Tech ‘will not even respond’ to Leach counter
BY ADAM ZUVANICH l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
Texas Tech “will not even respond” to a counteroffer from agents for football coach Mike Leach sent earlier this week as both sides remain far apart on how much the university and coach would have to pay if either terminates employment.
The university has given Leach a Tuesday deadline to sign its extension offer. If Leach does not sign the offer, he will remain under his current contract, which has two years left.
Leach is on a trip to Europe, but expected back in Lubbock Monday, according to Tech officials.
The Avalanche-Journal obtained the counteroffer and other documents through a public records request.
The counteroffer, dated Tuesday from Matt Baldwin of IMG Coaches in Minnesota, said Leach and his agents:
- Agree on total compensation of $12.7 million over five years.
- Agree to provide advance notice to Athletic Director Gerald Myers if Leach plans to interview for another job.
- Backed off on the amounts they proposed for incentive bonuses in a Jan. 20 counterproposal. They agree to the incentive amounts proposed by Tech on Jan. 9 — with one exception, leaving in a $150,000 bonus if Leach takes the Red Raiders to the BCS national championship game.
- Propose Tech pay 40 percent of the remaining base salary and outside income if the university ends Leach’s employment, and that Leach pays $500,000 if he leaves. Those terms are part of Leach’s current contract.
That last provision differs from the numbers in Tech’s Jan. 9 offer, which Myers called “our best and final offer.”
Under that proposal, the side choosing to end employment would pay $300,000 per year of the remaining contract.
“This ’so-called’ proposal is simply an offer for us to guarantee that Coach Leach could never be fired,” Myers said in a written statement released Friday by the university. “It would cost us a maximum of $4.4 million if we wanted to change coaches in the first year. It would cost Texas Tech millions in subsequent years of his five-year contract.
“If Leach left Tech he would only pay Tech $500,000. Our proposal is a fair offer of $12.7 million for five years. Both Leach and Texas Tech would pay the same annually decreasing buyout figures. Leach’s agents’ proposal is not fair. We will not even respond to such a proposal.”
Myers did not respond Friday to requests for further comment.
In the letter with the counteroffer Baldwin sent Tuesday, it also says Leach is willing to accept “all contract language contained in the August 11, 2006 employment contract between Texas Tech University and Mike Leach; with the addition of a notice provision in the event the opportunity to interview for another job is presented to Coach.”
That language seems to mean Leach still rejects four clauses Tech added Jan. 9 because of Leach’s reported recent interest in other jobs.
But attempts to clarify that with Leach’s agents were unsuccessful Friday.
Baldwin did not respond to an e-mail or a voice message left at his office.
IMG’s Gary O’Hagan responded Friday to an interview request for Baldwin, but refused to comment on the record.
The clauses presented by Tech on Jan. 9 were:
- Tech reduces the guaranteed income due Leach should it dismiss him. Leach’s current deal ensured he’d be paid $3.6 million of a guaranteed income of $9 million. In the new proposal, he would receive $1.5 million from guaranteed income of $11.1 million.
- Tech increases Leach’s buyout clause from the current flat $500,000 if he leaves Tech to $300,000 per year for each year remaining on his deal.
- Tech inserted a requirement Leach ask permission before interviewing for other jobs. If he interviews for another job without informing Tech, he can be fired for cause and subject to a penalty clause of $300,000 per year for the remaining contract term. There are no such stipulations in Leach’s current contract.
- Finally, according to previous comments from O’Hagan, Leach must “assign over to the university and its agent, Learfield Sports, all rights to his name and identity, so that the university can sell Mike’s time and the use of his name and identity to third parties.”
Tech said the clauses were added because of stories of Leach being interested in other jobs.
Chancellor Kent Hance told The A-J a week ago, “I like Mike and I want him to be our coach, but I don’t want his agents shopping him around every year. I found it outrageous that I saw in the newspaper my football coach was interviewing for other jobs. We expect him to notify us. We want loyalty.”
On the guarantee and buyout money, Hance said, “If it’s good for one, it’s good for the other. His agents say Mack Brown and Bob Stoops don’t have a buyout provision, and I told them when Mike wins a national championship I’ll take the buyout provision out.”
- To comment on this story:
adam.zuvanich@lubbockonline.com l 766-8733
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735
- Expanded Coverage
Feb 18, 2009
• Tech, Leach drama moves to national stage
• Firing would shock Leach
Feb 17, 2009
• Leach’s deadline passes with no new agreement
• Dozens rally at Tech in effort to Keep Leach’
Feb 16, 2009
• Clock running down on contract
Feb 13, 2009
• Tech ‘will not even respond’ to Leach counter
Feb 10, 2009
• Agent: Leach has shown his loyalty
Feb 7, 2009
• Both sides frustrated with Leach contract process
• Records reveal regent’s frustration with agents
• Texas Tech’s Dec. 5 proposal for Mike Leach’s Contract Extension
• Mike Leach’s Dec. 5 Contract Counter-Offer
• Continued: Mike Leach’s Dec. 5 Contract Counter-Offer
• Texas Tech’s Jan. 9 proposal for Mike Leach’s Contract Extension
• Mike Leach’s Jan. 20 Contract Counter-Offer
• Mike Leach’s Feb. 10 Counter-Offer
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Gerald Myers is the one who needs to go. We have a coach that has brought us recognition and he wants to play games with him. That tells me Gerald Myers is all about himself and no one else. He was crap as coach and now he is even bigger crap as AD.
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Gerald Myers is looking like a double A jerk. Run him out on rails. You have the most successful coach in school history, a coach that has brought more spotlight to the university in a 3 week period than most people have in their careers. You are doing your best to run him off.
I agreed at first about having an interview clause, but when ESPN revealed that in a 9 year career, Mike Leach interviewed for 1 job and turned down 3 other offers, you, the university look like fools.
You have no right to ask him to sign away his identity rights. Hey Gerald, sign your personal rights away…oh wait, no one wants those.
As a former student and Tech supporter in the Houston area, this is an embarrassment.
To be balanced, Coach, quit having your agents negotiate in the media. It is so high school..
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As a Tech alum, I completely agree that Gerald Myers needs to go. We need a top notch AD. If that means Kent Hance needs to go also, so be it. Where is John Montford when we really need him.
Turkey
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Coach Leach is the one who needs to go! his offers are redicilous. lets not forget what this team is about. Texas Tech and the players not how much more money Leach is going to get. Lets face it Tech needs a NEW head coach. one who will lead us into a Championship, not hopefuls year after year after year. New blood is what Texas Tech Needs in the Football program.
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I find it unbelievable that the University is risking the football program that keeps the rest of the athletic program above water. We have a coach who has brought excitement and respect to Tech, has provided the support for two expansions of the program and now we are trying to run him off. He has been paid less than most of the other coaches in the Big 12 since the beginning of his tenure. We need a new athletic director who looks out for the best interests of the program and not his own feelings.
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If someone was to do a poll, I wonder what the outcome would be? Who should be gone Myers or Leach? My vote is Myers.
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Get rid of Meyers NOW! I have never met a less friendly, more sour pussed person in the same high level capacity of a public university that depends on donations and ticket sales for the success of his department. I do NOT blame Mike Leach for refusing to sell his name to Tech. It is his and he should control where he sells his services other than coaching football. Ignore Meyers, Mike! Stay and make the team and the fans happy.
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The fans are getting screwed. The Baylor game is moving to Dallas, my season tickets jumped 62%, and now Leach’s contract is all fouled up to the point it may never get resolved. Leach wants what Bobby Knight had…the ability to run a program without having to answer to Gerald Myers. Leach has much more invested in the football program so give him the opportunity to be in charge of all the football operations. It sure would be nice to know how all this is going to unfold before I start paying on my season ticket renewals.
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It’s clear that there are no “negotations” on the part of Texas Tech (i. e. – Gerald Myers) to keep Mike Leach! It’s either his (Myers) way or nothing. Well, if nothing is what Myers wants, that’s what he deserves as well. Coach Leach, I don’t think Gerald wants you at Tech, at least, that;s the message that is being sent and seen in the community! Good luck coach in finding a place that wants you!
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Let’s see…. lose your best receive to the NFL? Check. Raise prices and tick off your season ticket holders? Check. Create more bad blood between the Head Coach and AD, lose one of your best recruiters, and embarrass yourself in the national spotlight you just found? Check, check, and check.
Wow, this is shaping up to be a terrific off-season. Can’t wait to see what else we’ll accomplish before August gets here.
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absolutely ridiculous
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My last post was taken down b/c i posted Hance’s email. The one point I want to make again, is name any AD to lose 3 of the following coaches: Marsha Sharp, Bobby Knight and now Mike Leach. For losing 2 of those he should lose his job, lose all 3 and he should never be hired again by ANYONE.
This is a joke. I will never give tech another $$$ if they dont lock Mike Leach up or at least F***king Negotiate.
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Not surprised by TTU’s small mindedness, at least from Mr. Myers…I must say I’m a little surprised by Mr. Hance’s heavy-handed tactics. I agree the agents of Coach Leach have not handled negotiations as well as I would have expected. However, I feel the University’s representatives have sunk to the agents level with their most recent negotiating tactics. It’s a shame Mr. Hance is so willing to jeopardize the momentum Coach Leach has built at TTU.
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GET RID OF MYERS IF TECH DONT RESPOND WE WILL BE BACK WHERE WE WERE BEFORE SPIKE HELL BRING IN SPIKE FOR AN AD OR SOME ONE WITH SOME CLOUT.LEACH HAS DONE MORE FOR THIS PROGRAM THAN ANYOTHER COACH I KNOW. AND I BET HANCE AND MYERS BOTH MAKE MORE THAN LEACH AND MAYBE THEY SHOULD I DONT KNOW BUT THEY DARN SURE DONT DO FOR THE PROGRAM WHAT LEACH DOES. HAVE A CITY WIDE FAN VOTE AND SEE WHO IS LEFT
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Another reason why TT will always be a SECOND TIER program in the Big XII. Look at the ELITE Big XII schools and see how these programs are handled. This is embarrassing for TT and LUBBOCK!!!
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Very much a disappointment that issues cannot be worked out, it appears that IMG has given some slack and that Gerald and Kent should do the same. It is certain that all of the dialogue that has been printed will be used against Tech in the recruiting wars. I really think it is time for Gerald to consider retiring and we can name a building after him. Hance still has some good years left, but he has made a choice to support Gerald at this time which could be a regret next week. I do not think a basketball man should be over the football program.
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Leach is done here. Zero loyalty and Myers can’t even talk to him w/out talking through his lawyer. Leach needs to move on, I’m surprised he’s lasted this long in Lubbock to be truthful. I’ll start it here, WE WANT DYKES!!! Later pirate fans, we’re RAIDERS not pirates!!!
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I hope Myers has got a an Ace in his back pocket ( Gruden, Phil Fulmer, TCU head coach etc.)-he’s playing with fire. Hance-careful with the buyout/nat. championship talk.
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First Myers wants a contract to make sure Leach doesn’t leave, now he doesn’t like this contract because he can’t fire Leach in the first year???? WTF Myers, I think all those years of four corner offense has fried your brain. You want Leach and want to guarantee he stays no wait, you don’t want the guarantee he stays. You two old men will be remembered for decades for ruining Tech football.
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I agree with Myers on this one. When Leach wins a national championship he can demand the same treatment as national champion coaches deserve. Until then shut up!
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What does Mr. Myers think will happen to his athletic budgetwith the already hard to swallow ticket prices, if he gets Leach runoff?
Oh the sound of the black swan song….
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Myers is right to refuse this offer because it is not in the best interest of Texas Tech. Hopefully Leach and his agents will negotiate with legitimate numbers before this situation completely falls apart.
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So you people are demanding that we hire a new Athletic Director that allows Tech coaches to search and interview for new jobs on a yearly basis behind our backs? Don’t you find it embarrassing as a program when your own coach is trying to leave every single year? I do. That’s what this is about. It’s not about $$$, it’s about how easy it will be for Leach to find another job. Leach has NEVER, one single time publicly stated that he wasn’t interested in any coaching job. I want a coach who is committed to our program.
Have you ever heard of Steve Mariucci or Bill Callahan? Guess what, the agent writing these proposals, Gary O’Hagan is the same guy who got Mariucci and Callahan canned.
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Remember Spike didn’t even require his kids to go to class and he still couldn’t win as much as Leach and he didn’t sell near as many Tickets. Leach is the real deal, a proven winner. He does it without cheating, kids graduate, he puts an exciting product on the field and most people enjoy him.
We’re in Lubbock folks, we’re not going to get this chance again for a long long time. Considering we don’t get the kids Texas, OK, Florida, USC, etc can and do get, it is amazing how well Leach has done. Pay the man, apologize to Leach, fire Myres and Hance and lets play some football.
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From ESPN.com writer Bruce Feldman:
Mike (Lubbock): Bruce, today apparently Tech’s AD Myers has refused to even respond to Leach’s counteroffer. What do you see happening here? What is your take on all of this? Am I crazy for being fuming angry at Tech’s administration over this garbage?
SportsNation Bruce Feldman: (2:56 PM ET ) The AD is the former basketball coach. I honestly think he’d be fine if the football team went 7-5 every year and he didn’t have to deal with any attention. Leach has brought a ton of attention to Lubbock. Heck, 60 Minutes did something there. Maybe it’s attention they might not all be comfortable with.
Translation: In the national media’s eyes – Tech is a joke. Period
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Somebody help me with my confusion. Were we 11-2 last year or were we 2-11 cause this is supposed to be what happens at losing programs. Have I woken up in College Station?? Were Meyers and Hance out of town during the week of the Texas game? Did they not see the excitement, the unity, the passion of the fans. Were they totally unaware of Raiderville and GameDay?
If Meyers and Hance truly want Leach to stay here like they say they do then why are they not working on this? They seem to have drawn a line in the sand and are willing to let the train run off of the track because of their pride. If Leach leaves even with a good hire it will take years to rebuild this program. And why would a top notch coach want to come to Lubbock and work with such a hard headed inflexible administration. I repeat, Have I woken up in College Station??????????????
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I have really enjoyed watching the Red Raiders under coach Leach. He has fielded an exciting football team and it was the greatest season ever this past year. Sadly, tomorrow I am going to return my season ticket renewals, because this whole affair has soured my desire to support the football program. I no longer believe Leach will stay on as football coach.
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Until Coach Leach I didn’t attend tail gates or anything it just didn’t appeal to me. Lose Leach and Tech is going back to the same old nonsense it was before. A nobody school with nobody players and Myers if that happens you better start packing…….
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I have enjoyed football with the Texas Tech Red Raiders including their now coach Mike Leach. i will continue to enjoy TTRR football with whatever coach we have in place. TTRR football will be here long after Leach has flown the coop (whenever that is). I honestly think Kent Hance will do whatever is in the best interest of this university. ML will do what is in the best interest of ML.
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Small minded, jealous men make short-sight emotional decisions. Fire Myers and get a AD with vision and self-control. Other than the football and track programs, Tech overall athletic department is seriously lacking.
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FIRE Gerald Myers before he screws up the football program like he fouled up the rest of the Athletic Department. Great call on raising ticket prices to Tech. Making fans mad twice before the next season is extremely stupid.
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If I wasn’t a resident of Lubbock (which I am… ) and if I wasn’t a Red Raider fan (which I am…) and I just happened to be following this story on the back and forth of Texas Tech and Mike Leach’s contract extension dance (which I am…), I’m pretty disgusted with the posturing coming out of the Texas Tech AD’s office. Why is Gerald Myers acting like the skunk at the party with his nasty attitude, especially with this latest counter-offer? This isn’t negotiation, it’s childish behavior on Myers’ part. Myers needs to go, and Chancellor Hance needs to find a grown-up to attend to the AD’s job…! And by the way, when Myers leaves, give Mike Leach HIS parking space!!
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What are you folks recommending Gerald be fired thinking? Are you recommending that the Tech President, Chancellor and Board of Regents be fired as well? Gerald is simply delivering the message that the leadership of Texas Tech University has decided upon.
If you are so naive as to think that Gerald Myer’s is making these decisions in a vaccuum, then you don’t know much about the real world.
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The new proposed buyout/leaving clause is utterly assinine. There are no guarantees that you will not get fired. Leach’s agents are the ones that need to be fired. That being said, Myers needs to go as well. This thing should have been settled before the Cotton Bowl fiasco and way before signing day came and went. I wonder which recruits Myers cost us by dragging this out?
This is an embarrassment. Lock yourselves in a room, discuss it like grown men, and don’t come out until it’s setteld.
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When leach took over as head coach, Tech was just playing to be bowl eligble. Now Tech is playing to win the Big 12 championship. My point is that Leach took the team this far not the AD Myers. If it wasnt for leach the fans would still be hoping for a win against Texas, and A&M instead of expecting it. Leach put Lubbock on the College football map.
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Remember the Jerry Moore day’s, here we come again. If Mike leaves Gerald Myers should be fired and Kent Hance should go back to politics. This can be settled by the alumni, stop sending money and stop buying tickets. Send the messsage!
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Real world. Top executive let managers make fool of themselves when it benefits the executive.
As long as the BOR and Chancellor feel they can recover from this horridly managed contract extension AND gain something in return, yes they will let Myers make these inane public statements.
It’s obvious, Myers in on thin ground (exposed as incompetent) AND the PTB want Leach reined in.
How far they are willing to let this go…who knows?
