on scholarship and even the ones that aren’t get to play the best sport in the world for an institiution that I think grooms the finest people I’ve ever met.
I’m a huge fan of Barron Batch and the like, but they can understand a few more empty seats.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 2:06 PM CST up reply actions
Sorry
You are wrong….there are other things you can send Hance. You have obviously never walked down the tunnel to the sounds of screaming fans, the Saddle Tramps, the ringing bells and a great band. I too respect your opinion, but I do not agree with you hurting our players. Empty seats hurt the players. Take your Zantac, support our players, and then go after Hance and Myers; great stress relief. :-)
Pull the old you never played card
Not in college, but up to then. Very besides the point too. Suppose the 99% of us that didn’t play college ball are still entitled to our opinion thank you very much.
With your logic, the admin could do anything and you have to show up as to not hurt the players.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 2:47 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
No, I said I respect your opinion
Sorry if I offended you. I think I will just keep my opinions to myself. We need to unify here, not divide. I apologize again.
Debate is good , and
A way to test what you believe. My buddy feels the same as you, I think the players are resilient.
Don’t keep your opinions to yourself, especially with another red raider. Cheer them on!
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 3:35 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
YOUR RIGHT!
I loved game day as a Saddle Tramp and love the Red Raiders. We need to support our players. Jamar Wall is from my home town and I think the world of him and his family. I’m going to be at the game tomorrow for him and all the hard work our players have done for us this year. This doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see the three stooges gone.
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
No!
You are wrong Campeador….I went through a coaching change my freshman year at TT. The new coach told us that he did not recruit us and therefore he did not owe us anything. You know what? We accepted the challenge and became the best defense in the history of TT football. We played for the team, the school, and ourselves; not the head coach.
Hey, sorry man
My head is just about to explode, that’s all.
I need to start drinking and smoking again…
It seems Bill Belichick is a Romer disciple as well.
No problem
We all are hurting and mad, but let’s please focus on supporting our players. They really do need us now more than ever.
I will buy you a beer after we beat MS and get rid of Myers and the others. Oh heck, if we get rid of the whole administration, I will buy everyone a beer!!
What a terrible Situation
Hey Double T Nation,
First off I would like to say that the way this whole thing transpired was ridiculous. Leach was not afforded a fair inquiry and was railroaded by your admin. I am a TCU grad, bit I grew up going to Jones stadium (MY mom is a raider) and I have always considered Tech my second school. I know that it seems awful right now, but be grateful that you had Leach for ten years and he built you into a program that big names want to come to. Would Tuberville have said he wanted to come after Spike? I think that all ADs and Chancellors need to look at this situation and reevaluate how they run their programs. To have success you need consistent coaching, that is why TCU is where we are now and why Tech was fighting the OU and UT’s every year. The Air Raid was a blast to watch (except when it’s going against your team, I think you just scored again 70-35, ouch!!!). I sincerely hope that Tech continues to have success with the new coach, except against the Frogs, and I hope that these rifts in Raider Nation are healed soon. Good luck in the bowl.
Sowell is no longer a member of the Board of Regents
Jim Sowell was a booster when all this went down, which shows you how dirty and corrupt the system really is. The regular fan and alumni has no chance of swaying the opinion of the administration or the Athletic Dept. you have to have deep pockets in order to make yourself heard. So we all might as well calm down and accept the fact that corrupt people that would rather be in control and King of a Trash Heap instead of being a member of the Royal Court and letting everyone enjoy the spoils of success ruined it for everyone.
by conservative hitman on Jan 1, 2010 2:28 PM CST reply actions
if you add us all together, we have deep pockets.
My father has a poster in his office of a large group of people who all put their hands in the middle of the pack, and those hands rise above the crowd into a giant fist……do not understimate the power we can conjure as a large group, and don’t kill the momentum. Believe me, they are more aware of the strength that we can gather then most of us are, and they fear it.
Roll up your sleeves, come together, and RISE, Red Raider Nation!
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 7:30 PM CST up reply actions
What if!!!!!!!
What if there was a push to get Mike Leach back as well as have the powers that be changed? Surely we have some push as fans… some of us have to have the resources and connections to keep this program intact. It seemed like TTU was close to making it to a championship bowl these past 2 seasons, and was looking at a potential of actually making it all the way in the coming 2 seasons.
I was going to play for the raiders when Spike handed to captain’s chair over to Leach, but I moved states and didn’t play football my senior year due to HS coach’s decision at the school I moved to. I wanted to skin the guy, but that’s ok. I lost the possible scholarship. But I really wanted to play.
