Tech, Leach drama moves to national stage
BY DON WILLIAMS l AVALANCHE-JOURNAL
The headline on the front page of ESPN.com Wednesday afternoon spoke for many Texas Tech fans. After the exclamation “Arrrgh!,’’ a sub-headline posed the unthinkable question: “Why might Texas Tech and Mike Leach part ways after reaching new heights?’’
The back-and-forth between Leach, his agents and his bosses, mostly played out before just a local and regional audience for weeks, gained a national stage Wednesday. When word spread that Leach missed a contract deadline and might pay with his job, it piqued the interest of national media.
It’s an astonishing development for a program and coach who only three months ago were attracting all sorts of national attention for a 10-0 start.
“It just looks bad for both sides,’’ Dennis Dodd, a senior writer for CBSSports.com, told the Avalanche-Journal. “First of all, I can’t imagine say, Oklahoma or Texas, in the middle of their best season ever, not wrapping up their coach to an extension. That’s where Tech falls down, I think, in perception.
“But the agents aren’t doing themselves any favors either. What are they going to tell future clients? We may string you out, might get you fired?
“People want a black or white issue on this,’’ Dodd continued, “and I don’t think there is one. There’s blame on both sides. No matter how this is resolved, I don’t think there’s going to be a winner or loser. It should never have gotten this far for either side. It’s easy to blame Tech, but Leach’s conduct is kind of what’s caused them to take this stand — or his wandering eye, I should say. And he’s stuck, because he can’t go anywhere, looks like to me.’’
Leach, profiled in January by the CBS news magazine “60 Minutes,’’ was a guest on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN’s “College Football Live’’ and was a topic of the network’s “Pardon The Interruption.’’ The story picked up steam on a local level, too. A pair of disgruntled Tech fans paid for a full-page ad in Wednesday’s A-J supporting Leach.
Tony Barnhart, a national college football reporter for CBS, told the A-J the Leach-Tech saga is fascinating to watch.
“My reaction was here’s a guy who sort of put Texas Tech on the football map, but a series of circumstances has put together sort of a ‘Showdown at the OK Corral’ between a popular football coach and an athletic director and, I guess, a board of trustees who’s trying to keep a handle on what they’ve got,’’ Barnhart said. “To me, it’s an interesting dynamic that speaks volumes about where the modern-day college head football coach is and the power that he wields. Somebody’s going to blink, and I’m not sure who it is.’’
Like Dodd, Barnhart didn’t side strongly with one or the other. He pointed out, however, that one of the reasons for the breakdown — Tech’s insistence on equal-money buyouts for both sides — is fast becoming a trend in major-college football as universities demand protection for the big-money investments they make in their programs.
Barnhart was a longtime national college football writer for The Atlanta-Journal Constitution who left the paper last year. In a story he did last February, he reported that Georgia and its coach, Mark Richt, have equal buyouts of $2 million per year for every year remaining on Richt’s contract. In the same story, he reported that Auburn and its former coach, Tommy Tuberville, had equal buyouts of $6 million per side had they parted ways after 2007, and Clemson and its former coach, Tommy Bowden, agreed last winter to equal buyouts of $4 million per side. That was after Bowden considered a job opening at Arkansas.
Leach’s agents, in their latest offer dated Feb. 10, asked that Tech keep Leach’s buyout at $500,000 if he leaves and that Tech guarantee 40 percent of the balance of his contract if Leach is fired. Tech wants each side’s buyout at $300,000 per year for each year left on Leach’s contract.
“Mike Leach seems to be operating under the old set of rules that favor the coach,’’ Barnhart said. “In the new way, the buyouts are going to be more equal. That’s a new reality a lot of coaches are having to face right now.’’
