One of the television stations in Tyler reported tonight that there is going to be a rally in Lubbock tomorrow in support of Coach Leach. Real or rumor???

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Its real. I hope it works. What i can’t understand, is how Myers can be so blatantly stupid. He presented an offer, with an ultimatum that presented what he wanted. Leach’s agents counteroffered, which meant that at least a dialogue had begun. So what does Myers do, he cuts it off at that. Myers knows the 4 items he had needed to be discussed at best, and truthfully were put in there to basically give Leach the finger, but in doing so, he did the same to the fans. We deserve both sides to sit down. Going into next year forcing our coach to enter the season without a contract is going to be devastating to the program in recruiting. Even Myers knows this, The problem is he doesn’t care. What is worse, is Hance, who knows better is just as guilty. No coach is stupid enough to ever sign a clause giving the University full rights to his name and likeness. Myers and Hance if you really think he should sign this, both of you need to have your heads examined. That should have never been put in there. The other clauses, as ridiculous as they are, were motivated by Leach’s agents, motivated by Myers babbling about if Leach wanted another job, he should go find one, shopping Leach around. I think, until it is shown that Leach won’t do this, that some of the language in those clauses are understandable. But we will never know because Myers is acting like a child and not wanting anybody to play with his ball. The Regents should get involved in this now, the fans deserve this, that includes, students, alumni, and all others who love Raider football. The reason you were able to raise our ticket prices, and increase the size of the stadium. and recently sign a multimillion dollar promotion package was because Leach built a program that people enjoy on a national level. Tech is being laughed at by the same national media that adored them during the football season. Myers, Hance, Leach, Regents, do something about this. Get to the table and get this done, salvage what we have left of our dignity.

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Despite what happens just rember that with the raised expectations and support of fans and alumni, we will continue to improve. Leach or no Leach our mindset must remain strong

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Is Kent Hance acting in TTech’s best interests?

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 inextricably intertwined with government power, a government seated alongside UT. Kent needs to listen to his true master.

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Redblack4ever,
It’s for real. It willl probably also result in Leach getting fired.

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As a business owner I have had people Leach working for me. Because they are good and they know it, they will push you to the limit and sometimes back themselves into a corner they cannot get out. I am confident the Regents are very well informed as to all that is going on, much more than anyone one else is. Leach needs to take a deep breath, maybe get a new agent or be his own agent and resolve this with Tech.
As good as he is at coaching, he is not all that good with the public, the Alumni and other things like this that the highest paid coaches have also mastered. Like it or not, that has to be factored into the equation by both parties.

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Coach Leach: “I worry about how I can make the team the best at the present”. Coach – I’m sorry but I don’t know if I can really believe that any longer. If you were truthfully grateful for all the opportunity Gerald Meyers did give you and for all the millions Red Raiders have given you, I think you would have swollowed a little pride several weeks ago and finished the deal. And, after all, if it is a five yr deal then why do freakin agents always want to “extend” after a 2nd or a 3rd yr? Seems as tho that is going against ” the deal”. If you had gone 3-9 pr 4-8 do you think we’d be firing you mid-term. Maybe but probably not. And if we did we’d certainly be paying for it. I think you kind of let your selfish agents back you into this corner and now it seems pride is involved. Hey, man, just remember that sometimes pride comes before the fall. So, be careful watch you wish for. You COULD lose another coach or two and that would be disastrous! I feel you have lost some perspective here. Remember – you are the boss – get in a room with Chance Hance and AD Meyers – just the three of you and get this done. Otherwise it is just another case of like the UAW helping to ruin Detroit. Snap out of it! Think of your family! Think of what you can accomplish in the BIG 12 that no other coach besides UT or OU has done! Like Chance Hance said – show us a Natl Champ and we will drop any buy out. In the mean time you preach there is not an “I” in the word team. I hope hope that includes coaches because they, too, are not bigger than the team.

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TTU Alumni Association called me today to remind me that my renewal had expired and asked if I wanted to renew it. I told them no.

I am ashamed of the way both sides are behaving. I have been involved in plenty of employee contract negotiations over the years and some at the very senior levels of management. I have never seen the level of discord like this one. Agents are agents and they will try to get the best deal for their clients. That is what they are paid to do. The administration has to rise above all the creative ways agents try to get more for their client.

The administration in my eyes has come across as a bunch of bush leaguers. By what I have read in the papers, Myers is coming across as very stubborn and it has become personal. It seems to me that he needs to be coached on how to deal with difficult people in difficult situations because he is failing miserably. It’s costing contributions to the university, at least mine, and is giving Tech unneeded publicity after one of the finest seasons in history.

Knowing what has been publicly printed, if I was a D-1 coaching candidate, I would not interview at Tech if given the opportunity so long as Myers is the AD. There are too many opportunities out there.

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ok raiderfan – I forgive you for your emotionalism. However, G Myers is only doing his job for this Univ and its alums We don’t need an immature coach with a wandering “PUBLIC” eye who says he can only go with what his agents tell him. Sounds like he may be the kind of guy that cannot make crunch time decisions when a game is on the line. Obviously he can’t seem to be his own man here. Maybe he could just defer to his wife.

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This whole thing is ridiculous, to be honest, i don’t think Myers, in and of himself has orchestrated any of this, he is just a patsy that because of his vendettas with Leach is making this whole thing possible. Hance, nor the regents ever expected to pay Leach or any coach, for that matter 12.7 million. They know that Myers is leaving soon, and that if this whole thing turns out bad, Hance can point the finger to Myers and say it was his fault, or that it was Leach’s fault or Leach’s agents. Those 4 items were put there in Leach’s contract because they knew he wouldnt sign the contract under those stipulations, nobody would. This is not about the coach thinking he is bigger than the University, this is about Administration wanting to save money and bring somebody in cheaper and hoping we are all dumb enough to believe they at least tried. Man up, Hance, and admit the truth. You are tearing down a team because you want somebody cheaper that will walk lockstep with you and drink your koolaid. But remember what happened to Jerry Jones when he did the same thing to the Cowboy organization. And look back at what happened to Texas A&M, Notre Dame and Michigan and heck, Nebraska for that matter. Myers isnt qualified to run Tech athletics, and Hance is definitely no John Montford, if we still had Montford as Chancellor, he would have never tolerated this mess. Now the nation is watching to see just how much pride and arrogance Hance has, and how we handle this entire fiasco. Because with or without Leach back, this mess will leave a scar on our reputation for a long time to come. And inasmuch as i agree that Leach is not bigger than the team. Hance and his cronies are not bigger than the University.

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Washington – Auburn – Tennessee – Miami…… they must be having a good laugh, but patting each other on the shoulders for not getting mixed up with Leach.

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Hey LiL buddy dude “sleepless in Plainview” . I know you are probably still depressed after the blow-up at Cotton Bowl, but it’s ok – get over it man – live goes on. Leave a comment and blow off some steam . Maybe you wil feel better. Sure hope ya didn’t work at the peanut factory.

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It amazes me how utterly downright nasty some of you “so called” fans are. Do anything just so our team wins…. Screw everything else…. Gosh, I hate that kind of attitude. No wonder the sports profession is in such a big crisis and salaries for sports figures are through the roof. First of all, Myers has done a great job of running the athletic department for many years now. We’ve had some great hires and wonderful expansion and he’s been a big part of it. Second, Hance is an incredible individual and certainly with as much or more political savy as Montford. Leach is a great coach, but I’m sick of him or his agents shopping him around and wanting a new contract ever stinkin year. What happened to living with what you sign on for? Where’s the honor? How much money does Leach or anyone need anyway. We’re not Oklahoma or Texas or Nebraska. Until this year Leach has had us no higher in the conference than Spike did year after year. Go with the contract that’s in existence and let’s move on.

