Highly-touted University of Houston offensive coordinator Dana Holgorsen, who was the position coach for Adam James at Texas Tech the year James joined the team, had harsh words in an email to Tech university officials about the son of ESPN broadcaster Craig James.
Holgorsen’s email also indicates an acute betrayal by Adam James of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who Holgorsen alleged was the only Division I coach offering Adam a scholarship. A fact I have independently corroborated with a Texas high school football recruiting expert.
From Lubbock’s Fox 26:
Holgorsen worked for (Mike) Leach at Texas Tech for eight years, the last three as offensive coordinator. FOX 26 Sports has obtained a copy of the e-mail written by Holgorsen.
“I am writing this letter on behalf of Mike Leach in regards to the Adam James situation,” Holgorsen writes in his e-mail. “I was the inside receiver coach at Texas Tech when we made the decision (to) sign Adam James in January of 2007. Adam had no offers to play NCAA D1 football during and after his senior year. After a conversation between Coach Leach and Adam’s father Craig, Coach Leach acquired a brief highlight tape of Adam and made the decision to take him as a scholarship student athlete.
“I was opposed to doing so in (the) belief he was not a D1 football player,” Holgorsen writes in his e-mail. “Coach Leach overrode my opinion and Adam became a Red Raider. During the rest of my time at Texas Tech I was Adam’s position coach where I always remained critical of Adam’s ability to play at this level due to being lazy in not only the classroom but also in the offseason and during practice.
“Coach Leach was the one who kept saying he believed Adam would eventually contribute. Adam’s teammates believed he was selfish and were constantly getting on him for lack of effort as they sensed entitlement on his part due to his father being a very good football player. Adam eventually ended up playing a little after I left due to his body type being able to do some TE (tight end) sets which consists of around 5-10 plays a game.
“Adam should be thankful for the opportunity to play at Texas Tech and for Mike Leach, who gave him the opportunity,” Holgorsen writes. “In my opinion playing 5-10 plays a game in an outstanding offense is more than he would get at any other school in NCAA D1 football.”
Obviously Holgorsen is on Leach’s side in all of this, but he’s putting his reputation on the line against one of the most powerful college football media commentators in the biz in Craig James of ESPN.
This story is getting crazier by the moment.
UPDATE: And the hits keep on coming. This time from James’ current position coach, Lincoln Riley:
During the last two years of being the inside receivers coach, I have
had the chance to learn alot about Adam James. He came to Tech
because of one person: Coach Leach. Although we adamently doubted
his talent, we as coaches came to see that Adam actually had enough
talent to help us out. The problem, though, is that Adam is
unusually lazy and entitled. Many other players on this team,
specifically receivers, have a much larger role on this team with less
talent. I have always been worried about Adam’s effect on my other
players because of his weak and conceited attitude. I recently found
out that Adam deliberately undermined my authority on many occasions.
This is particularly disturbing because Coach Leach hired me to make
our receivers the best group in the country, and Adam has damaged this
group far more than I even realized. He should be grateful forthe
opportunity that was given to him here that was not offered at any
other Division 1 football program. He has an unvelievable sense of
entitlement because of who his father is; one that hurts himself and
people around him. Adam is the kind of person that makes excuses or
blames people for things that go wrong in his life.
Furthermore, I don’t have children yet, but when I do I hope they are
coached by someone like Coach Leach. I have learned so many great
things from him and am incredibly lucky to have him in my life.
10:41 am on December 30th, 2009
I don’t know, but I’m not sure Holgorsen is the most credible person in this since he’s basically saying he disliked the kid from the start. Pretty easy for James camp to neutralize this just by pointing that out, plus Holgorsen is opening himself for criticism of not giving James a chance & you make a great point that he is definitely putting his reputation on the line. If any of these teammates Holgorsen refers to come out and corroborate that story, then perhaps he is more credible. He just seems to be attempting to deflect attention away from the actual issue: whether Leach did something inappropriate or not. What does the fact that James should be grateful to Leach for giving him an opportunity have to do with anything? I’m grateful for my boss for giving me an opportunity at my job but that doesn’t necessarily mean I should tolerate being mistreated or abused and neither should James, if he is telling the truth.