Anyway, who would like Leach to come back? I’m sure he wouldn’t want to due to the bad press, but the people like him and he fits in… its a few of the administration that seem to have the need to disappear from the program… or at least get their hands off it.
DG
I really appreciate Duane Howard’s input on the situation, and I could not agree more. Very insightful, thank you!
His son
Will grow up to be a stand up man….nor so much Baby James.
by oldschoolraider on Jan 1, 2010 3:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
It is the Raider Nation that Matters
We must support the football players as a group.
We must support the coaches that are coaching.
We must support the administrators that are administrating.
It is also important to support each other.
I have just written the idealistic best thoughts that I can muster…I realize the impossibity of it all!
A player who comes onto the field may be the very best we have at the position. He may not compete well vs his competiton, yet he did all that he could do (at least from what I can discern). If that is all we have does he deserve support as a Red Raider or not? I am going to support him because he is a Red Raider football player doing the best he can. I will always hope to maintain that college sports is about the college players on the team today…whatever day today is. It is their game. I can chose to enjoy or chose not to enjoy. I have watched kids play from 6th grade though college, and it is all the same to me, kids out playing a game they love…nothing more.
I take that same thinking and extrapolate it in the apporpriate context to coaches and administrators…and my fellow fans. I refuse to get more ‘serious’ about it than that.
When I look at my chosen priorities in life, sports, in any form, is not that high, even with the amount of time I spend following what happens.
This whole mess is sucky, it is complex while simple, petty while deep reaching. There is not a person in this ugly cycle of devisively expressed effort to do what is right who is better than the other…they are different.
How we chose to react to people reflects who we are as people.
I am bad enough in my own right to allow myself to excise any form of ugliness regarding sports…although I probably can and will…I am going to try to be kind and objective in every way.
There is no going back, the guys who did the last firing are going to do the next hiring. I get to support the next guy in what ever manner I can muster.
That is what I am going to try to do.
Can you support that player if he isn’t the best? He’s playing ahead of a more talented person because his family is connected? He’s playing knowing that the school cooked is academics so he could play? Someone is paying for his girlfriend and mom to drive Eslcalades?
Can you support the coach if he allows a booster or parent dictate how the game is played on the field? If he’s bullied by ESPN? Has a “flexible” moral code?
Can you support an administration that makes Jerry Jones look like an all-around good guy? Enable boosters to make coaching changes? Cow-tow to ESPN and helicopter parents?
I can’t, but I plan to keep fighting for changes at Tech. I’ll do so while I root for whatever team Leach is coaching.
Ditto! And I think the Adamses have hurt their reputations.
Maybe people will see them for what they are: rich people who will run over anybody to get what they want. And they call themselves Christians??? I’m sick of the double standard.
This may have pied them in the face though. They bleated like goats—just like the BOR and Admin wanted them to not realizing they were scape goats. They thought Tech inner circle did it for their son—Ha, Ha!
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 12:00 PM CST up reply actions
wow
TallMike, I will never support anyone who has such a blatent disregard for Ethics and Values. “Strive for Honor evermore” means something to Red Raiders and West Texans. These crooks in the Administration obviously do not understand that. It is what makes us stand out in America, like a beacon of light in darkness.
No, sir. I will not support those who have dishonored my Alma Mater.
by redraider2002 on Jan 1, 2010 7:35 PM CST up reply actions
+100
Strive for Honor evermore
Leach has been dishonored.
Those players have been dishonored.
The whole coaching staff has been dishonored.
I, as a fan of TTU Football for over 20+ years have been dishonored.
The Red and Black have been dishonored.
The school has been dishonored.
by Damien Franco on Jan 1, 2010 7:45 PM CST up reply actions
I Understand What You Are Saying
I know we all want to be ethical and moral…I have seen it before where the ethic and moral start turned to the ugly, I find it very difficult to find ethic or moral in much of the comment and action on the part of all three parties.
What I am saying is that the admin does not count to me, that the coach does not count to me, that the player does not count to me…the important thing is the idea of TTU as a fine institution.
There is a sad mark on that idea currently….and it comes from all three groups. I am not going to align myself with an administrator who has to find a weak excuse to fire a guy he does not like. I am not going to align myself with a coach who uses vindictive, albiet ‘harmless’ tactics to motivate players…and then lays a smoke screen of misinformation to cloud the truth, nor will I align myself with a player who will use his influence to gain his time on the field even if he is the very best player in college.