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I wouldnt be surprised if Tech cant get the deal done that Leach will leave for another school. Then what after that. Tech will probably get a scrub of a coach and take a few steps backwards. Give leach whatever he wants because he deserves it.
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Keep in mind that Tech would have been in a BCS bowl this year if not for them not being Texas or OU. This is yet another reason why Tech will never have the same respect that Texas and OU have had and will continue to have. Leach is starting to make a name for Tech and the administration is blowing it to pieces.
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This issue requires leadership from Mike (not his agent) and Gerald Myers/Kent Hance. Let’s not forget that an agent’s job is to represent only one side and their own pocket book. Tech is not the other side.
Let’s not forget that Gerald Myers and Kent Hance are both Alumni of TTU. I sincerely believe they love their University and want what is best for the Athletic Department (all sports). Does anyone remember some of the past Tech Athletic Directors before Mr. Myers took the job? They were terrible! All side need to take a deep breath and sit down and do a 50/50 compromise for the benefit of both the University and Mike Leach. Mike is a great coach but he does not walk on water. Just to give you a few examples of Mike’s shortcomings. Mike killed the Red Raider Club luncheons that had been held at Danny’s Fens and Hens for light years. The luncheons just dissolved after tinkering with them to please you know who. Mike is not interested in back slapping and mingling with the common football fans to raise money for various worthy Tech related causes except his own. Threre is plenty of fault to go around guys. Both parties need to sit down, forget the egos and work out a deal that both parties can live with.
I Bleed Red & Black!!!
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GET RID OF MYERS (SOUR FACE) AND HANCE ( GRUMPY FACE)NOW ! LETS GET ON WITH WINNING FOOTBALL GAMES….CORRECT ME IF I’M WRONG DID THEY DO THIS TO KNIGHT AND SON?
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It seems that a second rate basketball coach turned third rate AD should leave the building like Elvis. He has out lived his welcome at TTU. Get on with signing Mike and continue with a great program.
How ’bout making Mike AD….
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Somebody help me with my confusion. Were we 11-2 last year or were we 2-11 cause this is supposed to be what happens at losing programs. Have I woken up in College Station?? Were Meyers and Hance out of town during the week of the Texas game? Did they not see the excitement, the unity, the passion of the fans. Were they totally unaware of Raiderville and GameDay?
If Meyers and Hance truly want Leach to stay here like they say they do then why are they not working on this? They seem to have drawn a line in the sand and are willing to let the train run off of the track because of their pride. If Leach leaves even with a good hire it will take years to rebuild this program. And why would a top notch coach want to come to Lubbock and work with such a hard headed inflexible administration. I repeat, Have I woken up in College Station?
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I have tried to keep an open mind in following the contract
ados, but it seems very clear to me that the Tech officals are
finished in trying to retify the differences. The only thing that needs
to be looked at, is the national exposure Tech has recieved over
the last nine years with Leach as Head Coach. Never have
we experienced such exposure and it looks like we will
certainly be losing Leach in the near future. I would like to
congratulate Gerald Myers for turning his back to Tech fan
base and Tech supporters. I can not believe the Board of
Regents has allowed Myers to put Tech’s football program
in this position. Myers was not even a decent basketball
coach and yet he his calling the shots on the only money
producing sport Tech currently has. Way to go Gerald.
You were a dullard when coaching and even a bigger
dullard as AD.
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Gee novel idea getting paid millions when your FIRED! I thought we had just ended the era of “Golden Parachutes”?
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THERE SURE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF LAUGHTER COMING OUT OF AUSTIN, NORMAN, COLLEGE STATION, STILLWATER, WACO AND ALL POINTS NORTH AND SOUTH. MAYBE SOME DAY WE WILL GROW UP.
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Personally I agree with the statements that Myers needs to go and I like Mike Leach as a coach. BUT I also think it is time to look at the amount of money being used here and determining how that amount is improving the quality of education at Tech. Tech may have good athletes, but how does that impact the classroom? We have let athletics at all levels ruin our education system and when we start looking at why the US is behind other countries in education, perhaps we need to look at funding priorities at all levels. I think Leach is a good example of how education can benefit a person, but the time to say enough is enough is now. Here is our offer….take it or good bye. Tell me how many instructors are making 12 million dollars??????
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Are Hance and Myers are screw-ups? I’m afraid that the overwhelming opinion is correct. The worse thing is that they’ve hurt the relationship the university has built with Leach over his tenure. At the end of 2 yrs, he doesn’t have a lot of incentive to stay unless these 2 poor managers are gone. Mr. Meyers…please retire. And Mr. Hance, get schooled on reasons people stay in jobs when more lucrative opportunities present themselves. You may learn that most reasons don’t tie to lawyer speak and contracts. Don’t legislate your fear of loosing Leach and quit getting your panties in a wad for his agent doing his job. The money is settled so put aside your loyalty conditions and realize that Leach has been very loyal to Tech. Interviewing periodically and considering other jobs is normal business in the real world. And if Leach moves on, at least Tech gave it their best shot. But if he moves on under your deal, it’s because you and Myers prove to truly be…screw-ups.
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FIRE LEACH! He’s gotten too greedy and hasn’t earned national championship money. Myers did the right thing, that’s why the vast majority of alumni and fans side with the administration.
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vast majority? ha
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Mike, Rich said alumni not board fanatics who post all day! ;-)
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Folks get a life! Texas Tech was a fine university before Mike Leach and it will be after Leach. The Chancellor and BOR’s are making decisions, communicated by the AD, that are in the best interest of the university – Not just Mike Leach and football. Leach’s agents submitted an alternative that showed little compromise on key elements. Tech previously made its best offer and communicated that fact. They drew a line in the sand and are holding their ground. Kudos’s to the Tech leadership for doing so. Let’s see what happens Tuesday, which I suspect will be nothing.
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I believe that a large number of the Tech fans who keep saying that they will “sell their season tickets” and “quit sending their money” if Leach leaves are telling the truth. I also believe they represent a lot of fans that are silently watching this thing unfold. And that is the heart of the matter. Like him or not, Leach brought a whole lot of people on board who have never been excited enough to care enough to buy into Tech football. And with that came the dollars. Given Tech’s history, good money is on the program taking a bit of a dive if he leaves. And then the incoming money will begin to slow back down as a result. The recent influx of money and Mike Leach as coach are directly related. Why wouldn’t it be the same in reverse? Now if the argument is about whether Leach or Meyers should go consider this: If Leach goes there is a great chance that the program suffers and money dries up, however if Leach stays, and Meyers were to bow out – I’d bet good money that the revenue will continue to rise and the program will continue to compete. So when we begin to start thinking about what is best for Tech, I’m not sure how Leach leaving is such a great thing.
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yeah, and where do you find these alumni opinions? is the alumni just used to the way Tech was way back in the day when Tech was mediocre at best and wish it to be the same? Do they still ride horses to the general store to buy their chicken feed and flour?
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Rich…seriously, what are you smoking? Understand the reason why there is an impass. Hance and Myers aren’t marketable and Leach is. Comparison and jeolosy are the roots of most problems. Add lawyers to the mix and you have a full blown crises. Money isn’t the issue and most fans see right through these two jokers.
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Dunka did you copy that? I seem to recall the same thin about Knight that he brought a lot of new fans (former Indiana fans) to Tech Basketball’s wasteland…Where where they the last 5 years? Life goes on with or without Leach and Tech will still be an institution where striving for honor, standing on heights of victory and pride will make champions. It’s in us not because of someone, that’s ivy league talk not Matador speak.
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Mike yeah because of the economic mess they have lost their car and must raise their own food. Something millionare Leach should think about.
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Everyone knows Leach deserves much credit for elevating Tech’s football program. But Leach has demonstrated on numerous occasions that his heart isn’t in Lubbock. I think even if he signs a new contract that he’s gone in 1 to 3 years…as soon as the right offer comes along. I’m not a big Gerald Myers fan, but understand his and Hance’s desire for loyalty from Leach. If Leach’s heart isn’t with Tech long-term, I’m starting to think it’s better to get someone now than put up with Leach shopping around every year.
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Bring in Briles!
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What’s so damn great about Briles? Let get outside the box and think about a quality search but first things first let’s try and keep who we have okay. If that fails then let’s have a quality search to find the best long term fit and caliper coach.
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Two seasons ago, Mike Leach was fined $10,000 by the Big 12 for comments concerning officiating at the Texas game in Austin. Many of us donated money to pay this fine. Coach Leach donated this money for Thanksgiving meals to needy people in Lubbock. He has brought recognition to our university. Yes, Mr. Hance needs to support his administrators but too much is too much. He needs to take Gerald Myers in the backroom and speak with him. Two natioinally recognized coaches have already left during Mr. Myers watch and we will lose another soon with his attitude.
Tell Mr. Hance to take a poll of the alumni, both football/Red Raider Club members and others and see what the results would be. I attended the Cotton Bowl and saw the difference that Coach Leach’s teams have made for our university. Not many years ago I heard many fans second guess his decisions. Now we all watch, knowing that we could come back at any time to win the game. When we did not recover the onside kick, we realized we could not do it this time. Our fans may have left a minute befor the final gun, but no one was cussing or moaning as they would have done before Coach Leach arrived at our university.
Certainly I understand we should not give up the ship for one man. Coach Leach loves our university and Lubbock but Mr. Myers is doing his best to push him away. Maybe we should have some one, not involved with the AD office/Mr. Hance’s office sit down with Coach Leach’s management firm and talk this out. Quit ruining our image. The same headlines which formerly spoke of our successful football and the progress the team has made now talk about the nasty contract negotiations.
Mr. Myers and Mr. Hance, recognize the American college football situation — if the football coach wants to leave, his contract does not bind him as we wish it would. Do not make a big mess like West Virginia did when Coach Rodriguez left last year. This can carry over for years in the future. Pay him a salary consistent with our program and the success he has had and quit the other clauses which can destroy our program.
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As others have said in these posts, with Gerald Myers it’s HIS way or the highway! Well, I say….it’s time old GM heads on down the highway! He’s full of himself and always has been and that will never change. I can’t stand the guy and I know alot of others that can’t, either.
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Yeah, watchdog, because the Leach and Knight situation are so comparable. Moron. Quit dumbing down the blog. Leach staying doesn’t compromise any of the things that Tech stands for – just ensure that a damn good football program keeps on trucking. We can afford the contract and he isn’t going anywhere if he signs it because he won’t be able to do any better elsewhere at that point.
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Myers needs to go NOW! HOW CAN YOU SAY YOU WILL “NOT CONSIDER” A COUNTER-OFFER (WHICH DEMONSTRATES LOYALTY) WHEN YOU STATE ITEMS FROM THE COUNTER-OFFER?!
Gerald needs to go NOW (this very INSTANT)! If anybody objects, they should go as well!
Tech already has it tough enough without needing additional “pig-faced ding-dongs” such as Myers, Hance, Bailey, and the Regents messing things up!
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Dunka, dumbing down? complete sentences, name calling, unintelligent thoughts? I didn’t say if Leach stays we would be compromising ourselves. I said we will still be who we are if he’s here or not. Who dumbing down the board?
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I still think about the old day when Teck, could not win, all the
times you would support them,and wish you had not heard of
TT football. Now the income is there, TT wants the coach to go,
because Leach, has proven his worth.
Let Tech go back to the days, if you heard of TT could not get
pass the national Athem, and the other teams, would show TT
what they need to do..
So the sports will not sell enough tickws, to pay Gerald Meries,
and Kent Hanes.
So back the days of Teck footballs no wins & 14 loses,
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You people crack me up! This problem really comes back on Leach. How many times did he leave all the rumors on the table about leaving when people begged him to set the record straight? He has shown zero loyalty in doing what is best for Texas Tech but what is best for Mike Leach. I like Mike’s offense, but he is just now starting to figure out that there are two sides to the ball. I support Texas Tech no matter who the coach…this doom and gloom sounds just like Premier Obama of pending catastrophy. There is never a problem of looking at other opportunities, but when you have a contract and are paid the big bucks, you better well inform your boss of such actions. Loyalty runs both ways people and ML has not shown much at all…no matter what happens. That is just a fact!
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Michael Bullington we’ll never reach the 35k goal then! That’s an embarrassment in of itself. Can’t have over the student population be alumni members?
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I can’t believe it has gotten so bar. Leach has made HUGE leaps and bounds in Tech football team. They have recieved national coverage more times this year than I can remember. Let me talk on Tech’s level for this…..he has butts in the seats at the football games! That means $$$$$$money$$$$$$.
From what I’ve heard, Leach is not asking for anything outrageous. I can’t beleive Tech wants the rights to his name and likeness…..that’s insanity. As a Tech alumni and fan, I hope both sides can negotiate because i would hate to see Leach leave. I can almost guarantee you’ll see a huge drop in ticket sales….look what has happened to the basketball program with new coaches (and I mean no disrepect to either coach because they are both awesome and are quickly rebuilding the program), but ticket sales have bottomed out.
Come on Tech. You have a top rated coach, don’t let him slip through your fingers.
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We will be who we were, watchdog. Not who we are. Who we are is a sell out sized group of enthused fans who love throwing cash at our school. Who we were rarely filled the stadium. I want to keep being who we are – it’s more fun. Who we were wasn’t nearly as fun. If Leach leaves, we will not still be who we are, we’ll go back to being who we were.
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I lived in Lubbock for 6 years and really tried to become a Tech fan. But I could not, what with all the B.S. that comes out of there.
I hope Leach leaves and the football program goes into the dump for a decade.
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Somebody help me,, Were we 11-2 last year or 2-11 cause this kind of stuff is supposed to happen to a losing program, not a program that was 11-2 and just finished its ninth straight bowl game. Were Meyers and Hance out of town the week of the Texas game? Did they miss out on Raiderville and Gameday? Remember the excitement, the unity and the passion of all the fans? Have i woken up in College Station? Is this how you are supposed to reward a man for a job well done? Questions about Leachs loyalty? He is been here nine years and wants to sign a five year deal. He loves Lubbock and loves Tech. Ticket sales have NEVER been higher. Graduation rates have NEVER been higher. Kent Hance is supposed to be a man of vision and wisdom but every day he looks to me like a man driven by pride and pettiness. I am confused, did we finish last year at 2-11? Have i woken up in College Station?
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I predict that Art Briles will be in place by the time spring ball starts.
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This contract hold-up is not about money. Both sides have agreed upon a reasonable figure. It’s the other clauses that are the issue. It’s no secret that Leach and Myers do not get along and Leach is tired of going through Myers for everything. Leach wants control of the football operation like scheduling, budgets, and so forth. If this deal doesn’t get done by Feb 17th, you basically have a lame duck coach this season because Leach will leave. That means a sub-par recruiting class next season and then a new coach. Does Seth Littrell know something….it would make sense since he’s jumping ship to Arizona. Leach and his family enjoy Lubbock as his daughter attends medical school at Tech. The only thing that would force Leach from Lubbock is the administration. We’ll know Feb 18th.
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C’mon people “against Leach”. Is IS all about money……. you know it and I know it and we all know it. A million here in Leach’s pocket, a million there in Myers pocket, a million in Tech coffers…….. who cares.
Why enter an agreement withthe thought of firing a coach anyway. Leach has shown…..and openly said, he would like to stay at Tech and there is overwhelming support……. or does that not matter.
Myers……..Hance………… Remember who’s money it really is you are NOT willing to potentially give up. It is not yours……. it is not even Tech’s……. It is the people who support Leach and his program…….. those who are overwhelming in his support!!!!!
The price of tickets will NOT go down with a new “less paid” coach but I will guaranty the attendance at the games will go down significantly.!!!!!! In stead of 51k fans at NW La, SMU and UTEP we’ll go back to the 80’s of 25k fans…….
pay off that stadium expansion with that Myers……..Tech!!! Raise those ticket prices……….. install those seat/ticket options…. make those prices outrageous…. give the people of the South Plains real reasons to not go to the Tech games again, apathy isn’t enough. At least all of us apathetic fans love to come watch Tech Football with Leach at the helm!!!!!!
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Such negativism around here. GM is bad, the Tech Board of Regents bad, Hance bad, Leach bad, Program will go to hell with out Leach, Fans will punish Tech, etc. Life will go on with or without Leach. I for one wish Leach would step up and sign the new contract and continue to advance the program, but that’s thinking positive. Which according to the post I am alone.
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Mike Leach has done more for TTU football than anyone else has done for many years, including Gerald Myers. His contract renewal is paramount in benefits for Texas Tech –not just the athletic department, but the entire University, and should be negotiated, and renewed. Leach has raised the standards for his players with regard to academic standards, community involvement, as well as having good presentation and personal reputations of those team members. What is wrong with this picture? “A fight” between hot headed Bobby Knight and his superior –University Chancelor, in United Market Street and onto 50th street really made a good impression, all the while Myers was supporting his buddy Knight in the whole affair. It appears that Myers does not really have best interest for the University, TTU Football Program, nor Lubbock Citizen’s opinions and businesses because of such comments “will not even respond” to Leach counter, as well as his (Myer’s) personal burning desire to move TTU football games to Dallas (thus costing Lubbock and Lubbock businesses millions of dollars). Perhaps it is time for Gerald Myers to “move to Dallas,” replaced by someone who really supports TTU (not just buddies like Knight by allowing guarantees for his son to get his job when he leaves), makes every possible effort in getting worthy athletes, ( Graham Harrell, specifically) more appropriate recognition and publicity for heisman trophy consideration, and be more appreciative of students in general –especially since these people are the future alumni population for the University that may or may not be giving funds based on how they were treated by Myers and the University as a whole. LEACH SHOULD BE KEPT at Texas Tech University as long as possible; should certain top administration persons feel otherwise, they should reassess the matter by having student, alumni, and Lubbock business owners review those at the top that dictate (Myers to be specific).