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The Raiders have a lot of fans and supporters that are divided because of everything surrounding this contract. All they want is to support the team they love. Leach has issues that need to be resolved with his agents and his wandering eye, and Tech’s administration (Hance, Myers, etc.) have issues with Leach’s loyalty. It seems that the two sides should be able to negotiate, with both sides understanding the other has strengths and weaknesses in their arguments, and come to a viable deal before things get any worse than they are now. For the good of the program they need to. Neither side has been acting on behalf of the greater good for the University. We as fans deserve closure. We should be able to expect our administration would sit at the table, and we should be able to expect Leach, if he indeed wants to be here, to be willing to give a little on the loyalty conditions. Right now the only thing it seems that is totally unreasonable is the administration expecting Leach to give up all rights to his name and likeness. But, it appears as if that is in there to send a message. Both sides should sit down and hash out an agreement. Going into this next year with a coach with two years left on his contract will only prolong this agonizing process. Firing Leach without any real negotiating will be devastating to the university, and will divide a fan base that believes more should have been done by both sides to effectuate a deal. The best case scenario is that both sides sit down, and agree to give and take. Then hold a press conference and publicly kiss and make up. Also when it is all over, Leach needs to remember that the Raider faithful deserve a coach who is loyal, and quit jumping on a plane every time somebody waves a coaching opportunity flag in the air. Wreck ‘em Tech, but don’t get wrecked.

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I hope that the win at all costs mentality will be put to death quickly. Look what that did to SMU. We ARE better than that! Strive for honor evermore…

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Ok guys here’s how I see it. Tech had the best season I have ever seen in my years of life. Now why would Tech want to fire the coach? I agree with the other people. The AD wants somebody cheaper. I personally believe that if you want a great football program you need a great coach, Leach has proven himself time and time again with last year’s season am I right?

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Wise words scripted above by alsoraiderfan. The formula for a consistent top tier footbal program is more than one 11-2 year.

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If money (annual salary) is no longer an issue then it must be about power? So, let’s see? What other Tech football coach has had the team at #2 in the nation, appearing on Prime Time Television, to which brought ESPN college game day show to town? Now throw in an increase home attendance, a good graduation rate, and bowl games each year, plus an excited fan base, funding for stadium upgrades and you get what? An administration (or administrator) that feels they need to stop all this? Hey McFly, Coach Leach is and has been your stimulus/bailout package all in one!

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Let me think, would Gerald Myers or Kent Hance have ever thought for one second they could control the use of BOBBY KNIGHT’S NAME??

I DON’T THINK SO! Get off your high horse and do what’s right for Tech, not your image!

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Myers will save a buck and everyone will be happy, eventually.

The bigger they are, the more they’re el cheapo. CONSERVATIVE is the word.

Goodbye Mike Leach. It was great to have you. Most of us regular people liked you a lot. This university just wants cheap talent (only).

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I think you’re way off base “raiderfan”. Regardless of what you say, Tech’s administration is highly qualified. Myers will always be a convenient target and fall guy for those who will support Leach no matter what he says or does. It’s interesting how you criticize the Regents, Hance and Myers but see zero fault or imperfections with Leach. Since you think so highly of Leach you should thank Myers for hiring him in the first place. That said, you lost total credibility when you started criticizing Hance. Tech is very fortunate to have Hance.

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MYERS IS LOOKING FOR A BARGAIN BASEMENT REPLACEMENT.

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I am embarrassed to be a Tech grad. Why do other universities have no problem extending a successful coach’s contract? I was at Tech when we were 1-9 and the only team we beat was a 1-9 Colorado. I am afraid that is where we are headed. You will have a nice renovated stadium that will hold 60,000 with only 25,000 attending. Your Red Raider Club contributions will decline. What else can Mike Leach do? He has the highest graduation rate among public colleges in America. We have just had the most sucessful year ever, attendance is at an all time high, and we have had the most positive national attention ever. I am greatly disappointed in the Tech administration. You are committing athletic suicide.

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melvin block – you have rambled on these recent contract threads more than anyone it seems. By blasting Conservatives in your last comment (totally from left field), you herby get my vote for the Least Credible Thread Contributor.

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If this ends up in a law suit, depositions are gonna be very interesting and we’ll be astonished when we read in the depositions how far back the problems go, both sides. When the crap hits the fan, it’ll splash over a lot of people.

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Myers should look at the tech BB (mens) and womens to see how good he has done in those areas. Mike Leach is a great coach and Myers is about to lose a great football program. TT BB is a joke in the Big 12. Our football program is not. Remember when Myers got mad at Leach over using too many stamps? Myres is so upset that M. Leach is liked more than him that he can’t stand it. I say get rid of Myers and you have gotten rid of the problem.

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Well, today there is a rally at Tech in support of Leach, then later is the end of the deadline imposed by Tech on Leach. This will be an interesting day. The number of people who show up for the rally should be a message to both Leach and the Tech bosses as a scale for how much support Leach has. Whatever happens, though, this is where the rubber meets the road. My only hope in this entire ordeal is that both sides, Leach and his agents, and Myers, Hance and the administration, all consider what is best for the University and the fans. Because it seems as if that is the only side not represented here. And both sides need to remember, that until this ordeal is solved, the fans are the losers in all of it.

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This reminds me of what IMG did for me.

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http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com:80/football/news/2003

Copy this link or click on my name and read the story, it sounds like history is repeating itself.

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I agree I think that Myers and Hance want a guy like Bobby Knight that give this salary to the library and then sales auto part and dog food for a living. I do not think Leach is made up that way, and he is a different stage in life than Knight was. Leach has younger kids and probably would like to spend some time with his family when he is not coaching. Knight was at the end of his career and was coaching just to give the finger to Indiana. I understand that the administration wants Leach to spend more time with the deep pockets, but again I think between recruiting and getting his team prepared I do not blame him for not wanting him to go on the barbecue tour. If these guys are so important ask them how they like bragging about their team to a business associate in New York because Tech is on ESPN rather than the associate saying “Texas Who”. I do not know about any of you, but enjoyed looking everyday last year and seeing a story about the Red Raiders on ESPN, Fox Sports Etc. Right now we are making headlines, but it is because we are about to make a historically stupid move and become the laughing stock of the nation. Leach does more with less, and as much as I hate to say it we are not going to get the recruits that Texas and OU are going to get, and unfortunately they are in our back yard. However, I think we have passed up A&M and that has a lot to do with Leach. The fact that Hance would have the nerve to make a public comment about the other coaches winning national championships and Tech not shows how much he does not know. We need to get this contract in place before this summer. This is what all the other schools will use to steal our recruits (including A&M). Unlike other people on this site I do think Myers has done alot for the University over the years. Unfortunately if he allows this thing to linger on this will be his legacy the AD that lost Leach. He may get a nice plaque on the campus, but the alumni will always remember that he was guy who let Leach go when we were so close to making a huge step forward

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If Leach walks, Myers should too. He got this job by default, not because he deserved it. Leach has earned his job, and the contract that goes with it. If Leach walks, you might as well cancel the stadium expansion. We won’t need it. Fire Myers!

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Getting rid of Mike, would be Tech’s biggest mistake, there was not a claus at 5yr/12.1million, why add 4 clauses at 5yr/12.7, unless your trying to get rid of him. And the people that say ” they do not care if he stays or leave’s town”, will be the one’s crying about not having a winning program!

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IMG what a racket…

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meyers has got to go PERIOD………….TECH needs a better image than that grumpy a$$ Myers.. I have played behind him at the Lakeridge CC and he is slooooooowwwwwww and could give a rats who he holds up. I’m out of town or would be at the Rally with my Utmost Support and Gratitude for Coach Leach just as the rest of the city should, What a disingenuous way to Honor a Coach coming off the Best Football Season in Tech’s History. HANCE AND THE REGENTS CAN GO WITH MYERS. ESPECIALLY THAT SOWELL POS.

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Is either side considering the impact this has on the recruitment for our team? Lubbock, as we all know, is not the easiest place to recruit young kids to come spend the next four years of their lives. For someone who is actually considering Tech football, how does this ridiculous (public) arguing reflect on our team stability? If their main draw is Leach’s wide-open offense or overall coaching mentality, how can they now be sure that Leach will be there for their 4-5 years of football? This could have hurt the recruitment this year as well as those in the future. I think both sides probably have valid arguments. However, these things should never be made so public. We finally get decent momentum in the football program and now this?! Use your heads, guys.

