Texas Tech football fans have spoken on the dispute between Mike Leach vs. the James family and the Tech administration.
Adam James endured deafening boos as he entered and left the field during the Alamo Bowl Saturday night in San Antonio. ESPN also reported that James was provided extra security.
Thayer Evans of the NEW YORK TIMES, who conducted an interview with Texas Tech head football trainer Steve Pincock before Texas Tech released an affidavit today with what the school claims were comments made by Pincock on Dec.21, reports Saturday night:
In a previous statement by Pincock that was provided by Leach’s lawyers, he said that James “was never locked in any facility, and was never placed in an electrical closet or tight space, or instructed to do so.”
Pincock in his statement to Tech administrators said the Leach instructed him to lock James into wherever the son of ESPN announcer Craig James was to be confined.
In the affidavit, Pincock said he told Leach where he had put James and that Leach said that “he was fine with it.”
More from the New York Times:
In another affidavit released Saturday by the university, the team physician Michael Phy told the investigator on Dec. 22 that James “may not have been harmed,” but that he “considered this practice inappropriate.” In the statement announcing Leach’s firing, Texas Tech said that Leach’s actions put James “at risk for additional injury.”
In a previous statement distributed by Leach’s lawyers, Phy said that “no additional risks or harm were imposed on Adam by what he was asked to do.”
Lastly, Evans notes that the Tech administration had Pincock and Phy “sign affidavits about their original statements to the investigator after Leach’s ‘conflicting recent media accounts of the treatment of James.’”
Actually, the conflicting comments came from Pincock and Phy.
6:55 am on January 3rd, 2010
It is obvious to me that the kid was upset about his playing time so he exagerated the situation and got his dad to complain about it. Little brat .His father is another who obviously feels his son is is entitled to special treatment. Why doesn’t the father address the fact of how his son went to practice. Leach will win a settlement and go on to make another university program a success. For me Craig James and how Espn handled the situation is totally unprofessional.
8:00 am on January 3rd, 2010
espn’s coverage of this is so one side that it’s allmost sickening to watch–my wife even thinks they’re biased .
8:02 am on January 3rd, 2010
Why hasn’t the investigation included Craig James? His involvement in all of this is a classic case of crybaby. Adam did not look all that concussed on the sidelines (where he belongs even when completely healthy) of the bowl game. I was great the way the crowd handled his appearance.
8:08 am on January 3rd, 2010
The Alamo Bowl coverage was so sickening. ESPN was trying so hard to promote the replacement coach. Agenda setting at its best (worst?).
8:16 am on January 3rd, 2010
Get a life. This entire story is stupid and insignficant…it’s amazing the foolishness people will find important and argue over. Sports broadcasts are devolving below Oprah and The View — which are pathetic.
8:21 am on January 3rd, 2010
Leach had enemies because he was different. Good, very good, coach. I guess pro teams are just waiting to snap up little Adamk.
8:59 am on January 3rd, 2010
Did you hear the game commentators constantly talk about the situation between Coach Leach and the James/Tech conspiracy. They prefaced each comment by saying they weren’t privy to the facts yet they continued to comment on it in a completely biased way. They showed Adam James on the sidelines even while plays were going on! I turned the game on to watch a game and listen the color crew comment on the GAME not the antics of a crybaby father and a son who doesn’t own a pair! Finally turned the game off, couldn’t stand listening to the crap the color guys kept spouting.
Clearly ESPN has taken sides, just like all the mainstrem media, they don’t have reporters, they have talking heads who interpret and report their opinion of events not unbiaised reporters.
9:05 am on January 3rd, 2010
All of you Texas Tech Fans need to get a life. Leach was a wackjob!! Plain and simple. He constantly thumbed his nose at administration and got what was coming to him. Yes another college will hire him. Regardless of what you think about the James family, I ask, what would you have done if that was your kid, locked in an electrical closet after any type of injury, minor or not? If you think that wasn’t a big deal, you either don’t have kids or are a horrible parent. What comes around…….
9:08 am on January 3rd, 2010
I was so disgusted listening to those espn sportscasters last night during that game that I finally hit the mute button! If this had been anyone else’s child this would NEVER be a story! Just like Leach said, Craig James has a very big microphone to whine into and he took full advantage of the situation……ESPN is the most pitiful network I have ever seen….all they can talk about is this situation instead of how much Leach turned that program around and made it what it is. We all know that kid is a spoiled rotten baby and espn needs to just let it go!
9:12 am on January 3rd, 2010
Coach Leach should have sent Adam James to the tean doctor or the hospital and cleaned his hands of him. He used poor judgement in this situation. Adam James is a phony and a brat. His college playing days are over. Coach Leach will go onto bigger and better places than Texas Tech. learly, the father over stepped his authority and celebrity. ESPN is biased as is all the media. Now, Texas Tech has another problem. What do they do about the interim coach. Hire him now because he is black.
9:15 am on January 3rd, 2010
In my opinion: Coach Leach should sue TTU,Graig James and ESPN for every penny they are worth….Graig James should be fired for using his position at ESPN for personal gain…..TTU wasn’t going to pay Coach Leach any monies he was owed he– or high water…ESPN was unfair and one sided on it’s reporting of the events alway on the side of their colleague Graig James…ESPN has become another rumor mongering tabloid…Sounds like to me a not so talented cry baby football player and his ex-football player big ego Dad trying to relive his glory days got their panties in a bunch got mad and decieded to make a mountain out of a mole hill….Good luck Coach leach I hope you drain the wallets dry
9:26 am on January 3rd, 2010
i thought espn was better then this-
quess i was wrong-espn use fire james for using there
name and t.v. coverage to attack and belittle leach
on national t.v.
it is obevouis what leach says about james is true
look at how he used espn to bring on the defence for his bratty son.
come on espn i know your better then this.
9:30 am on January 3rd, 2010
to say that craig james didn’t meddle with his son’s playing time is insulting to everyone’s intelligence !
9:56 am on January 3rd, 2010
A conflict of over-zealous egos mixed in with under-nourished and misguided common- “Black Guy”sense. Get over it already ! Pay Leach off, hire a new Head Coach, and get ready for the 2010 season. Loved the game against Mich State (my alma mater) and am now a TexTech fan..Yes, give the Asst Coach a chance and put to rest (at least for alittle while) the notion that West Texas is still full of bigots.
9:58 am on January 3rd, 2010
the could should have been a man and handled the situation himself. the fact that he didn’t tells me he is a spoiled little brat.
10:10 am on January 3rd, 2010
I’ve always regarded ESPN commentator Craig james as mediocre at best. I think what we are hearing from the entire ESPN family is anxiousness. The Leach vs. James/TTU case has escalated quickly. We’ve already reached the “cover your ass” phase. Fear of exposure and speed lead me to believe there is so much more to learn and what we will learn will make TTU, Craig James, and Adam look much worse than they do now. By association, ESPN goes down to.
10:29 am on January 3rd, 2010
I attent Texas Tech! I have met Adam a few times and he is a prick. He is just one of those guys! ya know, the type that think they are the shit always! I am gonna miss Leach! It’s sad to see him go for something like this.
10:31 am on January 3rd, 2010
let everyone picture their kid in this type of situation, just over football, not even in a war zone!
10:39 am on January 3rd, 2010
The Texas Tech administration has no integrity. The “charges” against Leach have been trumped up so they could fire him and not have to pay him his 800k bonus on 12/31. What the heck does TT care about a coach abusing his players anyhow: remember, TT hired Bob Knight, WHO IS ON FREAKING TAPE ABUSING HIS PLAYERS!! and TT kissed fawned all over the guy. And Adam James, please, the spoiled little punk was upset about his lack of playing time and the fact that Leach wouldn’t stand for his attitude, so he made most of it up.
10:41 am on January 3rd, 2010
It had nothing to do with James…could have been any guy on the team…
The coach screwed up Big Time and got what he
deserved…GONE…!
10:50 am on January 3rd, 2010
James was a problem player who should have been benched and suspended from the team
if his attitude didn’t change. He and his father were
a time consuming problem exceeding the difficulties
of the rest of the Tech team combined. Craig James
should not have been allowed to use ESPN for his
obviously biased agenda. The medical affidavit leaks
have been very contradictory. I suspect that anyone
who wants to retain their emplyment at Tech has been
persuaded to get in line with the school’s position.
The other Espn commentators have been phony and
disgusting in their unbalanced bias toward the James
boys. I believe Tech football will become what it was
in the pre-Leach years. I think Lou Holtz stood alone in
his scepticism regarding the charges by commenting
on the fact there have been no other abuse claims
made against Leach during his career. It is possible
that Adam James & father provoked bad decision
making by Leach. The content of the other staff members indicated that they were very tired of the
lack of Team orientation in Adam & Criaig James.
The university can pride themselves on using the situation to take back money they had legally agreed
to pay Coach Leach. It has all been an extremely
nauseating prsentation of collegiate football.
Paul B. Dandurand
10:52 am on January 3rd, 2010
Let’s do something constructive……..do whatever it takes to get Craig James fired. Any ideas?
11:06 am on January 3rd, 2010
I had to turn off the sound. ESPN announcers talked about this so much they forgot a game was going on. It got so bad at one point, it sounded like Brad Davie was applying for the job. Pathetic….
11:06 am on January 3rd, 2010
I think Adam James should drop out of school at Tech and go somewhere else. He nor his dad are wanted at Tech anymore. Way to go Coach McNeil. I love the players and coaching staff but I have no respect for the administration at Tech anymore. I will comtinue to be a loyal Tech fan but not for the administration but for the coaches and the players but not for Adam James nor his dad. I have lost any confidence I had in the administration at Tech and I would not allow my children to attend Tech unless each administator at Tech resigned there positions especially Kent Hance the chancellor at Tech. I have nothing for him but hardshipand pain. Good luck to Mike Leach. Good luck to Ruffin McNeill because if The administators at Tech have any since they will make him Tech’s next head football coach.
11:07 am on January 3rd, 2010
Time to tune out ESPN just like I did NASCAR because of the stupid “Digger” cartoons. I want professionalism in announcers.
11:15 am on January 3rd, 2010
Same Craig “The Great White Hope” James that saddled SMU with the death penalty, although he was never accused of any wrongdoing.
11:31 am on January 3rd, 2010
ESPN has lost focus on what the station is about, reporting sports, not taking bias shots at a coach. Let due process take it course, before you decided who’s at fault. Craig James has used ESPN and his position to make one sided comments with no proof. Too bad ESPN has forgot what made them great. James should be gone from ESPN.
11:32 am on January 3rd, 2010
i really don’t care one way or another . espn is doing the same thing any other network does when it gets dirty laundry . it speculates and talks about it till we are sick of hearing about it . i will say this , if leach didn’t want this to blow up then why didn’t he cooperate with the university investigation of this matter . then just maybe he would still have a job and we would have been able to watch another of the too many bowl games without all the circus attractions .
11:40 am on January 3rd, 2010
The team doctor and the trainer should be charged with perjury. Either their original affidavits were false or the ones the university got from them after the firing were completely false. It is interesting to note that even the trainer’s forced affidavit shows that the Jameses are lying. James was never placed in an electrical closet according to the trainer’s second affidavit. Instead, Pinnock told James not to go into the closet.
Boycott ESPN and its lying commentators.
11:43 am on January 3rd, 2010
I am a fan of college football, (especially Alabama), and have watched every minute of the bowl games I was able to, however I did what I have rarely done in the past: I turned of a good, entertaining game last night solely due to the biased statements from the game broadcasters about the Leach/james/TT administration.
Coach Leach possibly erred slightly in this matter out of frustration with a spoiled brat and a father with enough pull with the administration that made it impossible to get rid of.
As a long time Boy Scout leader I have seen first hand how one such brat and father combination can ruin an otherwise good group of young men.
11:44 am on January 3rd, 2010
Is there anyone I can sue in this case? Seems like I always miss out.
Can someone affiliated with a university lock me in a room please…
11:51 am on January 3rd, 2010
I was quite shocked at last nights game that all the people watching the game had to listen to the first half
comentary by ESPN’s Patrick and Davies talk of Leach.
Ha, people wanted to see the game and hear the comments of the game not their onesided talk about Texas Tech formal coach. sometimes the camera was on the booth more than the game, what a farce for ESPN a leader in talk sports. I pay good money to watch ESPN and their broadcasters need to call the game not have a ESPN talk show for the world. At least call the game. What’s done is done, maybe the young men on both sides should have been talked about rather than their rattling on about Texas Tech former coach.