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Meyers must go!
If Leach leaves, this year or next, Tech football will be back to mid-level Big 12, 8 wins tops.
Wonder how Leach would/will do with the better recruiting classes coming in…thanks to Meyers, we may never know.
Also…all you uT fans saying Leach must go, can’t you blog on your own team.
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Mike Leach has done more for TTU football than anyone else has done for many years, including Gerald Myers. His contract renewal is paramount in benefits for Texas Tech –not just the athletic department, but the entire University, and should be negotiated, and renewed. Leach has raised the standards for his players with regard to academic standards, community involvement, as well as having good presentation and personal reputations of those team members. What is wrong with this picture? “A fight” between hot headed Bobby Knight and his superior –University Chancelor, in United Market Street and onto 50th street really made a good impression, all the while Myers was supporting his buddy Knight in the whole affair. It appears that Myers does not really have best interest for the University, TTU Football Program, nor Lubbock Citizen’s opinions and businesses because of such comments “will not even respond” to Leach counter, as well as his (Myer’s) personal burning desire to move TTU football games to Dallas (thus costing Lubbock and Lubbock businesses millions of dollars). Perhaps it is time for Gerald Myers to “move to Dallas,” replaced by someone who really supports TTU. KEEP MIKE LEACH!!
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I am glad Leach may be leaving….I was having a hard time getting tickets to the UT and tech games in Lubbock….with Leach gone, that should be easier.
Back to the 25K crowds again!! WAY TO GO GERALD!! Lets get Leach out of there!
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Watchdog113: I read your comments and no hearsay,,,,, facts……. the stadium is full for ‘no-name’ teams to come play…….. not just the once/twice a year for tu, atm, ou,
I personally know of 3 DECADES……. where this was not the case ……….. you yourself knows why………..
70+ million dollars(that I know of.. probably more that I don’t since I don’t live even close to Lubbock and haven’t read up completely in the last year or so on facilities) for facility expansions. That translates to MONEY. Would not have happened if it hadn’t been for our excitement!!!
Knight brought people to the Tech games in basketball because “our ‘pride’ ” as Matadors leaves us sitting at home when there is no excitement… as noted by the recent nationally/regionally televised backetball game where watching it on TV brought me to embarrassment seeing the totally empty arena!
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The only coach that i would want to be at Tech other than Leach would be Art Briles but i dont know if he leave Baylor right now since he is brining them somewhat back from the dead.
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Children in business suits. it starts with TT saying in will not give Leach a new contract until the season is over. Leach, I will show them, I’ll talk to another school without telling the admin. Come on both sides. Grow up and get this settled. A lot of fans are very dissapointed in the actons of both sides. TT football is where it is for one reason and that is Mike Leach. I agree that all the other Big 12 schools are enjoying the destrucion of our football program.
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Watchdog………. You say “…..Life will go on with or without Leach…….” I agree with you.
It will…….. just not with a full stadium……. that’s not hearsay…. prediction………. thirty years of fact stands behind that statement(prediction).
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Boy, it is tough being a Tech fan these days! Too many negative waves. Everybody needs to sit back and drink some wine, eat some cheese, and catch some rays! Just please don’t let football get to the level basketball is right now. ( Anybody recall the movie line I used?) Just go Tech!
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No golden parachute if Leach quits. It’s great that Tech (Myers didn’t dream this up on his own) made him their offer and have the integrity not to cave and lick his and his agents boots. Someone at Tech was dumb enough to pick up Knight to get some national attention. Let’s not sell our souls to the devil for a coach who isn’t happy with MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS of dollars to coach a football team for a few years. This is a university, people come here to learn. Sports should come secondary. How come we never see intense public negotiations between Tech and some famed professor over a teaching contract? I love RR Football but this is preposterous. Half the people on this board can’t spell, probably because their high school spent all their money on the football program, not the teachers and students.
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Goldy no my school was too busy buying TRS80s than to teach typing! :-)
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Goldy, you have the best point here.Amen.
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And it’s not if he quits he get the gold it’s if Tech fires him he still gets the money! That’s just WRONG.
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When the AJ “redraiders.com” reports about any pro’f accolades that’ll be when hell freezes.
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Any one want to bet that Mike won’t sign any contract as long as Myers is AD?
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Why can’t IMG and the Tech administration just simply agree to binding arbitration? Big XXII football is, and has been for a long time, BIG BUSINESS. Quite often, businesses have negotiation breakdowns; that is when it is intelligent to go to a professional arbitrator for help in resolving the problem.
It is Tech football fans (season ticket holders) and students (student fees) that “pay the freight” for every athletic sport. IMG and Hance, act like college-educated people, and come to a reasonable business decision!
The 2009 football season was a great year to experience, with tremendous memories; it is a shame to have these issues now!
Tech now has momentum for future success. We can join the “have’s” of the college football world, and leave the “have-not’s” behind. Let’s not take a giant step back.
I feel that by losing Leach, either by dismissal or by being hired away, that Tech would feel the negative effects for years: getting a retread coach, watching a boring offence again, poor recruiting, TV exposure, national disgrace ,etc.
In this world of economic doom and gloom, for me, one of the bright spots is seeing Tech finally becoming a “player” in the NCAA! Don’t take that away from me, IMG and Hance!!!
Are you listening, Mike Leach and Kent Hance?
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How come Myers said he would give Leach no response & then proceeded to cover every point with the media and respond there??
Somethings not right at Tech. A decision we don’t know about must already have been made for Tech to act this way.
Hance & Myers “got some ‘planing to do” for anyone to really know what’s happening. This media shffle is a slap in the face to the supporters and fans, not just to Leach.
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Some of you Leach supporter are so narrow minded. I hope Leach leaves and I hope all of you who support him will take a hike with him. …..See ya Leach,,,,,,and I hope Myers kick you in the rear on your way out,,,,,,you scumbag.
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Get Myers out of here before we lose the best football coach we ever had and Myers moves all of the games to Dallas. The Chamber of Commerce should have Myers out on the next rail to Dallas if that is where he wants to be. Build 15,000 new seats onto Jones that families can afford and recruits will be impressed by. At $50 per seat, that’s another $750,000 per home game that could go into the athletic budget.
BYE, BYE Myers
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Swallow your pride Leach……Sign the contract offer…….win the big 12 next year……leave Tech for greener pasture……..RESULTS: YOU FAILED MISERABLY.
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I don’t think I have seen so many post on one subject. Go or stay…It is sad to see that this has split the Red Raider nation the way it has and the tone that a lot of Red Raiders have take towards their own.
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Why can’t Hance just call Myers in his office and ask him to step down before he drives the football program off a cliff? They’re worried about money? Give it a year or two of .500 football & they’ll wish they had all those Red Raider Club donations & ticket sales that they are throwing away. Idiots.
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MIKE YOU MUST WIN THE BIG ONE BEFORE YOU CAN GET THAT KIND OF MONEY BRO’. IT AIN’T GONNA HAPPEN WHILE WE ARE COACHES IN THE BIG 12. DO THE LUBBOCK FOLKS A HUGE FAVOR…..LEAVE SO THAT YOU WANT BESTOW ANY MORE HUMILIATION ON THE GOOD FOLKS OF LUBBOCK. “YOU WEREN’T THAT GREAT HERE AT OU”, SAYS BOBBY. “YOU WERE LUCKY THIS YEAR UP IN LUBBOCK”, SAYS MACK. “IT WAS A FLUKE YEAR”, SAYS SHERMAN. “I’M A MAN, I’M 40″, REPLIED GUNDY.
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I love to hear you conservative republicans say “Pay him what he wants”.
Tickles me to death.
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Get rid of both Meyers and Leach! I think Hance has done an exceptional job. I don’t blame him for being mad that Leach’s agents shop his head coach every time they can. I would be mad as well.
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What is wrong with you people? You don’t even realize the laughing stock that you are do you? Everybody else around the entire nation is asking what is going on in Lubbock? Why is the University acting like a clique of school girls and airing dirty laundry about their petty contract negotiations with Leach?
Everyone except those of you stuck in Lubbock can see that Leach is the best thing to ever happen to your football program. He brought you record crowds, nationally televised games, enough interest in the program to raise revenue for stadium expansions, not to mention your first ever victory over a # 1 ranked program, you school highest ranking ever, etc., etc.
And you people say that “tech was fine before Leach and we’ll be fine after him”. Sure, if you like being an also-ran in the big 12 south every year forever. You say “he can have a buy out clause in his contract when he wins a national championship.” NEWSFLASH: You have NEVER won a national championship and your best chance to ever win one is with LEACH!!
Get it together and give him the contract he wants!!!
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pootpie: This vendetta against Mike Leach is great news for us poor hard-working democrats. They may have to lower prices just to get people to show up and have bargain seats again.
Those luxury box republicans don’t show up anyways, It’s just business entertainment to them.
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Things that bore me to tears.
Leach and Myers.
ESPN FAT guy Chris Berman playing golf at Pebble Beach.
Ryan Hyatt’s pathetic blog.
American Idol judges.
American Idol.
Aggys.
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http://www.sowellco.com/principals.html
This guy is the real power behind Tech athletics. Let him know how you feel.
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Do we all at least agree that whatever the price for the buyouts, they should be identical.? So if its 40% of the contract balance payable to Coach if he is fired, then 40% should be payable to TTU if Coach leaves, or, alternatively, $500,000 paid by Coach if he leaves, then $500,000 paid by TTU if Coach fired. I am no fan of the AD, but the terms for the buyouts should be the same. Coach (a lawyer) and his agents are pressing their advantage, and unfortunately TTU has to hold its ground.
On an entirely unrelated matter, can we please hire an African-Amreican basketball coach to entire recruits to Lubbock?
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ESPN is running the story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3906227
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J J Tomison said it best. Leach is the best coach Tech has ever had. Pay the man right! I don’t buy the crap about regents being upset Leach seeked other opportunities . Myers buddy Knight did the same thing with Ohio State and was not reprimanded. This should have been taken care of long ago. Next fall’s recruiting class may have suffered and our next coach is going to be a bubba from the south plains. Gerald needs to gettr done but I am sure he didn’t even get Milke’s input on moving this year’s Texas game. This whole thing sucks.
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This thing has gotten out of hand and both sides share the responsibility. Football coaches make way more than can be justified by any measure of common sense, as do pro athletes.
Tech should be happy to have Leach and Leach ought to be real happy to be paid what Tech proposes. The silly image rights deal should have never been injected and Leach doesn’t need to shop himself around when he is under contract.
The two sides are playing chicken. It’s silly.
And, by the way, all of us might take note of events that are a lot more important than this deal, such as wars and recessions.
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I am a proud Tech alum (’94) and have followed the football team since 1992. Although I live outside of Texas, I try to catch a road game in person now-and-then and a few home games as well.
A big part of Tech’s problem is that many around the Tech camp have convinced themselves that they are second-rate as compared to UT, OU, etc. Tech fans should be proud that school officials are demanding loyalty from their coaches. Why should Tech money be used to keep a guy who has never appeared in a Big 12 Championship or BCS game? …and then shops on top of it. WTF? Aren’t the millions ML’s offered sufficient reward for the few bright spots he’s accomplished? My fellow alum, please demand the best from your school and coaches, not flash, flop and shop!
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Don; I’ll make of note the wars and recession as what I should be thinking about.
So…. what were YOU doing looking here anyway?! How could you have pried yourself away from C-Span? Don’t tell me Myers has got us on C-span??
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Dear Raider Nation:
Over the weeks I have tried to be just in my criticism of both sides, faulting both sides for different reasons ranging from egotism to greed to mismanagement.
I have to say that I think that Leach (his agents) have come back with a pretty fair deal, except for the buyout provision. If TTU fired Leach in the first few years of the new five year contract, the university would indeed have to pay him millions of dollars. Based on almost a decade of coaching WHY would TTU fire him? Leach has done a tremendous job thus far and with better recruits should only continue to succeed.
Meyers and the university’s refusal to negotiation should cause the alumni, fans, and students to barrage the Board of Regents and the administration with letters and phone calls. WE actually have the power not these bozos. It is our alumni contributions and support that keep this university going. WE should get every single TTU alumnus or student to get involved so that OUR voices are heard. TTU has faltered in the past because of poor decision making. Let’s take things into our own hands and make our voices heard!!! WE WANT MIKE LEACH! Negotiate and for God’s sake, take Gerald Myers out of the equation. Then, perhaps we can secure TTU football’s future.
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Ron: Leach says 9 years is longer than some marriages last.
How could that be “flash, flop and shop”??
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I watched Gerald Myers perform as one of the nations best point
guards at Texas Tech while also a student there. I watched Gerald
Myers coach the “B” team at Monterey as he began his coaching
career. I was doing the Plainsman broadcasts and had the good
fortune to ride the bus with Gerald and the team to out of town
games. I’ve watched Gerald Myers grow over these last 50 odd
years. He was and is an extremely competitive individual. He
loves Texas Tech. Don’t ever doubt it. He has given blood,
sweat and tears to our University.
Who do you think , as Athletic Director, brought the current crop
of coaches to Texas Tech. They are winners in all sports. Think
about it. They’ve put Tech on the map with a winning baseball
team, a track team which has produced an Olympic participant and
several All-Americans. I wonder who brought Bob Knight to Lubbock? What I really wonder is: who else could have brought
Bob Knight to Lubbock? Who gave Mike Leach the opportunity to
come to a major university and began a football program most
people thought was idiotic? Gerald Myers recognized the potential
in all these coaches, brought them to Texas Tech and gave them
an opportunity. He got out of their way and let them have their way.
All he has ever asked for is complete honesty and integrity, loyalty
to his Texas Tech. He asked they work hard, recruit good kids who
wouldn’t bring shame to his Alma Mater. And recruit kids who wanted an education to the point of a degree. That’s why Mike
Leach has the outstanding graduation rate he possesses.
Give a little thought to what Gerald Myers stands for and what
he has accomplished at Texas Tech. Then apologize to a fine
man—-a gentleman, an outstanding athlete and a good coach.
Is it too much to expect your head coach to share his plans with
you when he considers other offers? I think not. If anything—Mike
Leach needs to grow up and show appreciation for his opportunity
to earn millions of dollars doing what he loves most.
Bill Womack
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Noel, I f you want Spike back , you should not be allowed on this blog. I do not want 6-5 seasons with stupid remarks on why we got beat. spike is where he needs to be gone.
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I already have barraged Chancellor Hance to “Show LEACH the Money!!!” (Paraphrasing “Jerry Macguire”)
As BOTH a student and a taxpayer, I have a multiple responsiblity to Texas Tech. I have a responsiblity to do my best everyday for the University as a student and I have a responsibility to desire and ensure the University does its best BOTH in the classroom and in the athletic arena as a taxpayer (NOBODY WANTS TO PAY FOR LOSERS!)
Unfortunately, we have an arrogant, pig-faced bunch of former losers (Myers) and politicians (Hance and some regents) who apparently don’t hang around with the “rest of us” and are too insulated from the “real world” to see what is going on.
For example, how many Wal-Marts has this administration gone into? (My guess is ZERO because IF THEY HAD GONE TO EVEN ONE, THEY WOULD BE INFURIATED BY THE AMOUNT OF “BEVO” being displayed for sale and worn DESPITE THE FACT THERE IS A UNIVERSITY WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF MOST PEOPLE AROUND LUBBOCK!)
TU and the other universities have a right to sell their stuff in Lubbock (don’t get me wrong). It is extremely frustrating that no administrator at Tech cares about how many Lubbockites wear Bevo instead of a “Masked Rider”.
I may not do a great job as an AD; I can tell you I CAN DO A MUCH BETTER JOB THAN MYERS HAS DONE THE ENTIRE TIME HE HAS BEEN AT TECH! And a lot of you CAN SAY THE SAME THING I JUST SAID!
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Everybody has to retire sometime. This is the time for Myers to step down. Loyalty won’t do you much good when it’s wedded to incompetence. The man is about to destroy the football program. I’d say that is a fireable offense.
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At this point, Texas Tech needs Leach; Leach does not need Texas Tech. Hmmmmmmm…..Whom should court whom??
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If they want to get rid of Leach, fire him and let’s get on with it. If not, sign the contract. This is ridiculous. We all know that most contracts are not worth the paper they are written on in the first place. It looks as if Meyers wants Leach gone. If that’s the case, he better have somebody good lined up. One way or the other, we need to get off of high center. We are making public spectacles of ourselves. We are about to lose all of the good publicity that we have worked for years to gain.
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I have been a TTU fan my whole life and have followed Gerald Myers’ career as a Coach and now as AD. Some of you have said that he was a mediocre coach – which is absolutely wrong – his record speaks for itself. Coach Myers was a great coach and loved by his teams. He has nothing but TTU’s best interest at heart. He earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tech and is about as loyal as any one person could be. Myers is the person that put Tech athletics on the map. Who do you think brought Leach to TTU and gave him free reign- Myers. He has been loyal to Leach and all he ask for in return is that same loyalty. The reason Leach has been able to be as successful as he has been over the last 9 years is in large part due to Myers. Show the man some respect. And for all of you Tech allum out there give him the same loyalty that he has given to you and to the university for over 50 years.