10:53 am on December 30th, 2009
Sounds like there is plenty of blame to go around here. Sounds like Adam James is a wuss and a brat, like Craig James has been throwing his weight around, and that Coach Leach has a very sadistic way of enforcing his discipline.
Seems to me, that if Adam James was indeed recovering from a concussion (can that be verified?), and was slow to return to practice because of it, and Leach responded by punishing him (locking him in a closet? Please, child.), Leach HAS to go. He deserves criminal charges, as well.
OTOH, it sounds like Adam James doesn’t belong at Tech or on any other D1 football team. He needs to take his entitled ass to beer-truck driving school and get on with his life.
I’ll be interested to see how all this develops as more facts come out.
10:55 am on December 30th, 2009
It appears that it’s still an open question as to whether young Mr. James is actually telling the truth, or a distorted version of it.
11:00 am on December 30th, 2009
Even I think this James kid is soft!!!
12:04 pm on December 30th, 2009
Craig James is a first class douche. Why would his son be any different?
12:13 pm on December 30th, 2009
Brittany,
I didn’t see where he stated he disliked the kid from the start. He simply didn’t think he was D1 material. Then, Adam proved he wsn’t D1 material.
When one undermines a coach like Adam did, I find that to be a significant character flaw.
Also, no one sticks their neck out for someone unless they believe 100% that what they are saying is absolutely true. You wouldn’t because you don’t want to jeopardize your job or your reputation. It’s way too small of a world in that profession.
12:20 pm on December 30th, 2009
shoot, my pee wee football coach used to make us take off our chin straps and then he’d whip our ear holes with them. I wish he stuck me in a closet.
12:52 pm on December 30th, 2009
I bet Leach is kicking himself for recruiting this guy.
1:13 pm on December 30th, 2009
@BJ - He wasnt recruited by Texas Tech. The “James Gang” approached them…
1:20 pm on December 30th, 2009
The James Gang? More like the Bristol Gang! You go back and watch every Tech game that Craig has been on TV announcing for and you would think he and the pirate coach shared a canoe a time or two. But now that his primadonna son had his ego damaged? The pirate has to walk the plank…
1:38 pm on December 30th, 2009
both craig and his son adam are nothing more than crybabies. football is a man’s sport they both need to grow up and stop whining.
1:44 pm on December 30th, 2009
Sounds like overall bad coaching to me by a guy who is known to be goofy. If Adam James wasn’t a contributor to the team, then he should not have been part of it. If Leach kept him, for whatever reasons, then that’s Leach’s fault.
This could have been avoided by Leach handling it in a different manner. Blaming the player, or the player’s dad, is putting the blame in the wrong place.
2:21 pm on December 30th, 2009
This is a witch hunt. I watch TTU football when televised, and the James kid was not as good as dad thought he was. What a crock. The mad pirate will be back and maybe Texas can get him to replace Greg Davis. Can you imagine with Texas’ receiver corps and a mad passer like Gilbert in the backfield. Sorry Colt, but your records would fall with Leach running a pass attack.
3:09 pm on December 30th, 2009
Adam James just reminds us that Nepotism remains the greatest threat to America and its citizens.
Nepotism is more deadly that al Qaeda and Goldman Sachs.
Nepotism has brought us such luminaries as Chip Carey, Joe Buck, Luke Russert, George W. Bush, Jonah Goldberg, Chris Cuomo, William Kristol, John Podhoretz, Paris Hilton, Chris Wallace, Matt Bond, Chris Dodd, and Nepotism’s Personal Biographer Adam Bellow.