12:04 pm on January 3rd, 2010
This is such a unfortunate situation for EVERYONE involved. I have never seen so many adults act like a bunch of children. Let’s have a little history review ……
1. Mike Leach has had a excellent history with Texas Tech & has done nothing but help the school get on the national scene with a history of no problems.
2. Texas Tech has a history of hiring “colorful” coaches with worse issues, ex. Bob Knight.
3. Craig James was part of the “Pony Express” at SMU when they received the death penalty. Seems like it worked out for him to get to the next level. Didn’t hear him complain about that. He wasn’t aware of any problems back then ? Yeah right.
4. ESPN & TTU administration have made a public mockery of this situation, which ultimately will tarnish both of their reputations.
5. Seems like people close to the situation who know Adam James, confirm a poor attitude & bad work ethic which leads us all to believe that he confirms a case of hanging on too closely to daddy’s coat-tails & you have a remaining staff at TTU that is scrambling to save their jobs, at any cost.
If the remaining players or coaching staff have any backbone at all, they should all leave TTU & show them that nothing is possible without quality people. In the words of the late George Carlin, “The woosifacation of todays society will destroy us all, unless we grow a pair.” I support Mike Leach & wish him nothing but the best & hope that he gets the opputunity to get the last laugh. TTU, Adam James, Craig James, & ESPN should all take a look in the mirror & realize what really is important & get over your selves. I am EXTREMELY dissapointed in all involved.
12:12 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Ok folks! ESPN’s coverage of the game does not have anything to do with the coach being fired! Yes the constant talk about it was excessive but ESPN had nothing to do with the coach being fired. You want to point the finger at ESPN and the media for this man losing his job? Did anyone see his intervies??? All he did was give crazy conspiracy theroies!! He really needs some help, if you want to defend what you did or did not do bring some facts to your interview.
12:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
and just when you thought the discussion was over in the first half, then the half time desk jockey show covered it and then the second half started. you’d thought they were told to “can it” as they started to talk about the other players and the game only to fall back into the leech discussion only seconds later. as someone said earlier, pathetic.
12:23 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Anonymous, I don’t think many are blaming ESPN for getting the guy fired; rather, they are upset that they couldn’t enjoy the game for all the BS the announcers said. Patrick and Davie could have just called the game, but alas, they opted to continue non stop and without taking a breath about the situation instead of covering the game.
12:33 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I agree with Bull Horn ………
12:36 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I believe Coach Leach represented his self pretty well when given the
opportunity to do so.
Anyone with any common sense at all, when the name Adam James was mentioned, you should have known it was going to be big crying
event about his playing time. The coaches do not like whiners, especially players Dads.
Also ESPN did show their support for their whinning co-heart.
One more thing, I hope I never have to be forced to watch another
bowl game with announcers like they had last night. They spent half the game talking about James events. even while thay were playing on the field, they were still showing the announcers
12:44 pm on January 3rd, 2010
How old is this “Kid?” Over 18? When my son turned 18, I felt pretty confident that I had done my job, that he was now a man, could fend for himself, and not come running to me when things got rocky. I am for advocating for my children, but I spent eighteen years getting him ready for life so he wouldn’t need the hand holding that this one’s dad is doing.
12:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I had to shut the game off as the two imbecile announcers forgot their was a game going on; and instead thought they were at a “roast”. These orima donnas that come to a school with talent are sometimes a big pain in the rear as they can’t believe someone might be better than them. Players with a name attached to them feel they are entitled to play as it is their right. It is sickening to watch all sports commentators and writers swoon all over these players for interviews; but hoping for controversy. This shed was a roomy vehicle storage garage; multiple room; withe electric lights and ice machine. Maybe the days are over when the coach is the boss, and needs to aske ESPN announcers, and parents about plays, discipline, schedules.
12:52 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I’m a Texas Longhorns fan and I watch all this yah yah on AFN - the Armed Forces Network - about this kid and it’s getting tired. For four quarters that’s all you heard about and it totally detracted from the game. PATHETIC!!!! ESPN and Craig James needs to let little Adam live his own life. ESPN shouldn’t even be involved. If they are gonna report on it - then do that. the whole story isn’t being told here. Texas Tech had a reason handed to them to get rid of Leach (with a little help from ESPN & Craig James). Something is trumped up here. There is a lot of arrogance on the part of the father and it shows in the son - like father like son as the saying goes.
It is clear that the father is living through his son. Craig James wasn’t a very good running back himself in the NFL for the Pats. When you are a washed up NFL player, that’s how you end up on ESPN. I used to love watching all sports news - but college football is off my list as far as ESPN goes. Politics, politics, politics…. the boy made his bed - he can lay in it!!!
12:56 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Even if Leach was wrong, it warranted nothing more than a reprimand. It was clear from the e-mails a year ago from boosters and TT administrators that they were scheming to oust Leach. Better off not to have re-signed him now the reputation of TT is forever ruined.
Even if Leach was wrong, espn should have given Craig James a paid leave and not let him use the network as a platform. That action alone validates Leach’s claims that he’s a “helicopter dad.” Espn knows better than to coerce 100% of national AND local commentators on their affiliates to bash Leach. (Remember Steve Phillips? They didn’t say squat about a paid employee until he was fired.)
And that’s if these parties were right. They were wrong. Adam James’ story doesn’t pass the laugh test and parts of it was proven bogus. Also, the fact the university needed affadavits AFTER the termination and 2 weeks after the incident tells me the investigation should NOT have ended. Imagine a college professor saying a theory was true and withheld data. He’d be fired on the spot (at least in theory). Leach is entitled his $800,000 bonus on that alone. TT is so sued.
Tortious interference- somebody in the media PLEASE research this. Craig James and espn really stepped in it this time.
1:00 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I Think Leach Dropped The Ball, If Adam Was such a sorry Player, Why Didn’t He Kick Him Off THe Team, He Should Have Been More Of A Man & Coach Than
Have Him Put Into Anything.
Adam My Be The Biggest Horses Rear End Ever, But You Don’t Treat Anyone Like That.
I have no respect for the People Of Texas Tech what a bunch of losers, get a life, I Hope They Keep Coach Mcneill As Their Head Coach, He Has Compassion For The Players
1:04 pm on January 3rd, 2010
And just when I thought these two announcers were clowns, now I find out I have to listen to Brent Musburger call play by play. Already laying bets on what his first stupid comment will be…Anyone have a line on what internet radio stations will cover this final game?
I can only hope Kirk Herbstreit will put him in his place as he has done others this year.
1:12 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Looked at the game stat’s did not see where Adam James played at all, if he did sure did not do much.
I agree with the people above the announces were sure full of them selfs. I turned the game off just to much B.S.. But this was not the only Bowl game that the announcers talked to much, the night before they gave B.G. player the MVP, and Idaho came back and won. This kind of crap sure shows a lot of class. Did they take the MVP back and give it to the Idaho Q.B., this I would love to know??????????
1:18 pm on January 3rd, 2010
What did Leach do that was so wrong? He did not harm the kid. All he did was put the kid in a garage, because he was a lazy crybaby. Tech is the only school to offer this kid a scholarship- so no one else wants him- James should be gone from ESPN, David should be gone- he was sickening to listen to. And how is it that the team physician and trainer can give 2 different accounts, and not get into trouble for perjury?
1:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Adam wasn’t suited up to play, not cleared by team physician due to still dealing with effects of concussion. He wore his uniform jersey with and the ESPN cameras showed him no less than 10 times during the game…usually while the announcers were bloating about the situation. Meanwhile, there was a pretty exciting game going on.
1:20 pm on January 3rd, 2010
ESPN is so one sided in this whole thing it is pathetic. Texas Tech will be better off if Adam James leaves, I think he will. He has to. Mike Leach will find another head coaching job after he sues Texas Tech, ESPN and the James family.
1:25 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Something needs to be done about ESPNs coverage of this. I know I, and my fellow football fans have already contacted them to complain.
There is simply NO excuse for announcers taking sides, commenting on the case, stating opinions regarding what is going on off the field, and then at the same time saying they want to make this game about the players.
ESPN should be ashamed of themselves and their shoddy biased reporting over the last week. They have barely even touched on the fact that Adam James’ account IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than the trainer’s affidavit.
Leach is going to get a huge settlement out of this, and ESPN is probably going to see some huge backlash from other media accounts of how they handled this whole ordeal.
1:28 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Nah, the ESPN announcers weren’t bloating, they were bloviating.
And the Bowling Green receiver was pretty good…MVP choice–but hey, they don’t get anything for being announced as the MVP (do they?).
1:34 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Watching the ESPN slanted version of their crybaby son’s plight was distasteful. I had to put up with the same parent interference and crying in high school sports. AND it always made the kid look foolish. I turned it off and have lost any support for ESPN. I hope many more do the same. Send a message to them.
1:40 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I am tired of hearing Red Raiders fan’s whine, bottom line is Leach screwed up and wasn’t man enough to admit he was wrong. Even if James was a whiner he did not deserve to be treated the way he was, like an animal. If my son was treated this way I would have went public too. All Leach had to do was apologize for bad judgement and it would have all been over and he would have been retained. It looks to me like Leach wanted out of TT? It looks like the truth is somewhere in the middle between Leach and Craig James comments. I don’t think either one should have made a public statement as both look like idiots now! Looks like the interim head coach will do a good job in a permeant position at TT! The only one to blame is Leach.
1:44 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Steve Pin-Sized-Cock is tailoring his story to what he thinks will save his job.
1:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
So how does a guy like Craig James end up with a Doak Walker award for 2009 (scheduled to be given out in February). Any one know how to change this?
1:49 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I turned the sound off. It helped but the camera was still being focused on James and clips of Leach and the ticker constantly mentioning the story. I finally quit watching.
Of course I also did that for the Sugar Bowl (Meyer health “coverup”) and the Gator ( Bowden”forced” retirement).
Just got sick of the topics being beaten to death and the game being ignored. So all the channels are doing it. It’s become paparazzi coverage anymore.
Totally screwed up what should have been a great football weekend.
1:56 pm on January 3rd, 2010
there is stinky at tt and none of the stinky is on leach, tt is the stinky and espn is shoveling hard and fast,shame on the adams .
2:03 pm on January 3rd, 2010
One thing about ESPN…you don’t have to listen to The AZ Ol on ABC. which also has the worst programing clearity and picture for sports, plus the mouth.
2:08 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I agree with the fans. I think the kid is a crybaby who just wasn’t good enough to get significant playing time and went crying to his dad because his dad has some clout in football circles.
Why is it that drill instructors can treat our boys in uniform much worse than this, and we don’t bat an eye, but let some college kid get hassled a little and we jump all over it? War is a violent endeavor, and we beat and brainwash our young men so that they will be ready for battle. Well guess what, football is a brutal game as well. If the kid can’t take the punishment, then maybe he does not belong on the field much like some men do not belong on the battlefield.
2:09 pm on January 3rd, 2010
now tech is stuck in the race game with their new coach choice
2:15 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Coach Leach is an absolute idiot for the way he treats his players. Tech football will be better off now that he’s gone. I can’t believe Team Leach fans back a coach like this just because he wins games. He may be a winning coach but he is a loser as a human being!
2:18 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Jt cruiser, we as a society have decided long ago that it is ok to treat men this way. This is the way we train all of our military recruits. It’s just the way it is. Until our society changes the way it views masculinity, this is how it will be. Men are supposed to take abuse at the hands of their coaches or drill instructors or whatever authority figure represents the height of masculinity to us because otherwise they are not a man. It’s the standard we have set, and it will take hell and highwater to change this, so I suggest you keep your boy out of the military or any other masculine endeavor. Have you thought of figure skating perhaps?
2:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
We need Keith Jackson back to announce the games. James fired and his son to join the cheer squad.
2:24 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I was at the game so couldn’t hear espn’s commentary. Good thing! I could not have listened to them fawning over Sweet Baby James.
The boo’s were startling in their intensity. I hope he heard and understood they were for him and him alone! We sat close to the field and people around us were cat-calling, “Daaaaadddddy! Daaaaadddddy” at him.
Hopefully Leach will sue and the truth will come out. Adam James is a slacker and his Daddy, who I had respected as a commentator/analyst in the past (now I’ll never watch him again), is a meddling overprotective parent whose son will never learn to stand on his own two feet! Adam strutted around the sidelines as if he owned them–often out in front of teammates who were suited up and actually there to play. Sense of entitlement? You betcha!!
2:24 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I cannot believe there are fans out there who believe that this is the exception and not the norm when it comes to big time college football. This kind of stuff goes on everyday in just about any winning program. Football is a hypermasculine game, and it is a brutal game. Only the strongest and most determined can win. Much like in nature, we may not like it and it may offend our sensibilities, but it is the way it is.