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Does anyone see the irony here? Wasn’t Gerald Myers the recipient of a 5-yr contract at the end of his basketball coaching career and subsequently “let go” where the university paid THAT bill? I think you have the pot calling the kettle black.

I agree with the above comment that Myers is a grumpy, old man as I too have played golf with the man. People often complain about Leach’s people skills, but compared to black hole of Gerald Myers, Coach Leach is a bright, shining star.

It is peculiar to me that there is all this focus on Coach Leach and none on Myers’ performance as Tech’s AD. If you look at the floundering men’s AND women’s basketball programs and the difficulty Myers appears to be having with Leach, there is a single common denominator in that equation–Gerald Myers. If anyone needs walking papers, it is old man Myers. He is out of touch with the program, the fans, and the community at large.

Seriously, does ANYONE think the Tech-Baylor game being moved to Dallas was a good idea? I rest my case.

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A pirate is just a thief.

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IMG are jerks. Meyers And Hance have crawled into the gutter with IMG. This situation has become futile. Meyers needs to step up nad be the better man. Respond to IMG with a fair deal, take out the ridiculous clauses and sign the winningest coach in Tech history. To not re-sign Leach will destroy Tech football for years.

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Meyers, Hance, Board of regeants are dinosaurs. They do not understand today’s college football market. IT has changed drasticley since the days of Spike Dykes. Coach Meyers please don’t catapult Tech football back 10 years.

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Its not about money for Mike Leach. Its about validation.

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@The Thinker
“If Leach walks, Myers should too. He got this job by default, not because he deserved it. Leach has earned his job, and the contract that goes with it. If Leach walks, you might as well cancel the stadium expansion. We won’t need it. Fire Myers!”

I totally agree with this comment above…written by The Thinker. I also can’t help but wonder why Leach thinks he needs an ”agent” anyway! Is he not smart enough to take care of this kind of business himself? Has Tech’s coaches always had their own agents? After all, Leach isn’t a movie actor. Maybe this is where it’s all headed…Leach is hoping this fiasco will be made into a TV movie, then he’ll already have his “agent” in place without having to look for one!! I really think that Leach, Hance & Myers should sit down today behind closed doors, without Leach’s ’sidekick’ agent there, and get this deal worked out…once and for all. This has gone on way too long! I know if I was younger & wanting to play football at Tech, this mess would sure make me think twice. I’d more than likely go elsewhere! I also agree that Tech’s AD should be kicked to the curb and told to “hit the highway!” I can’t stand Myers or his sourpuss attitude. Tech would be way better off in the long run if he wasn’t a part of it.

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I would suggest that both sides let today pass, keep their mouths shut for a while, and come out in a month or two and announce a new agreement. There is no need for all of this to occur in public.

From Tech’s standpoint, there really is little to gain at this point, and a lot to lose. I remember the days of playing New Mexico, Baylor, or some other alsoran and having the stadium half full with very few if any games televised. A return to those days, with a slow economy, stadium expansion, and higher ticket prices could be a disaster.

If the administration botches this, maybe they could go a different route to keep the football program competitive at a cheaper price, like trying to get us in the Sun Belt Conference. If we are going to compete with the big boys, we had better be prepared to pay for it. At least with football under Leach, we are bringing in enough money to justify it.

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It doesnt matter what side you take…the whole thing is embarrassing. It is bad for the school, for the community, for the players and the fans. What a mess!

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As a long time Tech supporter, I have constantly fought the common belief that Lubbock is a backwater town and Tech is a second-rate school, especially in athletics. We finally get a coach that can win with the talent Tech draws but the administration showed that they are still second rate.

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I think having an agent is supposed to keep these things from getting personal. Not sure if it’s working here because the agents seem to be very poor at what they do.

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FIRE GERALD MYERS IF THEIS CONTRACT IS NOT SIGNED, THIS SHOULD NOT OF EVEN GOT TO THIS POINT THE WORST ATHLETIC DIRECTOR EVER

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Those of you saying these things supporting Coach Leach so blindly do not know the facts. Read this — http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=188&f=1650&t=3942300

Then come back and post another message. It documents Coach Leach’s job searches for the last five years. It documents lies and/or distortions by Coach Leach and his agents. It shows what happened when. What it doesn’t show is how many times Coach Myers spoke to Coach Leach about the problems caused by his annual job hunts.

This is about money. Coach Leach wants to leave and wants MILLIONS if Tech fires him. It is also about respect, loyalty, and attitude.

If you want a REALLY GOOD insight as to what’s goling on, read this bulletin board — http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=188&f=1650

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Pa don’t think you can get any more personal or open mess in the public than what we have now. Leach should have fired these bozos long time ago! They might just have cost him his job in their high risk stupidity.

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Hit the road Mike and then ask IMG how they intend to replace $12.7 million big ones to your family asap. At the end of the day this has all become about IMG and THEIR GREED” !!!!! No matter what they try to tell ya – no matter what a pep rally of couple thousand people purports to say – no matter what we see or hear now we realize it really it just about the money.

People!! If this guy says $13 mil over 5 yrs ain’t enough and we ain’t got no BIG 12 Trophy or even a BCS trophy wake up!!!!! This freakin pirate has you thinking you are about to sail over the edge of the earth. Wake up!!!!!! The earth really is round! Other coaches can come in here (yes! I do like Art Briles, too!!!!) and do better than the pirate. You bunch of whinny fraidy cats. It’s gonna be a new day for Raiderland. Growing pains are sometimes not fun, but our institution and TEAM (no “I” )will survive and strive on.

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That was my point.

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They aren’t arguing about the money.

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Leach brought this on himself by looking at other universities almost every year he has been at Tech. He has embarrassed our administration & our university with his “philandering”.

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The only reason Gerald Myers is the Athletics Director at Texas Tech is because Marsha Sharp, James Dickey, Spike Dykes and Larry Hays did not want Steve Locke or Bob Sweazy getting the job.
If you all remember, there was a man from Minnesota that was hired for the job, his wife made a visit to Lubbock and she told him if he took the job, he would be living alone in Lubbock, so he declined and that’s how Gerald Myers got the job.
Then slowly one by one he got rid of the people that put him in the AD position.
Gerald Myers can not be trusted with the power of handling big decisions, this one (Coach Leach’s contract deal) is just one of many blunders that have happened since his promotion.
The Bobby Knight fiascos, hiring his son, losing Dr. David Smith because of Knight, firing James Dickey to get Knight, releasing Marsha Sharp because she knew too much about Bobby Knight’s NCAA rule problems, those are just a few.
Before Gerald was promoted to the AD job, he was kinda the safety coordinator for the athletics department, sending out memos, making sure employees didn’t staple their fingers together or eat white-out during working hours and making sure no one parked in the wrong parking space in the parking lot.
That’s the guy that is holding the future of Texas Tech football in his hands, if they do get rid of Coach Leach, Art Briles would be a great fit for Tech but only if Gerald Myers is gone.

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How can anyone with an attitude like Meyer’s be tolerated. He needs to move on. What a self centered grump. Leach needs to decide if he wants to be at Tech or not. If he does, then compromise on the buyout and stop looking at every job that comes up. Leach, show some loyalty to the school that is making you a rich man!

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I have been a lifelong Tech fan and went to school here in the 80’s.

I used to admire Gerald Myers until this debacle. Does anyone think that the new construction on the east side of the stadium and the accompanying financing was due to Myers??? HELL NO!

It was because of Leach’s success! Maybe Myers is a closeted Longhorn fan.

I think that he should step down.

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The one thing that leaves me truly disappointed in this whole mess is that this should have been an offseason of enjoying the past year and looking forward to a great recruting class getting to campus. Instead, we’ve been treated to a soap opera where each side is trying hard to be the most childish.

However this works out, we should at least learn from our mistakes. This should have all been taken care of before last season.

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Has the rally been advertised ( alot of people know about it) or is it just word of mouth. I hadnt heard anything about it till now.

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I think Myers is much like the moderator of this board, asleep on the job.