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com t 766-8734
jeff.walker@lubbockonline.com t 766-8735
Expanded Coverage
Feb 20, 2009
• Leach, Tech reach deal
• Tech fans glad to see contract extension
• Future players, assistant coach relieved Leach is staying
• Mike Leach Contract
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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- Leach attorneys confident after this week’s testimony
- Leach testifying under oath about December events
- High standards precede Brewer in Hub
- Lake Travis QB commits to Tech
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- Tuberville says defensive line key to championships
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- Top five is Tech men’s goal at NCAA indoor meet
- High standards precede Brewer in Hub
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Just what Tech does not need!
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Check out what http://www.39-33.com has to say about this…. HA
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or is it not what Leach needs? Either way he LEACH need to know what’s going on and what IS at stake and outcomes. He seems a little (strike that A LOT) clueless to all this.
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Unfortunately, more negative publicity for Lubbock, and once again this makes Lubbock look like the backward, plebeian town it is. All those folks at Tech have lived in Lubbock long enough now that they are like the rest of the people here, no vision and the same old backward, hick way. That’s why nothing ever changes here, and if we lose Leach…it’ll be the same ol’ Tech…maybe a win over A&M and Tech, which makes the higher ups happy. Sigh! Good grief!
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I meant a win over A&M or UT….
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WE just need to jettison this embarassment and distraction to our great TTU and get on with our Mission. I hope the BOR does the right thing Friday and makes a quick decision. We can get a new coach that hopefully likes us and wants to stick around for awhile without harrassing other schools about jobs each and every year! Leach has shown his true flag and it ain’t nice and it ain’t the one that blends in with the true spirit of TTU. Let’s just do it and get on down the road. And, I think the new road will lead to better places for all.
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umm back to the same old spike dyke days again
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no, just not doom and gloom. What was Leach when we hired him? And why not a “better” coach? The door will be open!
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These people are ruining my Business Degree… How can they expect people to send their kids to get a Business education from a school who’s leaders can’t even handle their own business deals???? How pathetic!!!!!
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The fact of the matter is when you are offered an extension/raise one would think it would be a better deal than you currently have. In reality, the money per year was the same as his current deal, the buyout was 3x more, the guarantees went down from 40% to 12%, and they wanted his personal marketing righs…. I don’t blame him for not wanting to sign it, his current contract is better than the one they offered. I think Myers has overstayed his welcome, its time for this good ole boy network that is Texas Tech to be a thing of the past. And go ahead and put that stadium expansion on hold, I’m sure those club seats will be empty soon…
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hey don’t paste a repost we real Raiders know how to read multiple threads. Keep on topic or flow. Moderators, I call a foul. ;-)
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Fire Myers!
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Its sad, we needed a good coach at TECH that wants to at TECH.
We’ve got one and now they want to run him off. Same ole TECH that I have been seeing for 34 years. GET RID OF MEYERS….
WHAT A SAD DAY AT TECH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BW
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Someone said that myers is only going by what hance and BOR are telling him to do. Then why do we need an AD? Fire the AD, give his salary to the library and hance can do it all.
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Bob and Big Dog please read. Soapsuds thanks for the link…
Soapsuds on February 18th, 2009 9:53 am
Here’s something everyone should read BEFORE forming their opinions based solely on isolated news reports. It’s a copy of actual emails from Leach’s (bozo) agent Matt Baldwin and Hance and various Board members. This was obtained by the Dallas Morning News on an open records request:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/02-09/0210techdocuments.pdf.pdf
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This is just like Tech. We finally get national attention, stadium begins selling out, and out of town alums begin traveling to lubbock to watch the games, and what do we do, we screw it up. No matter the outcome of this situation, the damage has been done. Leach deserves the contract. His track record has proved itself and we are getting better each year. Do we really want to start all over?? And for the comments about recruits; Leach is the reason for the recruits. It is his track record, it is not that these players want to play in Lbk.
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We read and we write “Fire Myers”….”Gerald needs to go!!” My question is “WHY IS HE STILL HERE?”
What does Gerald Myers bring to the BOR that keeps him employed?
This is an honest question. Can anyone answer this for me?