3:37 pm on December 30th, 2009
Today is a SAD day in Texas Tech History -
It’sobvious Leach tried to elevate Craig James son by taking him in even though he was not qualified -
Adam James should be snubbed by all the team members for being a brat and possibly ruining the career of the best Coach Tech ever had. A Lesson to all Coaches and Recruiters - let the talent in - Keep the brats OUT
4:11 pm on December 30th, 2009
I’m starting to think SBB has ADHD. The way you guys get locked on a topic and lose track of anything else that might be of real interest to your readers,,,, is well,,,where was I going with this. Oh yeah. Texas Tech
7:24 am on December 31st, 2009
ADHD?
7:56 am on December 31st, 2009
Maxcat has it right. If Adam James was not contributing and was a distraction to the team, then dismiss him from the team. Simple as that. If Coach Leach is a class guy, then handle the situation in a class manner and all will be better for it. If any bad situation is handled in a bad manner, normally everyone is hurt. Hopefully Coach Leach has learned something and he lands on his feet, after all, this was not a crime.
2:09 pm on December 31st, 2009
I’m a Texas Tech grad and Leach’s firing cuts me to the quick. From what I have seen, read, and heard, Adam James is a brat and his helicopter dad made matters much worse than they otherwise would have been. Craig James obviously wanted his son to be the star of the team just like he was at SMU. I don’t think Leach did anything that harmed this kid other than hurting his pride. And I believe the story line given by the James’ crew makes the events appear to be much worse than they actually were. It is indeed unfortunate that the powers that be at TT and also Mike Leach were not able to say, “Let’s forget the suspension and go win the Alamo Bowl and then work this thing out once all of us have had time to cool off.” Too many people who “had to win” the argument, including Leach. I played basketball for Gerald Myers when I was in high school and well remember running laps around the gym until I thought I would die. I guess “abuse” is in the eye of the beholder. In any event, Texas Tech has lost the best coach the university is likely to ever have.
2:17 pm on December 31st, 2009
This is the furtherance in my belief that more and more men are being feminized along with sports. If you ever heard CJ talk about Texas tech, he was never a real fan, but his own Alma Mater did not offer an obligatory scholarship to himself, for CJ’s record breaking seasons at SMU, TT a far better football program offered it to him out respect for what CJ did for small Texas college football! How does CJ return that significant gesture of respect, file a complainant against the man, and help TT get rid of their best coach ever on behalf of his pus@y as@ son!!!! Wussification at it’s highest level!!! Men and young men like Craig and Adam have done and will do more damage to America then any jihadist, mark my words!!!
3:33 pm on December 31st, 2009
The James kid apparently thinks he deserves special treatment….I want to knwo if the statement by the curretn reciever coach will be aired on ESPN, like all the PRO James stuff is airing on teh crawl every 3 minutes??
4:51 pm on December 31st, 2009
Leach is a legendary figure - one of THE most innovative offensive minds in the country. 20+ years coaching, and NEVER a “player abuse” allegation up to now……..this is about 9.9 on the old “Stink-o-Meter”. Texas Tech has NOW suffered a HUGE loss - not only to their program - but to the Checkbook as well. First, good luck finding a coach of ANY quality who is going to look twice at you - penny pinching administration who WILL NOT back up it’s staff. Second, MILLIONS will be lost to NOT ONLY the football program, but to all of the other programs on TT that benefitted from the revenues. —– So the kid had to sit in a quiet dark place and THINK about what he was doing - if the “BRAT” had spent a fraction of the effort toward school and football as he did playing “Pocket Pool” - he MIGHT have amounted to something - and Mike Leach GAVE him that opportunity. In my opinion, this kid REALLY appears to be suited to a life as a “government” employee - preferably a “page boy” for Barney Franks - I’m sure an opening can be made - only prerequisite will be for his daddy to give Barney some positive air time…… I’m sure it can be arranged…. meanwhile, as a frustrated SOONER - I’ll GLADLY take him back as AC, and we’ll beat the ever-loving SNOT out of EVERYBODY - AGAIN…..PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE send him to US!!!!
5:55 pm on December 31st, 2009
I’ve never seen so many message board tough guys in my life. A bunch of fatasses who never played ball beyond pop warner swinging their small dicks around in their mom’s basements calling out a kid who could put any of you in the morgue with one punch.