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I hope Leach stays and think he is worth the big bucks. Also, loyalty is important…Not sure if he wants to be at Tech longterm. If Tech had either 1) given OU a competitve game, 2) totally demolished Baylor, or 3) beat MS State, Leach stock would be high enough in my opinion to do whatever is necessary to keep him. But that didn’t happen, and the talent was there. Hope Leach stays…but loyalty is important.
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When I think of Coach Dykes several things come readily to mind: 1) losing to North Texas more often than Tech should, 2) it was a big deal when Tech beat A&M because it didn’t happen all that often, 3) the memorable season where Tech defeated UT in Austin and won the (now defunct) All American Bowl, 4) a one sided Cotton Bowl loss to USC after Tech finished in a multiple way tie for the SWC title and won the default tiebreaker of being the last team to appear in the Cotton Bowl, and 5) when he voluntarily stepped down (just like Lou Holtz voluntarily stepped down at Notre Dame) as head coach and remarked that a head coach loses 10% of his support each year, making it a marvel that he had survived 13 full seasons at Tech.
In contrast, when I fast forward to Coach Leach: 1) Tech still loses to teams that it shouldn’t lose to, but this happens less often, 2) it’s almost expected that Tech will beat A&M (Do they even print up T-shirts with the game score anymore?), 3) four remarkable seasons in the last five years with two Cotton Bowl appearances, a Holiday Bowl victory and a Gator Bowl victory, 4) a three-way tie for the Big 12 South championship which is arguably better than the above mentioned multi-way tie for the SWC championship, and 5) given that Coach Leach has completed nine full seasons, at the rate of 10% of support lost per season, he’s about to the point of coaching on borrowed time.
Along with a masters degree from Tech I also hold a masters from Notre Dame and bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees from Indiana. Notre Dame fans couldn’t wait to get rid of Coach Holtz. Now those years look better with each passing season. Indiana had unprecedented success (well, unprecedented for Indiana) under Bill Mallory (wins over Ohio State and Michigan, a Liberty Bowl victory, a Heisman Trophy runner up), yet fans grew to take Liberty and Peach bowls for granted. Indiana has been to one bowl game since Coach Mallory was forced out.
To all parties in this mess: Never take a good thing for granted.
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Bill Womack:
I’m crying as I write this. Your words above moved me sooo much.
Let Myers stay until he’s 100 if he wants to.
Nobody’s senility should stand in the way of trying our best to re-pay Gerald Myers for all he has done.
Public temper tantrums be darned!
I LOVE YOU GERALD!!!!!! and I don’t care about any old won/loss records, or ANYTHING but YOU!!!
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Chris, we didn’t play any MS State. I bet you’re just trying to erase the whole thing out of your mind about Ole Miss.
Your beloved Myers wants us back in Dallas again next fall to play Baylor. Should we worry? Dallas has treated Tech about the way it did JFK.
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Melvin, Myers is not my beloved…I wouldn’t lose any sleep if he were replaced. Don’t know why Bill W. got fired up.
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Gerald Myers had a good run as basketball coach at Tech in the SWC days. There were some other good coaches and programs in the league: Eddie Sutton at Arkansas, Guy Lewis at Houston, members of the Iba family tree at Baylor and TCU, and Dave Bliss at SMU (way before all the Baylor stuff happened), However, that was a time when two sleeping giants – Texas and Texas A&M – weren’t serious about basketball. Those two sleeping giants are now awake – Texas first and then Texas A&M – and the results show it. Without diminishing Coach Myers’ record, it is important to remember that college basketball was a different game back then. When he stepped down as basketball coach at the end of the 90-91 season who could have thought that he would still be a key player in Tech athletics almost two decades later?
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I agree with you on our season ending. Sort of ruined all the good early times, going out like that.
And losing will happen, but it should never happen the way it did at Norman. Leach should have been humbled – a lot- by those last 3 games. Doesn’t look like he is though. :) .
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Let’s make it all simple. Have Gerald (Let’s Play In Dallas) Myers schedule all football games in Dallas. This way he darn sure won’t have to worry about a coach getting more money or publicity that he does. This shows how loyal he truly is to the local fan base, business community and Tech students. It’s time for him (Myers) to go. Maybe the Cotton Bowl needs a front man.
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You can now add my name to the list of those who identify Myers as the primary obstacle for our football program — if not the entire athletic department. My six season tickets and RRC donations will not be confirmed until this issue is appropriately resolved. And for the sake of (insert of higher power), get the Baylor game back to where it needs to be!
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Fire Myers, It will do Tech good!!!!!
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The majority of people I know want Leach instead of Myers. They don’t have the time to call talkshows or have the time to access a website to express their thoughts or feelings. If Mike Leach leaves the program, we will go back to the old Tech of “Just enjoying a win against the big guys once in awhile!” It’s time to go to the next level! If we don’t sign Leach now, I’m not waiting another 30 years to get where we are now!!!!!!
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being in the navy for over 7 years and being from lubbock i have nothing else to do in my off time but talk about college football and before the past couple of seasons before tech hit there stride no one has known about the program i contribute alot of the success to the air raid offense and the mad scientist coach leach. Gerald Meyers needs to give him what is do he does his job as a coach by getting players to play and graduate where they are tops in the big 12 that is what a university is all about give the man his money and come to a agreement on a contract and realize that the fans in the stadium that leach and company put in the seats is what helps pay his bill.
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I said years ago that we would eventually miss and regret not having and keeping John Montford on board. He was the one who jump-started what we currently have…..but appears we are about to lose.
A program can only go on so far once the spark plug that kept it running is gone. a&M proved that when jackie sherrill left town. WE will prove it now that Montford has been gone as long as he has.
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If Hance is such a stickler for loyalty, why isn’t he still a Democrat?
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I am a 74 grad and absolutely love what Leach has done for the once happy to be average Tech FB program. After 11-2 and much-needed national recognition, Tech will sink fast backt to that level so long as Myers remains AD. He hit is peak years ago, and now needs to be shown the door because of his ineptitude and petty jealousy. He needs to be fired and Leach retained, or we will lose Leach. And when he leaves, we take huge steps backward because what coach who is capable of taking Tech Football to the next level would want to work under Meyers after the way he has bungled this and other decisions? It’s a shame that Tech is just acting like a petty little West Texas college – once again.
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I was never more proud of a Texas Tech football TEAM than I was for the first ten games of last year. Not just because they won those games, but because the TEAM seemed to give it all down to the last second. Through coaching, hustle, teamwork, and execution they stayed in every game successfully, albeit by some slim scores.
However, in looking back on last year, it seems we actually had two football seasons. The first one was for 10 games and the second season lasted three games, after the team lost confidence in the second quarter of the OU game. The two seasons are reflective of coaching. Give Leach and staff credit for a very successful ten game season. In the last season Leach was thinking more about his new contract and upcoming interviews than preparing his team for primetime? Not only did teamwork take a nosedive after the Oklahoma loss when, simultaneously, Leach’s annual “INTERVIEW BOWL” began, but ultimately the team was unprepared by the coaches in the embarrassing performance in the Cotton Bowl.
While the coaching drama was unfolding and Leach was using the circumstances as a stepping stone, TT lost at least two highly regarded recruits, a four star and a three star.
Apparently my ideals are old fashioned – but I totally agree with Boston College when they say – “We would rather find a new coach than keep a coach who doesn’t want to be here and simply views the university as a stepping stone”.
Hold your ground Chancellor Hance. It is high-time for the Leach to COMMIT – or go sail his ship in other waters – and you can get back to the incidental things like academics, students getting an education, and leading a great university.
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DO YOU THINK THERE IS ANY COINCIDENCE THAT MYERS AND SUTTON LOOK LIKE TWINS SEPARATED AT BIRTH WHEN THEY DON[’T GET THEIR OWN WAYS? GIVE IT UP GERALD, YOU LOST A LOT OF RESPECT YEARS AGO AND IT”S TIME FOR YOU TO FIND THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD. MAYBE YOU CAN ASK THE GREAT WIZARD FOR A JOB IN HIS FANTASY WORLD. SEEMS LIKES YOURS HAS CARRIED YOU FOR AWHILE IN THINKING YOU WERE A WONDERFUL AD.
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If you’re going to blame Myers you have to include Hance and the Regents. The decisions aren’t Myers’ alone but it’s convenient for some to throw it all on him. Fact is, the majority of people I know are tired of Leach’s arrogance, greed and lack of loyalty to Tech. They are supporting the Tech Administration on this. People are finally seeing what he’s like. Make no mistake about it, there will be very few AD’s (if any) who will relish the thought of working with Leach. His options are few.
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The only people supporting Tech are people who feel they have some deep loyalty to Tech.
IE- Not a single coach that would ever come interview here. Tech may think, and may be in the right here. But no coach is going to look at the dealings here and say, “now thats a place I want to go coach”
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you guys that support leach are narrow minded. the first thing is to never trap yourself financially. Tech is right if it is good for one it is good for the other. if leach wants to be here he should have no problem with the higher buyout. when leach wins some games an actually puts together a complete season without laying huge eggs maybe tech will treat him like a mack brown. leach wants what he has not earned. myers does need to go but he is right on this deal. leach thinks he is above everyone and myers is his boss and there has to be respect even if he doesn’t like him. leach has been good, but in his mind he has been great. tech has indeed made progress but leach needs to be taught who runs the show. if you do it for one coach you will have to do it for all of them. leach is hired to coach not do budgets and such. Coach or LEAVE leach. I would fire him now. Tech football is more than just anyone person.
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WIZARD
HOW MUCH MORE LOYALTY DO YOU WANT THAN THE BEST RECRUITING CLASS THAT TECH HAS EVER HAD THIS YEAR.
DO YOU THING HE THOUGHT OF LEAVING WHEN HE GOT THIS
CLASS? NO!!!! HE WORKED HARD FOR THIS CLASS AND HE
GOT THE BEST FOR TECH.
IF MYERS AND HANCE CAN’T HANG WITH THE BIG DOGS OKLAHOMA AND TEXAS THEN THEY NEED NOT GET OFF THE
PORCH!!!!
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What has Kent Hance done in his life that qualifies him to manage something as large as Tech? Nothing. He has always lived off of the taxpayer. What has Gerald Myers done in his career? Nothing. A poor coach at best and a sorry AD. All Myers wants is attention and the spotlight. Keep Leach and send Myers and Hance down the river. I’m not giving another dime to Tech until Myers is gone and I called Hance today and told him that.
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BIG DOG
We need people like you, I vote you to replace Myers or Hance. Don’t let them take away what pride we have in West Texas.
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I have known Chancellor Hance for 40 years. There is no one in the world that I respect any more. I live a thousand miles from Lubbock, and I haven’t seen him or spoken with him much since he’s been Chancellor. But I do email him from time to time.
When Tech was undefeated and ranked #2, I sent the Chancellor an email saying something to the effect that we sure need to get Coach Leach’s contract renewed. The Chancellor responded with just a few words to the effect that Tech was going to get that done! I don’t remember the exact words, but I recall that it was emphatic.
There is no question in my mind that getting Coach Leach signed was very important to Tech.
I believe the way Coach Leach mishandled the Washington deal followed by the highball proposal from IMG surprised and disappointed Tech. I don’t blame Coach Myers for the way he responded; it is exactly what I would have said to an employee asking me for a ridiculous amount of money.
I believe IMG’s response then became the straw that broke the camel’s back. Too many issues with Coach Leach over the years became an issue, especially the concept that Tech would have to pay Coach Leach a King’s ransom to fire him yet he could continue annually embarrassing them by leaving anyone and everyone open to speculate about his interest in other jobs. I sense that they felt “enough is enough.” We have to put an end to this, and the contract is the only way to do it.
I believe the pending offer from Tech was a very sincere offer that they hoped he would substantially accept. They wouldn’t have increased the salary offer otherwise.
Then the Board of Regents was improperly involved by IMG. Then the IMG agents began spinning the media.
Coach Myers did not withdraw Tech’s offer today. I believe Tech will conclude the deal if Coach Leach shows his loyalty and enthusiasm for Tech by accepting the terms that Tech offered by February 17 with minimal tweaking.
But I am convinced that Tech is prepared to move on with a new head coach if Coach Leach doesn’t come to terms by the 17th.
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Kent Hance and Gerald Myers are idiots and many young TTech alums will never, i mean never, give $$$$ to TTech again if these small minded incompotent insular small minied idiot failures let Leach go under current circumtances. in fact, if this occurs Gerald should leave Lubbock for his own good.
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If Leach is fired on 2/18/09 Myers should be tar and feathered, in humiliating fashion taken out of town on a rail after his house his burned to the ground, or maybe not.
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I was raised in Lubbock and now live in Pensacola fl and have been a Red Raider fan forever I have been in fl for 15 yrs and this was the first season that other Tech fans would see my Red Raider bumper sticker and honk and Guns UP if Leach leaves it will probably be anther 15 yrs for this to happen again PLEASE LUBBOCK get rid of Myers before its too late!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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So is anyone counting the comments for and against? I would be interested.
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Leach lies. And that is your problem.
from ESPN.com about this very subject…
“On Wednesday night, Leach said he was ready to sign a new five-year contract with Texas Tech before the university tossed in new terms to its final offer.”
Ca someone please tell me which contract without the 4 terms he was ready to sign?
You can’t. because there wasn’t one.
So why would he say that????
To gain favor with the media. Why would he need to do that? For life after Tech maybe?
There’s only one member of this tango that is on record as having sought a new dance partner.
Why then should that person get a better deal when signing the pre-nup?
Myers, Hance, the UP and the BOR would all like for mike Leach to be head football coach at Texas Tech.
But they are now conducting their business with the mindset that Mike Leach may not truly want to be head football coach at Texas Tech.
To those of you who think not only that Tech can’t do better, but won’t even be able to maintain life without Leach ought to ashamed of your low university esteem.
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RCA on February 14th, 2009 3:10 am
The relevant question is not whether TTech can find a better coach than Leach; rather, the issue is whether TTech can find a better AD than Gerald Myers. I can opine without equivocation that TTU can find a better AD than Gerald Myers by the end of this day. Therefore, the first step TTech must take if in fact it wishes to become more competitive for a BCS bid is to fire Gerald Myers and let Leach run the football program.
What has Myers done without Leach that has not turned into a smoldering pile of failed shyte?
Let us review some hard facts.
TTU Baseball? Once great, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
TTU Women’s Basketball? Once great, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
TTU Men’s Basketball? Never great but sometimes respectable, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
Thean TTech do better than Gerald Myers. you bet you arse licking arse.
By the way, if Leach is such a bad interview and this is the best Leach can do then why does TTech insist on these bs clauses as they would appear to be meaningless?
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Umm, tbhull, Leach is the one who wants a payoff, not Tech.
Tech is only asking for the same thing Mike gets.
Granted, previous contracts did indeed favor coach Leach but his wandering eye cost him that.
Gerald could retire tomorrow and it wouldn’t improve Leach’s loyalty or lack there-of to Texas Tech.
He’s still here after nine years because Tech has always offered him the best deal he could find….THAT should be a notch in Tech’s favor, not Mike’s.
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Mike’s wandering eye was a direct response to Myers recalcitrant stupidity in not signing Leach last summer. Myers fauiled to dish out respect when respect was due, mainly because Myers is a failed envious ignorant fool. Admit son, Myers is in large measure subordinate to Leach, whether he likes it or not.
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RCA on February 14th, 2009 3:35 am
Again, if TTech is the best deal in town why does TTech insist on the onane clauses? Answer ??????????
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Having a response problem RCA? I understand. Putting lipstick on this pig/polishing this turd is tough, if not impossible for an honest person.
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RCA, maybe you have reached the bottom of the memo your master provided.
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RCA, goodnight and case closed.
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The idea that Leach must tell Myers if he is even talking to anyone else about a job is unAmerican, illegal, and shows Myer’s level of smarts, smarts, smarts. Let’s don’t move a football game, let;s move Myers who is over 70 and acts over 80.
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Since I don’t know the full history of Mr. Myers, I can only comment on recent events. Regardless of how well (or poorly) Leach has done in the eyes of Tech fans, for a brief moment in 2008, Tech stood on the edge of greatness. None of the other athletic programs at Tech are even marginally competitve. It seems to me that this has nothing to do with contracts, but more to do with ego. My question for Mr. Myers is, “do you want to turn Tech football into the same type of mediocre program as all the other athletic programs have become?” Even when they lose, Tech football is exciting; none of the other sports can say that. So, Mr. Myers, why are you doing this?
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Stick to your guns Tech.
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I had Dallas Cowboys season tickets for the 4 years before Jerry Jones fired Jimmy Johnson after Johnson won back to back Super Bowls. Jerry Jones hasn’t seen dime one of mine since. I barely follow the Cowboys anymore & that’s hard to do living here in Dallas. Tech is about to do the same thing Jones did. On the heels of the greatest season of Tech football at least since I started my freshman year in 1977, they’re trying to run off the coach that gave us the dream season. I didn’t think anybody could be as stupid as Jerry Jones, but Gerald Myers & Kent Hance are making a good run at it. And I won’t support an institution that deliberatly chooses a return to mediocrity because they aren’t comfortable with a coach 4 times as smart as they are. So who is the coach at Monterey HS these days? Give him the job & all the old boys can go back to feeling at home again. They can do it on somebody else’s dime.