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In it’s simplest terms: I believe Myers is a direct result of grassroots. He’s a good Ole boy in these parts. And Lubbock continues to fall behind the rest of the world. This is more embarrasing than the shellacking we got from OU. Thanks Myers!
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This whole Leach/Tech tempest-in-a-teapot produces one overwhelming reaction– the urge to yawn.
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re: gunsup@TTU – Mr Myers brings honesty, stability, trust and loyalty to our institution. Some of you folks just can’t seem to see past Saturday nite. Most people don’t have a clue what Gerald’s job is all about other than retaining coaches. It is much more than that and I feel we are very lucky to have had Coach Myers this long. I saw all this coming several years ago and begged him then to not yet retire and stay to see us thru this storm. We are very fortunate to still have him!
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Still time to go to Tulsa, Waco and Houston to get a good caoch.
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Flash, in the real world it is understood you must have integrity, knowledge, and be trustworthy. Those characteristics are conditions of employment, and are necessary to keep the keys to your office. West Texans are good people, but aren’t the only ones who understand the value of good business character.
In the real world, results allows you to keep your job. Top results gives you a level of power. Leach has achieved extraordinary results which for most of us means he should get certain considerations.
Myers, not so much. The Tech athletic program is a disaster. Track and football are the only bright spots.
In the real world, Myers would have been fired yesterday!
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Myers is simply a Leach making all this money. He needs to go work out there on all the construction going on on campus where he can get back down to earth and back to his roots!
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It is time to call Don Williams out for what he is..
His local-yokel good ole boy lets not upset the University, homer and too close to the story perspective is part of the reason why Texas Tech is viewed on a national stage as red neck and backwards…when programs(and writers that follow said program) start to win and hit the national stage things like this happen(and articles like this…meaning I could reference dozens of writers, radio stations like the Dallas station with Sean Salisbury that is BLASTING TECH for this and not signing Leach to an extension while he was winning). Fans that expect to win and schools that have a history of winning didn’t get to where they are by treating their best coach like this..and you WONDER WHY he had a wondering eye???
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myers needs to go, the game and the world has passed him up. i do not care about his loyality or any of those issues, i want an a.d. that wants to win! leach wins!
give mike the ad job and the money to keep him………
if myers cared this would have been settled a year ago…………
if they let LEACH go, the whole tech program will be in the toilet for years and myers will be the GEORGE BUSH OF NCAA FOOTBALL………I BET EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE BIG 12 WANTS LEACH GONE TOO!!!
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As a Lubbockite in the midst of the burnt orange in Austin, I believe it would be in the best interest that Gerald Myers pull the clause out of the contract and get Leach back on board. Both Sports editors in the Austin American Statesman (among others) feel that Myers is wrong. Leach is worth the contract and the clause is ridiculous. The Regents should get this resolved and get a signature before Tech looses the opportunity to continue what Leach has done for Tech Football.
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I appreciate Myers, Hance and the Regents looking out for Tech. Leach has exposed himself and it’s not real pretty.
If “Mesquitemecca” lives in Lubbock he needs to consider moving. No need to live in a place you have disdain for. I happen to think Lubbock is a great place to live with great people and I look forward to moving back some day. Neither Lubbock nor Tech need that type of negativity. I trust the Tech administration and will support Tech with or without Leach.
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When Gerald lost his bb coaching job, AD Mchaney gave him an office a made a title for him. He spent the next few years with his feet on the desk reading dime novels. That is his entire prep to be AD.
Come folks he needs to go today.
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Tech is low on cash…………..obviously ~!
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“Flash, in the real world it is understood you must have integrity, knowledge, and be trustworthy. Those characteristics are conditions of employment, and are necessary to keep the keys to your office” Gee does Leach poses those? I think not!