We have not gotten the truth yet, we may never because there is so much back and forth in the media of skewing fact while the various sides do point counter point…frankly, I think they are all lying…because they all have goals which do not align with honor.
At the exact same time I am going to support the admin, the coaches, and the players because they are the living manifestation of the idea of TTU. They are all as human and error prone as any one of us or all of us. There is no one who can do the job perfectly. And finally, I believe that it is not me who brings peace, justice, and certainly not vengence to this life.
Would any one want to dishonor his alma mater in the search to find its honor?
Open Records
I want to know what we have to do to have all of Gerald Myers emails for the last two years released, both outgoing and incoming. I am so disappointed in him. He was basketball coach when I was a student and we won a couple of SWC titles. I liked him then. But now even though he was a Tech Alum as well as a coach he does not have the schools best interest at heart. Lets get these emails and see who was in on the conspiracy.
You need to file a FOIA request. There is a letter generator on the web that does all the work for you. However, the school will charge you for labor and materials. They can also drag their feet.
HERE is the open records section of the Attorney General’s website. I rarely handle these requests, but I believe the school would have 15 days to comply. If they cannot or refuse to comply, they have 10 days to notify you and the Atty Gen’l of their reasons, which reasons must be approved by the AG. There are some substantial penalties for refusal to comply.
Good idea! Get the correspondence now.
He may have seemed OK on the outside but look what he did on the inside. I think he is an antique for TTU. We will never get on that next rung with these guys and after reading the emails I know we wouldn’t. That “good ole boy” inner circle just hurts Tech. I’m thinkin’ if they were to go with Sonny Dykes, MORE OF THE SAME, as it was with his Dad. We would never prosper!
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 11:29 AM CST up reply actions
after all this mess
I still don’t know for sure what Leach did or how he acted to make the BOR/admins want him out? Is it really the ego issue? That seems a little thin. Tech went from hiring him to no longer liking him and forcing him out. I want to know why? What did Leach do or say or not do to make that trend happen?
He was a bit hardheaded in certain things...
But all coaches are. He also backs up his decisions with a winning record, and that should be enough to pay up the money he requests.
But that’s what its about Coach T. Money. That, and they were expecting 9+ wins this year (which will happen with a win over MI St), but they definitely didn’t want to lose the TTU vs TA&M game (and definitely not by such a large margin) or against OK St. So fuel added to the fire of an already brewing relations issue with Craig James’ constant complaints… all this added up to the administration making a knee-jerk decision and firing a rising star.
Not only does Mike Leach represent TTU in a good light across the county, but he is a magnet for more and more top recruits, which add to the profile of TTU.
Dang it! Just when TTU was about to break into Tier 1. What were they thinking?
DG
What will be the fallout?
Don’t you wonder if division 1 coaches are looking over Tech’s recruits and trying to talk them into changing their committments? Let’s watch and see who goes where…
If you read the Dallas News emails, I think he did not fit their inner circle.
I’m with you though: what was it really??? I just think you have to be a West Texas good ole boy like Spike Dikes was. I think Leach thumbed them from time to time and they were full of themselves and could not take it.
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 11:55 AM CST up reply actions
Did you read
the letters between Sowell and Hance, etal published during last year’s contract mess that talks about Mike Leach’s contract negotiations throughout his tenure at TTU ?
Therein lies the crux of the matter from the BOR perspective.
Myers is positioned
to be the fall guy for all this too. I wonder if he realized this. Instead of riding on the coattails of Leach’s successes, he has positioned himself to be the fall guy. Good bye Myers, and good riddance. I hope this is how it plays out. Then maybe one day on an ESPN interview or in your memoirs you can come clean on whether you were the reason or just the tool for firing the greatest coach Tech has ever had…
Thank you! I feel exactly the same. A bunch of little fish (TT fans) and drown out the 10 or so big fish (Sowells, Hance, Myers, etc.).
These guys (Hance, Myers, Board of Regents) totally forgot about the fan base. They totally forgot that Mike Leach was TT football. They had personal agendas because he was not “one of the good ole boys”, whatever that is!!! It sounds from reading the Dallas Morning News emails that they are a bunch of old foggies that need to get with present day football. They NEED TO GO—NOT LEACH. A comment like 11-1 “is not a big deal”
tells us how ignorant they really are.
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 11:22 AM CST reply actions
That Senior Game write-up by Howard's Dad really hit home with me.
The James’ only think of themselves, selfish people. They were really scape goats but they were the perfect personalities for it—they bleated just like Hance wanted them too.
by BiggestRaiderFan on Jan 2, 2010 11:25 AM CST reply actions
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