Texas Tech Suspends Leach For Its Bowl Game
by Nestor on Dec 28, 2009 2:23 PM PST
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PrintAnother blockbuster news involving a high profile college coach:
Texas Tech has suspended coach Mike Leach from all duties, including coaching the Valero Alamo Bowl, after receiving a complaint from a player and his parents.
"At Texas Tech, all such complaints are considered as serious matters, and as a result, an investigation of the incident is underway," the school said in a release. "The investigation into this matter will continue in a thorough and fair manner."
Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill has been named interim head coach and will coach the team against Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl.
The school received a complaint from the unnamed player and his parents regarding his treatment by Leach after an undisclosed injury.
Not the first time Leach has been in the middle of an explosive controversy this season.
Of course just like Urban Meyer, took note of this story because Leach has been on our radar before. However, in this case I am becoming more convinced than ever that he would not have been the right fit for UCLA. Note I am not judging Leach and reaching conclusions. I am just making an observation that these events show why many within UCLA thought there would always be a time bomb around Leach at UCLA (of course Neuheisel's detractors can offer the same argument too but given that Neuheisel had to pay his dues professionally for the situation he was entangled up in Washington, he appeared to be a relatively safer bet (and no ... no pun intended there) this time around).
Anyway, closing the loop on Meyer, his story turned out to be really weird. But when I saw his press conference he looked to me as someone who is really struggling and is not sure what to do. It made me appreciate even more how Coach John R. Wooden walked away from his game at the top of the mountain. Anyway, good luck to Texas Tech. They seemed to have a great fan base and I love Double T Nation. I hope it all works for them.
GO BRUINS.
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.
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Supposedly
Adam James, son of former SMU running back Craig James, was mistreated by Leach as he was recovering from a concussion. James didn’t practice after receiving a concussion, and Leach forced him to to walk around the practice field for hours during practices. He also supposedly made him sit in emptied out equipment and towel bins during practice. And apparently, after james showed up to a practice in sunglasses, because of his sensitivity to light after the concussion, Leach had him sit in a dark closet for hours during a couple more practices. These are just rumors I’ve heard from other message boards and a bit from ESPN, but should be interesting to see how it plays out.
Also on a side note, Craig James is set to announce the Michigan St. Texas Tech game, I imagine that changes if these allegations are true.
William Doolittle at your service, a.k.a. will do.
More details
The player, Adam James, is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver for the Red Raiders and the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James.
A source close to the family said James sustained a concussion on Dec. 16, was examined on Dec. 17 and told not to practice due to a concussion and an elevated heart rate. The source said Leach called a trainer and directed him to move James “to the darkest place, to clean out the equipment and to make sure that he could not sit or lean. He was confined for three hours.”
According to the source, Leach told the trainer, two days later, to “put [James] in the darkest, tightest spot. It was in an electrical closet, again, with a guard posted outside.”
and Leach’s side:
Ted Liggett, Leach’s attorney, said James “was placed in an equipment room as it was much cooler and darker” than the practice field “after a doctor had examined him and returned him to the field.”
Liggett said that on that day, a trainer was posted outside the room and that James was provided ice. Liggett said that James was secluded for one to two hours. Liggett said that on another occasion, James was placed in a “press room with air conditioning and a stationary bike he could use.”
Liggett also said Leach placed James in those environments because “Mike tries to keep the players that are unable to practice as close as he can.”
Say it ain't so, Nestor
I stay away from the BN for a couple of days (my computer caught a bug, and my friend Dr. Norton had to make a house call), and what happens. AN APOSTROPHE VIOLATION. (Upper case intended.) And in the headline of all places.
I am shocked and dismayed, as are the other members of the Fonetics, Usage, Spelling, Syntax and Yelling Committee.
I was so bummed at the headline, that I didn’t really have time to ready what a blowhard announcer who’s kid isn’t good enough to start had to say about a situation that should have been handled totally between player (not parent) and coach. That headline had me so confused that I couldn’t tell if the player’s mom and dad weren’t also the late Drew Gordon’s mom and dad. That’s what happens when an apostrophe gets kicked around and stepped on.
More suspensions?
It would suck if Nestor were forced to sit out the game tomorrow for this. Hopefully he can get it’s edited before gametime and be cleared by Fox’s FUSSY Compliance officials.