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Myers and Hance whom I have heard is so above everyone on campus need to go. Put Spike in as AD. At least he has a personality and can tell ya a story with a Smile. I don’t think Myers has cracked a smile in 50 years. Bring Montford back. He did more for Tech than either Hance or Myers could ever dream about. Hance is going to screw this goose with his heavy hand. I thought it was going to be a win win situation when he was named Chancellor. But it seems to have been a major bust. Leach has brought National attention to Tech and feel it is only going to get better if Myers and Hance would get the *#$@ out of the way……
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I wonder if Hance realizes this is going to cost him his job? Maybe not immediately, but once season ticket sales figures & Red Raider Club donation numbers start shrinking, he’ll be shown the door.
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Lattimer,
Check out the Tech track programs before you paint with such a broad brush.
As for Tech “not responding” to the latest counter, that’s just what Myers did with these public statements. If at all possible, I have even less respect for that man than before.
I don’t think losing Coach Leach would be the end of the world, but what decent coach would come here to be treated like that? Leach mishandled some things, like going to Washington, but that only occurred because his contract was allowed to go so long without being reworked. Until the last week, I was on the fence about which side was right, but I’m quickly losing confidence in the University leadership.
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You have got to be kidding Leachs head is way to big for his body both literally and figuratively. A buyout clause? 1 I am a tech alumn and support the alumni association but I do not think Leach is the be all end all for tech football. Did you guys know Tech actually had a football team before Leach got here? Granted it has been an exciting brand of football and I enjoy watching and going to every game, but gimme a break. leach is no Stoops or Mack. Yes he has strung together some great seasons but do we all get our ego stroked for doing our job? He is a football coach whose job is to win championships….he got one big 12 south 3way tie and now thinks he belongs in the conversation with the other two nationally recognized programs? Beat em both in the same season then you can renegotiate. Wreck Em!
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Myers was a failed basketball coach before he was a failed AD. He’s got Dallas on his mind and not Tech or Lubbock. Apparently his ego is so big that he’d sink TTU athletics before he’d agree to what Leach is asking for. I think it would be real difficult to get any kind of good coach in here after what Myers is doing, but he probably has already offered the job to some second rate coach he found in Dallas. The best thing that could happen to Tech sports is for Myers to go.
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Go Gerald Go….”a dream season” i thought this situation was ridiculous but it seems how some of us remember the season is ridiculous. Beating texas does not constitute a dream season for all of us. yes game of the year I was there it was great….. but I somehow remember the season ending a little differently than a dream season.
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the dream turned into a nitemare the last 3 games.
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What is lost in this debate, is the affect of all of this rancor and uncertainty is having on the young men who signed up to play football for Texas Tech/Mike Leach and his coaching staff. I’m not sure what is best for the University or Mike Leach, however I’m certain this is not in their best interest nor their families. Maybe they are the ones that need to walk out on both parties. That would get this settled real quick. Ask SMU about starting over.
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Here is the transcript of ESPN college football writer Bruce Feldman’s chat yesterday concerning Tech & the contract mess:
Chat with Bruce Feldman
Welcome to The Show! On Friday, ESPN The Magazine college football writer and ESPN.com Insider Bruce Feldman will stop by to chat about the college football offseason.
Send your questions now and join Feldman Friday at 2 p.m. ET!
Also, be sure and check out Feldman’s book:
Meat Market: Inside the smash-mouth world of college football recruiting.
Feldman Archive: Chats | Columns
Bruce Feldman: Hey..thanks for dropping by.. I’m happy to talk some college football on a Friday in Feb.
——————————————————————————–
DiRaimo (Dallas, TX): You said you spoke with Mike Leach the other day about his contract. Any insight on his emotions about the whole situation?
Bruce Feldman: I think he would love it if this deal got done. He loves his staff and his players and Lubbock.
It’s crazy that this thing has dragged on. Most contract negotiations take 2 weeks. This has been a year..
I think this weekend he was heading to Wales to watch some big rugby match.
——————————————————————————–
Josh (Knoxville, TN): On Leach: In the San Antonio Express-News yesterday Buck Harvey was saying that Leach’s agent has accepted the monetary portion of the new contract, but Tech wants Leach to agree to “termination compensation, personal property rights, buyout guidelines and a penalty for interviewing without permission,” which Leach does not want to do. So, we’ll see.
Bruce Feldman: I know. And two of those terms especially are unheard of. It’s not going to happen.
——————————————————————————–
Mike (Lubbock): Bruce, today apparently Tech’s AD Myers has refused to even respond to Leach’s counteroffer. What do you see happening here? What is your take on all of this? Am I crazy for being fuming angry at Tech’s administration over this garbage?
Bruce Feldman: The AD is the former basketball coach. I honestly think he’d be fine if the football team went 7-5 every year and he didn’t have to deal with any attention. Leach has brought a ton of attention to Lubbock. Heck, 60 Minutes did something there. Maybe it’s attention they might not all be comfortable with.
——————————————————————————–
Ben (Atlanta): What’s so “unheard of” in Leach’s contract offer from Texas Tech? Most coaches have buyout clauses bigger than his, BC fired their coach for interviewing around, so really isn’t this all about property rights?
Bruce Feldman: That’s one of them. For a school to claim that if a guy goes on a speaking engagement or writes a book that they get the money is bizarre and the payback of his deal is down to 12%. The Big 12 average is like 50% and Brown, Stoops, Mangino and Snyder all have deals where they get everything.
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Who offers a contract extension with a hefty raise to an employee for superior performance and then worries about having to fire him in the first year?
Leach is the only coach Tech has that doesn’t need firing.
I can tell Myers or Hance have never worked in the real world.
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Hance & Myers have spent their working lives living off the government (local or state) or some entity involved with the government.
About as UN-real as it gets.
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• That if he is fired, his contract is only guaranteed for 12 percent. Texas coach Mack Brown, Oklahoma’s Bob Stoops, Kansas State’s Bill Snyder and Kansas’ Mark Mangino are all guaranteed for 100 percent, while the league average is 55 percent. Leach’s current contract puts his guaranteed portion at 40 percent. What’s up with Hance and Meyers attention on firing the best Coach Tech has had in its History. I do believe it’s all ego and they don’t like being the second fiddle on campus. Hance and Myers need to hit the road before they cause serious damage to Tech Athletics. Both are re-treads and will never be or do what’s in Tech’s best interest.
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What a joke.
If you told anyone at the first of the football season that we’d
1. go 12-2,
2. lose only to OU and our Cotton Bowl Game,
3. Have major exposure on prime time nationally televised games.
4. Coverage on 60 minutes
5. Produce a top 10 draft pick
…you’d give the coach a raise and try to lock him up. Not many coaches out there who are going to deliver that.
Compare that to an AD who has poor men’s and women’s baskets, and below average baseball. An AD who has made us look silly and weak by catering to Bobby Knight (who came here to get his record and his son a job).
Myers’ decision making is the problem here. Leach is not perfect, but you’ve got to give credit for what he has done and still can do.
I’m afraid it is too late unless Myers leaves over all this. Leach is good as gone.
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Who gives a rats a** what any of you have to say! My family and friends have invested lots of money at Tech and for what? Tech football will go in the crapper, we deserve it because we are all self absorbed half witted football finatics that do not care about honor, tradition, morals ethics, etc. and the list goes on. Go OU, or Texas or someone who has there crap together and doesn’t look like a bunch of pu*****!
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Any chance Jerry Jones hires Gerald Myers as GM?
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I agree with a few others—– Gerald is a sour-puss, unfriendly person. He’s egotistical, also!!!!!! Keep Leach!!!!!!
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Donna on February 14th, 2009 9:18 am
You nailed it. Myers is the human persimmon.
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Gerald Myers should be in the Texas Tech Hall of Honor.
But like Tom Landry and Bill Parcells and Bob Knight his time came and ended.
He’s done being effective.
Time to go and play golf.
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I think Tech has handled this brilliantly, especially under the circumstances. You can’t have a football coach thinking he’s bigger than the university and does not have to answer to anybody. I’m impressed how Tech was able to turn the tables on Leach after he was trying to bully them. It took some guts on their part and they did the right thing.
I and many people I have talked to have more confidence in Tech than some because we think Tech has a lot to offer and we think good coaches will be interested in coming to Tech.
If the change doesn’t happen now, it will happen someday. I choose to believe Tech is not doomed when Leach is no longer here. In fact, I am excited about the prospects of what a new coach could do at Tech.
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Wizard on February 14th, 2009 9:29 am
You wrong and are more than likely a Myers or Hance assistant and/or a member of either’s family.
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We need to organize a dump Gerald campaign!! Might as well throw Hance in there too. In the bus under the bus it’s time for them to leave. Also, stop the Dallas football games. Keep all home games in Lubbock. It’s better for the local economy, season ticket holders and student body. Texas Tech Administration needs to be purged of all the idiots like Myers and Hance. No more has beens. (politicians and coaches)
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Wizard what ya been drinking this early in the morning? Whatever you need to lay off because it is making you quite senile. Just coming off the best season Tech has had in History and your talking about looking forward to what a new coach could do here. That is flat out ABSURD..
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DUMP SOUR-PUSS & BALDIE !!
I’M ON BOARD WITH THAT !!
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TTU’s ultimatum is pure stupidity. Gerald Myers and Kent Hance have been on the government dole their entire lives and this level of insufferable incompetence makes even mindless career government bureaucrats blush.
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tbhull: AMEN !!!
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dubya on February 14th, 2009 9:45 am
Unfortunarely Wizard cannot lay off what he/she is slurping because it is part of the job description, eventhough illegal if done in public.
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Leach lost his negotiation leverage with dismal coaching during the last three games and during the annual Leach “Interview Bowl”. His contract will be bought out next week and he can freely sail his ship in open waters. Happy sailing Captin!
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When a program gains respect, much publicity, and big wins, this is what will occur. A great coach needs to be fairly compensated, have similar buyout clauses and provisions as any coach in the Big 12. If Coach Leach wasn’t winning we would not be discussing his contract. The University doesn’t need to lose sight of the past nine years and what Leach was paid during that time. With success, Leach is now asking for more money and control. That’s what great coaches receive. If you play hardball and are not careful, Gerald Meyers will “win” this battle and it will come with the loss of Tech’s most successful coach. If that occurs, let’s see what it costs Tech in wins, money, and heartbreak if the successor to coach Leach stumbles. If you think keeping a great coach is expensive, try hiring a losing coach and see what it costs Tech!
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Does anyone not think it’s strange that mike leach is mentioned for every job but can’t get any of them? At 11-1 you would think that a UW team that didn’t win a game would be all over him. But no. Nobody in the country wants him and there is a reason for that. Mike Leach is only concerned only with himself and doesn’t care one bit about Texas Tech.
He spent all of December trying to get out of Lubbock instead of preparing for the Cotton Bowl. I guess you have all forgotten just how pathetic we looked in that game.
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Why do I get the idea Ryan Hyatt has been using 5-6 different log-ins on this blog to try to support Myers and company? Meyers pretty much gave him his start – so don’t believe for a second he isn’t blinded by biased. I know there aren’t that many people out there who can’t see the absurdity of the buyout as written, and the naming rights. Hyatt has got to be trying to make it look as though Meyers has much more support on this than he possibly can.
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Wizard, regardless of what happens with Leach, you are a blithering idiot, What Tech has done is make us a national laughing stock in the country. This entire campaign has been a lot of things but brilliant is not one of them. They have negotiated in bad faith, make no mistake of that. Negotiations means both sides sit down at the table and talk.
When the offer on the table was $12.1 million, none of the four items listed on the contract were in the contract. The two sides talked and obviously the amount of the money was in question. Therefore they came up with a new amount $12.7 million, and Leach and agents were happy about that, but Gerald and Kent without even discussing with Leach’s agents their intentions, added 4 items, not yet ever discussed. These 4 items completely changed the entire scope of the contract, and were added, and so was a Feb 17 “sign or else” deadline and a statement that they would no longer discuss the contract. That is not brilliant, that is called “bad faith.” Both Hance and Myers knew that Leach would be as big an idiot as you Wizard, for signing this. Do not fool yourself into thinking that Tech wants Leach to sign the contract, Myers would be a lot happier to let Leach go, and go out and hire Briles, or somebody else he can find for about $1 million a year less, and send Tech back to the years when 7-5 was a good thing. What he doesn’t obviously remember was that those years net about 38,000 season attendance average and thats going to look absolutely (and excuse me for using your term again Wizard) Brilliant, especially in a stadium that will soon be expanded to hold at least twice that many people. Myers of course is an expert in attendance as he used to fill the Municipal Coliseum, back in the day, to about slightly more than half the capacity for basketball games. Those of you not familiar with that coliseum should know its about half the size of the coliseum.
Negotiations mean both sides sit down and talk. Myers, who obviously has a bone to pick with Leach, and has had for some time will not negotiate with Leach, he would be happier if Leach was somewhere else, even if Tech has 7 or 8 bad years because of it. If and only if we are lucky, this entire fiasco of “brilliance” by our chief “negotiators” on behalf of Tech will either turn out with Leach staying and the two sides somehow reaching an agreement, or with Myers getting lucky when he hires someone else, and Tech continuing success on the football field. It is important to remember though, that Leach brought an offense that is the most respected and feared in the conference, and has steadily been improving on defense, The recruiting the last two years on defense has improved dramatically, and Tech is currently well on the way to doing great things again next season. The people who walk through the turnstiles and pay big money to watch and support the Raiders deserve for Hance and Myers to sit down and talk with Leach, or to be honest with him and say, “we really don’t want you here.” The fans deserve closure. We just lost Tech’s best recruiter, who obviously did not want to leave but was uncertain of Tech’s future. If we play through a season without giving Leach a new contract, recruiting will suffer dramatically next year. Recruits deserve to know who their coach is going to be, and they deserve to know that the administration is behind the team and the coach. Leach’s agents should never have shopped him without at least telling Tech administration that they were doing so. That was not good. Myers was really arrogant in telling them if Leach wanted more money he should go look elsewhere. What did he think Leach would do?
This entire issue is retarted, damaging, a black eye to the University, a joke that other Universities will make to recruits when competing against Tech for their services, but its not brilliant Wizard. Tech should be brilliant and sit down and discuss these items at length with Leach’s agents. Leach should actually fire his agents and hire new ones to discuss this with Tech, to be quite honest. This process is going to cost Raider Nation dearly at the turnstiles, though.
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Jake: Myers put the bad-mouth out on Leach is why no one will touch him.
I’d like to see you work directly under Myers for 1 year, let alone 8.
You can’t pay Leach ENOUGH money for that.
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Dunka: why do you think Ryan has all those log-ins when a lot of people are thinking Leach’s people are doing it as well to drum up support for Mike.
TTU and TTU football will be here long after Leach is gone. We will have another coach – will he be successful? You never know – he may very well be. But whatever the situation TT Football and TTU will go on with or without Mike Leach. Leach has proven he can win – now can he win a Big 12 championship or NC? We definitely blew a big chance of that this year.
I have enjoyed watching Mike and TTU football but I will enjoy watching it after/when leach is gone as well. Coaches come and go all the time – yes people get upset – but most go on rooting for their university no matter the coach.
Mike wants the kind of contract Stoops and Brown have. Well when he produces the results they have I’m all for it.
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It is easy to see that Myers and Hance want to be like Jerry Jones of the Cowboys and that will lead to no where. Neither one of them was any good at their profession so they come up with a better job, more money and still are not capable of doing their job!! Get rid of Hance and Myers, then get someone with some common sense to fill those jobs, keep coach Leach and watch Tech’s football program gain ground!! Tech will never do well on the national level as long as Myers and Hance have their hands on the controls!!
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I still say that I fully believe that Hance has the university’s best interest at heart. Leach caused all of this by shopping his happy azz around after Tech offered him a contract in DEC. He chose to flip us off and run off to Washington.
His antics are what is causing this madness.
I run my own business and you have to get control of the situation. Leach and his clown agents DO NOT run Tech. Screw them.
I am glad that Tech has shown some guts in this negotiation process.
Keep up the good work Hance. I’m with you. And, unlike a lot of others Pink Raiders on here, I wil continue to support the university whatever happens.
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The TT and Leach show is making us proud!
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Spike is the only coach not to shop for another job, while coach and that is because he is from around here. ALL coaches look for better deals, especially if there is friction with the AD.
I guarantee that if the next coach has any success he will want to hi tail it out of Lubbock just as Sloan, McWilliams did. But any great candidate will not apply after this fiasco.
Leach has provided excitement year end year out. I do think we could have been better prepared for the Cotton Bowl, but he is still the beast we ever had, and will probably go down as Tech’s best coach ever. Unfortunately 09 could be the last year.
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Aggie 76, Your fine university gave Francione an extension his second year before being blown out of the Cotton Bowl.
We will be fighting it out in the cellar in 2010 if we lose the pirate.
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Watchdog- back to old, and I mean OLD antics. So I am firing you as a watchdog. Doing a terrible job.
Noel- Are you just stupid? Leach is a lawyer, or least possesses a law degree.
Melvin Block [head]- more of the same ol’ ignorance, get a life or grow a pair.