“Yeah that James kid is such a pussy whaaaa His had was an actual athlete and has a job whaaaaaaa– I am so tough my mom does my laundry”
Leach has a history of being a lying backstabber and he lined up a few of his cronies and lapdogs to assassinate a young kid who’s only crime is thinking for himself and thinking that he shouldn’t be berated and punished for having a brain injury. Yes, not a hangnail a brain injury.
By grace of God James has an influential dad and didn’t have to take Leach’s crap and end up another punchdrunk Walmart bagboy while Leach continues to roll in dough and use up another hundred or so teenagers lives annually.
6:21 pm on December 31st, 2009
Sounds like Mojo13 is jelous of potentially losing his job as a “Page Boy for Barney” to this up and coming “wonder kid”…… after all, “Mojo” seems to be tuned in to “fat boys with small dicks in their mom’s basement” - sounds pretty much like a “Barney” thing to me…….jilted love……..it aint easy being green…….
Meanwhile - Mojo - you should look up the prescribed treatment for people with suspected concussions - seems like Leach was following the requirements, all except for putting this kid in a “pink room with dolls, and Mozart playing ever so softly”.
But since, as you say, this kid is tough enough to knock my “fat ass” block off with one punch, maybe the “media room” - you know - the one his dad worked from - maybe that was good enough for the occassion?
In the mean time, Tech has lost one fine coach, and their program has been dealt a serious blow….. all by one spoild brat kid. How many hundreds of players, and tens of thousands of fans need to be adversely affected to suit you. How many millions of dollars lost to a University that desperately needs them - how many will it take to satisfy your “lust” to see a successful person destroyed.
Talk about “Penus Envy”…….
10:31 pm on December 31st, 2009
I’m just holding my breath for the baby James to become a huge college football star now that the evil Mike Leach is not holding him back.
Mojo13, when the baby James wins the Heisman next year, you can’t tell me “I told you so”!
6:37 am on January 1st, 2010
to me it sounds like this james kid is soft. He thinks he owed something because of the work his daddy ans done, and of course parents always stick up for their kids. craig your sons a sissy no reason to ruin the life of atleast a decent coach so that you family feels better. Obiously This James kids future in football is stopping here so stop being dousche bags and accept it
8:29 pm on January 1st, 2010
Any player without a big name dad would suck it up, whatever it was, and play ball. This whole thing is a joke. Shame on TT for their actions. I don’t know anything about the kid, just this heresay. My kid comes whining, no way I stand up for him. Craig James is an embarassment.
12:07 am on January 2nd, 2010
The story doesn’t add up for the TTU coaching staff. Athletic scholarships are earned yr to yr, so if he didn’t deserve it they wouldn’t have renewed it. You Leach-leeches, who likely throw a ball like a retarded 4 yr old need to get off the kid.
5:41 am on January 2nd, 2010
the james family is losing all credibility if the dad is commentator and his employer owns bowl games there is huge money and power brooks find out how often and to whom the dad was calling if he is lobbying coaches and alums espn should can him
11:57 am on January 2nd, 2010
Craig “Pony” James looked white a sheet the other day befoer his gig.
He knows he fucked this guy over, with his pampered preening pussbag of a kid.
Adam James is a pussy. I’d like to have seen what got him a “mild concussion”. Hell, anytime you get tackled, you might have a mild concussion.
No wonder these coaches make so much money, dealing with idiots like Craig “Pony” James.
5:26 pm on January 2nd, 2010
The point is not that the James Gang took out a coach…but rather they were the pawns of an administration who wanted to get rid of Leach. Craig James ruined his kids life, and his own career by being duped by Kent Hance and Gerald Meyers.
I cant help but laugh as this goes down…but I am even sad for Adam , as he will always be known as the whiner who got a coach fired.
As the truth comes out, you will see that Coach Leach did not do any of the things Adam has accused him of.
The real losers are Coach Leach, his assistant coaches, and TTU football fans.