Back on the subject, is it totally cynical and heartless for me to think this would not be getting so much pub (they are talking about it on MNF) if this were not an ESPN announcer’s son? It’s appalling to think that Leach, or anyone in such a position, could ever act as was described. However, if James’ side is accurate, then Leach has no absolutely business coaching kids, ever. I suspect that, as usual, the truth probably lies somewhere between the two sides’ versions.
greg in denver - UCLA guy for life
maybe senora ross holds a punctuation class...
so that he can get it cleared up quickly
Has there ever been a player better than Detlef Schrempf?
by bucknellbruin on Dec 28, 2009 9:06 PM PST up reply actions
Question
Maybe this can be answered by someone who has played college football. What I don’t get is the intent of confining a guy to a dark closet. Was he being punished for being hurt and unable to practice?
Reportedly, James was on the sidelines wearing dark glasses because, after the concussion, his eyes were very sensitive. But, sticking a guy in an electrical closet and not letting him sit or lean doesn’t sound like empathetic or effective treatment.
Like 66, I favored Leach for the vacant UCLA position back when. Actually, Leach was my second choice, but Chris Petersen took himself out of the running. I liked in both the daring and innovation. Since then, I have come to appreciate the wisdom of DG’s choice. But, wow. This is really dismaying.
What was Leach trying to do? What was the point? I don’t get it. Is this just Neanderthal football discipline, like denying players water during heatstroke days?
If this had happened at USC...
The coach would not have been suspended, the university would not have made any statement, the affected parties would not be quickly on their way to court (in open session). No, it would be handed off to the Southern Cal “compliance” office, and the NCAA would add it to the backlog of items that take 3-4 years apiece to look into.
Leach Fired
Wow.
The sudden fall of one of the games most creative minds.
There has been bad blood between Leach and TT. (Like there was with CRN at Washington).
We may never know the truth. Only way will be if Leach’s lawsuit gets past the discovery stage and the records are not sealed.
sjh
I agree, completely
I posted in the fan shots.
I’ve got some Red Raider friends — one of whom is a trial lawyer. I’ll try to get ahold of him, tomorrow.
As I posted, in the other thread, the last coach to be fired on a pretext was CRN and UW paid the price.
Unfortunately, CRN has carried an unfair stigma as will Leach — no matter what happens.
I’m watching the Nebraska/Arizona game and it makes me sick to hear Craig James on the air.
Shame on ESPN for giving him a podium. The proper thing to do would have been to keep him away from the story.
But, actually, he is the story. Like DG’s parents and the other helicopter parents out there.
sjh
Seriously ...
I just commented in the Podcast thread. I can’t believe Fowler teed it up for James like that on national TV? WTF? I don’t know where I fall on this but at least offer up a balanced perspective with Leach’s view. Wow, I despise ESPN.
I'm surprised at my reaction to this.
I am 100% in Coach Leach’s corner on this. For some reason, I feel personally affronted by this whole thing. Coaches get fired all the time, but this just seems different somehow. I am really PO-ed at the Texas Tech administration for railroading Coach Leach, but my dander it off the meter when it comes to Craig James and ESPN. I vow NEVER to listen to another word on ESPN. That’s not real hard, of course. It’s like giving up root canals for Lent. But I will watch, and I will make it a point to never buy anything advertised on ESPN. Of course, I’m just one guy, and they won’t care what I do, but I’ll do it anyway.
I’ve already commented elsewhere that I think this will cost Texas Tech much, much more than the $1.6m they owe, and that’s just the lawsuit damages. Think of the revenue that will disappear from Texas Tech’s coffers, expecially from their fans who, according to Texas Tech Nation, have totally had it. I guess what bugs me the most is that this was all started by Craig James, who felt entitled to be paid as a student athlete at SMU, and who thinks that his son is entitled to an apology from a coach. What utter crap. I remember how my dad handled discipline. If I was accused of anything by anyone, it was assumed that I did it (and indeed I usually did do it, but that’s beside the point). If I had been put in the shed for three hours, when I got home I would have been put in a worse shed for six hours. It is inconceivable that my dad would have demanded an apology, then gone on TV with the story.
I had been indifferent to Craig James until now. Now I want him fired. That will never happen, of course. He’s allegedly announcing on the Arizona Nebraska game which I’m watching (but not listening to.)
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