We are really not so removed from the Roman empire in this regard. We take kids off the streets often from some of our poorest neighborhoods, and we outfit them with modern day gladiator armor. Then we devise schemes where they hurl their bodies at each other with frightening velocity to see who will come out victorious. This is the only chance many of these kids will ever have at the good life, and they know it. We give them the best food, the best women, and a life of luxury while they play, and once they are no good to us on the field, we don’t care what happens to them.
2:25 pm on January 3rd, 2010
They had to come up with something to get rid of Leach so they would not have to pay out all the money he was going to be due so they used this kid and his Big wig daddy to do it which does not speak good for the ones that are suppose to be running a University and teaching our kids……This is all a bad influence on our childeren………These so called growen men are putting money ahead of what is really importent….and that is having people in the Uniersity like Leach that cares about our kids maybe some of the powers at be need to be canned also…..good luck getting kids to come to your University Now……..
2:35 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I have read all the replys above and I could not believe what I was reading in some of them. NOT one of us would allow this to happen to our kid no matter what we say. If my son came to me and asked for help, I would be helping him and so would you if you are any kind of parent. We are putting blame on a kid when we really need to be asking ourselves what exactly did the coach do because w all know that he would have never been fired for something like this so close to a bowl game if there was not more to it. I am very disappointed in the fans for making this kid the fall guy when none of us will ever know what really happened. Just my 2 cents
2:36 pm on January 3rd, 2010
hey your upsolutely right..Adan James dad does rock….Crak Rocks…lolllllllllllllll
2:50 pm on January 3rd, 2010
here’s what’s obvious, leech is used to screwing with people but with his record not getting called into account for it. this time, he screwed with the wrong kid and more importantly the wrong kids parents. i may not agree with craig james attitude or comments, then again, if it were my child, i very well may, but either way, the did what any parent would, he did what he thought was right to protect his child, he just happened to have more influence than joe public. personally, as a non tech alum, who could really care less about tech athletics i think that the arrogant SOB got exactly what he deserved and i really hope not to see him on a sideline anytime soon.
2:50 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Was there a mother involved in this conception, or did
Adam crawl out from under his Dad’s Rocks?
2:53 pm on January 3rd, 2010
ADAM WILL NOT ALWAYS HAVE CRAIG AROUND IN HIS LIFE TO MAKE HIS SELF CREATED SITUATIONS GO AWAY. WHAT AWARDS DID CRAIG EARN ON THE FIELD OF PLAY? FAN’S SEEM TO GET IT!
3:02 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Why didn’t he kick Adam off the team if he was a poor player? A. The coach may have been trying to straighten him out. B. TTU may have told the coach not to do it. C. He may have been planning to do it and this was Adam’s last chance. D. All of the above. The kid had an attitude of entitlement and was lazy from what I’ve read. I think it’s interesting to note that Michael Jordan’s older son, Jeff, is playing for the Fighting Illini, and though he is not a starting player, there have been no rumors of bad attitude, laziness, entitlement or interference by his dad. On the contrary, Jeff’s worked hard and it’s beginning to show. Michael watches the games but let’s the coach do his job. What a difference!
Even if what the Adam said was true, TTU’s actions were disproportionate and unwarranted. The kid is a cry-baby and should be thrown off the team. It looks like a few well-heeled boosters finally found a way to get rid of Coach Leach because the punishment is sooooo out of proportion to the alleged offense. $800,000 bonus? I think TTU should be forced to reinstate him and pay all monies per the contract or buy him out for the present value of the remainder of his contract and issue a statement of apology to Coach Leach. I hope it’s the latter, so Coach Leach get to go where he will be appreciated and TTU pays the bill in full anyway.
What if it were my kid? I’d tell him to man up and do what he was supposed to do OR organize the other players to join in a team protest of the coach’s unwarranted behavior OR quit. I told my kids that once they were eighteen they could do as they liked but they would have to live with the consequences of their actions. I wanted my kids to learn how to deal with life without my interference because I won’t always be there and because they need to learn responsibility. I will offer advice and warn of potential consequences, but they need to make their own decisions. In my opinion, Craig James is crippling his kid.
ESPN’s reporting was disgraceful. I turned it off very early in the first quarter and judging from the other comments, I’m glad I did. This is my last time at this website, ESPN is out and Fox Sports is in. To put it as succinctly as I can… your coverage sucked!
3:23 pm on January 3rd, 2010
It is very entertaining to read some of these comments. A large number of the responders should have used spell check before they hit the “Submit Comment” button.
3:32 pm on January 3rd, 2010
WOW! What a MESS!!! All I can say as being the PREMIER Observiate of HUSKER football, that we only REALLY lost ONE game (& BADLY) all YEAR, (The rest we got CHEATED out of, or in the case of Iowa state, The Perfect “Fumble-storm giveaway” of ONCE in a BILLION booboo’s….. ANYWAY.. Doctor Tom & his “Bowl-game assistance/advise” AIN’T gonna live forever, & WOW, with Coach Pelini to run the team, & deal with the personalities, (Bo is a GREAT Coach 4 the kids, But C’MON…. EVERYONE can see Offensive trickery/treachery is his ONE “Achille’s heel”) MAYBE, just MAYBE, Coach Leach would/Could be enticed to come to NEBRASKA to run that AMAZING/BAFFLING/BEFUDDLING rip-snortin offensive scheme that SHRED our otherwise VICIOUS Defence that is the ONE & ONLY piece of the puzzle needed to run ROUGHSHOD over the world even BETTER then the 94-96 Nuclear BULLDOZER that we had then… PI$$ on Craig james & his snot-nosed kid, I GUARANTEE that THEY will NOT be valued, or pursued for their “Value” ANYWHERE, for ANY REASON on THIS planet after the smoke dies from this….LOLOLOL… BUT!!!! MIKE LEACH… You wanna Offensive Coordinater’s JoB??? HEY, BO KNOW’s D… & MIKEY LEACH OBVIOUSLY is the “Big O” wizard of the DECADE…. I smell a prospective DYNASTY here….
3:35 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I am a UT fan that enjoys football. I looked forward to watching the game because I thought it was going to be a good one. I got so tired of the announcers, while professing to have no knowledge, making one-sided comments about what happened. These clowns do not know what happened and neither do I but I do know that I turned the game off and went to bed because I was tired of listening to the rant.
3:38 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I had no idea who was telling the truth until I saw the interview with Coach Leach. The first thing he said was that James was lazy and then he whined about the kid’s Dad.
If Texas Tech fans want to throw their support behind a coach who cannot handle one pushy parent, that’s their right. But they came across looking like as much of a weak hick as Leach did.
Inspite of themselves, they may wind up with a coach with good leadership skills and common sense to boot.
3:40 pm on January 3rd, 2010
ESPN YOU SUCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3:42 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I watched the game to cheer on the players, it was sad to hear all the crap from the espn staff and not hear any cheers for the players in the game. It was a great game and the teams should have gotten more coverage..But alas this is the way of the press…blow everything out of the water before the facts…Leach is not one of my favorite coaches but this was being blindsided..I have lost all respect for Tech. this situation should have been handled 10 times better.. My congrats to the Texas Tech Raiders for a great game. God Bless us All…Seems like we need it right now.
3:46 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I graduated from Texas Tech 48 years ago. Fans seemed to be more decent and considerate back then. There was no tortilla tossing on the field. We did not boo our players, regardless of how badly they performed, or how badly we might deem their character. Rightly or wrongly on the Adam James matter, it is extremely embarrassing to learn that the stadium of Texas Tech fans were booing one of its own players. [Why do I keep thinking about the tortillas days?]
Why am I reading a different version from the fellow team mates? What was Ruffan McNeal referring to when he said that if he is made head coach, parents can assured that their sons’ fate will be handled properly? Have the fans considered the fact that there may be a major diffenence of opinion among players and coaches as compared to the fans? Kent Hance is a respectable person — Does he count for nothing? Wake up fans, perhaps Leach with his $12,000,000.00 contract had become the a spoiled brat?
P.S. I suspect that Leach chose not to follow his attorneys’ advice about making public comments. Otherwise, he would not have publicly created a the appearance of a motive to punish the younger James for his father’s interference.
3:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
We are at WAR. Boys/Men are dying. And we have this. Am so glad I am not sports minded.
3:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I am a Texas Longhorns fan & I wanna thank the James boys for getting rid of Leach. No need to worry about Tech in the Big12 South anymore. Leach’s genius on running & reinventing his spread offense gave us trouble & cost us a chance at the BCS last year. Tech better get used to battling for 2nd to last, year in & year out, with Baylor! LOL
3:48 pm on January 3rd, 2010
OH, & Coach Leach???? You’d getta come BACK to TTech, & GRIND them up for horse-feed as the NEW WIZARD of Husker offensive Death/Doom/Destruction TWICE EVERY 4 YEARS…..Hmmmmm!!!. Something about the BEST revenge being served up COLD……… Go chat w/ Bo & Dr. Tom……Tell Dr. Tom that his Neighbor’s Son sent ya, & that you come HIGHLY, HIGHLY Recomended…..WHADDYA got to lose???? Yeah, I KNOW I KNOW, you’re going to get a LOT of other offers, but there’ a LOT to be considered about not having to deal with the “Disipline problems” & all the OTHER “Headcoachcrap” & get to focus on the OFFENCE (which it’s OBVIOUS that you LOVE) & consider being the “Will Reiker” on the ENTERPRIZE, as opposed to being the Captain of the “Otherwise”
3:48 pm on January 3rd, 2010
The symbology is obvious as the kid’s reaction; he’s gay and it’s interfering w/ his game. Rather than out him, the coach symbolically put him “in the closet’ to dramatize to the boy how foolish he looks hiding the pbvious. He’s a spoiled brat gayboy. Dime a dozen among upper middle class whites. Nothing to do w/ playing time or anything else sports.
3:50 pm on January 3rd, 2010
ESPN owes an appology to it’s viewers for the way it failed to broadcast a college football game.
Craig James needs to hit the road; quit or get fired. Either works for me. He’s a total looser in my book!
Too bad the kid has been raised in this environment as he will continue to struggle later in life when confronted with conflict. No doubt, this young man looses. Kinda reminds me of Jeff George and his folks. Oh yea, George quit Purdue and ran to Illinois.
Mute ESPN and turn on your local or XM radio.
Steve Phillips . . . Craig James . . . ???
3:55 pm on January 3rd, 2010
come on James, pull up your skirt and get back in the game.
3:56 pm on January 3rd, 2010
It’s clear we don’t have anywhere near the facts of this situation. We have trainers and meds talking out of both sides of their face. So tell us, guys, which story is true? The first one you gave, or the one the university coerced you into giving? We all know Craig was never an athlete worth talking about and has always been a pussy, now he’s passed both traits onto his son. I know some TTU kids that were stuck in classes with Adam (when he bothered to show) and he’s as lazy a student as he is a player. His attitude sucked and I seriously doubt he was LOCKED in a closet. He was probably told to keep his ass in the locker room and after shedding all those tears called “Death senctence” daddy to get him some playing time. What’s little Adam going to do in the real world? Probably get a sports announcer job like dad so he can pretend he use to be somebody.
4:05 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Leach had better count his blessings that Adam’s father, and not his mother, brought the complaint. As a mother, I would certainly fight for my son if his health were endangered by Leach. In the entire animal kingdom, there is no animal more dangerous than a mother protecting her young. Craig James has done what any caring parent would do.
The medical professionals have said that what Leach did was inappropriate. A concussion is not like a hamstring pull; it can kill you. Now, the idiots at Texas Tech are siding with a jerk who wants to humiliate a young man following doctor’s orders. Thank heavens someone at Texas Tech had the gonads to get rid of Leach. If only they would do something about that awful son of Bobby Knight’s! I guess that Tech is more interested in sports than their students. I would never pay a cent for my son to go to a school like that. There are many good universities in Texas. Texas Tech fans apparently don’t care if their school is one of them!
And as for all of you wannabe lawyers, let’s wait and see what happens to Leach when rules are applied to him, as they will be in a court of law. His coaching abilities won’t count if he breached his contract by humiliating an athlete because he was injured. The trainer and the doctor will have to tell the truth. ESPN is irrelevant.
4:10 pm on January 3rd, 2010
ESPN was totally one sided. james is a baby. maybe leach should have handled the situation a little different but it was nothing worth firing him over. TTU is now on the downhill slope to mediocrity.