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I am the hugest Tech football fan and most anyone who knows me will attest to that but I refuse to go to a rally to support a coach who looks for a “better opportunity” at the end of every season. Leach has done a lot for the program and for the university and it would be sad to see him go. Sure, we had a GREAT season and I have never been more proud to call myself a RED RAIDER, but I want a coach who wants to be here whole-heartedly. Leach has never been enamoured with Texas Tech and Lubbock, he has always been up front about that. That’s fine, to each his own, but we deserve better and more. I’m disappointed that fans want to throw Myers under the bus for this. He is doing his job by looking out for the program and the school. You can’t let people run around and make demands simply because of a winning season. Yes, I realize each season has been a winning season which is why he has an existing contract. Now we are screwed…how are we going to get someone else in here if Leach does go? There aren’t a whole lot of choices left. Why can’t people see past the ‘W’ column and look at the bigger picture?

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Fire Gerald Meyers and give Leach his parking spot

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Am I on

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Lubbock boy living in Austin and feel very embarrassed! It’s a lot to deal with living amongst all these UT fans and this isn’t making it any easier. After living here for several years and seeing how UT does it, I have to say TT has a long way to go. We are a laughing stock to these blue bloods down here and I must say I kind of agree. This is a joke and it doesn’t seem to be getting any better. We look bush league and second rate. Leach has done more for the program that any other coach in TT history. All the people that say there’s more to it than winning should have there head examined. It’s all about winning! That’s why you have stadium expansion, recruits you shouldn’t get and ESPN in your home town. I don’t see going 8-4 year in year out doing it for us. For all of you defending Meyers, take a look at the rest of the athletics at TT, nuff said. I’m not saying Leach is with out any fault but if I were still in the LBK, I would be at that rally!

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Local News: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oss1GFTUo1Y

Campus Newspaper:

http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2009/02/17/Sports/Tech-Students.Organize.Rally.In.Support.Of.Mike.Leach-3633045.shtml

ESPN.com:
http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3911451&name=feldman_bruce&action=upsell&appRedirect=http%3a%2f%2finsider.espn.go.com%2fespn%2fblog%2findex%3fentryID%3d3911451%26name%3dfeldman_bruce

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Myers has failed Tech and should be fired. The responsibility for contract renewal is his. He has failed and damaged Tech’s public image.

Other than football and track, Tech’s athletic department is a JOKE!

Yes, more funds are entering the department but that is due to the success of Tech football which drives the big bucks!

It is a disgrace that Tech did not leverage the 2008 season into a fantastic story for the school and athletic department.

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So what if half of the student body shows up; they probably think there’s going to be free beer & pizza. Any time more than 4-5 college kids show up for anything, they’re sure something is going to be given away free!!

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Let’s see now; Wales for rugby, Daytona to watch cars go around in circles, luxury box to watch from, while on the home front!? I think my job future would be more important than that. Let Leach go and hire the agents!!

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FIRE MYERS, NOW !!!!!!

That bum has led both basketball programs into the toilet, and not satisfied with those disasters appears determined to wipe out the progress MIKE LEACH has made in moving Tech toward the upper tier of college football. Did any other team have 3 consecutive games on its sked broadcast in prime time last season?

Both basketball programs have become dismal on Myer’s watch. Now, he’s going for the “triple crown’ by destroying football.

Myers is making Tech athletics an after thought. New title for Myers: Mis-director of Athletics.

Will someone, anyone, show some intelligence and “gumption” and FIRE MYERS NOW?

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I will be there to show support to Leach. I hope that Myers steps down because if we lose Leach they might as well pull Lee Lewis off the expansion as those seats will be empty. Yes someone else can come in and coach for Tech but when is the last time Tech had such a great season? Honestly I can’t remember the last time. Myers I sure hope you know what you are in for. Its not just the student body that is behind Coach Leach!

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It’s a shame when “agents” and “officials” get in the way of what people want. Leach has said he likes Lubbock and is excited about our team. We, the citizens” like Leach and want him to stay. Why is it that these “others’ are trying to decide for him. If I wanted to stay at a job that I liked and was good at, I think it should be up to me. If Lubbock and Tech want Leach to stay talk to HIM and let him make his decisioin. I would not want anyone to tell me where I have to live and what job can take or not. But, let’s give Leach what he deserves, too. Mr.Leach, I hope you stay and we want you to, but it is really up to you, I t hink. I don’t want anyone telling me what I have to do. Only my opinion

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In response to: Gus Mitchem on February 17th, 2009 12:02 am Despite what happens just rember that with the raised expectations and support of fans and alumni, we will continue to improve. Leach or no Leach our mindset must remain strong

Yea, sure. I’ll bet everyone at A&M will agree wiith you.

No matter what anyone says, the truth is that no orqanization can function effectively with such animosity within. This has become the most disfunctional athletic department in the country. Someone has to go and they need to go now.

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Leach interviews at one school after myers tells them he understands if the agents look at other opportunities since Tech was not going to look at an extension. Even though Leach’s name has been connected with a few vacancies it is like he said .. it is better to have your name mentioned as a candidate for a job then be mentioned to be on the list to be fired. I truly think that Mike likes Tech and Lubbock and really has seen himself as being there a long time. In a former life I negotiated employment contracts from time to time and When I read the provisions Tech has inserted into the contract I feel Tech knows he will not sign. I don’t blame him.

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I am on the fence about this. There is plenty of blame to go around.

1. It is clear Gerald Myers is out of his league with the AD job and he does need to be replaced soon. I feel this way based on the state of most of our athletic programs and on his awful handling of these negotiations, however they turn out.

2. Coach Leach certainly hasn’t helped himself with his agents and with the fact that his name comes up for every single job that opens up. I really feel his silence and his trip to Seattle probably cost us some recruits after the stellar year we just had.

I think we’ll definitely take a step backwards if Leach leaves / the contract doesn’t get done. But I do not see us breaking thru to the Big 12 elite [a conference title berth or title] anytime soon even if he stays. The recruiting advantage between Tech and schools like OU and UT is just too big. To that end, I feel our recruiting class is on par with everyone else’s this year. It’s not so bad to just be behind two massive sports schools like OU and UT and their endless budgets.

And here’s the real question that no one here seems to consider: What if we work out a deal with Leach and he still keeps looking and interviewing for other jobs? I’m not saying he will, but no one here can say he won’t. When do we say enough is enough? If we agree to the contract the way Leach’s agents have just submitted it that is a possibility. Five more years of people from every mid-level program thinking they can have our coach for the right price.

Like I said, there is plenty of blame to go around. If this deal doesn’t get done, I fear both sides will lose. I hope they can work this out.

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old man, than why won’t leach sign a contract with a buyout? Its obvious he wants to leave after next season

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Kirk Ferentz at Iowa just got a 7 year extension at $2.8 million per season, his record in 10 years is 70-53!!!!! Meyers is a chump!!!!

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3902684

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Scarlet & Black on February 17th, 2009 11:46 am FIRE MYERS, NOW !!!!!!

100% CORRECT. How many times has Tech been in violation of some NCAA rules? PLENTY. Has myers ever taken a hit? NEVER. Bobby Knight? JOKE, but good friend of Myers. kent hance? Never had a real world job, always lived off of taxpayers.

Biggest insult to both myers and hance, “All hat, no cattle. “

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Big dog you are so clueless, Hance runs a major law firm, how is that living off the tax payers. Hance is actually going to get Tech tier 1 funding, which totally changes the ball game, Hance got a 50 million dollar endowment to Tech last month for the engineering school, all you people taking shots better wise up.

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Won-Lost records for Tech teams most current season

Baseball 25-30
Softball 23-36
Soccer 8-10-1
Volleyball 5-26
Tennis 12-13
Mens BB 12-13
Womens BB 14-10
Football 11-2

I’m sorry Myers but I only see one successful program under your guidance. Sadly its the one you are on the verge of destroying.

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johnson, the only person that better wise is Gerald Myers. Tech wasnt know very well before and if Leach leaves tech will fall off the college football map. Not very many people knew where Lubbock, TX was until that awesome last second tech winner against earlier this season. That mostly because of the offense that leach brought to Texas Tech. Lubbock, TX and Texas Tech will be an after-thought if he leaves.

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Leach, let him go if he’s not happy. I remember being upset when Spike left.