9:53 pm on January 2nd, 2010
“The point is not that the James Gang took out a coach…but rather they were the pawns of an administration who wanted to get rid of Leach.”
Well said.
9:59 pm on January 2nd, 2010
The official medical report said that
Adam James had a yeast infection, not a concussion. Trust me, I am a doctor.
11:14 pm on January 2nd, 2010
Agree with Otto–and digging deeper, the real point here is that Leach won games in 10 years at BFnowhere in Lubbock, with a team that has no football tradition prior to his arrival. Admin should be happy with this, but I guess they couldn’t handle the fact that an athletic program was now running the show. The front aligned with A.J.’s BS, admin’s disgust with the situation and Leach’s need to stick to his guns…equaling termination. Leach wins big…he gets the money and probably another gig soon. TTU loses ligitimacy and A.J. wins a free education!
11:19 pm on January 2nd, 2010
oh, and mojo13…James wasn’t forced to go to TTU…or was he???
7:53 am on January 3rd, 2010
Craig James and his daughter Adam are loosers. We have kids fighting and getting killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and this sissy girl named Adam James is not happy for being in a dark room, what a douchebag. Is this for real? what is America getting into?
1:08 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I am a former FB coach. So, I see things from both sides. The kid is not a D1 player. His dad’s position probably convinced Coach leach to give him a scholarship. The kid probably thought that this entitled him to play because of who his dad was. Coach Leach probably should have told thge trainer to handle the situation. The trainer and doctor actually have the power to override the coach in an injury situation but apparently chose not to, but now choose to place blame on the coach but not on themselves. Coach leach was probably frustrated by the actions of this kid over the past two years, but still should not have done what he did. However, what he did was not grounds for them firing him. The university can impose rules on him even if he does not sign a statement to this effect. It’s almost as if they were looking at ways to get rid of him. As far as a few players on the team making comments that they are happy he is gone, you will find that anywhere after the fact. The fact that the second string QB called him Leach instead of Coach Leach shows his immaturity and disrespect. Players make themselves look bad by doing these things. Coach Leach will be at another school soon and will turn that program around quickly. If I were TT I would not want to play them. The sad thing is that I bet he will not give a scholarship to a marginal player ever again.
4:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
This is bred into the new generations. Cry and 1/2 ass around and No one can do a thing about it. If you get on someone’s ass a bit too harsh (as a coach or supervisor) then you are an abusive P.O.S. it really is awful to see how this country has molded our younger generation. If things don’t go their way they point, cry and scream that someone is being unfair or their a victim of descrimination until they get their way. If some of these coaches that made college football what it is today was still alive they would pluck out their eyes to keep from seeing all these pussies trying to play football. I wish we would see a day we could get the lawyers out of everyday life and just get back to the basics…
10:27 am on January 8th, 2010
I think even less of Craig James. This guy wants to run for public office? So this guy not only rips off a man’s job, he screws up the assitant coaches jobs, also. They always get shuffled around in a change. This means that now, a head coach, assistant coaches AND thier families are thrown into joblessness and unexpected changes.
Yeah Craig James, you belong in polictics, alright. You are one selfish, hateful, preening COWARDLY snob. You’ll do just fine. Is this how you would do the public? I think so. You’ll find my vote floating in the toilet.
Youre kid isnt a Division 1 level player anyway. Tech is the only D1 school to offer him ride, anyway. This is what you do to someone (Leach) who overrides his staffs decision to NOT give your kid a scholarship because he was NOT good enough in the first place?
I hope the other players at Tech run your kid’s sorry ass out of that program. He/you are too selfish and small for team sports..
10:54 pm on January 8th, 2010
Mojo 13-
Wow. You sound like a real football player. I am so impressed.
My mom just did my laundry and the basement is kind of chilly, but at least I don’t have a dick in my mouth like you, you James’ apologist faggot, ballsucker.
Adam James is a prison bitch. A prison bitch. If you love him so much, share a cell with him Pussy Boy.