4:10 pm on January 3rd, 2010
How can Tech complain about mistreating a football player, when they have Alberto( we don’t torture prisoners) Gonzales on their faculty. I have empathy for the trainer and the team physician. I am a orthopedic surgeon and have served as a team physician for 25 years. I quarentee that neither Pitcock or Phy would allow treatment of a student that actually endangered his health. By sticking to their earlier statements,as opposed to the highly scripted statemens of the tech lawyers, I’m sure their realation to the university would come to a screeching halt.I have seen many little league dad over the years and C.J. is no worse than the worst of them. This type of parental coddling usually produces a perpetually dismature individual. I will miss the quirky pirate. As a tech alumni he brought a lot of thrills to the south plains.The tech administration again flashed its provencial arrogant ass. I WOULD be very interest to see if there are business relationships twixt the James family and Tech officials ,as was eluded to by Leach. Thank God for the Freedom of Information Act… Hopefullu we dpn’t have to run it by Alerto. GO rUFFIN!!!
cJ
4:10 pm on January 3rd, 2010
i’m confused - how old is Adam Leach? is he a little league football player? aren’t most seniors in college over 18 or 21?
when my son went to highschool, the idea was for him to behave like a man and to learn to discipline himself to make something of his life. sports is ideal for this.
when he went to college, it was time for him to stand on his own two feet.
Craig James is the prick - football is a place of discipline, if my son treated his coach and his team mates who have to struggle to be on the field the same way this kid behaved and disrepected his opportunity in life, then my son would be embarrased by me long before his coach.
neither james is much of a man - they would rather air their egos then to respect the program that gives them the opportunity to earn self respect. i would have told my son to apologize to the coach and team and to clean up his act and then if Leach had an issue, he could deal with it one on one.
agreed - ESPN is a voice to raise immaturity. they don’t stand for anything or anyone who comes to thier own by hard work, or humbleness.
obvious democrats
4:14 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Good colleges teach that the journalist should never be the news so we know where ESPN “journalists” got their training.
The ESPN coverage of the “game” was a joke. The Adam James at the Alamo Dome Story would be the correct title. I almost forgot there was a football game being played.
I always thought Rush Limbaugh was over-the-top talking about everyday media, but ESPN showed just how it could abuse its position to aid and abet the actions of an employee to show ESPN should not be crossed.
Pathetic journalism, broadcasting, and personal integrity by all at ESPN - save maybe Lou H.
The one commenter is correct that this should not be a big deal, but the fact that ESPN can try to destroy an individual to assist their employee whose character is questionable given the death sentence received by his school, is bigger than a two or three people and more about abuse of power by the media.
4:22 pm on January 3rd, 2010
So the people who make signs like this care more about a team winning then the heath of the players- this makes me SICK!! Im sure if this woman who made the sign had a son who had just got a concussion and told her what Adam James told his parents about what leach did then im sure she would feel differently about the subject. Leach had a big head and needed a rude awakening no matter how good of a football coach he is, and besides tech proved last night they could win without leach, and this isnt about adam or his dads additude, its about how good of people we are and this woman lacks alot of character
4:25 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Wow! The Media is the same as usual. They are trying to keep their jobs as well if we dig deeper. Bowl Games are wonderful ways for alumni, communities and fans to get closure on a successful college season. Now things are and will always be tarnished.
Shame on ESPN, you are not lawyers, football is not a soap opera. Let the professionals handled the investigation. They should have commented before the game and left if alone. What do they think was going to happen when you have a successful coach of 10 years vs. Cry Bady James
Stay out of you sons affairs, he will have this mark on him forever. Lets get more inform on his practive efforts. There is more to this story. Appears to be one sided!
4:53 pm on January 3rd, 2010
why did we let bobbie knight get away with the stuff he did with his players seems stange to me
4:56 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Grow a set kid and let go of daddies pants leg.
4:58 pm on January 3rd, 2010
EVERYBODY KNOWS WHAT’S GOING ON - THE ‘GOOD OLE BOYS’ HAVE BEEN CAUGHT WITH THEIR PANTS DOWN. WHY HANCE AND MYERS WANT TO GET RID OF THE BEST COACH TECH HAS EVER HAD, DOES MAKE YOU WONDER - WHAT COULD BE THEIR MOTIVE? I KNOW. THEY CAN’T CONTROL LEACH FOR THEIR OWN PRIVATE AENDAS THAT DON’T INCLUDE WHAT’S BEST FOR NOT ONLY TECH BUT LUBBOCK. SO IT’S NATURAL TO SEE THAT LOU HOLTZ HAS BEEN DEMONIZED (THANKS TO CRAIG JAMES AND HIS PALS AT ESPN) FOR HAVING THE TEMERITY TO WAIT FOR THE TRUE FACTS TO COME OUT. HOLTZ IS TRULY A LONE ‘VOICE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS’ TO ALL THE HALF-TRUTHS, DECEPTIONS AND OUT-IN-OUT LIES. GOOD LUCK LEACH - YOU HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE ON YOUR SIDE.
5:21 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Good grief, people! Adam James was NOT at death’s door from a horrible head injury! If he was in danger of any significant harm he’d have been kept in the hospital for observation. He showed up at practice acting like a punk and was disciplined, as he should have been. Two people have stated quite clearly that he was NEVER locked in a closet, so let that one go. He was placed in an equipment room, and later in a media interview room. Cry me a river. I agree with a lot of other comments - it’s very hypocritical for TT to suddenly express all this concern for the treatment of their athletes after hiring Bobby Knight, of all people. The speed at which this all happened makes it pretty obvious that other forcer were at work. And really, poor little Adam couldn’t take being in a room by himself? Maybe shouldn’t have acted like such a punk. He looked pretty pleased with himself to be on TV last night, when he shouldn’t have been.
Moms - I have kids too, and care about them every bit as much as you do. This hysterical response that the coach locked someone with a serious concussion in a closet is INCORRECT - stop reacting without reading the facts of the issue as we know them right
5:23 pm on January 3rd, 2010
First of all i played football at the college level and the coach was trying to make the kid tougher and make the kid realize that he has to stop being a baby and play the game. Do you not remember when coaches would push you around or grab your facemask? Is this going to lead to coaches not being able to make players run sprints in the heat or make players do things they just dont want to do? I hate it that football has come to this it used to be a mans game now it seems its for people that just want to be lazy and expect to play because of who they are and that really makes me disappointed
5:24 pm on January 3rd, 2010
At this point we will probably never truly know what transpired between Texas Tech and Leach. Whatever evidence or testimony procured has been bought and paid for at this juncture, either for or against. I agree with 90% of the people who spoke above, the game was unbearable to watch and had to be interpreted by the individual watching it, as the commentators’ comments were everywhere but on the game, which ironically is the title description for which ESPN pays them. From what I have read over the last few days, not knowing much about Texas Tech to begin with, it is evident that the situation has completely escalated to a point of no return with three factions that will never be the same…Coach Leach, who for better or worse appears to be ganged upon by TT administration and one ESPN commentator if he deserves it or not, Adam James who should have had the right to defend himself before his father emasculated him, and a father who should not have used a political platform to accelerate his views to the public. The more that Craig James speaks (Is Adam incapable of speaking for himself?) the more I find blame with the son (for nothing else, not having the testicles to speak up for himself). The “Knight in Shining Armor” complex that ESPN Craig James seems to deem necessary to save his son has only hurt public opinion of Adam. I find myself condemning the son because of the father’s involvement, neither of which I had ever heard of before this little escalation, thus signifying the importance of the son’s position on the team. Texas Tech won the game without “Sweet Baby James”, the tyrannical “God” father, or even the “????” coach.
5:25 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I turned the sound off and didn’t listen to the two idiot announcers. All they did was show their stupidity in things that they knew nothing about, and that noone cared two cents for their opinions of in the first place. They completely ruined what should have been an enjoyable ball game. Craig James has always been a baby(like father like son). What squirrels!
5:26 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Where did this queer grow up? Let him do 3 tours with us in Iraq, he probably would’nt even make it through one when rounds are flying at him or seeing his friends getting killed. What is he going to do call daddy. Get a life, get some balls, if it was that bad when he was told to do this and if he new it was not right why did’nt he complain about it then. Spoiled punk that obviously grew up with no dicipline!
5:28 pm on January 3rd, 2010
BOYCOTT ESPN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOYCOTT ESPN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BOYCOTT ESPN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5:28 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Fire Myers and send Adam James to some minor Jr College somewhere!
5:30 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I am not a tech fan but enjoy watching football. I got awful tired of the commentary. They were not even focusing on the game, just the controversial issue at hand. I agree, the media does have an agenda.
5:33 pm on January 3rd, 2010
As for me, I will do like most of the viewer will do. Avoid watching ESPN and its parent company ABC. No more visiting ESPN.com switch to cbssports.com or si.com
Now that Texas Tech potentially will have a Black Coach. Will Adams family have guts to complain and whine?
5:36 pm on January 3rd, 2010
REAL MEN ARE’NT AFRAID OF THE DARK!! #USSY!
5:39 pm on January 3rd, 2010
The coverage of the Tech/Michigan State game last night was so disturbing that I turned it off. Good grief, it was a total embarrassment for ESPN. Who assigned these guys to the game? They missed many plays due to their incessant chatter about the Mike Leach issue. And the halftime report; are you kidding me? Geez, I thought it was going to be earth shattering - turns out it’s just about 2 people who will be a liability in court. Can you imagine what a defense lawyer will do with them? They give a statement and then 2 days later change some of the specifics? I’m not so sure their “additions” make any difference. If they’re the medical staff, then they should decide what’s best for the injured player. Why didn’t they? Seems to me they are more culpable than Mike Leach. So much has been written about Adam James - former coaches/players (baseball, high school football) are stating that he has a feeling of entitlement. Looks like he just used that up. ESPN really needs to clean up its act - and supporting Craig James may be the worst decision ever!
5:40 pm on January 3rd, 2010
OH MY GOODNESS! All of you are ridiculous! I don’t care who you are you don’t lock a kid in a room. Leach is supposed to be a role model that builds these kids up and takes care of them. Another father figure for these kids to trust and learn from… and he locks a kid in a room because he doesn’t like the work ethic! Leach made his own bed with that decision and he deserved to be fired. Yeah he is a great coach and yeah James’ story was heard more because of his father, but the fact is what Leach did was wrong. PERIOD
5:43 pm on January 3rd, 2010
if you go to a doc with a bad head he’ll tell you to go to a dark room and stay till it eases off . ADAM JAMES needs to grow up and quit sucking daddys tits
5:43 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I find it interesting that none of the other coaches or medical training staff are being suspended or their actions questioned. They clearly knew what was being done and stood by and did nothing. Everyone is quick to blame Coach Leach (there is no excuse for his behavior) nor is there for any ot the others who chose to allow an injured athlete to be placed in such conditions. Instead of placing the blame on Adam James and his family, we should be commending them for standing up for what is right. The actions of Coach Leach and the entire Texas Tech staff that allowed this to happen, is a prime example of what is wrong with College Sports. What happened to integity, values and inspiring these young men to become better individuals?
5:54 pm on January 3rd, 2010
This truly shows Texas has no class and had a movement by their Governor to break
form the US please this incident of saying lock a brain injury player up, only shows Texas is the Asshole of america……………
5:57 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I will be sending a message to ESPN about their coverage of the Alamo Bowl and the entire situation with James and Coach Leach. To say ESPN isn’t biased is crazy. When this “news” broke they ran with iti like a horse. Coach Leach did a great job as a coach at TT. Not a TT fan, but another Big 12 team. However, from what II have read from his players - past and present - he was respected. He did what any coach does I am sure - you don’t hear about anyone else because their dad isn’t a commentator. This kid needs to grow up. Because of him a man lost his job and livelihood. Sad to say the least. Wah Wah Adam James. Daddy won’t be here all your life to handle your problems!
6:15 pm on January 3rd, 2010
SMU was given the death penalty after his dad left, now TT football gets what amounts to a death penalty.
6:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
hey, david davis, believe me when I say most Texans would love to break from the union. Don’t condemn all of us for this. And don’t forget, all of american colleges are dominated by sports. So before you talk shit, look at your own college, or were you smart enough to get into anything more that a trade school?
6:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
It is sad the primary outlet that perpetuated the Leach/James story was also broadcasting the Alamo Bowl. ESPN had the opportunity to make the Alamo Bowl about the accomplishment of the guys on the field and chose to continue to overshadow the young men playing on the field with this story. ESPN is in a serious “conflict of interests” position with Craig James on their payroll. People who follow football know the story of Leach and James there was no need to talk further about it during the game. That game was the last for many of those seniors and this controversy is how it will be remembered. I watch a lot of ESPN Classic and when that game becomes a classic in the vaults it will still have the same sad commentary from the announcers. ESPN can chose to do much better than that and did not. I wonder if James’s son had been on the field, instead of the sideline, if they would have had the same narrative or would have said at the off -set “we want to put this story aside for the next four quarters”. We’ll never know…
6:19 pm on January 3rd, 2010
leach is wrong, he is NOT A COP or FATHER, this was ABUSE…..
if my son was locked in a room for this crap i would personally beat the crap out of LEACH….
send him to the locker room watever…but torture no matter how “harmless” is BS , this is NOT war
i hope one day a player does knock his arse OUT…where is latrell spreewell when you need him
6:20 pm on January 3rd, 2010
being a “good” coach doesnt mean shhhhh
6:21 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Texas Tech just hung itself
6:28 pm on January 3rd, 2010
How many times has Adam cried “wolf” because he is a crybaby and an ESPN commentator’s son. Maybe Leach needed him to be out of his vision for a while and waiting to see if he really had a concussion. Leach was between a rock and hard place. If he said he had a concussion and sent him to medical, Craig would have crybabied to TT administration that his son was not being treated fairly. Leach - I hope you win. This is ridiculous. You have a great team and the fans think you have done a great job at tech. Good luck with your future plans.
6:30 pm on January 3rd, 2010
It’s obvious that little baby boy James is just as much of a PUNK as his whiney daddy…
Serves him right for crying to his daddy who spoiled him rotten,, he’ll never play top level college FB ever again.
NOBODY would want this PUNK on their team, NOBODY ! ! ! !
And his daddy should be bitch-slapped too.
6:34 pm on January 3rd, 2010
If I had an athlete who’s father was lobbying for his son’s playing time and that son showed up at practice in street clothes and sun glasses when all injured players were instructed to come to practice with jersey’s on, I would have told the young man to leave. I see nothing wrong with sending him to a dark equipment shed, he wouldn’t have to wear his dark glasses. Come on, he had a “minor” concusion. having played at a major Div. 1 college, I used to get a “minor” concusion every week. I never missed a practice and my father never lobbied for more playing time.
7:05 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I hope Graig James does not file on a protest against the Heisman trophy winner, stating that his cry baby son deserves it the most.
7:20 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Craig James should be fired from ESPN. His abuse of his position in this matter is sickening. I am a parent. I too want the best for my child. I will not and would not ruin someone elses life to better my kids though. If his son wasn’t getting playing time….Maybe it is because his son is either lazy (as it seems in this case) or not as good as the people in front of him. Either way, I find it hard to believe in a world where 1 bad season can get you fired (ask Tommy Tubberville) a coach will sit a great player just because.
Texas Tech should evaluate the AD and the president. They either should not have given Mike Leach the contract they gave him….or been honorable enough to stand by it. Either way, they showed they are not true to their word and Texas Tech looks bad. A couple bad apples CAN spoil the bunch….especially when they are a university president, the AD, a lazy rich kid player and an ESPN analyst that has overstepped his position and used it to hurt others!
FIRE CRAIG JAMES!!!!!
7:21 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Adam James is just following in his fathers footsteps………being a big ol’ CRYBABY. His dad did the same thing! As we like to say in Texas, “The apple did not fall far from the tree”.
7:41 pm on January 3rd, 2010
OK, from someone that grew up in Lubbock and graduated from Texas Tech. Most everyone is right, but here is the short form. James is lazy non team player spoiled brat. His dad is doing business with Texas Tech so has some pull with them. Leach gave about 2 seconds of thought about Scott James (that is all he deserved) gave the boy “A Time Out” like you would a child and concentrated on the real team. Texas Tech administration and some large boosters are mad about how much money they had to pay Leach. used this as a reason to not pay Leach. Call anyone from Lubbock and they will tell you Tech does not like to pay for coaches and the real question is what is going on between the Administration, James and boosters. Leach had it right this is a matter of “control, power and they do not want to spend the money.” What is going to happen? Leach gets a big settlement out of court, Tech will NOT want to go to court. If needed Tech will throw the James family under the bus and blame them for everything if needed. ESPN is doing a lousy job on all this, and will apologize when no one cares anymore. The Texas Tech football program is destroyed for 5 years, so don’t go to Vegas and bet on them anytime soon.
There you go.
7:46 pm on January 3rd, 2010
My family is boycoting ESPN. Just another TABLOID.
7:47 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Let’s step back to a bit earlier in this “controversy”. What struck me was the academic process through which Mike Leach was fired. I was reminded immediately of the academic process by which Mike Pressler was fired in 2006 by Duke. It’s time for colleges and universities, in all they do, to be governed not by self-serving notions of academic due process but by constitutional due process rules.
And while we’re looking to make the “elite” subject to the same rules as everyman, why not extend that idea to Congress, too.
7:50 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Wow Tech fans! I can’t believe that you would support the actions of a coach who would put a player, injured or not , in a closet or shed as punishment. Never mind, yes, I do believe it. I am a lawyer, and if that were my son, I would be suing the Coach and the University for, at the very least, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Leach better hope for a large settlement from TT and another coaching job somewhere else because he may need the money to pay either attorney fees and/or the settlement he will have to pay his former player. Maybe you Tech fans can put your money where your mouth is and donate to the Leach Defense Fund.
7:50 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Folks:
Let’s stick to the facts:
1. Coach Leach has been fired.
2. Coach Leach is a “character” with uncommon practices (i.e. football plays, pirates obsession, etc.)
3. The TT trainer and the doctor gave conflicting statements.
4. The son (Adam James) is a cry baby who will be unfavorably marked for the rest of his life.
5. The dad (Craig James) is a meddling Dad who overstepping his bounds at two or more levels (i.e. interfering w/the coaching of his son; using his microphone to air out his grievences).
6. ESPN overplayed the Leach - James drama during the Alamo Bowl.
7. It is not known if Adam was “locked” up or not.
8. TT beat a decimated Michigan State team. Michigan State played without 19 players!!!
9. Head Coach of TT Football is a highly strenuous job. It requires solid health, leadership and carisma, Assistant Coach Ruffin McNeal is grossly overweight, has droppy eye lids and difficulty walking, and over-sweatis. With him in charge, the TT sidelines didi not show the ususal reassuring control and confidence.
10. The lawyers for TT and Ciach Leach will get riich.
The rest is SPECULATION.
This story will unravel on its own. Besides, there are many more important things facing us in 2010!
7:58 pm on January 3rd, 2010
From the looks of most the comments left on this, It looks like ESPN better get hold of the people they have talking for them. If it’s going tobe like this maybe James should loose his job, because nobody wants to hear about a crybaby daddy when his job is to just bring us the news and to stay out of whatever is going on. Yes it was his kid but it’s also his job. AJ will never end up as good as the coach he got screwed out of a job, but the coach will get his cash and a better job with a better school. Everyone knows how good he is and everyone now knows that AJ needs his crybaby daddy to stick up for him and who needs that on any team. I don’t feel bad for the coach, because the school sounds like a shame to work for anyways. After what he did for the school they should demand James be kicked off the team and crybaby daddy be fired from ESPN. For ESPN to let that kind of stuff go on during the game, they should get out of the sports bussiness and sell girl scout cookies. ESPN and Texas Tech you both now suck and not sure what else you can do to make it better other then fire crybaby daddy ASAP.
8:28 pm on January 3rd, 2010
If a parent has a problem with a coach, then he/she should go to the coach first….not over the coaches head to the administration. This reeks of tattle-tale mentality. Craig James just did his son a grave injustice. Adam James will now be viewed as a little boy who must have his daddy take care of him.
When Leach was here at OU, he ran a masterful offensive scheme that won us the national championship in 2000. No players here complained because they weren’t crybabies and didn’t have a daddy with a mic in at his disposal. Karma for father and son will be forthcoming!
8:32 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Texas Tech does not deservse Coach Leach. Leach deserves much better than Texas Tech.
I still think the termination of Coach Leach was poorly done. I suspect Texas Tech will pay dearly for a wrongful termination.
8:34 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I watched the game as a MSU fan and I was surprised on how biased the commentators were and how much coverage was given to the firing of the Texas Tech coach.
It is shameful how the Texas Tech administration jumped to conclusions and reacted so strongly against their coach on the allegations of a player with the potential for a self serving agenda. There should have been due process accorded to the coach. He had done an outstanding job for the school and deserved better treatment. He was entitled to a full and unbiased review of the facts by the administration and given an opportunity to explain the allegations against him.
Peoples rights are so very important and unfortunate things happen to innocent people when a quick fix replaces good judgment and due process.
8:37 pm on January 3rd, 2010
The ESPN commentary last night was so slanted, both commentators were really “handled”. Especially since ESPN is a part of this story the commentators should have left the situation out of their commentary. Shame on you ESPN.
9:04 pm on January 3rd, 2010
have just got home from work a while ago. just finished reading all the comments,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,i agree with most of them,,,,,,,,,,so,,,,,,,do you really want to repay ABC/ESPN for their wrongdoing in this situation????
If you do, read carefully,,,,,,,,,,
pick out their main advertisers during their game showing,,,,,,,,,,if you have to time,,,,,,,,,,,and drop them an e mail telling them that you are going to boycott their products as long as they advertise on ABC/ESPN sports programming,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,this is the only way that you can help this situation,,,,if you don’t do it,,,,,,,,shame on you,,,,,,,,,,,because you are only full of hot air,,,,,,,,,,hit them where it counts,,,,,,,,,,,,,advertisers listen, believe me,,,,,,,,,,
9:15 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Ladies & Gentlemen,
Here is the way it looks from my armchair. Adam James is obviously not currently talented enough to play regularly for Texas Tech and the Red Raider coaching staff.
When he suffers a concussion about 16 December, he is removed from practice. My guess is that he initially received the same treatment that the the starting QB received earlier in the season. Concussions are funny things and have to be carefully tended to. There are any number of articles from the NFL and NHL about this.
Adam can’t be with his buddies so he becomes a first class smart aleck which ticks off his position coaches so much that it gets escalated to the head coach. Mike Leach has to separate Adam from the healthy team members.
Adam cries to Daddy. Daddy uses his position at ESPN to bully Texas Tech to fire Mike Leach.
If Mike Leach was doing this as a regular thing, there would be an avalanche like what happened to Mark Mangino at Kansas. There is not. Not even a dribble.
Adam James apparently has had everything handed to him and hasn’t been able to adapt to a team where everyone was like that and he isn’t good enough despite what his dad thinks.
9:24 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Obviously the Tech fans have a perverted sense of justice. It matters not one iota whether Craig James turned in Leach or not. It matters not one iota that he worked for ESPN or not. It matters not one iota that ESPN clearly had an obvious conflict of interest in this story or not. What the hell does matter here is that an idiot like Leach made a very big and criminal mistake here. If I were the James family I would have charged Leach with Kidnapping, illegal restraint of their son. You morons would have been hollering and whinning even louder than the James family. Why the hell the Police didn’t get involved I don’t know. You people had no right to boo anybody.
9:26 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Washington interviewed Leach the Pirate. I guess he wasn’t what they had in mind. AARGH,what a joke.
9:32 pm on January 3rd, 2010
What a pathetic situation and complete distraction from two teams playing in a bowl game.
My sense from what is public information is that the player (a very average football player) complained about how he was treated … this coming from someone who appears to have a large ego … and the fruit doesn’t fall far from the tree. And yes, I am a parent (a good one at that). Leach does not appear to have done anything that would harm the player physically, and if it made a psychological point to the player - may have been appropriate.
9:48 pm on January 3rd, 2010
I think it is very important to remember that TTU administration would have gone along with all this ‘treatment’ if Leach has simply apologized. In other words what Leach did to Adam James really didnt matter it was the University trying to get him to submit to their demands.
9:53 pm on January 3rd, 2010
too many people here are assuming Leach actually locked the dumb ass kid in a closet or small room. That has yet to be proven. Hell, the training staff gave two different stories. So if I were you lunkheads, I’d wait to pass judgement on the coach until it’s a fact that this all happened. So far, it looks like the kid was put in the training room, from what I’ve seen, those rooms are better than most of the places I’ve lived. So quit bitching about how the spoiled brat was treated until you have the facts.
10:06 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Support Leach by joining TEAM LEACH on facebook!
10:31 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Craig James was at SMU when that university received the death penalty from the NCAA. Congratulations, Mr. James…It’s not everybody that can kill two major football programs within a 25 year span.