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I think Myers has 3 issues here:
1) The job has outgrown him and his “goodoldboy” sytle
2) He has an issue with Leach having agents and the fact he hired agents in the first place
3) He is jealous of Leach and the publicity Leach gets, and wants alot of the credit.

If he had done his job, this would have NEVER gotten this far with the media. They should have worked this out long ago.
This is a slap in the face to all of us hungry fans and really makes me ill.

I went to both the Ag game and OSU games this year. It was unbelievable how much excitement was in the air in Lubbock before and after that game. I’m glad I went, ’cause things are unfortunately headed back to mediocrty in the next few years. Just look at the Ags. They would DIE for a Mike Leach, so they could run up the score on TT every year!

Work it out, men!!!

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Josh, Tech has 32 bowl appearances, they will be fine without Leach, Tech will always be a Texas state major university, so it will always be able to recruit Texas talent, even if its after UT it still is top talent because there are so many highschool that pump out players.

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No one is going to be fired, especially Myers. He is as much a part of Tech history as is anyone. While I disagree with the way this contract negotiations have been handeled, I feel more hurt as a Tech fan than anything. I grew up in Lubbock, attended many football games, from the times that E.J. Holub roamed the field, to the year I moved to Austin in 1983. There have been many ups and downs in the program. However, it has never before sustained a higher level of play, year in and year out, with such excitement, as this team coached by Mike Leach. I am sure that should he leave, we may not see such heights reached by the team for several years, at least. It just takes time to reprogram a team and obtain the desired results. Even Mike Leach coached teams have not attained the level of desired play-no titles of any kind-but it has won a majority of bowl games, something never before done at Tech. I do hope this stalemate will be resolved and Tech will continue to improve, winning several titles-Big 12 or national- over the next couple of decades. For this to happen, all parties must open their eyes and remove the blinders to see the larger picture. This can work out for everyone, if they will only shut up and listen-not an easy task, but necessary. GO TECH!

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Those of you considering the rally today should be aware that the event has been planned by the public relations consultant that Mike Leach hired to coordinate it. That’s right, Mike Leach hired somebody to hold a rally to show support for him.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texastech/stories/021709dnspotechleach.2b9c5a5.html

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Hey johnson, do you work for Myers/Hance. Sure, we can get another coach, but we can sure get another AD!

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Johnson, Tech has gone to 32 bowl games but before leach they were 5-17 in the games they were just there to get beat down

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Well johnson before the leach era, Tech only won 5 total bowl appearances. Leach alone has lead Tech to 5 bowl appearance wins. So saying that is Tech really better off without Leach.

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Well johnson before the leach era, Tech only won 5 total bowl appearances. Leach alone has lead Tech to 5 bowl appearance wins. So saying that is Tech really better off without Leach.

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And don’t get me wrong, Leach has made some mistakes. He didn’t have a tight enough handle on his players at OU or the Cotton Bowl. I know, I’m an Uncle to one of the players.

ANd Hance, I’ve given money to Tech. I have a picture of Hance, Bush, and myself. BIG DEAL. His job is to raise money. How much can he raise this year?? RIght now not much, after Leach leaves, zero.

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Just give us a coach that’s wants to be here. Every year it seem that someone is talking about Leach leaving. Well, if he doesn’t want be in Lubbock, I’ll help him pack. Don’t ge me wrong, I love having a winning team but at what cost. Give me someone that want run out on us.

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I honestly think that if leach didnt want to be in Lubbock he wouldnt be turning down interviews.

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Hey, do ya’ll think we can get the governor to appoint a woman to the Tech Board of Regents? Someone who’ll have more “brass” in her make up than anyone currently on the Board, and who’ll step in and say -

FIRE MYERS, NOW!!!!!

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There seems to be a lot of emotion behind this topic, as it has taken forever to read only half of these posts. It is odd that the school added those extra 4 clauses into the contract talks with Leach, yes. And they had to know that he would say no to it. Now, the reason i though that tech added those 4 clauses is because they wanted a good bargaining position with Leach. They would originally put in a contract above with more stipulations than they knew Leach would approve of so that they could compromise with him later where they would actually want the contract to be. Now it just seems like noone in this argument wants to compromise at all. I will admit that the school wanting the rights to Leach’s name is ridiculous, but i just thought they stuck that in there so they could get Leach to say “ok, take out that clause, and i’ll let you keep the ‘pay only $500,000 to leave’ clause in” or the clause that says that Leach has to tell the school he’s visiting another school. I never thought that they were actually serious about that clause. I will admit that they Leach having to get the school’s permission to visit another school is a stretch, but if it was just Leach having to inform Tech that he was visiting with another school, that would make more sense. The $500,000/yr for leach to leave the school is a stretch too, Tech should make it just a flat 1mill or something, JUST TRY TO COMPROMISE!!!

It’s true that Leach can be replaced, but think of how much he has done for this school. Because of him, Tech has the under armor contract, tech expanded the jones, Lubbock has the biggest tourism weekend ever, and tech football has prospered under him, gaining national attention. I will admit though, Leach shot himself in the foot with how the end of the season turned out. He would have had a much better bargaining position if we would have at least beat Ole Miss, or played decently against OU, or both. If tech wants a good football program it needs a good coach, and good coaches cost money. They cost money because other schools will pay them more than you in order to have a good coach. Leach already has his system setup here, he already has all the fans he needs, and a place to call home, just give him his contract.

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Thoughts Regarding the Leach – Texas Tech Contract Dispute
By Glenn Dippel, Texas Tech class of ’61

February 17, 2009

I’ve been reading the newspaper coverage of the Mike Leach – Texas Tech contract dispute and the attendant blogs in the AJ. A few thoughts:

First, we should all recognize that loyalties to Texas Tech, of necessity, must be and will always be different among the parties-of-interest. The “loyalty” of the head coach will always be modified by the convergence of his (or her) won/lost record when matched against the hopes and expectations of the alumnifansupporter base. Then there is the university itself represented by Kent Hance and Gerald Myers.

The head coach, in an environment of major college athletics, must ever be attentive to the hopes and expectations of the alumnifansupporter base and certainly one of his (or her) primary objectives is personal financial security. Viewed through this prism much of Mike Leach’s conduct is both normal and understandable. Well, mostly. However, his conduct is causing raised eyebrows among many of the alumnifansupporter base. The university can be compared to raising sheep……..‘You can shear them regularly, but you can only kill and eat them once.’

Then there is the university itself in the persons of Kent Hance and Gerald Myers. My infrequent acquaintanceship with both of these men goes back decades and I can state without equivocation that they are doing their very best to be good stewards of Texas Tech. They are not stupid, malicious, immature, or mean-spirited as many of the AJ bloggers declare and, in the absence of any palpable evidence, such character assassination attributions should cease!

Finally, there is the Texas Tech alumnifansupporter base. Collectively, at the collegiate level, this base is easily the best in the nation. Our hopes and expectations are realistic and we recognize that Texas Tech’s improvement(s) in athletics is a process and not an event and, accordingly, we are both supportive and patient. I suspect that Mike Leach does not fully appreciate just how good is his Texas Tech situation because of our alumnifansupporter base. If he prefers to defect to one of the What-Have-You-Done-For-Us-Lately universities such as Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Alabama, Ohio State, Nebraska, or Miami (to name a few) he is free to do so, but he would be well advised to keep a realtor and a moving company on speed-dial. Other coaches have used Texas Tech as a rung on that ascent ladder. The names Jim Carlen, Steve Sloan, Rex Dockery, Jerry Moore, David McWilliams come to mind. The green grass that they saw from the South Plains turned out to be green spray paint.

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To: johnson on February 17th, 2009 12:34 pm
“Big dog you are so clueless, Hance runs a major law firm . . . .”

What is the name of that “major law firm”? What is his title, leading you to think he “runs” the firm? The only thing in his State Bar listing is “Office Of The Chancellor”. Is he a part time chancellor? Is he a part time leader of that “major” law firm?

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Hire Art Briles from Baylor!

Its simple….Tech is like the rest of us….who work on a monthly budget to survive. Leach and his attorney’s want us to forget about the budget and spend freely.