We have a coach and he is just great, if you would put yourself in his shoes you would be doing the same, that is if you could mix in a clue every now and again. You guys need to go back to posting on Brittany Spears, you probably know as much about that as you now about athletic departments, coaches, and football. Never mind negotiations.
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I wonder how the conversation would have gone if Myers/Hance would have told Bobby Knight that Texas Tech would own his name and image?
The problem with all of this is Leach can’t work with Myer’s or Hance and he is only waiting out the next two years of the contract that he holds in his hand now, then he’s gone.
Being a person who understands the law, Leach is some how looking for loop holes or mistakes from the AD that will shorten his stay here and put some extra cash in his pocket.
One thing here, Leach is no dummy and he know Myers is.
Who takes off over-seas when he knows he needs to be in Lubbock working on a new contract? Leach does, because it adds to the drama….
Let it play out in the national media and on rivals.com and you have the makings of a real reality show…
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Dunka on February 14th, 2009 10:16 am Why do I get the idea Ryan Hyatt has been using 5-6 different log-ins on this blog to try to support Myers and company? Meyers pretty much gave him his start – so don’t believe for a second he isn’t blinded by biased. I know there aren’t that many people out there who can’t see the absurdity of the buyout as written, and the naming rights. Hyatt has got to be trying to make it look as though Meyers has much more support on this than he possibly can.
100% CORRECT !!!
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Why does one post go up and another post get the message of “Your comment is awaiting moderation. ” Has Gerald hacked into the AJ database?
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bill womack – What would you do with an employee that had thrown a fit, cussed a supervisor, and thrown food at the supervisor in a public restaurant? Well, Gerald Myers good friend and hunting buddy did that at Market Street. His name was Bobby Knight.
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What has Booby Knight done for Tech? He did increase attendance because I started going to the games. I wanted to see him throw a chair, or slap a player, or just act childish. (Never did see the first two, did see the last one alot.) Now we have his idiot son to take care of.
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Kent Hance and Gerald Myers have never worked in the real world. Let either one of them go to work and try to make a living without getting free lunches, free travel, free housing.
At least Coach Leach will tell you himself that he’s nuts. But I’ll take a 12-2 season year after year after year. Myers Hance Knight
et al need to go away, far far away. Give Coach Leach the contract and let him recruit on the 12-2 season that we are coming off of, the admin are idiots for blowing this recruiting season.
I have to stop. I’m driving up my own blood pressure……..
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Hance is right. Leach is no Mack Brown or Bob Stoops or Urban Meyer or Nick Saban. He cannot recruit with any of those guys. Making Leach the third highest paid coach in the league is more than fair. These big-school buyouts are ludicrous.
Let Briles come to Lubbock and Leach go to Waco and see if coach needs school or school needs coach. Leach done hell of job, but he cannot move up. If a Top 10 school were going to hire quirky O-coordinator for head coach, it would have happened by now.
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H’mm, Coach Leach can’t come to turms with Tech. Here is the solution. CITY COUNCIL name a street after him. He would have to stay here then. He’d be in tall cotton then, along with Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez, Marsha Sharp, Buddy Holly, Glena Goodacre, Mac Davis, etc. There are a lot of new streets just awaiting a name. How could he turn that down? It could be called Mike Leach Avenue of Greed.
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Shane, you cleared things up for me…..Not. Yes, TT track team gets coverage from ABC sports three out of four weeks, and the track coach gets a segment on 60 Minutes…..Again, NOT. I’m not even a Leach fan, but after reading Myers’ “contributions,” to this fiasco, I’d quit too.
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Regardless of who said what, and who is to blame, I just want everyone to remember that Jerry Jones thought it was a good idea to get rid of a winning coach. We all know what happened after that!
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I have been a Red Raider fan for 50 years and cannot believe that this is happening. Does Tech not give Gerald Myers a yearly personnel review? Look at some of his teams sports most recent records.
Softball 23-36
Baseball 25-30
Soccer 8-10
Womens Basketball 14-9
Mens Basketball 12-12
Football 11-2
Which of these coaches is Myers and Hance taking shots at in the press? Which of these coaches is Myers and Hance making big changes to their contract?
Why in the world would you mess around with a program that is not only Red Hot but also is generating more revenue than at any time in school history?
If it ain’t broke don’t fix it !!
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I’m an outside observer, and have no dog in this hunt. In my opinion, Tech has one of the top five coaches in college football. Seriously, Leach has turned a school with far less tradition and recruiting clout than Texas or Texas A&M into a national title contender. If he had access to the kind of athletes schools like Texas, Florida or USC have, he’d win multiple national titles.
If you want to keep a top coach, you have pay him like it or someone else will.
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After 190+ responses already. Is anyone still reading all this? (I read a whole bunch of it myself). Its obvious we aren’t solving anything. We will all just have to wait and see. Life will go on. Football will go on. I hope all of us are finding something of temporal and/or eternal value to do for someone else. I guess the sportsworld is just a little too boring for most of us right now, but it will get better.
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Tech Football has an eternal dilemma. We want a coach who can come in here and compete and recruit against Texas, Okla, A&M etc. BUT if he is successfull he also has to want to stay here.
( Steve Sloan, David McWilliams, Jim Carlen) It is difficult to find that combination. Coach Leach, who has a winning record, nine straight bowl games, 80% graduation rate, unprecedented national exposure, has been here nine years and wants to sign a five year extension. Looks to me like we already have what we are looking for.
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If Kent Hance was such great shakes, why did he lose every statewide race he ever attempted? Bad judgement, maybe?
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You Leach hounds continue to surprise many of us, as you assume you hold the majority opinion regarding the Leach drama show. Your hearing your on echo’s! Let me assure you there are just as many, if not more, who fully support the administration on this issue and will continue to support TTU regardless of what happens with Leach’s contract.
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I am over Mike Leach. If he doesn’t whole-heartedly want to be at Tech then he should go ahead and leave. We need and want a coach that WANTS to be here. Now it is so late that we are left with little choice for a coach who will be able to get top notch recruits. I commend Gerald Myers for the job that he has done and support him in his decision to remain firm.
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You Lubbock people crack me up…..you want to pay this fat drunkard bastard whatever he wants while certain departments at Tech are trimming budgets? Yes, because sports are more important that an education….that’s right. Makes sense coming from you dimwitted rednecks up there.
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We just had the best Tech football season ever and we are in the middle of expanding the stadium for the second time. We were on prime time ABC on 3 consecutive Saturday nights and ESPN College Gameday came to Lubbock for the first time ever. While the loss to Ole Miss was a disappointing way to end the year, there is no doubt our football program has never been better. We are arguably the third best program in the conference behind Texas and OU and can pass A&M for good if we stay on the current roll we are on. A&M’s facilities are head and shoulders better than ours and we have beat them 11 out of the past 14 years with recruiting classes that were ranked far behind theirs. Leach has done more with less talent than any coach in the conference. Why would Gerald Myers want to screw this up? Why would Kent Hance choose to air his comments to the media and bring negative attention to our school? Gerald Myers broke the first rule of negotiations by letting his emotions get involved and letting this get to where it is. Why would he publicly draw a line in the sand with our most successful coach ever? He needs to go and soon. San Antonio sports columnist Buck Harvey unfortunately had it right this week when he wrote, “Texas Tech does not get it” in his front page sports column. I do not want to return to football mediocrity and sadly it appears Gerald and Kent do.
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just watching the Lady Raiders against the worst team in the conference pick up apart, I want Kristi Curry to leave the building along with Myers. She’s a loser too.
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Mike Leach never said he didn’t like Tech or Lubbock or West Texas.
He was INVITED to look elsewhere if he didn’t like Gerald Myers offer in August, invited by Myers himself, & Myers later re-interated that statement to the public.
You put words in Mike’s mouth & refuse to even listen to Myer’s own public admissions.
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The jerks at the AJ deleted a post where I stated that I had witnessed Gerald Myers and a basketball player during a practice when myers was a so called coach.
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P KRIETER I agree about Kristi Curry
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To Noel: You want Sonny? Yeah that’s just what Tech needs…the next generation of Dykes’ football. Hit that pipe again, Noel.
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you see the LAWYER coming out of Leach! Myers must know someone or something to have moved from coaching to TT politics . WHERE IS “SPIKE’ WHEN YOU NEED HIM??????
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I hope Tech continues their efforts to run Mike Leach away from the program. It will make it a lot easier for my Sooners when they visit Lubbock. As a Sooner fan, I can honestly say that Gerald Myers is no Joe Castigleone. Football drives everything financially and if you mess that up then every program will suffer. Last year was Tech’s best season ever yet you would think the Raiders went 4-8 the way they are treating Leach. I know it won’t be easy to replace him. BC had trouble replacing their coach and still don’t have a staff after the same type of negotiations.
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The people of Lubbock and the Tech students and faculty have been put through “hell on Earth” enough with the “substandard and defective” Tech administration driving the entire university to the ground (Hance won’t remove the buyout clause without a National Title (Brown and Stoops didn’t win a title this past season and THEY DON’T HAVE A BUYOUT CLAUSE!), Myers shoots from “both sides of his mouth”, and Bailey owes $175,000 for destroying another person’s work!)
It is high time Tech needs to be the best both in the classroom and in the athletic arena. The administration and Tech administration supporters MUST BE CALLED INTO ACCOUNT that their actions prevent Tech from being its best on ALL fronts!
According to the saying, “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!”
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Myers needs to be in a rest home.
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Gerald Myers has been sucking off of the tit of Texas Tech Athletics since he had a crew-cut.
Let Myers retire and the athletics department can throw him a big party.
They can serve those jalapeno poppers and chicken wings with ranch dip on small plastic plates and everyone can fall asleep while Myers gives his good-bye speack that he repeats himself ten or twelve times.
I know, I spent years suffering through his blunders…
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Big Dog
The AJ also deleted my comments, and it seems like the talk shows are bias also. Are Hance and Myers pushing their weight and trying to get support? Everyone I know prefers Leach to stay.
The basketball and baseball programs are bad, Are they getting rid of those coaches? I don’t understand why they don’t sign Leach
who has the only program generating revenue.
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Pirates are individuals who commit robberies at sea, usually without being appointed to do so by any particular nation. While the word pirate brings to mind sea-going heroes of the last century, the truth is that piracy is a commonplace criminal.
On the other hand, a privileged pirate was a pirate commissioned by a king to capture foreign vessels. This was a common practice between nations, and it led to serious international battles, especially between England and France. According to the law, a privateer was not technically a pirate, which meant he could not be tried and convicted if captured.
Leach was a privledged pirate who has lost the blessing of the king. Looks like he has now become a self appointed pirate and is going to be tied and conviced soon.
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While the on the field accomplishments are outstanding it’s the team’s performance in the classroom that has Texas Tech President Jon Whitmore most excited about keeping Leach.
“Mike Leach puts academics first in his program,” says Whitmore. “These young men are students first. Mike is a first class coach whose teams bring honor to Texas Tech both on the field and in the classroom.”
A Quote from then President Whitmore right after Leach signed his current contract back in 2006.
Since that point Leachs won lost record has improved and also his graduation rates have improved to 80%.
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HEY TECH HEADS WAKE UP…GET RID OF MYERS AND HANCE there is no possible scenario that we would want to fire leach…unlike bobby knight , leach is a class act.
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Tom, I was thinking the exact same thing…watching the NC-Duke game the other night and seeing Joe C., Bob Stoops & Kevin Wilson at the game having a good time made me realize how good things are at OU and how bad things are going to get at Tech. I am reminded of the ’90’s at OU and how the AD there ran the athletic program into the ground , to the point that it was in the red by millions. Both sides here could have handled the situation better, but I lay the majority of the blame on the AD. Why do you think that Stoops, Capel, Coale, etc. stay at OU? All could get more money somewhere else. It is because of the AD… he is supportive of them both on and off the court/field. I don’t think that they are all best friends, but there is a mutual respect there. Something that is lacking here. I have been hearing negative stories about Myers from people in the know for the last several years. Don’t be fooled, the stand by the AD isn’t a business decision, it’s an emotional one. He doesn’t like Leech and Leech doesn’t like him. It’s a shame, I was looking forward to seeing what Leech could do with the program… I won’t buy tickets after Leech leaves…there will be plenty to be had in a few years if I want to see Tech play a good opponent…just like there is with basketball, baseball, softball…
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How about the Gerald Myers Landfill instead of a street sign! Yeah Ryan Hyatt is blogging under several names. He told me so himself. Yes he and Myers are big buds.
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WHY HAVE WE SPENT ALL THIS MONEY FIXING UP THE STADIUM AND WILL NOT EVEN PAY THE MAN THAT HAS FILLED IT UP… HOW ABSURD
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bottom line:
9 yrs at Tech
.661 winning %.
4 bowl losses.
5 bowl wins.
0 – BCS bowls
0 – South Titles.
0 – Big 12 Titles.
The biggest bowls was the Holiday and Gator.
Original contract offer was fair and reasonable.
Tech has not PLAYED ANY RESPECTABLE NON CONFERENCE OPPONENTS.
Look at the non-conference schedule since Leach has arrived..
Compare it to before he arrived. I dont see a Penn st., Miami, Ect…
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Very good Tommy
You’re a very well read individual, now lets talk football, and
telll me how getting rid of Leach will motivate me to buy football tickets to a Tech game without Leach as a coach. If Leach leaves
or is fired I won’t support Myers or Tech.
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I am nobody of any significance whatsoever and I had the good fortune to meet Mike Leach one day. I wasnt much of a football fan of any kind at the time. He and I talked for about thirty minutes about fishing and hunting and some football. He is absolutely down to earth and not arrogant at all. Just a genuine good guy. If the market will bear it he deserves the money a hell of alot more than other sports figures.
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Why would anyone give up their personal property rights?? For some reason Tech is making sure they give Leech a contract he has to refuse. Why?
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or perhaps only one.
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I knew the current AD when we both were students a Tech in the 50’s. He was a good player at Borger & Tech. He has also been a good coach both the high school and college level. I also think he has been a good AD for Tech. That said neither the AD or the president can put butts in the seats at Jones. Leach can and has put those butts in the seats at Jones. Without the seats filled at game time the Raiders cannot keep up with the leaders in the Big 12. It is high time that the egos are left at home and a settlement made for the benfit of all programs as football is the sport that feeds the rest of the AD department.. Get on with a settlement & stop feeding your egos. gy
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Hey Bill Womack, you aren’t the only one to know about Gerald Myers’ early years. I knew about him when he played at Borger High School. And he was the first Tech basketball player to be name All Southwest Conference. Then he coached at Lubbock Monterey and Houston Baptist. Then he was hired as an assistant coach at Tech, under Bob Bass. But, none of these things make him a good, or even, qualified AD. Maybe he and you are living in the past. I grew up in Lubbock and remember all the racism and bigotry of the 50s. There was an attitude against Blacks and Hispanics that would make God blush. And, there is much of that Good Ol’ Boy White Man mentality in Myers and some of the Tech Regents. The bottom line, though, in my opinion, is that this is nothing more than Jealously! Jealously over the success and attention Mike Leach has had since coming to Tech. And, it’s not just about football. Maybe Mike Leach should have introduced Myers to Donald Trump too. I sure don’t like the looks of this whole situation right now. Two or more old farts, who should be tending their gardens, playing ego games with Tech’s future. They certainly don’t want to change with the times. They’re too set in their ways. Maybe we should require all Regents and Athletic Directors be under 35. They would make mistakes, but their minds wouldn’t be buried in the past. And by the way, I’m 68, but I refuse to let by brain die so easily. GO RAIDERS!
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I don’t know if anyone remembers the what happened to the last football coach that had the “loyalty” that Tech wants, he had a bad season and then he got pushed out the door. I do not blame
Leach. Pay him to keep him or get him out of here this kkind of media attention is not good for Tech. Either way Myers needs to go!
‘
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There are no winners here. Regardless of what happens with this contract, there are no winners. This entire fiasco has given Tech a black eye, nothing about it can be deemed as positive. Myers and Hance should have never raised the amount to $12.7 million if they were going to de-value the offer with four items never discussed before, that to be quite honest, brought the value to less than the $12.1 million offered before.
The nation who grew to love Tech as a Cinderella team Leach put out have now been introduced to the ugly stepsisters (Hance and Myers). I do not think that its only Myers dealing in bad faith. There has been waaaay too much press to be that naive anymore. He is but a puppet now that Hance, Guy and the idiot regents who are left have been using to further embarass the University at a national level.
Work in good faith those of you in Tech administration, you had the foresight to raise ticket prices, and milk every fan of more money you are increasing the size of the stadium, the least you can do is sit down and discuss the contract, especially since you changed it before you sent it out. Quit insulting the intelligence of the students, fans, alumni and other supporters of the football program by telling us you have put out a good faith contract. Nobody is that stupid. Sit down, put your petty differences aside, and for the first time in this whole process work in good faith and in the interest of those who love the program, and the school.
My advice to Leach is to sit down, too, with the agents, and listen to what is presented. The agents have not faired well with Tech, because they have hit some nerves with some of the efforts they made by knee jerk reactions to Myers dumb comments. I hope somebody in this entire process grows a brain and decides that going into next season without a contract for Leach will be devastating to recruiting and to the image of the program. That should not be an option, especially because of how heated things are now.
And for the record, I like Briles, but compared to Leach, he is a step down, so that should not be an option, because if Tech takes Briles, and Leach were to fall into Baylor’s lap, like some have suggested, Baylor would win that battle, and leapfrog us in the standings as we have done to Texas A&M.