10:32 pm on January 3rd, 2010
i will say only this. you get on your damn knees and hire coach leach back now. also give him his damn money. and you better get him back soon, you stupid arrogant administration.
10:35 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Wow. You guys are weird in Texas. You’ll execute a man for jaywalking but you can live with a winning football coach unlawfully imprisoning a college student for having a bad attitude and a rich father? I’ve seen you so-called non-meddling parents at your kid’s little league and soccer games and trust me you guys are every bit as meddlesome and obnoxious as you’re now labeling James. The outrage is hysterical and, I might add, smacks of hypocrisy.
10:36 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Why would Adam even go to practice if he had a concussion? Why would he not just follow the doctor’s orders?
10:43 pm on January 3rd, 2010
TX TECH WAS THE ONLY SCHOOL TO OFFER JAMES A SCHOLSHIP AND COACH LEACH WAS WARNED ABOUT HIS DAD AND ALSO OF THIS KIDS WEAK ,LAZY,UNCOACHABLE PROBLEMS.
10:43 pm on January 3rd, 2010
Do you TTech fans REALLY think Craig James was using his ESPN “Jack” to get playing time for his kid!?!?!…REALLY?
That’s probably as rediculous as punishing a kid for getting a concussion! If he didn’t want the kid to play, he wouldn’t have played! If he had a concussion he wasn’t going to play ANYWAY!
If the kid wasn’t going to play, he could have transfered. You really think ESPN and ALL their employees got on board with Craig James “play my son agenda”?….
People just love a good conspiracy story. The “pirate” screwed the pooch, plain and simple.
He was OK when HE was the one handing out punishment, odd how he cant take it when someone higher up than him, dishes out their own punishment…..Yeah, Leach runs to HIS Daddy (lawyer). Who’s the real “candy-ash” here?
10:44 pm on January 3rd, 2010
How many times did Adam “Pussy” James, son of Craig “Pony” James, not change his attitude, in any sport, after punishment?
Leach is not dumb enough to do stuff to this guy out of the blue, I bet this is not the first time James had to have a lesson taught him, by Leach and other coaches.
I loved to see him laughing and having fun on the sideline, it was heartwarming, a son and his dimbulb father.
But not sure what Leach was thinking even having the stud on his team anyway…that seems stupid.
10:49 pm on January 3rd, 2010
It seems that it has also been forgotten that this was first described as a “minor” concussion - one that from which the two-timing team physician had cleared him to return to practice. Check out the video on Lubbock news archives (KCBD) of taped footage of the areas where AJ was placed. I was especially frustrated with the comments from last night’s game implying that coach Ruffin “McMuffin” won the game in spite of Mike Leach. Whose playbook were they utilizing? Ruffin put one together in 4 days? I think not. The true testament of a leader’s legacy is his team’s ability to continue forward in his absence - and the Red Raiders honored Mike Leach with their win last night!
10:54 pm on January 3rd, 2010
The tt fans have every right to boo. They know the
situation more than anyone including espn. remember, you can full some people some of the time, but not all the people all of the.time! The big
losers will be tt, the football team, the fans,espn.
Leach may not be a winner, but he will probably be
a rich loser.
11:36 pm on January 3rd, 2010
JFC Brooks, I give a shit about anything happening in Texas like 42 gave a shit about California…. Where’s the girls update? Sad start to the new year……
11:39 pm on January 3rd, 2010
All I’m going to say is this. When I want to watch a game on TV I DON”T want to here about something that has nothing to do with the game in progress. Sure you can comment a little here an there about the teams and the players etc.
BUT NOT THE WHOLE DAMN GAME!!!!!!
I was getting so pissed at the broadcasting crew I was ready to puke! Jesus, broadcast the game and leave the rest to sportscenter will ya next time?
11:56 pm on January 3rd, 2010
The reason Texas Tech administration is taking sides with Craig James is simple - money. Tech wants more TV exposure (i.e., ESPN) for the revenue, so Kent Hance and Gerald Meyers cannot afford to take sides against Craig James, and in turn, ESPN. Adam James is just a spoiled brat, who didn’t get the playing time he somehow thought he was entitled to; he complained; showed up to practice in street clothes with a cell phone, So, the coach disciplined him (admittedly, probably using the wrong method) and baby boy James runs to Daddy, who aligns ESPN solidly with the TT Administration and the James family. It is no wonder why the announcers and ESPN are anti-Leach. It’s obvious - money.
12:07 am on January 4th, 2010
I’m predicting right now that Tuberville will get the job.
Briles buyout too big.
Dykes: not high profile enough. AZ shutout in bowl game really hurt him. (not fair, but reality.)
Ruffin McNeill: dude is a wreck. (with all due respect, bless his heart.)
Sumlin: will hold out for better job. Tech facilities, resources are sub-par compared to Big 12 powers.
Tuberville: Big name, desperate for a job.
1:55 am on January 4th, 2010
Craig James should be fired from ESPN. Other analysts have been fired for conduct not related to the job. James used his position and influence to the fullest malicious extent. So, adios!
There have been no other abuse claims made against Leach. Sure some players may not like him, but he’s a COACH. He’s not suposed to be sunshine and rainbows, and the players’ best pal. Players need to be kept in line. And by many accounts, Adam James showed up to practice hungover and beaten from a bar fight, NOT with a concussion sustained during a practice (a concussion NO ONE saw occur). How do you think a college football coach with a major bowl game coming up should handle a player with an attitude and actions like that?
TTU hired Bobby Knight, so their justification for Leach’s firing was complete bogus. They were just waiting for a convenient excuse. Look at internal memos and emails regarding Leach’s 2008 contract negotiations.
I’m an LSU fan, so yeah, I ‘don’t have a dog in this fight’. But, it’s clear that Leach should be paid the terms of his contract and move on to another university that recognizes his value. It’s nice to know that TTU alum are saying the administration can shove it where the sun don’t shine and are keeping their money in their pockerts. The fundraising phone calls have been swift this past week (ask any alum) and everyone is saying ‘tough, get rid of Myers’ or we won’t donate.
Lastly, the biased ESPN game coverage? Absolutely DISGRACEFUL!
2:56 am on January 4th, 2010
I’m not a Tech fan, however, I support the team b/c of my bestfriend. He can tell you anything you want to know about the Red Raiders.
I just wanted to say although Leach is “character”, odd one at that, he is a very good coach and he does care about his player. He may use alot of “tough love” but he does care.
I recall earlier reports stating that the so-called player had showed up to practice in shades, not ready to practice and complaining of headaches.(possibly due to his “minor concussion”or maybe his overloaded ego) That is what lead to him being placed in a dark area. To keep him out of the light to ease the headaches. He wasn’t “locked” in a dark confined space. If that was the case, instead of walking to the electrical closet to take a picture of it, he should’ve of called the police. There are comments that ask why the authorities weren’t involved. Well, he had a cell phone. He apparently knows how it works to take pics of the electrical closet and come to think of it those pictures had a bit too much light in them. I mean to clearly see what was in the room, if he was “locked in a dark confined space”.
I feel bad for Leach and his family but not as bad as I feel for all the young men playing in the Alamo Bowl who had their big moment set aside b/c of this punk kid!! This hasn’t and won’t help him get playing time anywhere now. Coaches won’t come near him w/a 10ft pole. Now he’s going to be known as the no-talent, lazy, egomaniac punk kid who’s dad made known to the world just exactly what kind of person he is. This was the only way this punk kid w/no talent could get tv time. I never knew who he was until someone mention “death penalty”. I also agree, ESPN’s so-called analyst screwed up the memories for all the young men who worked very hard to get to play in the Alamo Bowl. Didn’t they even stop to think there were parents, relatives & friends of the other players that are actually talented enough to get on the field watching the game and all they got was commentary on this idiotic issue between the 3 parties.
I’m sure Leach was disgusted w/ESPN taking this very important moment in the other player’s lives and ruining it for them. As mentioned previously, if this is ever shown as an “ESPN Classic” the commentary will still be there. I to will have to find other avenues to watch college football.
Best of luck to you Coach Leach!
Good Luck the to Red Raiders in the years to come.
3:17 am on January 4th, 2010
ESPN is a joke… has been for quite a while. The only time I tune in is for actual games and then I usually have the sound off. It has become unbearable.
And I agree with Brooks… Tuberville will be the next head coach at Texas Tech.
5:54 am on January 4th, 2010
Wow what kind of team has fans that boo a player for turning in a coach for miss treatment. That really puts a stigma on any player of any football team turning in a destructive coach. Ok even if the kid is lazy you don’t put him in a closet you kick him off the team or suspend him. If daddy feels the need to be the coach instead of letting the true coach coach his son you use the ba!!s everyone thinks that you have and tell daddy to either become the coach or shut up.
The Big 12 is a strong conferance and this debocle tarnishes the entire conferance as the attitude of win at any cost isn’t just in Texas. There are other ways to get rid of a head coach. And why would a school blow a situation like this so far out of porportion that it makes national headlins reguardless of “daddy” being an espn anouncer (one I’ve never heard of before), I don’t know of any program that would want this kind of coverage for their school. The whole thing should have played out in private, but coach Leach doesn’t know how to keep his mouth shut and go through the proper chanels, instead he uses the media just as much as James are. To many good coaches of big name schools get a God complex and need to be brought back to reality before a player is seriously hurt or dies from a seemingly minor injury. Bottom line the players health needs to come first, no matter if he is a winer, a pu$$y, a crybaby, or even lazy .
Just think before you are ignorant enough to boo a young man or anyone else for that matter, for their decisions to do the right thing and stand up for what they think is right.
6:26 am on January 4th, 2010
I , personally hated Leach, But I also hate to see some one get screwed up the ass as bad as he did. All I can say is, its over for now, I hope Leach sues the shit out of them, and finds a better school to work for. Wouldnt it be nice if he got another job, where TT was on his schedule every year? Talk about a Revenge opportunity, and good luck Adam , Ever finding a Pro team that will put up with pussy Snitchin crybabies
10:27 am on January 4th, 2010
I am a Red Raider. I grew up in Texas playing football. It is a man’s sport. If you cant take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Adam is a punk whiney ass kid that is trying to fill daddy’s shoes and daddy wants to flex his elitist media muscle to better his punk ass ‘average’ athetic son. I think this has ruined a lot of reputations and lives and it is a shame that Craig James meddled and has even used his employer to be biased and try to ruin a west Texas football program that was as normal as any other in Texas. Sure the coach was a little wacky but he was getting results in a place where nobody ‘normal’ would get results. Punk ass kid and dad need to pack up and leave Texas because they just arent Texas tough….WAAAAAA WAAAA. The kid was not hurt in any way…so why take it to the media…sure he was in a shed…it wasnt summer, hell I would have taken a nap or two in that shed and enjoyed it since the lil ole sunlight hurt my eyes…Punk!!!
10:53 am on January 4th, 2010
This is all about the fact that TTU does not want to pay Leach. The James’ should be ashamed of themselves. I believe their son is lazy, marginally talented, and thinks he is entitled to play. His father tried to use his influence to get him on the field. I hope Leach wins big in court.
10:54 am on January 4th, 2010
Nobody puts baby in the corner!
11:33 am on January 4th, 2010
By the way, I support the claims by some that ESPN has been biased. They keep running the affadavit info from the trainer on the bottom line tag. However, they do not run the info on the letter from the receiver coach to the school regarding Adam James’ character. I’m sure they know about the letter. Like many of you, I watch the games but tune out much of the other bafoonery. Some segments are as outrageous as the behavior of many athletes. ESPN should rerview its relationship with Craig James to determine whether or not he tried to use his position to influence his son’s career. I believe he did. There is a reason beyond his character (which is in serious question) that no other school offered a scholarship to Adam.
11:54 am on January 4th, 2010
i’m british but watch college on espn and followed nfl for over thirty years and i’m surprised at how complicated this issue has become.the simple fact is leach shot himself in the foot.maybe adam is lazy,bigheaded etc but why didn’t leach just tell him to not come to practice even just to watch until cleared by medical staff.you americans are way ahead of us brits in many things sporting but no student athlete here would have caused a story like this,the coach would have acted like an adult and left well alone and then it wouldn’t matter who their father was.
11:56 am on January 4th, 2010
Tech fans are stupid. That’s why they had to go to Texas Tech.
