Leach fired

[Willie]

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Texas Tech has fired football coach Mike Leach.

The school handed a termination letter to Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, on Wednesday just before the two sides were to appear in a Lubbock, Texas, courtroom for a hearing on the coach's suspension.

Liggett says the letter says Leach is "terminated with cause effective immediately."

Leach was suspended by the university on Monday while the school investigated allegations that he mistreated an injured player.

Receiver Adam James alleges Leach twice confined him to small, dark spaces during practice after the player was diagnosed with a concussion. James is the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James.

In an affidavit included with his injunction request to coach the Red Raiders in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday, Leach said he "would never intentionally harm or endanger a player" and that he has been "forced into this situation without being afforded any process."

He wrote "absolutely" no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards.

"I have never and would never intentionally harm or endanger a player. I am committed to Texas Tech University and the well being of my football players. I have been forced into this situation without being afforded any process," he said. "Not being allowed to coach immediately will cause irreparable harm because preparation for the game is ongoing and it will be over on January 2, 2009. Every minute of preparation is critical to be ready for the game."

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill was chosen by the university to be Texas Tech's interim coach against Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

Leach led the Red Raiders to the best season in program history last year, going 11-2, but he and the university were at odds for months over negotiations for a contract extension. In February, Leach and the school agreed to a five-year, $12.7 million deal that would have kept him in Lubbock through 2013.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls09/n ... id=4781981

[AZGrizFan]

Shocking, I say. Just shocking.

I'm sure the $800,000 bonus due TOMORROW had no play in this decision.

[BlackFalkin]

Whoa Whats up with Texas Tech coaches mistreating players?

[AZGrizFan]

Whoa Whats up with Texas Tech coaches mistreating players?

They're all living "Friday Night Lights".

[JMU DJ]

Yeah... I'd like to see the evidence. Otherwise, to me, this is just Anne Putnam calling Sarah Good a witch.

[bandl]

Meet the next Montana coach!!!

[andy7171]

The more I read about this, the worse Adam James looks. Unlike the Kansas Mangino falling out, TT players are basically calling James out as a soft pussi who wanted to be babied because of who his father is.

[Willie]

Meet the next Montana coach!!!

[JMU DJ]

The more I read about this, the worse Adam James looks. Unlike the Kansas Mangino falling out, TT players are basically calling James out as a soft pussi who wanted to be babied because of who his father is.

Yup, if Leach is so bad, why aren't any of these other kids corroborating James story?

[∞∞∞]

Long gone are the days of Coach Bear Bryant's methods...

[ASUMountaineer]

This keeps looking better and better for Leach as time goes on. This is going to get nasty, and Texas Tech may find itself in a bad position. Funny, the school that hired Bob Knight has a problem with a coach putting a player in a closet.

[slycat]

The pussy kids dad ruined Leach.

Rumor has it that Leach is headed to Texas A&M to check out the OC position.

[SuperHornet]

A song keeps playing in my mind when I watch ESPN's blatantly pro-TT Admin coverage:

"It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Kramer!"

[Ivytalk]

gettin' ugly in Lubbock -- the armpit of the Southwest. Leach didn't sign an "I will not abuse the players" letter, which didn't help his case.

And, just for the record, Craig James is a bozo.

[MrTitleist]

Leach really got the shaft here.. James is a whiny bitch, plain and simple. Terrible work ethic, supposedly. I can't imagine why TT would let him go.. he built their football program, and Leach wasn't really given due diligence in his dismissal. Leads me to believe Craig James is throwing some fat checks at TT.

[Willie]

Leach really got the shaft here.. James is a whiny bitch, plain and simple. Terrible work ethic, supposedly. I can't imagine why TT would let him go.. he built their football program, and Leach wasn't really given due diligence in his dismissal. Leads me to believe Craig James is throwing some fat checks at TT.

They needed a reason to not have to pay him that additional $800,000 he was guaranteed tomorrow if he was still coach.

[Wedgebuster]

He thought he was untouchable.

Ok, so the kid's a pain in the ass, bench him permanently. The stuff that used to be standard is now illegal. I'd a fired the pompous ass too.

Coaches do have to answer to the administration even if they out earn 'em.

Stoopid fucker.

[JMU DJ]

Leeches Attorney/The locations James was put
[youtube][/youtube]

Alleged video by Adam James of the "electrical closet"
[youtube][/youtube]

[AZGrizFan]

He thought he was untouchable.

Ok, so the kid's a pain in the ass, bench him permanently. The stuff that used to be standard is now illegal. I'd a fired the pompous ass too.

Coaches do have to answer to the administration even if they out earn 'em.

Stoopid fucker.

Leach on ESPN this morning: When asked to describe Adam James, he said "lazy....and it's well documented by player statements." When asked about Adam's father (ESPN analyst Craig James), he said "Craig James took more time to deal with than all the other parents combined." He said James would call him, call the position coaches, come to practice and lobby for playing time....

What a fucking douche. And this player sure doesn't get any sympathy from me. Sounds like he should have been on the tiddlywinks team.

[dbackjon]

The Texas Tech trainer is saying today that the "closet" was the size of a two car garage, and he was monitored the whole time.


Adam James = pussy.

Craig James = douchebag

[AZGrizFan]

The Texas Tech trainer is saying today that the "closet" was the size of a two car garage, and he was monitored the whole time.


Adam James = pussy.

Craig James = douchebag

Mike Leach is going to become a very rich man. And every day he becomes a bit more vindicated. He'll have NO trouble finding another lucrative gig.

[MrTitleist]

Leach's interview on ESPN last night was hilarious, and he didn't pull any punches. It's going to be damn hard for Adam James to play football w/ his TT teammates after the pirate captain was fired.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

I wonder if Adam is one of the guys that had a fat little girlfriend and is still offended by the coaches comments.
[youtube][/youtube]

[bench]

Via Every Day Should Be Saturday dot commm — from the following advert it appears The Pirate King's hired legal representation may in fact be an actual gorilla, a shit-slinging, tort-smashing brute who will literally rip your face off. So basically just like any other lawyer, then. YARRR:

[Captain Ahab]

Sad day it be when a captain be losin his ship ta a scurvy mutineer. Adam James be a skaylark an twas needin 40 lashes ta loosen tha shot frum his arse. A dark closet breed contempt in lads these days.