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Beware ….The AJ is deleting valid posts from people trying to express their opinions. I guess an open forum doesn’t apply to the AJ.
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I started on being for Mike Leach but after finding out the facts Ive switched to support Gerald and Texas Tech. Leach should sign the contact it by the deadline or hit the road, I doubt if any major college in the country would pick him. He is a self centered, ego driven attorney in a pirate outfit.
Class of 1960
Texas Tech
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You know what I hate about issues like this?
Some fans – both pro-Leach & anti-Leach- try to bring UT & OU into the argument and compare things.
I don’t like UT or OU. They’re way too pompous and arrogant for anybody but people who are themselves pompous and arrogant to like.
We are what we are. Texas Tech Red Raiders. If we were self-confident and brave and secure, then we wouldn’t ever talk like we envyed UT or OU, or wanted to be like them at all.
If we won the national championship, and were from now on a top-10 team , but it meant we had to behave like them, then I’d say NO thanks!
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I totally understand that some of you are tying to be “Switzerland” and be neutral, but winning programs(and we know you really want Tech to be a top tier program) ALL had to take a chance on their coach and NONE of them have any of those four clauses in their contracts!!!
So if you really want to see what is best for this football program then explain to Raider Nation why our administration is putting Leach in a corner with those four clauses when they told him he was free to find a better deal prior to the 11-2 season???
Please help me understand WHY those four clauses were justified considering how Tech handled this contract prior to the season???
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I love Mike Leach, but I would love him more if he wasn’t looking for a new gig every year!
His trip to UofW was the straw that broke the camels back.
Mike – If you really want to be here, stop interviewing with other universities.
Myers – Come on, give a little will you and try to keep Mike?
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All you folks calling for the removal of Meyers and Hance certainly have it right. I mean this isn’t a university that teachs academics… its a football program and we need to get rid of anyone that gets in the way of that don’t we?
While we’re at it… lets just fire all non-sport related people so we have a football team and other sports with no interference. Think of how much we could pay the coachs then! After all… that is what college is all about right… the sports???
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The first professor you hire that can put his classes on ABC prime time three times, have a segment on 60 Minutes and put 50,000 paying customers in the stands 6 times a year, we’ll pay him/her 2 million a year, also.
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Draeggo – help me out here pal. Tell me again,….. what has Meyers ever done for the academic side of things? Best as I can tell, the only thing he’s ever done was that he brought in Leach, who in turn raised our football programs GPA to respectability. Other than that, his track record isn’t all that impressive.
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Board of Regents can you step in?
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I haven’t read all comments, but do have a suggestion…..let Mike coach another year. If he captures the Big 12 title, sign him long term. If not………….
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Draego=Ryan Hyatt=the bas***d son of Gerald Myers
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What a sad situation this is. Egos and pride on both sides getting in the way of success. There is no winner in this.
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I win….I’m going to save $500.00 this year from season TTicket renewals. (and $750.00 next year, and $1000.00 the year after, and so on and so on….)
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FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
FIRE MYERS!!!
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I love you red roaches! You guy’s know how to mess up a wet dream and continue to make us proud.
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The only 2 things that I know that are forever, Death and Taxes. Football coaches come and go, yes it is nice to keep the good one’s a long time, but until that particular coach feels like family and has the loyalty and respect of this community, he will continue to leave open bigger and better opportunities. I mean c’mon, how many of you are at your first job out of school? You found something better and you moved on, unless you were in your special place and after reading some of these post’s,” special place” has a whole different meaning. Coach Leach is just fine, let him finish what he started. We Win, and We Win A Lot.
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You ask for it – you got it. Go to http://www.doubletnation.com and you can vote for which side you think is in the right. (although I think it should be “Leach vs TTU Admin” and not stated as “Leach vs TTU” because Leach is negotiating to be a part of TTU, and his problems are with Meyers and company – not the university as a whole.)
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At last check – it was just about dead even with a little over 50 votes tallied. Probably a surprise to everyone, as we all seem certain that our own view on this is “obviously” the dominant one.
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Would Leach be okay with TTU administrators publicly showing interest in every up and coming coach that could replace their guy? Every year? Like 3 times a year?
What if Tech pursued Art Briles during this past season? Not because they want to fire Leach, but just to measure the possibilities for their own job.
I mean, maybe he isn’t the best they can get for 2.7 mil a year. They should check around every year to see what new up and comer is interested.
This way, maybe they can constantly bargain with Leach to lower his salary.
Is this not exactly what he does to TECH every single year? Wouldn’t it be fair for the actions to be reciprocal.
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I understand that a guy deserves to pursue better opportunities. I get that. What I don’t get is why his name comes up for every single job every year, yet the schools he is rumored to be in connection with rarely have more than just passing interest.
Come on Raider fans, wise up. Leach was never going to leave. None of the Giants want him, and they never have. His agents are constantly trying to pump his name so they can bargain for more money from Tech.
Leach has done just fine at Tech, not great.
Truth is, if Spike played Leach’s non conference schedules, he would be just as successful as Leach.
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Myers is pushing Leach out the door, the jerk. Can’t anyone with any authority have any balls and override stupid Gerald Myers.
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aggie 76
we would still beat atm even if we had coach fran for our coach.
the only good team you guys have is the womans basketball team and that is coached by a Red Raider Alum.
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Let’s think of this: Leach is 2-7 versus both Texas and OU. Consider that both wins against Texas have been classics that hinged on last second Texas mistakes in Lubbock. Simms’ interception in ‘02 was the result of BJ Johnson running the wrong route. This year, before Crabs’ miracle, Texas dropped a sure interception. That followed Tech surrendering a 19 point lead at home. Leach’s two wins against OU have been when OU was 7-5, and it took two controversial replays on the last drive for Tech to win. The other win was the result of Bradford’s injury last year in Lubbock. TT almost surrendered a 24 point lead in that game to OU’s backup QB in the 4th quarter.
Considering that Tech’s series history against Texas is 48-16, or thereabouts, Tech wins 1 outta every 4 against Texas throughout history. Leach has not surpassed that, and it could be argued that he is a dropped int from being 1-8 versus Texas.
His conference record is 42-30, with 9 wins against Baylor. He is a combined 1-12 on the road versus OU, Texas, and OK St.
Leach’s offense is prolific, but it doesn’t usually carry the mustard against a top tier team. So, what do we have? A bunch of offensive stats against lesser teams? An occasional miracle versus top teams in Lubbock? Does any of that truly show that Leach has Tech in any better position than they were when he started?
I think Leach embarrasses Tech. I think everybody sees Tech as an armpit that has to run quirky offenses and take ridiculous risks to achieve anything. I think Tech, with football revenues in the top 30 nationally and in the top 6 of the Big 12, has much greater resources than they are given credit. I don’t think Tech has to use moronic game management and eccentric plays to be where Leach has them: around the number 30 program nationally during his overall tenure.
So, Tech finished like #13 this year, right? That’s great, right? But how close were they to doing better? Not close at all when you consider the embarrassing letdowns in their two losses.
How close were they to doing worse? Pretty close when you consider that they were only an eyelash away from losing to both Nebraska and Texas, and only a couple of whiskers away from losing to Baylor.
I think Leach has Tech much closer to average than to excellence.
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I hear all this talk about Art Briles to Tech if Leach is let go. Does anyone really think he is going to leave Baylor with the team he is building with Robert Griffen? Does anyone believe that Tech can really win a bidding war with Baylor for his services if they can only go to 2.5 million with Leach? Would Art Briles accept the same provisions that Tech is putting on Leach when he doesn’t have the provisions at Baylor?
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I don’t think Tech would put the same provisions on a new coach, with the exception of the contact notification clause.
But, everybody must understand that Leach and his agents have earned this treatment and these provisions with their yearly behaviors. They have forced TTU into a position of inferiority in negotiations. TTU has had enough and won’t allow it any more.
Tech administration will not allow their coach to use them to become his own self made entity, seperate and greater than their own university. I applaud that. At some point, Tech had to stop allowing Leach to use them.
Tech is a much more prestigious university with much greater resources than many realize.
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Aggi76. I think your facts are incorrect about our Womens BB team.
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Does Art Briles have an agent??? Hummm. Or does he run his program?
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Let’s think of this: Leach is 2-7 versus both Texas and OU. Consider that both wins against Texas have been classics that hinged on last second Texas mistakes in Lubbock. Simms’ interception in ‘02 was the result of BJ Johnson running the wrong route. This year, before Crabs’ miracle, Texas dropped a sure interception. That followed Tech surrendering a 19 point lead at home. Leach’s two wins against OU have been when OU was 7-5, and it took two controversial replays on the last drive for Tech to win. The other win was the result of Bradford’s injury last year in Lubbock. TT almost surrendered a 24 point lead in that game to OU’s backup QB in the 4th quarter.
Considering that Tech’s series history against Texas is 48-16, or thereabouts, Tech wins 1 outta every 4 against Texas throughout history. Leach has not surpassed that, and it could be argued that he is a dropped int from being 1-8 versus Texas.
His conference record is 42-30, with 9 wins against Baylor. He is a combined 1-12 on the road versus OU, Texas, and OK St.
Leach’s offense is prolific, but it doesn’t usually carry the mustard against a top tier team. So, what do we have? A bunch of offensive stats against lesser teams? An occasional miracle versus top teams in Lubbock? Does any of that truly show that Leach has Tech in any better position than they were when he started?
I think Leach embarrasses Tech. I think everybody sees Tech as an armpit that has to run quirky offenses and take ridiculous risks to achieve anything. I think Tech, with football revenues in the top 30 nationally and in the top 6 of the Big 12, has much greater resources than they are given credit. I don’t think Tech has to use moronic game management and eccentric plays to be where Leach has them: around the number 30 program nationally during his overall tenure.
So, Tech finished like #13 this year, right? That’s great, right? But how close were they to doing better? Not close at all when you consider the embarrassing letdowns in their two losses.
How close were they to doing worse? Pretty close when you consider that they were only an eyelash away from losing to both Nebraska and Texas, and only a couple of whiskers away from losing to Baylor.
I think Leach has Tech much closer to average than to excellence.
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How come Leach never discusses the pirates operating off the Somali coast ? Do they not interest him ?
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On top of the great season we just had, we also just had the best recruiting class in recent memory. None of this nonsense had to happen. The admin should have negotiated with Leach prior to the season. Everyone could see the potential for what last year was, with the senior leadership and the talent we had. It was very shortsighted to let things get this far, and I guess I shouldn’t be surprised for that type of behavior in the athletic department leadership to continue.
I’m sure the next coach will also lead us to rankings as high as number two, lead the conference in graduation rates, garner coverage from national network news shows and the New York Times. I mean, didn’t Gerald Myers do all those things with the basketball program when he coached?
I’ll always root for Tech, but this is very disappointing. As soon as this fiasco is wrapped up, the Regents should be conducting job performance reviews on the administrators responsible for it. Losing our coach after arguably the best season ever is bad enough, having it unfold in the manner in which it has is unacceptable.
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Yeah Leach tried to recruit at Somolia University. They run the off the coast offense. They usually run it out of the shotgun. Their quarterback throws mostly bullits.
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Art Briles, Art Briles, Art Briles………. No one will want to coach at Tech now.
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Fire Leach!
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Besides Briles, I’ve heard both the Utah coach & the Houston coach are interested.
There’s lots of candidates, many that would have had the team finish the last 3 games in a much less embarassing way.
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Besides Briles, I’ve heard that both the Utah coach and the Univ. Houston coach are interested.
There’s lots of good candidates, many that would have had Tech finishing the last 3 games in a much less embarrassing way.
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Hold your ground Chancellor Hance! It’s high-time for Leach to either COMMIT on the university’s terms – or go sail his ship in other waters – and then you can get back to the more important elements of academics, students getting an education, and leading a great university.
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busted flat in Waco, Tex -
waitin for a train…..
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Way to go Aggie76! Great sense of humor. We sure need some of that with this mess.
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This is one of those moments where no matter what happens, everyone will wonder “what if” no matter what the outcome is. If the deal gets done, and say leach has a bad year..everyone will say it was a bad move and wonder, well what if we had an art briles or someother candidate everyone has hopped on the banwagon of. A majority of the same people whom, until the OU game were making plans of naming their newborn after the guy. Say the deal doesn’t get done, and genius Gerald Myers brings in good ole Sonny Dykes. Then in a year or two we will be the Iowa State of the big 12, and all the progress LEACH has built for the program will be lost. Everyone will decide that maybe leach wasn’t so bad after all. Call me and idiot, but I just don’t think its a smart move to try and bully a guy over a contract after head leads the team to the best season in school history.
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*after he
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Loyalty is a two way street.
Athletic administrators are usually less loyal to coaches than coaches are to them.
Myers & Hance had already withdrawn the offer in their minds and had already had a coach on the line by Jan.12th & hence the over-bearing stance on the “offer”.
FIRE SOUR-PUSS & BALDIE NOW!!
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melvin block and all other name callers – you may not yet have learned in life and in business that name calling, i.e. “Sour-Puss & Baldie” minimizes the impact of your opinion. This is a very serious matter and it will be much better if adults are the ones submitting comments.
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Leach is currently with pirates in Somali and writing a book about his experience. It should be interesting to read about speed boats taking over cargo ships and exchanging gun fire with Russian, U.S., and Chinese war ships.
Pirates are SO cool !!
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CHRIS: Yeah, like Myers is sooo grown-up , involved in a public food fight & ensueing road scuffle just a few years ago with his colleagues.
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No loyalty is displayed by Myers & Hance to the fans or coach.
= FIRE SOUR-PUSS & BALDIE …NOW!!
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Witching hour approaches or is it pirates, or matadors, or Red Raiders I am so confused….
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“Call me and idiot, but I just don’t think its a smart move to try and bully a guy over a contract after he leads the team to the best season in school history.”
You’re no idiot. That’s the smartest thing anybody has posted on this board in days.
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dumbest thing is to fly to washington state and don’t even go skiing!
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Is this the Avalache Urinal????? I’m pissed off!!!!! Fire Myers and Hance.
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Texas Tech is being run like a Junior College.. Hance & Myers SUCK!!!!!!!!!
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Where is the freaking moderator?
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Shane’s a big tattle – tail .
He’s sooo sensitive – baby him please
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Shane it’s a MEDIATOR that’s needed. Desperately!
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Double X left off an X…
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Everything will clear up a lot on the 18th.
Inquiring minds can man the private side of the airport starting tuesday evening.
About 2/3rds of Raider Nation (Leach supporters) are going to get their faces slapped then. Mine is already hurting.
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Is Leach back from watching Rugby? that says a lot of where his priority is or that he doesn’t care, or that he knows it’ll all be worked out. Positive or negative either way the talking heads or in this cause the typing fingers are running wild….just like the talk about other Head Coaching openings every year. Leach needs to learn to squelch the talk it hurts his future recruiting. Another thing he hasn’t learned in nine years. Run QB run!
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Funny thing to me, in Austin, they can be one injury or one fumble or one interception away from the conference championship, and everybody thinks Mack is a fool.
In Lubbock, Tech can sneak out 3 nailbiters at home, finish with 3 consecutive dud performances, and basically show to the whole nation how far away they still are from the top tier, and everybody is just so dang proud of the pirate.
If you are proud of the pirate, you are a fool. If you are proud of the pirate, you have a very low opinion of Tech and its resources. The guy hasn’t even won a Cotton Bowl, and the Cotton Bowl is now reserved for usually the 3rd best team from the Big 12 and plays the 4th best team from the SEC.
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ohhhh i wish we could be UT.
we’re all longhorn wannabes here in Lubbick.
how we long to be little longhorn-lite.
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Only at “wally world” melvin. ;-)
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Furthermore, if Ron Zook can recruit to Illinois right along with the big boys, somebody can probably recruit to Tech. Maybe Briles.
Tech is all passing offense all the time. They have gained all of this so called notoriety, right? You know, with the #2 ranking, national exposure, prime time games, 60 minutes and so on. Yet, they still can’t get a top 25 qb or wr. Leach is a horrible recruiter.
Tech is right in the hotbed of recruiting, has a successful program, resides in a major conference, and has ever improving facilities. Yet Leach’s best class is ranked only number 34. I guarantee that given the same circumstances, many guys can recruit better than that.
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melvin block on February 16th, 2009 12:38 pm
The 18th may be Leach’s Armegeddon, but the 19th and thereafter becomes Myers’ hell. If TTU fires Leach on wednesday Gerald would be best served if he moved from Lubbock as a chance exists he will be tar and feather and rode out of town on a rail after his house is burned to the ground, or maybe not. Those that would object are too old and feeble to stop it. A new generation will hopefully soon overtake these lifetime government leechees and bona fide arse clowns and they can then therafter await for the worms.
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myersisanidiot February 16th, 2009 1:22 pm
I agree the 19th and thereafter becomes Myers’ hell if they fire Leach. Myers better not appear at public events or he will be pummled with prunes.
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I doubt Gerald Myers will be tar and feather and rode out of town on a rail after his house is burned to the ground. God is on his side, so sayeth the Baptist Minister.
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That brings to mind another problem with the Tech mentality: always selling ourselves short. Remember the goalpost in the aggies’ section of the stands? We were favored to win. It wasn’t a surprise or even an upset. We insulted ourselves by acting like it was such an accomplishment.