Guess what, there is no bailout package for Athletic Departments. Hang in there Tech Admin. One football coach doesn’t run the department.

This must suck for all of his assistants and players. I wonder if Leach’s attorney’s are thinking of them?

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If the four sticking points in the new contract can be tempered, Leach’s remaining is in the best interest of all of us – TTU, the alumni, and all the supporters. He has done some great things for Tech, and Tech has been a stepping stone for him – but the pirate shot himself in the foot and lost his strong negotiation leverage with his dismal coaching in the last three games and the surprise “Washington Interview” last fall. It appears to me the unconstrained-privileged-rebel pirate, who captured many foreign vessels during his tenure, has lost the blessing of the king – and we know who owns the gold even though we may, or may not, like it. He either bows to the king or he walks the plank week. If he walks the plank, he can survive and freely sail his ship to open waters. Bon voyage Captin Leach!

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HOLD FAST LEACH! Don’t you dare sign that contract. If we have to lose you than so be it. What (mushmouth) Myers will be getting rid of is not only a tremendous coach but someone who wants to be here. No matter what has happened. If Leach (looked) around to wake up Myers well I can see that mentality.I am only one person,but my 10 seats,my application for club seats and my five figure (contibution) is in the trash.I refuse to support Myers and Hance.And don’t tell me my money does not support them because it still does.I wonder what responce Myers will get when he is down on the field next season for any reason?I can see a sea of BLACK shirts that simply say-MYERS-IDIOT! So the hours tick down for me too.

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When all the donations dry up after they let Leach go, they better not dare blame it on the economy. Mike Leach football has generated enough donations to build the east side & Mike Leach leaving will cause a lot of those pledges to be cancelled. Not to mention cancelled season tickets. Next year won’t be pretty if they go through with this.

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RaiderP I sent an e-mail to Hance & Myers yesterday telling them the same thing about my Red Raider Club donations & season tickets. If Leach leaves, the university will never see another dime of mine. You should do the same.

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Hard to believe that Leech (sic) had to hire someone to hold a rally to tell people how much he is loved. Like someone above said, wonder if there was free pizza & beer? Not too much of a stretch if you have to hire someone to hold a “spur of the moment” love-in!

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Johnson, I don’t think the buy out is the main sticking point. I think that when these items were put in Tech never ment to negotiate them. FYI to all the following big 12 head coaches make more than Leach and I included their w-l %. Idid leave out OU and UT who are own a different level.
Baylor – Briles .548
Gundy – OSU ,486
Magan – Kansas .507
Pinkel- missou .570

Leach- TT .660

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Where’s sour-puss & baldie’s rally love-in?

Invitation-only Lubbock Club suit & tie affair?

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If Tech fires Leach, Leach gets to walk away with a cool $1.5 million. He takes a year off and gets another job with a different school. Let’s be honest, schools at the same level of Tech are a dime a dozen. He won’t be too sad if Tech runs him off. The football program (and consequentially, the entire athletic program) will be hurt badly though. Looks like Tech has picked its poison

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Gerald Myers – The Kurt Cobain of athletic directors. He has the shotgun in his mouth & he’s about to pull the trigger. Aren’t there any sane people involved who can stop him before it’s too late?

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Already done-What Are You Thinking.This is soooo sad.Myers five and dime store mentality is going to scrape away all that has been built up.Reminds me of when ROME burned,who fiddled?
Are people born stupid or do they have to work at it? I guess we will hear Myers fiddling tonight as all our hopes and dreams of another year like last year as well as many to come burn in the ravages,of PRIDE AND DECITE!—(MYERS)

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Gerald Meyers needs to get this deal done or walk the plank!

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And Ponder this people when you think about the whole mess!

If you got into a taxi and the driver started driving backward would the taxi driver end up owing you money?

With good faith Leach came here and has done what he said he would do.And yes the man deserves the money.I agree sometimes he could change (a few) things he does,but that is him.He has proven a winner.May not be in the same year but he is building a program to trump OU and TEXAS.In closing to explain I would hate to be in Myers taxi,because I would not get to where I’m going and he would change the METER(right at the last second) even going backwards…..

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Hey Myers! Come on in to the 21st century! It’s really nice here with lots of great stuff happening. Or would you rather be back in Borger, pulling bolls?

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Well atleast Tech is getting some national attention even though its negative. Everyone that says that Tech will be ok without Leach then you have no clue at all about football.

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If Tech allows Leach to leave, this football program will drop to the cellar of the Big 12 South so fast it will make your head spin. I was in school when Steve Sloan left & saw it happen. Tech went from 10-1 to 1-9-1 in 3 short seasons. What Meyers and the Tech administration need to grasp is that Mike Leach is TALENT. As in Hollywood, TALENT gets to do whatever it wants whenever it wants. They are not normal employees. They don’t work for you. You work to keep them happy. They have something their bosses don’t have: TALENT. Athletic directors are easily replaced, not talented head coaches. Why waste your money on a stadium expansion & then let the person leave who makes it a viable project? I believe it’s time for Meyers to retire and Leach should decide who to bring in as the new Athletic Director. And Texas Tech should take the language in Mack Brown and Bob Stoops’ contracts concerning the 4 current sticking points & offer Leach the exact same language. And they should do all this yesterday.

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Who is this Johnson and ranting about TTU’s bowl appearances? What BOWLS? Got the Cotton when A&M was DQ’d and was in a 4 or 5-way tie. Got b-slapped by USC. Otherwise was in punk bowl (Copper, Independence, etc.). Leach has two real Cottons (one should have been BCS), Gator, etc. Big step up from where TTU has been. TTU used to be “OK”, w/ no better than a 50% record against D1 top 100 programs. Now TTU is “good”, perhaps moving to “very good.” KEEP LEACH!

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And we were 1 game away from evening up the all time series with Texas A&M. Darnit. The Big 12 south is way too strong for Tech to survive this. The best chance to compete in a conference game under a replacement coach will be the Baylor game & that one moved to Dallas. What on earth are those people thinking?

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This johnson guy is one of the many that know hardly anything about football and are content with Mediocrity. He is part of the group that thinks that Tech will be alright without Leach.

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geez reading hyatt’s blogs it is obvious hyatt doesn’t like Leach. Probably because Leach doesn’t like hyatt. Regardless of what happens it has been fun to see the childish antics of Lubbock’s top notch local media. Maybe KKAM can get the next Tech coach to give them the time of day.

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“Any time more than 4-5 college kids show up for anything, they’re sure something is going to be given away free!!”-quote Freddie! I can’t keep from LMAO….you light hearted the moment….I still can’t keep from laughing….rotf…..

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FIRE GERALD MYERS WORST AD EVER!!!!

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The bottom line is that Leach does not appear to want to be at Texas Tech. The rest are details that likely will never come into play, One hell of a poker game going on between the two sides though. I still have respect for Leach as a football coach, but not as a person.

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Hyatt is brutal. He is always right and can tell the future. Both he and Williams need to be taken off the air. Brutal Brutal Brutal

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but then who would the same 10 callers they get listen to each day?

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TT fans, these are the facts: you’re the third-most prestigious program in your state, probably fifth-most prestigious in the Big 12. Yet Mike Leach’s team beat the #1 team in the country and had you in the running for a conference title and, for a while, a national title. All this despite having a decided recruiting disadvantage to schools like UT, A&M, OU and NU.

Texas Tech is a second-tier football school with a top-tier coach. Loyalty works both ways, folks. Leach is good enough to coach any school in America. That kind of talent doesn’t come cheap.

Jobs like OU, NU and UT are destination jobs. Guys work their entire careers to get to those places. Texas Tech is not one of those jobs, and as such doesn’t command that type of loyalty. A school like Texas Tech can have a bargain-priced coach who will never stray, or it can have a top-notch coach who wins lots of games. But not both.

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95 minutes until Texas Tech University becomes the laughing stock of the college sports world. Hance, you might want to accept that counter offer. The media coverage is going to get nasty.