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Are we looking at the utter and complete collapse of the Tech Athletic Program? Research the most recent record of all the Tech team sports. Virtually every one of them has a LOSING record. Only football is doing extremely well. Why has the AD taken out his took kit and decided to tinker with the most successful athletic program at the school? Gerald Myers has way too many problems to messing around with the football team. He needs to retire and let some fresh ideas and energy enter into his office.
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Watch,
Leach was trusted to recruit players, win football games, graduate players and fight for Tech. He has done that. From the beginning he has not worked in an atmosphere of trust from the administration.
Now there is a great deal of mistrust on both sides and one side must give. Only those who truly have the interest of Tech in mind should make the decision on which side should give.
Hopefully the BOR is that entity.
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Leach needs to get control of his bone-head agents and look at the reality of his situation. No other school has offered him a job despite his annual tour of available positions. The fact is that nobody, other than Tech, seems too interested. So come on, Coach – make a deal! As for those of you on the “fire Myers” bandwagon – most of you really don’t have a clue. Tech’s Athletic Department is a muti-million dollar business operating at a substantial disadvantage to the competition in terms of resources and capital. While not a personal favorite of mine, I respect Myers for the job he has done at Tech. Myers, Hance and the BOR have conducted themselves in a straightforward manner. The same cannot be said of the greedy morons at IMG. Certainly, there is blame toward both sides – but the ball is in Leach’s court and it’s time to play or pack up and move on (if he can find anyplace else to go).
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My thoughts on this go like this:
Fire Myers, he never was a decent basketball coach, so he was made AD.
Ask Leach to stay and give him the needed recruting tools.
Set back and watch Tech continue to improve in the football arena.
Other wise Tech will go backwards as they have in the past.
Myers has an problem between his ears along with an eago problem!!
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See what mean here? People are so worried about punishing Leach, stating he can’t get another job, that they don’t see clearly what is best for Texas Tech football.
Recruiting goes front and center in a couple of weeks. Spring ball is here. Weight room work is taking place and will be the foundation of strenght for next fall’s team.
Are there no football people involved here? Get this thing settled NOW. Get it out of the news, off talk radio and off message boards! Leave your egos at the door and get these boys ready to play football and Leach focused on coaching.
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Don Williams:
Is this good reporting? The majority of the national media is saying that Tech is making a mistake, so why did you leave that out of your article? The couple of media sources you cited were some of the pro-Tech people. What about the pro-Leach people? I agree with earlier comment. Don Williams (as well as other local sports people) think Tech is a national power. I am the biggest Tech fan there is, but Tech is not a national power. So why would you fire Leach after experiencing the best season in history? It seems to me that the only people who side with Tech are the local hicks from Lubbock. Wake up people!
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It’s simple math. 15,000 seats x $25.00. Thats just part of what Leach brings to the table.
I loved Spyke, but he couldnt fill the stadium on a regular basis. Mike Leach and the air rade offence fill the stadiums anywhere they go. TCU sold out in just a couple of days after tickets went on sale.
TV, sellout games, bigger bowl game payouts. I cant figure out why Myers cant see that. Yes Lubbock is a great place to live. I look forward to the day I can move back.
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The man seems to have forgotten that he’s working for someone. He should have stepped up to the plate at ‘deadline’ to make his views known. This attitude of my way or the highway is not only very highhanded on his part but also presents a somewhat moral dilemma to his team; i.e. everybody must follow the rules except myself. Tech should never bow to that sort of selfish attitude no matter what he helped accomplish. Coaches have been fired for less.
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Check out this quote from the guy that wrote the article on ESPN.com concerning leach’s and Texas Tech’s contract problems.
“.No predictions on the outcome here, but I’m guessing we might be seeing the end of those wild drives across the West Texas plains by my friends among the national football media corps.”
Pretty much he saying is that if Leach leaves no matter how it happens Tech will pretty much fall off.
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Texas Tech has never been on the big stage (like OU & Texas) so I can see why they would make bad mistakes.