And, look at this now. While guys are recruiting with the big boys at places like Illinois, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Kentucky, to name a few, we seem to have accepted our inferiority here at Tech. Think about it. At top tier programs, if you aren’t a great recruiter, they run you off. At Tech, they love you for what you do with lesser players! Not saying that we should compare to LSU or USC when it comes to recruiting, but shouldn’t Tech be able to garner a top 25 recruiting class pretty regularly?
I mean, Tech is a Big 12 school in the best football state with upper middle level resources. Shouldn’t our expectations be a little higher?
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Why should Leach have a top 15 salary when his team’s highest season finish in nine years is #13?
Tech isn’t a baren wasteland. Its not like we are Vanderbilt or something.
He pulls off two miracles and all that is good for is #13 and we’re gonna give him a top 15 salary? Why? If he starts compiling multiple top 15 or top 10 finishes, then so be it. But this is one top 15 finish in nine years.
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Leach’s best finish in an entire decade is to win the 4th best bowl allotted to the Big 12.
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If you want loyalty from Leach, then pay him what he’s worth. If my boss treated me the way they’re treating him, I’d look for other work, too.
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Guys, There are strong overtones coming out of Raiderland that Leach will not accept his current offer from the university and he will be fired by the end of the week. It will be a sad day in Raiderland.
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Yes indeed. Can’t we all just get along!
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Is it too late to get Mike to autograph a Tech football?
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Did I hear the students were holding a Leach support rally tomorrow? Myers and the out of touch Regents better watch out for the stupid decision to fire leach could cause thngs to get out of hand.
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Baptist now a Mormon calling for riots….
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If Leach goes, so does my money. It’s like changing churches. If I don’t agree with the way the monsignor is running my current parish, I’ll find another parish to join. UT seems committed to running a successful program. And Austin is a nice place to visit. Maybe I’ll become a Longhorn fan.
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watchdog113 on February 16th, 2009 2:34 pm
Wrong watch dog you knees bound pagan goo guzzler. i simply want peace and sound thinking, the latter of which at least neither Myers nor the Regents appear capable. Peace to you and praise God and magic underpants.
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Lokie my dear has been playing his tricks again, Baptist.
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watchdog113 on February 16th, 2009 2:54 pm
The members of my flock that used to suffer from the Ted Haggard syndrome that I have cured tell me that sperm coulds their minds. So, son, if you seek the moment of clarity that will bring truth to you, open your eyes, then open your mouth, get off your knees and back away from Gerald to set yourself free my child. After that, remeber the 10%.
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Regents take matters into their hands and introduce the new Tech coach Wednesday.
He’ll fly in late Tuesday in cognito with a fake beard and sunglasses and lady’s wig.
Hope he remembers to take all those things off at the press conference!
Hance is to be simultaneously promoted to Supreme High Commander Chancellor of the Universe, and Myers as Most Excellent Director of the Empire. All students and Red Raider Club members will bow to them upon recognition.
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therapy is only temporary as is a contract lasting only the term of such…unless there is a buyout or lawyer present….so the only thing that will remain will be Texas Tech and it’s Matador.
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Where is the moderator? Where is the moderator? Where is the Moderator?
Where is Coach Leach? If Leach is fired or buys out his contract do this years signed recruits have to play for Tech?
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watchdog113 on February 16th, 2009 3:08 pm
Well put. unfortunately, Gerald Myers proves ignorance is forever.
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XX on February 16th, 2009 3:19 pm
God told me to tell you to quit whining about the Moderator.
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This is pure stupidity. Gerald Myers and Kent Hance have been on the government dole their entire lives and this level of insufferable incompetence makes even mindless career government bureaucrats blush.
The issue is not whether TTech can find a better coach than Leach; rather, the issue is whether TTech can find a better AD than Gerald Myers. I can opine without equivocation that TTU can find a better AD than Gerald Myers by the end of this day. Therefore, the first step TTech must take if in fact it wishes to become more competitive for a BCS bid is to fire Gerald Myers and let Leach run the football program. What has Myers done without Leach that has not turned into a smoldering pile of failed shyte?
Let us review some hard facts.
TTU Baseball? Once great, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
TTU Women’s Basketball? Once great, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
TTU Men’s Basketball? Never great but sometimes respectable, now failed shyte under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
Maybe TTech could get lucky if Gerald Myers were to retire to go be the GM for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys. The Cowboys and Jones deserve Myers football acumen.
At least now that Bobby Knight has gone the men’s basketball program does not conjure up images of an AARP gay porn with Myers kneeling before Knight.
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2/3 rds (supporters of Leach) of the Raider Nation will have their collective faces slapped by either Myers & Hance , or Leach himself.
Loyalty to anybody anytime is out the window
Each side will have their own spin. Hance will be elevated to Most High Supreme Chancellor of the Universe, while Myers will be Grand Exhalted Most Excellent Director.
Students & Red Raider Club members will be required to bow to them starting Wednesday.
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What Red Raider Club members? There won’t be but a handful left.
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It’s not too late to let them know how you feel. All e-mail addresses at Tech are formatted firstname.lastname@ttu.edu. The Tech & Tech athletic department websites have all the addresses published.
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I’ll be fireing off to Leach right now…opps, wrong choice of words. :-)
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What’s with all the Briles, Dykes, Patterson talk??? If Leach leaves why in the H@#L would we want any of those guys??
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PanhandleRaider23 on February 16th, 2009 4:42 pm
I heard Geald and Kent are looking at the grandson of Curly from The Three Stooges as their choice for the next coach.
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Panhandle: I give up; who do we want (besides your hero Mack Brown or Bob Stoops)??
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It doesn’t matter what we want. What we’ll get is some high school coach who golfs regularly with the boosters or the AD. And they’ll all be in high cotton at banquets because the new football coach will be “one of us finally”. Then the games will start. And we’ll all learn just how mediocre “one of us” can be.
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At least do a search before automatically handing it over to “the best we can get”. Where have I ever said Stoops and Mack are my heroes. Somewhere along Tech’s history, being Mediocre was made acceptable. It is time for that to change!! DEMAND THE BEST NOT THE BEST WE CAN GET.
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Problem is if we “steal” someone away they themselve will be likely to bolt from us. If we hire young blood (who should be willing to stay) then we are not respectable. Though we can be lucky and get Mike Leach. but in that instance he really is a lawyer at heart and doesn’t have theat interest in staying, he thinks money is his idol.
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I believe we already have the best coach. We still don’t get the best recruits. A nuclear weapon would have to wipe out Norman, College Station and Austin before that would happen. But we do have a coach and a scheme that gives fits to those schools who get first crack at all the top recruits. In other words, Mike Leach is the reason Tech has been finishing ranked and competing seriously with the best of the Big 12.
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Gerald Myer represents failure ands stupidity, not necessarity in that order. Is that what TTech stands for? Time for time to take Gerald away.
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Why does this site remove posts critical of TTU and/or the failure that is Gerald Myers?
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GGG- I agree with you. I believe ML is the best coach and the best fit for Tech. If he leaves or is fired this week ( which I hope he is not) I want our All Knowing AD to at least do a legit search.
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At least at the end of the 2009 season everyone will have plenty of warning that Leach will be interviewing for ANY opening.
Why in the world Leach was unable to land a big time job after this past season is hard to understand, but maybe he just is one strange “dude” during interviews with his Somali pirate and surfing talk.
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Let see if the moderator has the honor to let the below remain or let’s see if the moderator is a sycophant hack for TTU.
The first step TTech must take if in fact it wishes to become more competitive for a BCS bid is to fire Gerald Myers and let Leach run the football program. What has Myers done without Leach that has not turned into a smoldering pile of failure?
Let us review some hard facts son.
Baseball? Once great, now failed under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
Women’s Basketball? Once great, now failed under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
Men’s Basketball? Never great but sometimes respectable, now failed under Myers’ reign of incompetence.
The issue today should not be whether TTech can find a better coach than Leach; rather, the issue must be whether TTech can find a better AD than Gerald Myers. I can opine w3ithout equivocation that TTU can find a better AD than Gerald Myers.
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Or maybe he really like Tech?
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Well I actually checked in to talk about moving of the Tech /Texas 09 football game.So first let me answer all this misdirection. We are experiencing the Peter Principle (it where you get right where you want to be and you blow it). Kids, its all about the money we don’t have and the money that UT doesn’t want to lose. Look ! Leach is on a National level and we the Red Raiders are almost there. The reason Myers and Hance are acting the way they are is because we don’t the money Mike might bring. And until Mike quits showing his hand to Stoops, learns to change his signals and snooker his master he is not going to get the really big money.So please everybody get off there high horses and settle.
Now for the solution. With the 2009 Tech/Texas game set for National TV the whole world will be watching. UT will not be able to count on the officiating to win the game for them after so many witnessing the two previous match ups. To be continued
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Tonto, you say he really like Tech?
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Dennis Franchione is a likely cndidate. He and Myers are buds.
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That’s not what we had in mind in 2007 when we were chanting “Keep Coach Fran” at the end of the Aggie game.
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I was saving money not adding the “s” Yes maybe Leach does really like Tech, but if true he would be wise to knock off the multi-million salary request. I am sure Hance would give him back the rights to his persona then! Maybe not GM, but Regents and Hance would give that. ;-)
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Mike or the higher ups moved the game for the money or they decided to roll the dice and not wait for 2010. Last year we ruined the Longhorns season just like 1967. But this time with all the big BCS money it hurt even worse. So if we can get back to business, get Taylor ready, get the linebackers making there drops when McCoy makes his and have them stay on their toes so they can come up and get him if he takes off. Here are the stakes and they are alot higher for Ut. The country sees us at a level near the mighty Longhorns. If we go in there with a rookie Qb and beat them with their Pistola McCoy we will surpass them for the first time like Virgina Tech has surpassed Virgina. If we don’t then there will be 2010. If we beat them and OU in 2010 we will be the top college football team in Texas. So please Mike without showing it, take the negotiations into your own hands and go with your gut. For more go to the football player section at http://www.trooperkeeton.com
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hey TECH AD: Leach can’t be hired anywhere because Myers is having him black-listed for having an agent (without getting Gerald’s permission first).
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I hear Myers may retire at the end of this next year…. perhaps, with a little luck, he will retire sooner. There is a Keepleach.com website, we should add a GiveMyersaLobotomy.com website, too. I will be glad to contribute to that one.
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ditto raiderfan !
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What a shame. It was fun while it lasted.
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If Tech loses Leach, they should follow in the footsteps made when the landing of all landings was made in bringing The Second Messiah, Bobby Knight to Lubbock. Such a person would be available. You only need to look for a high tempered, foul mouthed, cursing fruitcake, who has a child that will never be employable except for whatever can be arranged by dear old Dad, and who upon his departure spends hours and hours telling sports commentators he left Tech because he could not stand Lubbock, Texas. Go get him, Gerald!
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Could somebody in Lubbock create effigies of Kent Hance & Gerald Myers tonight? Bring them to the Keep Leach rally tomorrow and set them on fire. Burning effigies make for great TV.
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Or better yet we can roast marshmallows and let each marshmallow signify the number of brain cells Hance and Myers are currently using, that means we will only need to bring a total of 3
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This blog has rapidly deteriorated! Where have the semi-intelligent “red roaches” gone? This later group seems to be in the Leach court, but from what I am hearing on the streets of Big-D, you and your big mouths are in the minority – The muscle and money is siding with your administration. However, keep the “red roach” spirit alive and we look forward to kicking your roach butts this fall!
Gig’em
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I can’t imagine an Aggie even thinking about sports of any kind at their current level of participation.
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I hear toothless old Aggies are nice in bathhouses on any given Saturday. In Austin their fan club meets at Oil Can Harry’s to watch the game.
As for tomorrow’s Leach rally, any chance Hance uses his poilitical yank, spends some more taxpayer dollars to save his face and gets the president to call out Lubbock’s finest (hell perhaps even some DPS troopers and/or Cowboy hat wearin’ Texas Rangers) armored up that attempt to litter students with pepper spray that the West Texas wind blows away?
watchdog113 and Wizard, where and when is the rally for Hance and Myers?
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Seriously Aggie76, why are you even talking. Why do you step to the plate and play some football. With or without Leach, you will get the crap kicked out of your once proud football program….on a rebuilding year for Tech. And do you really think your funny? Seriously, “red roaches”? You are such a “maroon”. 4 more days until you need to go practice yelling, or what ever the hell you do for tradition in Hazard County/Aggie Ville. Get a life Ag.
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The really classic part of all this is three weeks before they plan to fire the coach who created all the excitement for Texas Tech football, they raise all season ticket prices & add several new sections to the personal seat license inventory (including my seats in section 119). No big deal, if the product on the field is what we saw this year. But with Leach gone, it’s going to be a disaster. A lot of people were looking for an excuse to cancel the higher priced season tickets. Now they have it. Jones will be a ghost town next year.
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Aggie is correct about the muscle & money siding with the administration.
The administration is bought & paid for by the Regents & money-grubbers.
We is weak & getting weaker.
That’s what made me jump on the Leach side.
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Nine of the most productive years in Tech football history. More bowl victories than any coach in Tech history. Three coach of the year awards. Highest attendance numbersTech history. National Game day in Lubbock. Two stadium expansions. The football program is in better condition than ever.
I am so sick of Kent Hance saying something as asinine as……if he wins a big 12 championship then we will take out the clause. We are realistic Tech alumni. We realize that he is on an uneven field when it comes to recruiting. Even so he tied for a Big 12 South championship. Whenever Kent Hance is willing to spend the money to pay a defensive coordinator and staff like UT and OU pay their staff then he can make that statement. I don’t even want to hear anybody say…well Tech doesn’t have the financial resources to do that. Of course we don’t…..but if you’re going to argue that he (Leach) is a failure because he hasn’t won a national championship then you can’t use that arguement. Leach does more with less than any coach in America.
Oh yeah….not only does he win and give us national exposure. He has the highest graduation rate. He has student athletes. So for all of you idiots who say he can’t win and needs to go then why don’t you look at the history of TT football and tell me anybody better.
Fire Myers and get Leach signed.
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ditto There in 76. I was there in 66.
Carlen was as good as Leach but they run him off before he could stay 1/2 the time.
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We can’t even sign our current coach to a contract, yet Texas has already signed their NEXT coach to a contract. SAD!!!
http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/9208566/Texas-regents-approve-Muschamp-contract
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Does Hance have his Austin law firm’s best interest in mind in demolishing TTech football? This law firm (representing and counseling clients in matters involving regulatory and public policy law) is inextricable intertwined with government power, a government seated alongside UT. Kent need to listen to his true master.
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It’s just funny to me how myers gave the Knight family watever they wanted and Larry hayes for years and they never produced half of wat Leach did, It seems to me that if they dont wanna give the only coach doing something his dues it seems all they want is to be mediocre!!!! we dont need myers and his freak shows and buddys coaching here nemore!!!
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Okay pay Leach 4 million a year. Sure that web site will get that much donated in 1 week from all y’all big spenders.
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Does Kent Hance have his Austin law firm’s best interest in mind in demolishing TTech football? This law firm (representing and counseling clients in matters involving regulatory and public policy law) is inextricably intertwined with government power, a government seated alongside UT. Kent need to listen to his true master.
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Bruce Feldman of ESPN put it best in an online chat:
Mike (Lubbock): Bruce, today apparently Tech’s AD Myers has refused to even respond to Leach’s counteroffer. What do you see happening here? What is your take on all of this? Am I crazy for being fuming angry at Tech’s administration over this garbage?
Bruce Feldman: The AD is the former basketball coach. I honestly think he’d be fine if the football team went 7-5 every year and he didn’t have to deal with any attention. Leach has brought a ton of attention to Lubbock. Heck, 60 Minutes did something there. Maybe it’s attention they might not all be comfortable with.
I don’t think Myers can handle having somebody 5 times as smart as him working for him. Which is easily fixed. Give Leach control of the football team & budget & change his reporting relationship. Have Leach report to the university president. Myers can run the rest of the athletic dept.
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bearman you must have drank too many beers, can’t even spell beer! Hayes was a great coach, had bad luck with players going pro early and a few drought years and with age and years stepped down. Knight’s a different story, how much are we paying Jr? It may be a great coach and worth it if the guy grows…let’s reserve judgment. I know we had a bad experience with “w” and that has soured the family thing…I still hope Leach signs and Tech drops the persona clause and lowers the pay accordingly.
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We all must remember, this is not about wins and losses, and for the Aggie moron that posted earlier, its not even about the fact that we kicked your tails 8 of the last 9 years, and it isn’t about graduation rates, national exposure or bowl games. Nope, this is about Myers’ personal vendetta against Leach, and the fact that he brought Hance into it. The fact that they won’t even come to the table to talk about 4 issues they put on without discussing them first, then giving a “sign or else” ultimatum proves they are not dealing in good faith.
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Hance & Myers are a lot dumber than I thought they were if they don’t see that destroying the football program will cost them their jobs & reputations. A lot of the alumni money that rolls into Texas Tech rolls in on the backs of a successful football program. Nothing else compares.
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One must remember Myers is the same hosehead that stopped all mail that Leach and his coaches tried to send out — to recruits, nonetheless — a couple of years ago because he was $5,000 over budget. Myers, i am writing webster’s dictionary to get them to change the meaning of your name to be moron, because you are a moron. Please retire. No need to wait either, retire now, before you do more damage to Tech.
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Is Kent Hance acting in TTech’s best interests?
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