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Did you read one of the recent updates on the front page of Lubbock online that there was approximately about 40 people show up at this so-called rally at noon supporting Mike Leach? That’s not very many! Does that tell ya something? Everyone is getting tired of this fiasco. That pretty well sums up the fact that most are ready for this to be over and done with…whichever way it turns out. I would like for Coach Leach to stay but I really think that the 5:00 deadline for his signature is going to come and go without being signed….then what! How long is this going to drag out?

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All of the media combined don’t count as much to Hance as the Board of Regents.
They are the muscle and money – enough to rule over the many.

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Board of Regents must love bad football teams. It’s their funeral.

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yes, 40 people who were able to get there, have it at a better time and more would have shown up. not at all indication that no one supports Tech’s greatest coach.

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Bill i think you are right on. Leach could get the players he wants instead of left overs from Texas and Oklahoma if he was at a bigger school.

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or even just a school that is more geographically isolated from national powerhouses. look at the OL kid from Frenship in Tech’s backyard going to UT.

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I want Tech to fire Leach. I was so tired of Tech winning last year. I miss the good old days where Tech wasn’t that good.

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what drama, espn will have a field day with this story. i feel sorry for all tech fans, players, and everyone who is involed in the football program. for years tech was a stepping stone. now we are considered a powerful team. people talk about tech along with tx,ou, and other great football schools.record crowds and ticket sales. national tv. things are really looking good for lubbock. all this media coverage of our team and players are worth millions of dollar to the city of lubbock.

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After the way Coach Leach’s agents have handled this, NO OTHER BCS school will think twice about hiring him and his so-called agents who shop his name around at the end of every season. They have seen how this played out already and that will not be hiring that headache. Western Wyoming might take a chance, but probably nobody else.

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All this bickering reminds me of the demise of Grant Teaff at Baylor, Darrell Royal at UT, and RC Slocum at Aggieland where
a bunch of alum trying to play a roll that they don’t know squat about decide to screw up a great deal. And our opponents at the aforementioned schools and others like OU and OSU are loving every minute of it watching “grand stand administrators” butt into something they should keep the hell out of. Go ahead and make a mountain out of a mole hill so we can get back to a revolving door of coaches as we did in the 70’s and 80s when there was zero continuity.
Its not Coach Myers or Coach Leach’s doings. Its the same grandstand QB’s that sit in the bleachers and act like TU fans.
In other words, if you don’t really know whats going on behind the scenes then shut the hell up.
DM

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If Tech fans did not have such a low opinion of their school, they would not think Leach was a miracle worker. FYI, Tech has been top ten caliber at various points in 4 different decades. So, Leach had Tech top ten caliber for a small portion during one of his 9 seasons, what is so special?

Any coach who stays at Tech for 9 seasons damn well oughtta get Tech into the conference title hunt ONCE!

One sniff of the top ten in 9 years, and people are saying that he is the best thing Tech ever had? Go to he!! Tech is damn well capable of that!

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Maverick, I think you are very wrong. Programs and their AD’s are desperate for wins. They will do just about anything to have the free press offered by ESPN scrolling the Top 25 logos across the screen all day. It helps not only recruiting and donations, but helps build brand, thereby increasing enrollments.

Ask App. St. what happend to their college applications after they beat Michigan? What happened to their logo item sales.

Mike has proved he can win in a “remote outpost” called Texas Tech. He can achieve a top 25 program. He can recruit to Lubbock. He can beat OU and Texas. He can produce All-Americans. He knows how to graduate players. Other AD’s desperate to keep their jobs, will convince themselves Tech is the bad guy and too unsophicated to manage a talent like Mike Leach. I for one would agree with them.

Why do you think so many small programs are willing to fork over the $$$ to jump to Division 1-A. They expect mega $$$ in return.

They want and need the cachet Leach will bring. Yep…he’ll get another job and it will be a good one.

Tech should and will recover. It has been a great ride on the Leach ship. So sad to see it end this way.

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The General’s gone and now Leach. It was bound to happen. It’s called reversion to the mean and with Myers in charge, we’re now going back to being very average in the major sports.

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What would be special is for you to go sip tea with a Longhorn or Sooner,Raiderdefender! Your name does not even speak for the post you just put on here.DId Spike do any beteer …NO….All we ever got from him was a smile and a..blah,,blah,,blah,,,,His defense was nothing to shake a leg at. Leach is still building the program and has had more win as a whole.Or in recent memory.So you my raider friend are the one who can go to he!!.

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When Myers hired Leach, he wanted an innovative offense that he could sell. He knew the difficulties of making TT a top notch program, and he knew he had to be patient because that was uncertain. What was not uncertain was the ability to sell offense, especially with the stage and resources that accompanied the Big 12 Conference.

Leach has done nothing special with wins, except for last year, which was wonderful. It also showed how far Leach’s best is from top tier.

In other words, Leach provides fireworks. Those fireworks sell tickets. Tech can hire other pyrotechnic artists. Leach, however, does not provide top tier coaching, just electric offense. He does not command top tier salary, because he is not top tier talent.

He is interchangeable. Briles, June Jones, Kevin Sumlin, the dude at Tulsa, the dude at Ball St., and many, many O Coordinators nationwide can provide every bit of what Leach has.

Just think about it………the best Leach will ever do just happened, 11-2. Was he close to 12-1 or 13-0? No, not at all. But he was only whiskers away from losing to Neb and UT and being 9-4. With the best he’ll ever have. Is 9-4 special?

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I’ll put the matter another way — Tech fans want a coach that fits the following three attributes:

loyal
inexpensive
wins a lot of games

The reality: you can only have two.

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RaiderDF, I appreciate what happened in the past at Tech, but this is now. Now means ESPN, 24/7 internet, blogs, talk radio, college football 6 days a week. Leach has built an excellent program under the microscope of NOW. IMO, very hard to do.

Tech is relevant NOW. To stay relevant, Tech must keep the positive roaming the airways…24/7.

Myers/Hance are taking a big risk with their hardline tactics. If Tech has not cleaned this up by August, the football program will be the laughing stock of all those who live in the NOW and not the past.

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First of all, i dont have a low opinion of Tech i just got used to the hype that has been surrounding Tech that past couple of years and thats partly because of Leach. I dont want to go back to the times where Tech is almost unkown in the country. This is big 12 football and not the SWC. So you really cant compare the two as far as success goes. When leach started
wins and qualify for a bowl game. Now Tech is starting to steal recruits from Texas and Oklahoma. Even thought Leach has been there for nine years it takes a while to turn around a .500 team to in contention for a national championship. By the way before that horrible loss to Oklahoma at the end of the season they were in contention for the big 12 championship game and even the national championship game.

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Well, maybe when nobody better hires Leach, we can hire him as an offensive coordinator. That way, we can still sell offense. But, maybe, we’ll manage games more like Navy colonels than drunken pirates.

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Just had to peek in on the “red roach’s” blog this afternoon. You roach and Leach supporters sure know how to ruin a good thing – and in the process split your school spirit and trash what little tradition you’ve managed to acquire. Keep it up so we can kick you butt in Lubbock this fall and sink your ship on your next trip down the Brazos!
Gig’em

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Good coaches are not interchangeable. Oklahoma was terrible for most of the 90s. Nebraska still hasn’t completely recovered from Frank Solich’s dismissal, and he won 9 games his final year. Texas was irrelevant until they found Mack Brown. Colorado has never the same since Bill McCartney left, and that was more than a decade ago. All of those programs have won national titles. If those schools couldn’t avoid mediocrity after losing a good coach, what chance does Texas Tech have?

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Anyone who wants Mike Leach to leave is either an anti-sports fanatic, a complete idiot, or a supporter of a competitive university. What a shame. Take out the new clauses that have been added and pray that Mike will still sign.

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I guess we’re two minutes into the post-Leach era at Texas Tech now. I’ve just got one thing to say:

“How ‘Bout Them Longhorns?!?!?!”

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Johnson, you sound kind of dumb. You sound as stupid as Gerald Myers. If Myers is here next football season, I think the ones who like Leach should chant, ” Myers must go”. We can make him so embarressed maybe he will go away.

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I mean at the games of course.