12:13 pm on January 4th, 2010
Leach handled it poorly… now he’s out of a job. I’m excited because Tech will go back to being Tech. That’s the only thing that school had going for it was a decent football team. That’s also all anyone heard about or cared about in grand ole lubbock. You can’t even watch the news without them spending the whole time talking about the football team. BTW Tech fans… Good luck with Ruffin… HAHAHAHAH
12:30 pm on January 4th, 2010
Since when is it common medical practice to put an individual who has suffered a concussion in a place where he can’t be near the team? A concussion that Adam James suffered on a Wednesday in practice doesn’t mean that you keep him from being on the sidelines during practice, it just means that he can’t play or practice until completely cleared by the medical staff. According to the affadavits released by Texas Tech, the coach went overboard in his treatment of Adam.
12:43 pm on January 4th, 2010
It saddens me to see a Big 12 administration make a sacrificial lamb out of one of the finest coaches in the conference. ESPN management should be shamed for looking for the gossip ratings rather than quality broadcasting and Craig James should be reprimanded for using national TV to aire his obvious whining when he’s paid to broadcast a college football game. If anyone else spent their workday like that you normally end up fired. And his kid needs to learn that Texas Tech is not abbreviated TiT. Grow up James and pull your nose out of your daddy’s behind. TTU administration, ESPN, and Craig James will be kissing Coach Leach’s behind before this is all over. I hope Leach has a jury of his peers. Oh, by the way, I didn’t see any of the players to anxious to shove James into the huddle this season. Maybe Dad should check out the facts. Oh yeah I forgot Doak Walker award winner.
1:02 pm on January 4th, 2010
Apparently the Texas Tech fans have not bothered to watch any of the interviews of Mike Leach. I cannot fathom ANY COLLEGE HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, PUBLICLY attacking a player. If Adam James was a lazy and worthless as Leach claims, he would have been dismissed from the team. Instead Leach choose to humilate the player instead, and when caught, he now chooses to attack the player and his Dad, and the administration. He actually had the nerve to the entire incident was because Texas Tech didn’t want to pay him his money. The way Leach came off in the televised interview will probably keep any respectable program from hiring him. He put his mouth in motion before he put his brain in gear. Way too much ego.
1:05 pm on January 4th, 2010
Leach is gone, so we are past that.
No harm was done to Adam James, so we are past that.
Was Craig James afforded a platform to air Adam’s treatment? Hell yes! Was it right for ESPN to give Craig James the platform? Hell NO! Did ESPN show any journalistic integrity? HELL NO!!! Did the TTU Board of Regents conspire to fire Leach? Hell YES, since 2008. Did TTU negotiate Leach’s latest contract in bad faith? Hell YES!!! Should the TTU Administration be held responsible for their actions? Hell YES!!! Should Leach be paid the money he is due? Hell YES!!! Should the TTU AD and BOR resign? Hell YES!! Should an independent investigation be conducted into TTU’s handeling of this entire matter? Double Hell YES!!!!!!!!!
1:19 pm on January 4th, 2010
I think many people commenting here and other place are missing the whole point because ESPN is making this about Adam James. Texas Tech had be working behind the scenes to fire Leach to avoid paying him $800,000. They were conspiring against him since before his last contract was worked out. They never intended to pay him the money. Sure he was fired and won’t be coming back. Texas Tech did not fire Leach with cause. They conspired with malice and bad faith to fire Leach. This is the real issue, but you will never hear this on ESPN. Texas Tech fans are honest hard working people that feel the University has done a dishonest thing and want it righted, PERIOD!
1:26 pm on January 4th, 2010
craig james got smu the death penality, for takeing monies from a boster member! now he has given TT the death penality with brat son getting leach fired, you better hope his son does not attend you favor college.
1:48 pm on January 4th, 2010
Leach was the only Div I coarch to offer James a place on a team. Dear Dad had to lobby for that even. Leach was probably reluctant to kick him off because he (coach) was the one who put him there. He obviously wanted him out of the way so his attitude wouldn’t affect the rest of the team.
As far as Leach criticizing James on TV he probabbly felt like he didn’t have to cover for him anymore.
1:52 pm on January 4th, 2010
Funny how the few comments above that criticized Leach’s handling of James’ supposed concussion…’how would you like it if this was your kid’…etc. etc. ad nauseum…were all anonymous. I totally agree with the other 90+% that feel James is a brat, feeling like he has some entitlement due him because of his father. Get real people! You had a coach that took the team to 10 straight bowl games, with no previous complaints of ‘player abuse’…..doesn’t it seem a little coincidental that TT’s handling of Leach came 1 day before he was due to be paid his $$? TT will now be a cellar team for the next several seasons, so hope it was worth it!
2:02 pm on January 4th, 2010
Leach should have hit James with a stun gun. Adam’s balls may have dropped into the sack. The James’ gang are jealous of a pirate that doesn’t like rearends. All you parents with wimpy children, they will be eliminated early in life, due to a lack of survival skills.
2:15 pm on January 4th, 2010
I am close to this case, and all sides are at fault. I do have to cleat things up on this so called “electrical closet”. It is not an electrical closet, it is the room where all coaches give after the game interviews. It is up the ramp coming off of Jones stadium to the locker rooms. I am tired of people commenting that how would you feel if your child was locked in an electrical closet. Its a room a freakin room. Have some of you never sent your kids to a room and shut the door?” Adam James is a mal content and I do know this and ESPN is the onre that has brought most ogf this in the limelight, if he wasnt Craig ( give SMU the death penalty ) James would it have gotten this much ink and air time? Every ESPN broad it always says Adam James son of Craig James ESPN why do they have to keep mentioning that. I hate Leach is gone but he is and its time to move on and support the next Coach. and firing Gerald Myers wouldnt hurt my feelings either. Go Tech!
2:19 pm on January 4th, 2010
If only Urban had put Tebow in a dark room when he had his concussion, we probably would have won the Sugar Bowl.
The Cincinnatti Kid
3:34 pm on January 4th, 2010
, I ask, what would you have done if that was your kid, locked in an electrical closet after any type of injury, minor or not
He was NOT locked up in a closet lord read first! There was no physical harm done to this. Lets not even think mentally lol
Of course stories are going to change and will change again at least twice more … one for the media blitz sure to come and again when these fools have to raise their right hands and get SLAMMED by their own statements…..If TT wanted that badly to get rid of this coach they couldn’t have taken a worse way to go about it
Now my question for all you TT fans/ allums isn’t time you evaluate the current adminstration … seems you might have a case for dismissall on grounds of gross incomptenence!
4:33 pm on January 4th, 2010
Leach is a bully and was proud of it. People outside the TT fan base would be more inclined to support him if he had been honest from the beginning. The truth is he detests Adam and Craig James, which was very evident during his ESPN interview. However, if even part of what I’ve heard and read about both Adam and his father are true then I don’t blame Leach for not being their biggest fans. But, he did what he did because he was p’d off. Period. All of this reading of doctors statements and so on are an attempted smoke screen and nothing more. He was mad. He made a decision. A decision that in all likelihood did nothing to harm Adam James. But, don’t insult everyone by denying the motivating factor behind the decision.
4:58 pm on January 4th, 2010
Can I sue ESPN for by-stander trauma? The game was horrible to watch and listen to. They should have pulled and replaced suntan Davies at halftime for a lousy performance. I hope Leach sues that douche bag too. And what kind of a name is Pincock? I’ll bet he’s had a few problems growing up with that tag.Can’t make up your mind… Pin Cock? The truth is out there and Tech will have to face up to it. Everyone at ESPN knows Craig James is a puss so why be suprised by his son?
5:03 pm on January 4th, 2010
Wow I have heard about Texas and thier football but to witness this is amazing. The facts it appears depend completly on your point of view towards the team winning or losing. Just like politics and religon and everything else in our world today. Use your bias and make the facts fit…sad. When there is no thought or discerning thinking, the world is doomed to be one big Jerry Springer show.
5:20 pm on January 4th, 2010
this kid is a shmuck. you play in a contact sport. more then a contact sport. shoose a different sport if you can not handle the stress. stupid kid, even more stupid dad and family
5:20 pm on January 4th, 2010
It’s really telling the number of players that have come forward in Leach’s favor…oh..wait…what? NOT A SINGLE ONE? That’s kind of amazing actually that not one single player has come forward in defense of this man.
5:42 pm on January 4th, 2010
Having dealt with kids and the “overachieving aspirations” of a few of their parents as a coach in Pop Warner, I can well imagine what Coach Leach had to put up with from Craig James. Did he make a mistake in letting his minion put the kid in a dark shed, you bet. Bet he wishes he had simply yanked his scholarship and kicked him off the team. Maybe he was trying to give the kid another chance. Maybe he was afraid of bad press from James (ESPN–which he certainly caught in the game) However, the TT Admins have been caught in a game of political correctness and acted without courage and conviction and continue to compound the issue with the biggest mistake of waiting for all of the facts to be heard through an unbiased party to make an equitable decision concerning both Leach and James. Instead, they pushed it out the door and made it a three-ring circus, which when added to the horribly biased “commentary” by ESPN made a mockery of the achievement of the Red Raider team in their victory over MSU–despite all of the publicity.
The boos were deserved and, thank God, are part of our freedom of speech we still have in this great republic. The alums contribute much more that butts in seats at the games. They are the heart of the greatness of any university. They need to be heard. As, I am sure, Coach Leach will be heard in court. I am sure a lot more real facts, not the brilliant “insights and intuition” in so many of the posts here, will come out. I hope they do. Who ever is lying should be made to pay the public price. Leach put TT football map. I wish him well. James needs to find another locker room. His daddy needs to let him get a life. ESPN owes the TT fans and the Red Raider team an apology. The team made an unquestionably heroic effort to focus and win despite all of the mess around them. The deserved a lot more respect than they got.
The real loser in all of this was not Leach, James or ESPN. Sadly, it is TT football. Those butts in the seats do matter.
7:42 pm on January 4th, 2010
This exemplifies how the sport’s media (SM) strengthens the basis in the sporting world. SM is just trying to keep with the Nat’l media for chastising the common sense values of America. Before it’s over with, Coach Leach will win the game with us - Americans on his team.
8:02 pm on January 4th, 2010
Didn’t watch the game but all I know is Bob Davies (I think thats his name) is a dope and a terrible announcer. He’s always blabbing some garbage while a crucial or controversial play is going on or has just happened and then he never bothers to go back and mention it. He’s a moron, so is Craig James.
8:26 pm on January 4th, 2010
Adam James seems lazy and spoiled from these first hand accounts:
E-mails in support of Mike Leach
Posted on: December 30, 2009 12:50 am
Edited on: December 30, 2009 12:52 am
Score: 122Log-in to rate:
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These e-mails were forwarded to CBSSports.com on Tuesday. They include messages from strength coach Bennie Wylie, inside receivers coach Lincoln Riley, former assistant coach Dana Holgorsen (now at Houston) and former players Eric Morris, Graham Harrell and Rylan Reed …
Two days prior to the incident in question, I disciplined Adam James along with several other recievers. His attitude was poor the entire time; even with constant plees for improvement. By the end of the practice, a few of the other recievers accepted their lack of performance in the previous practice and worked harder. Adam was not one of these individuals. He was last on all the excercises asked to do and talked and “danced” during the discipline. When told that this was unacceptable, he simply shrugged his shoulders. I continued to encourge him with no success.
Bennie Wylie
Head Strength and Conditioning Coach
Texas Tech University
To whom it may concern:
You can find out a lot about a person after playing three years of college football with them. Adam James was a teammate of mine from 2006-2009. Ever since the day he arrived on the Texas Tech campus you couldn’t help but to feel a negative energy from him. He expected people to baby him and that he was going make it solely on the fact that his father was a very successful player. Coach Leach has never been a coach to just give something to someone because of who they are. He believes that everyone is equal and you have to earn respect from your coaches and teammates. Adam was never known as a hard worker. I can honestly agree with this because we played the same position and I witnessed his laziness on a daily bases. Adam seemed to have a negative attitude towards the football program the majority of the time. That negative energy is never good for a team and can cause some major problems on and off the field. During practices, Adam always tried to get by with doing the least he possibly could. Never do I once remember Adam to be excited or enthusiastic to be out there. It was almost like he was playing the game of football to please someone other than himself.
Sincerely,
Eric Morris
To Whom It May Concern:
Texas Tech University and the athletic department is filled with great people from the top down, starting with the chancellor all the way down to the student athletes involved in the programs. In the football program, Gerald Myers and the rest of the administration have put together an unbelievable staff that believe success only comes from hard work and doing things right. The staff expects the players and everyone involved to buy into their beliefs, but like anywhere not every player agrees with or buys into what the coaches and program stand for. At Texas Tech the majority of the players do everything the coaches ask of them and anything possible to improve the team. Adam James is one of the few players who has never bought into what Texas Tech football was built on and in my years there with him had a negative impact on the team because of his attitude and work ethic on and off the field. Coach Leach demands a lot out of every player in the program and pushed his players and coaches as hard as any coach I have ever been around, but he is fair to every player and would never make and decision or action that is not best for the Texas Tech football program.