If Mike Leach did not have a “no visiting other universities without permission clause” in his current contract, that should show you that Gerald Myers had just as much knowledge about running a business nine years ago as he has today.
The AD of a university should have lawyer like skills that can handle business maters other than making sure his family gets good seats in the AD luxury box or making sure one sport (basketball) keeps the ex-coaches bloodline in place.
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I have appreciated what Myers has done for Tech for many years. I do wonder if the greater national exposure has become a bit much for him to handle. The same can be said of Leach. The meat of a contract has become a bit different than it was a decade ago. I am not sure either entity is completely aware of how to address those changes.
For Leach, although he has a law degree, he obviously does not understand the present-day makeup and expectations set forth in coaching contracts today. He needs to become better informed, and he needs to eliminate the worst part of this dispute: his representatives-IMG.
Myers has never had one of the programs he oversees basking in the national spotlight as much as has football this past year, and that includes all the attention garnered at Tech when Myers signed on Bobby Knight, which is another story altogether.
Hopefully, the BOR, Chancellor, President, Myers and Leach (not IMG, I hope) can sit down Friday and learn how to trust one another and come away with a great new SIGNED contract. The national media has it right, this is a bad scene for Tech to be a pert of and they need to settle it wisely, for all the reasons brought up, and there are quite a few. JUST DO IT! PLEASE!
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A little off the subject but there are no guarantees that Pat Knight will ever be a great basketball coach, like his old man.
My dad was a world champion calf roper, I’ve been on two horses,
wouldn’t know how to rope a calf if one needed to be roped.
I’m guessing Myers thinks Pat Knight will make something out of the Texas Tech Basketball team, he shouldn’t hold his breath.
Maybe that’s why he has that sour look on his face, he’s holding his breath.
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Tech needs to get their act together or they face th3e debacle that A&M got themselves in. Make no mistake, Leach made Tech not the other way around. He was a standout coordinator at Kentucky which got him the OU job and then he did well at OU which brought him to Lubbock. Tech has never been this successful, and it is because of Leach’s wild-eye offense. The clauses added to the contract were stupid by any stretch of the imagination of obviously meant to be poison pills that Leach could not accept. Myers and Hance are clowns that brought you bobby knight and and his son, and boy was that a mistake. These clowns now threaten to run off the only coach that made you a contender on the national stage. If I was a Tech alum, I would not stand for this. It is ridiculous. Maybe, if the good old boys who never did anything that daddy didn’t hand them would quit running Tech, then someone could finally put Texas in their place in that state.
Please Tech, dont be stupid. As an OU alum who married a West Texas girl, I can say fire Leach and there will be one less roadblock to us winning more Big 12 championships. Keep him and I will cheer on my friends the Raiders every time you face A&M, Texas and OSU. Either way, you need to retool who is running your university.
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I remember a few years ago when the Texas A&M got cocky and fired RC Slocum because he didn’t win them a national championship. How has that worked out for them so far? They’ve stunk up the Big 12. Now the idiots at Tech are wanting to get rid of the closest thing we’ve had to a winning coach who built a winning program since the Steve Sloan days.
Sign the man or forget about filling up all those seats in the expanded stadium at the increased prices. I live and Dallas and was excited about making a few trips this next year to watch a game, but those trips are on hold now.
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There is room on both sides for fingerpointing. Too bad the two sides can’t just muck up and do the right thing. If Tech looses Leach, we will be watching A&M football next year, wishing we were that good. ( Oh God, please help us). The coach should not hold the university, particularly the fans hostage. Right now you can walk on water coach, don’t tarnish that immage. That tarnish has a way of not going away, even if you do. The two make a good combination, and west texas is big enough for both of them.
Both sides need to look at the big picture, and remember, neither would have the stature they each enjoy, without the other. Neither would continue this stature, in the near future, and conievably ever, without the other. Gentlemen, don’t shoot yourselves in the foot.