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did leach sign ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

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how do we get the email addresses of all the tech regents, they should know what the fans who pay for season tickets really feel so they can make an intelligent decision. Myers will be leaving soon, Hance will be helping the senator run for Texas Governor, and who will be our head coach. do we have committments from Hance and do we know when myers might retire. Why add on to the Jones if you won’t be able to fill it if Leach leaves……..or forced to leave. Black eye on TEXAS TECH.

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To clarify, I don’t want Leach to go. But bonehead plays and strategies are as much a part of him as his love of pirates. For every 300 yard passing game, there is a game changing failed 4th down conversion in our own territory.

I don’t want him fired. But, the 12.1 million dollar deal would have been more than enough money for him based upon his merit. He doesn’t deserve top 10 money, he is not top 10.

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Go to lubbockonline.com at the top there is a link where a Tech alumn has written a memo to Myers and Hance via a paid advertisement…….

http://www.lubbockonline.com/

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My name is Gump. Forrest Gump.

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Boomer Sooner!!!! Get rid of the Pirate so the Raiders can walk the plank and fall to bottom of the Big 12 South. Way to go Myers, he can pick those coaches.

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Um…..Um…….didn’t Myers pick Leach?

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Your right on Bill. Look at Kansas State and Ron Prince. It will take Bill Snyder years to rebuild that program, if ever. Has Texas Teck’s administrators lost their minds?

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well its 6pm. no signed contract… I wonder how long Leach will stay.
Will he complete the final 2 yrs of this contract? if he stays 1 more yr. will they try to negotiate again?
I BELIEVE THERE IS MORE TO THIS STORY THAN LEACH, HANCE AND MYERS WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW ABOUT….

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Maybe GREED got the best of Leach!
AND…If had spent his time getting Texas Tech ready for the Cotton Bowl vs. Mississippi, and not flying around the country looking for a job (Washington) maybe we would have avoided being laughed out of Dallas!

I say Let Leach go…bring in someone else who can respect the fans.
Leach got greedy, has never won a Conference title…Lost big in a bowl game…Leach is not Mack Brown or Bob Stoops!

Tech can win 10 games and lose a Cotton Bowl without Leach

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So much ignorance on this message board.
It made me sick to read.

Tech can win without Leach. I’ve long since soured on him & his greedy agents.

RaiderGirl is just about the only one on this thread I agree with.
Sad.

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Oh, & Mark Turner (above). Right on, Mark. Good points.

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What has Leach really done? He interviews a lot, but has he had any offers from other schools? All he really did this year was beat all the teams he was suppose to and one he wasn’t. The real difference this year versus last year was he didn’t drop games to the CU’s, Mizzou’s and OSU’s of the conference, which he shouldn’t anyway. Leach has won 58% of his Big 12 games, I would call that average or slightly above. The question should really be; could we get a coach to do better than just above average for $2+ MM a season? Plus, the guy has trouble recruiting. Two top o-linemen, one from Wolforth and another from Midland, both go to UT. Bring in someone that has chewed West Texas dirt and doesn’t always think the grass in greener elsewhere.

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What are they thinking. Where was Texas Tech football before Mike Leach? Who put Texas Tech Football on the map? Where will this program be if he leaves? Answer those questions gentlemen. Clay if soured maybe you should go to. Gerald Myers think about it dignity is important its not about the money.
Maybe if Mike leaves you can join a conference where you can be competative since Mike is the only reason you compete now.

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maybe everyone that voted for Nobama could petition him in order for Tech to receive part of his mis-guided bailout plan :)

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Raiderdefende, now that a novel idea! Would Leach go for that?

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No coach is worth millions of dollars. Fire him and chase the greedy money grabber out of town.

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Let’s fire the Neiman Marcus coach & get us a Wal-Mart coach. They don’t last as long & they never work as well, but at least they’re cheap.

Between this and the new ticket prices Jones Stadium will be a ghost town this fall.

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Jim on February 17th, 2009 6:36 pm Has Texas Teck’s administrators lost their minds?

Yes, what little ones they had.

Question: Does Myers have a contract? I’ll bet he does, so give Leach the same contract that myers has and fill in the salary blank with 12.7 million. TTU and Leach has agreed on a price, now we have myers contract for the perks. I’ll bet Leach would do that.

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Where the hell is this website hosted? The time is off by an hour. Way to go AJ!

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FIRE MYERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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As a Tech grad and former Lubbock resident (yes, I went to MHS, as did Meyers, etc). Meyers needs to get his head out of his you know what, swallow his pride that Leach is a MUCH bigger coach that Meyers ever was, OR resign and let the University move on. If Hance is in the mix, then shame on him. Tech can’t recruit against Texas, A&M, Oklahoma, USC, ,etc ,etc, etc with this pile of crap hanging over their heads. THey all know that they aren’t gonna fire Leach in the first year anyway. As a well know song goes…GET OVER IT and move on.

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If Myers has a problem with Leach looking for another job while employed by Texas Tech , shouldn’t Myers be upset with himself for seeking Bobby Knight while James Dickey was still employed by Tech?
I have never been able to understand that…

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Lets all meet at Tech tomorrow and FIRE THE LEACH!!!!! Someone bring a rail so we can ride him out of town. We can place a stuffed maniquin, a Leach look-alike on it.

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Bobby Knight was a joke. He ran off and left his son with a mess.

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Hey Raiderdefender! There are no colonels in the Navy. Is that the best you can do?

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Who does Myers think he is….Papa Joe ? Give him a gold watch and get him outta there !

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It is such a sad situation we have found ourselves in as Texas Tech alums and fans. The football program is heading in great direction, and all of this is @$#%^&*%. Plain and simple. Both parties are at fault but the scales are in Leach’s favor. I’m sure he would’ve signed an extension for less money preceding this monumental season but the economics (can we blame that on Myer’s too?) did not allow it. Now the University is in a situation which they said they would revisit contract talk after the season and that has bit them in the a$$ because the season happened to be historic. So you play the hand you are dealt and sign the man. Without the bullsh*t clauses that are beyond reason. Someone made a reference to Kirk Ferentz contract @ Iowa; I remember going to an Alamo Bowl in the 90’s in San Antonio where we got our butt’s handed to us by Iowa. I left that game wishing that Tech would someday reach the prestige of Iowa football. Leach’s record is superior to Ferentz’s and he just got a deal worth more than what Leach is being offered and there was no noticeable bickering in the media. IMG misplayed the situation with the e-mails, that is fact, but this pi$$ing match good ole Gerald has contributed to has gone far enough. Can we give Myers a deadline?????? Please? please? please? you have two weeks Gerald. 14 days from now if Leach is not signed to a new contract that will bring stability to the one money making piece of your athletic department then you go away. PERIOD. Sign our freaking football coach to a contract that is comparable to even freaking ‘Mark ate may car or I would’ve driven to the game Mangino’ and get it over with. Kansas just made school history by going to BACK TO BACK BOWL GAMES AND THE MAN HAS A 100 PERCENT BUYOUT CLAUSE IN HIS CONTRACT. Think about that, KU gas never been to consecutive bowl games until 2 months ago and the man has more security than the man who will become the all time winningest coach in Tech history if Gerald doesn’t screw this up Royally. Why is this not common sense to these people. You want to raise ticket prices but you give away a home game to Dallas????? You want to expand the stadium but you want to run the coach out of town who has facilitated the expansion through WINNING????????? Why is this going on??? WHAT THE HEII IS GOING ON????????????????? Am I the only one who doesn’t get it? I mean I read the posts but why are these people who are smarter than us getting to make these decisions when it is absolutely apparent that the man needs to be signed on reasonable terms. I am utterly frustrated and severely saddened that we as fans are having to witness this crap after the most exciting season of Texas Tech Football in my lifetime. It makes me sick to my stomach.

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Leach needs to leave Tech so he won’t have to play against Stoops.

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The nation is going financially belly up and Leach is paid millions of dollars and wants a better deal, But it will do him no good for within a few years Leach and other millionaires will be sleeping in the alleys with the street bums.

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Hey Paxton! Great post! I completely agree with everything you said.

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Coach Leach’s comments really were not that bad in the scheme of things, the only problem is that this has been caught on camera, this makes him look stupid, but I am sure much much worse things are said in locker rooms around the country.

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