Before Adam James ever entered the football locker room at Texas Tech I heard how spoiled and selfish he acted in a team atmosphere from many of my baseball friends. Adam was on the baseball team his true freshman year at Tech, before he ever joined the football team, and did not make it through the baseball season because of his selfish attitude. After a baseball game in which he felt like he did not get enough playing time, but the team still won twenty to one, he came into the locker room after the game and “pouted and threw a big fit” according another player on the baseball team. A few weeks later in the middle of the season, he just stopped showing up to practices or game and quit because he was not happy about how he was being treated. One of my roommates was a baseball player on the team and many of my friends were a part of the team that witnessed all of this. These baseball players told me he was “spoiled and selfish” before he ever came to the football team. After quitting baseball he came out for football and his selfish attitude was very evident, as was his laziness. During off-season workouts he often would be caught skipping lifts in the weight room or finding ways to cut corners/get out of conditioning exercises. When we had player organized seven on seven throwing in the summer, when he would show up he was much more interested in playing his own games on the side of the field or telling people that he wasn’t going to run any routes because the coaches do not get him a “fair opportunity” anyway. During the season he was often “injured” (it usually seemed like a very minor injury that could keep him out of practice but never out of any other activity, including games) so he would not participate in some drills in practice. None of these acts were productive for our team, but the most detrimental part of Adam was his off field attitude and actions. In the locker room and away from the facility, Adam used any opportunity he had to tell other players how he was being treated unfairly, how the coaches did not give him a fair chance and how we did not have to do everything the coaches told us because they had no option but to play some of us. When I heard these kinds of things I usually tried to put an end to them but Adam pretty consistently talked bad about the coaches or down played the importance of working hard, when he was off the field. When he talked to young players or players that were usually on the scout he would explain how the coaches were not fair to certain players and only played favorites. When he talked to players that did get some playing time he would talk about how we didn’t really have to do what the coaches asked of us because the coaches had to play us anyway. And it almost always tied back to how he was not getting a fair chance to play just because the coaches were unfair. The coaches were always more than fair to Adam I felt, because he came in the game during certain formations and situations last football season, but because of his work ethic and attitude, many of the players on last years team had a hard time trusting him or relying on him because he was not always practicing and we had seen his laziness during the off-season. Adam was a kid that seemed like he had been given everything he wanted his whole life and acted like if things did not go exactly how he wanted someone was treating him unfairly or someone needed to be blamed for his failures. He was a selfish player on and off the field that was counter-productive for our team and would be for any other team.
Mike Leach was not only my head coach, but he was my position coach all five of my years at Texas Tech. I spent more time with him than any other player during my five years and had meetings with him every day. He was very hard on me and every other player in program and he held very high expectations for every player. He would push us all every day during the season and during the off-season. He felt that hard work, dedication and doing things right was the only way we could be successful and compete in the Big XII conference. He worked harder and longer than anyone else in program and was committed to winning at all cost. He would never have been unfair to a player or not played the best players he had because he wanted to win more than anything else. Coach Leach also expected us to be tough but smart at the same time. He would not pressure a kid to play with a serious injury or play when he did not feel ready to play. Coach Leach is a man that cares about his player and puts his players, coaches and the well being of the Texas Tech football program above all else.
Coach Leach is a great coach at Texas Tech that emphasizes the importance of hard work and doing things the right way so that the football program has the best opportunity possible to be successful. He, along with the administration and the rest of his staff, have built a great football program at Texas Tech that is built on the virtues and principles that give any program an opportunity to be successful. Every single player may not buy into the program’s beliefs, but Mike Leach has almost everyone on board with him and the Texas Tech football program on a successful track.
Graham Harrell
To whom it may concern:
As a player under coach Leach, I have experienced some of the most memorable moments of my life in which I am very grateful for. As I stated I am a former Red Raider that played for Mike Leach and got to know him well over my four years as a Red Raider. I admire the professionalism and dedication Mike had for the game, the university and his players. He always demanded the best from each of us and we became better players and people for it. Although he pushed his players and coaches to be the best, his decisions and actions were always consistent with maintaining the program’s integrity and were in the best interest of his players. As a player, my commitment to the team was based on the trust I had developed in Coach Leach as a leader who would always put his players and his team in the best possible position for success. As a result of his guidance and coaching, in combination with my own hard work, I was able to overcome great adversity to become an All-American tackle.
A couple of bowl games ago in the Gator Bowl, I suffered a severe injury to my lower left leg in which took a lot of support from family, friends, fans, coach’s, teammates and most importantly coach Leach to get me back. It was a long road to recovery that took careful attention from trainers during practices, and Leach was always checking to make sure that I was ok. During camp, oftentimes I had to practice one day and then take a day off because of soreness. Coach Leach was very understanding, always had my best interest in mind at all times, and I will always be appreciative of that.
Another incident that occurred was after my pro day in which I hurt my knee and my dream of playing in the NFL quickly came to a halt so I went home to rehab with two semesters left from graduating. I was able to get a job and start working, but quickly realized that to get the dream job in the real world that I always wanted, it would take getting my degree from Texas Tech. When I got home from work one day, I got a phone call from coach Leach asking, if they were able to get some paper work filled out, would I be willing to come back to school to finish my degree, and of course I said yes. I am proud to say that, as a result of coach Leach’s influence, I will finish my degree from Texas Tech in May 2010. If that does not show how coach Leach cares for his players, then I do not know what does.
The allegations against coach Leach are not consistent with the standards and beliefs that he has for himself and the University of Texas Tech. He has always been fair and respectful to my teammates and I. I was very saddened to hear that someone could try to take away all that he has done for this university, players and fans. I hope that you take this into consideration, and I also would be willing to further discuss anything in detail in person or by phone.
Sincerely,
Rylan Reed
To Who it May Concern:
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 thatakes 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.
Lincoln Riley
I am writing this letter on behalf of Mike Leach in regards to the Adam James situation. I was the inside receiver coach at Texas Tech when we made the decision the 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 Adams 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 belief he was not a D1 football player. Coach Leach overrode my opinion and Adam became a Red Raider. During the rest of my time at Texas Tech I was Adams position coach where I always remained critical of Adams ability to play at this level due to being lazy in not only the classroom but also in the off season and during practice. Coach Leach was the one who kept saying he believed Adam would eventually contribute. Adams teammates believed he was selfish and were constantly getting onto 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 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. 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.
Dana Holgorsen
OC & QB’s
University of Houston
Two practices before Adam James claimed he had a concussion, Coach Leach and I were forced to discipline him for poor effort from the previous practice and poor effort during the early drills of that day. This has been a common theme about Adam’s work ethic and attitude during his entire career. Adam, along with two other receivers that were also unsatisfactory, was sent to run stadium steps with Bennie Wylie. After the practice, Bennie made it very clear to Coach Leach and I that Adam was a complete “jerk” while he was being punished. After talking with Adam after the practice, it was very clear to me that Adam did not agree with the punishment and believed that we were just mis-asessing his effort. He complained to me that we were not doing our jobs as coaches and that his effort was just fine, all of which is very typical of him to say. By comparison, the other receiver that we punished agreed that his effort wasn’t his best and had a good attitude with Bennie and also in meeting with me after practice. It’s just another example of Adam thinking that he knows more about coaching than people who have been coaching for their entire lives. I have no doubt that anger from this led to where we are today with this situation and is his way of trying to “get back” at us coaches
Lincoln Riley
9:04 pm on January 4th, 2010
One day Adam Baby James will get in some kind of trouble that Daddy won’t be able to help him out. That is when Craig James will see how taking the low road on Leach wasn’t for the good of his son. Fathers sometime think their boys can’t do anything wrong. Craig James will be eating a lot of words and actions as he goes through the years.
10:56 pm on January 4th, 2010
The James Family has a history of making good decisions about right and wrong and being upstanding in their actions. Wait a minute, didn’t Craig play for SMU just before they lost their football program for paying players. Maybe Craig didn’t know about the NCAA rules against paying College players to play.
12:14 am on January 5th, 2010
Maybe Leach shouldn’t have locked the kid in an electrical closet. What a dumbass
7:52 am on January 5th, 2010
Leach got railroaded by a wealthy kid and his dad..I am very disappointed with Craig James…I can imagine what coach had to put with from him…..Now coach has to pay the price…Isn’t america fair????
9:31 am on January 5th, 2010
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1:32 pm on January 5th, 2010
all these tech fans telling us that leach is just a tough guy man’s man, and james is a crybaby wuss reminds me - a LOT - of how ohio state used to say *exactly* the same things about woody hayes and all the crybabies HE had who whined and complained about him.
then of course, hayes went berserk live on national TV, and suddenly, all that talk just stopped. mike leach is woody hayes is bobby knight. borderline psychos with poor impulse control. would you play for a sadist like that? would you want your kid playing for them?
2:52 pm on January 5th, 2010
Jason, 5:20 pm on January 4th, 2010
It’s really telling the number of players that have come forward in Leach’s favor…oh..wait…what? NOT A SINGLE ONE? That’s kind of amazing actually that not one single player has come forward in defense of this man.
*******************
Jason, three points to consider:
1. These players are not allowed to speak to the media to begin with. Usually, only those who are asked have to be approved by the coach to speak, even in regular season games.
2. Do you really truly think that any player on a FULL scholarship would risk LOSING it to speak out in defense for the coach? No one - not even I - would do that because getting an education for free and just having to play a sport is very rare (BTW, a lot of jocks graduation with at least a 3.0, so please no dumb jock comments). These kids are smart enough, even those skimping by - to NOT speak out because they know Tech could drop that precious scholarship at a moment’s notice for any cause. I nearly lost mine for cheerleading by the cheer coach because I didn’t want to go out to a club while on a trip (never mind I had head exhaustion and didn’t even really know where I was that night).
3. The ones who have graduated from Tech say that Leach is a good and fair coach. If they had problems, they’d said something too = pro or con - and they wouldn’t have to worry about Tech doing anything to them financially (they can’t take away a used scholarship).
The point of the matter is - Leach could’ve done something wrong; however, as fast as they turned it around to fire him the day before he was due to get paid an $800,000 bonus to me is highly questionable and IMHO Tech’s way of getting out of a hotly contested contract - which anyone, even non-Tech fans/supporters/alumni - knows Tech was pissed off that Leach won on his terms.
I am NOT a Tech fan, BTW - my college actually was a bitter rival. I’m seeing it from watching the games, the coach, and having researched the history of Leach and Texas Tech for some time now.
3:10 pm on January 5th, 2010
Hey “Anonymous” @ 12:14 am on Jan 5th - It was NOT an electrical closet you moron…..it was a heated & cooled MEDIA ROOM. The little wimp snuck in the back and filmed one of the corners, where the trained confirmed telling him NOT to go. Wittle Adam was snacking on ice, sitting, catching a couple of naps, etc….basically got a wittle “time out” for his piss poor attitude….similar to what nursery schools as well as K-12 schools do ALL OVER the country. We’re talking some “time out” knucklehead…..while Meyers’ coddled Coach B. Knight slaps a player on TV as well as attacks the TTech Chancellor TWICE….but no punishment by Meyers or Univ President.
Geez, don’t be soooo naive and believe all the ridiculous spin by TTech Admin (aka the Three Stooges - Meyers, Bailey and Hance), Daddy “cheatin” James and the pitiful spin machine aka ESPN.
6:45 pm on January 5th, 2010
James is a pu$$y
2:35 pm on January 6th, 2010
I don’t doubt Adam was spoiled and lazy. From what I’ve read and heard how could anyone draw any other conclusion. But, coach Leach did what he did b/c he was mad. That was the basis of his decision. Adam was a slacker, and he wanted to punish him and rightfully so. If you are not pulling your weight, not contributing to the success of the team, then you are a distraction and bring nothing to the success of the program. However, Leach’s claims that he did what he did for Adam’s safety based on his injury are just not believable. I have no problem with making a slacker who cannot/will not practice uncomfortable. But, don’t try to explain what happened without admitting you were upset and that part of the motivation for what you did was to punish that spoiled whiny brat.
8:14 pm on January 8th, 2010
amazing how many people want to look past a clear case of abuse because they want a good football team.
typically american smh…