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Fire Leach and who is a legitimate hire? Lubbock is out in the middle of nowhere and in the south division facing Texas and OU. The reality is that few coaches will want the job.
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I think one thing is fair to say. As ugly as this is, even if some deal is reached, there will be bad blood. We may be at the end of the Leach era at Tech.
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Don’t get rid of Leach!! He is the reason for Tech’s latest success in the sports realm and picking up new recruits and you can’t forget about the students wanting to go to an up and coming, exciting school. He is a treasure to Lubbockites and Tech is now losing site of its constituents.
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Sonny for coach, Spyke for AD! THAT’S WHO!
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He made the bed he lays in years ago. Later Leach, been good, but the freak show is OVER!
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Well, based on the info the Morning news obtained, it appears some of the BOR were doing a little questioning to Leach’s agents behind the backs of Myers, Hance, and Bailey. By contacting Leach’s agent directly with questions of their own, it appears that maybe their is a little mistrust between the BOR, the AD, Hance the Chance, and President Bailey. Gentlemen, this is gotten entirely out of hand, it’s time to man up and get this deal done, take your respective lumps and move on. It’s too close to spring ball to be screwing around. You’ve already damaged recruiting efforts for next year and we’re not even done with the upcoming season. Nice going.
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Has anyone thought of the persons that have been let go and the others that will be let go just to pay this man MORE MONEY!!! Do they matter? These people have familys, bills, needs and most of all thier jobs!
I think Mike Leach is being selfish in this economic time.
Really ??? Does a person need that much money to do something he claims he loves doing>? He claims he calls Lubbock home now…. What do they say about taking one for the Home Team… Where is his heart>? in his pocketbook??
What is happening – the agents want to keep thier jobs of representing Mike and put some of that money in thier pocket when Tech Atheletic staffmembers – that have devoted thier lives to the programare being let go …. just to let this money hungry …. verbally unintelligent “and uh and uh well uh and uh”….. jock win … games or just MORE MONEY!
GO TECH — STAND YOUR GROUND
NO MORE CASH FOR THE MONEY LEACH!
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Really, Bring Dykes back? He was mediocre at best. Beloved yes, but mediocre. Is that really what Tech wants?
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OH WAIT, no decent coach in his right mind would come to a program that fired their coach after a 11-2 season and school-best season. way to go…
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Am I missing something? Is Tech trying to run Mike Leach off? Where is the documentation for that?
Hasn’t Leach renegotiated every year he has been here? So, this year, Tech’s athletic department has offered a deal that has met the limits of what they can pay, and he wants it fully guaranteed with no protection for the school? If not, he won’t sign it?
When I read the tail end of this story, and I see that Tommy Bowden, Mark Richt, and Tommy Tuberville all had contracts in which the coach’s buyout matched the school’s buyout, I then understand the protection more schools are looking for. Tech is not in the wrong here.
As far as Leach’s personal property, he is valuable through the avenue of Texas Tech Head Football Coach. Any time he does a commercial for some local company, he wears a shirt with a double T logo. He is worth nothing as Mike Leach. He is valuable as Mike Leach, the Head Coach of Texas Tech. Tech Football provides him the opportunity. They are not going to take his money, they are just going to get their rightful royalties for use of their platform.
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I’ve got a solution. Tech should take out the 4 clauses in return for Leach dropping his agents. Leach will have gotten what he wants, saved the 10% cut his agents take, and we can carry on with our gimmicky, gambling, swashbuckling, reckless style of football that garners so much recognition. Everybody will be happy.
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“Josh Hallgren on February 19th, 2009 10:29 am Don’t get rid of Leach!! He is the reason for Tech’s latest success in the sports realm and picking up new recruits and you can’t forget about the students wanting to go to an up and coming, exciting school. He is a treasure to Lubbockites and Tech is now losing site of its constituents.”
Sorry, Josh, but Crabtree is the reason for Tech’s latest success. Leach did all he could to blow the Texas game, and the Nebraska game.
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I’ve been a season ticket holder longer than some of you haave been alive. If we go back to “we shot ourself in the foot” brand of ball, I’ll have to pass. If Leach goes a whole bunch of folks like myself to will also be gone.
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Tech’ coach has a contract. they are wanting to fire him for not signing an extension. Yes that is running someone off.
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because it affects recruiting which affects Tech’s next years it’s a long term hit. That’s a problem with these guarantees. Give Leach a living wage and have high performance bonuses and penalties for misbehavor (drugs, cheating etc.). All will be well.
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It feels like the coach Dickey plan all over again
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Wow Wow Wow wow wow hold on Raiderdefender. Do you honestly think that Crabtree would have gone to Tech if Leach wasnt there? If Leach was never hired as the Tech coach where do you think Tech would have been? Do you think ESPN would be talking about Techs high powered offense if leach wasnt there? The point i am trying to make is yes Crabtree made that play that gave Tech the win but would that all be possible if Leach wasnt there to begin with?
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Crabtree wasn’t highly recuited. He was just another QB and basketball player.
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Actually Illinoise Iowa, Kansas, and Baylor all tried to get Crabtree.
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Can’t believe Tech got him from Baylor!
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Gerald went to Naples Florida and hired Knight and sons behind Dickeys back. Then came back to Lubbock and fired Dickey. That is real class don’t you think!!
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With all that is going on in our country and economy, trust me, no one outside of Lubbock cares about this story. Nice to know you guys in Lubbock have your priorities in roder by wanting to pay an exorbitant salary to this drunken, fat slob. Nice use of precious resources Tech.
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I would say that your right TX2DC but ESPN, Yahoo sports, Foxsports, and CBS Sportline all have this story as one of the feature stories on there web pages. So i guess someone cares.
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ITS REAL SIMPLE, COACH LEACH FILLS THE STANDS,DONT KILL THE GOOSE THAT LAID THE GOLD EGG.. Seriously, all this national attention has to be bad for Tech, no matter the outcome , Techs reputation will suffer for years , there will be bad blood for a long tine, who suffers, the fans, how sad, its a sad day for lubbock and Tech, the damage has already been done..
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By all Means,
The Board of Regents should fire Mike Leach. He has totally failed in the duties usually assigned to a Tech football coach.
1. He has built a winning football program.
2. He has the really good high school kids knocking on his door rather than having to beg players to come to a second rate program.
3. He has gotten the Texas Tech students and alumni excited and proud about Tech football for the first time in 50 years.
4. He has made alumni members want to support the school and hire its students.
WE DO NOT WANT THOSE THINGS!!!!!!!
Why in the world would we want to be able to proudly talk about Tech among all the Aggies, Longhorns, Buckeyes, etc. who are out here in the real, grown-up world?
What we really need is to do is to go back to hanging our heads and muttering about how the Tech ping pong team always wins.
The Board needs to fire Gerald Myers and give his tired, old butt an opportunity to go home and write a book about how Mike Leach just would not bow down and kiss his ass and just wanted to win football games and build the reputation and spirit of Texas Tech.
If the Board fires him, we hope Leach sues the school for trying to force him to sign a stupid contract two years before he has to do so. This whole thing is about personalities and control and has nothing to do with making Tech better.
Graduated with Masters in Engineering from Texas Tech in 1978
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The guy is a typical lawyer with his comments and posturing. I don’t see any problem with the equal buyout clause. Most Universities are moving or have moved toward the same thing. I’d leave the clause in the contract an let him talk to anyone he wants (knowing it will cost him if he leaves). I think by his antics he’s already showed his lack of commitment to the University, players and recruits. And I understand he has to position himself for his and his family’s long-term best interest………so does the University. It’s a no win situation that has been handled very poorly by both sides. What happens next year if he stays and has a lousy season…………….he’ll be toast just naturally. I really don’t think he thinks Tech is his long-term spot.
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To Bob on the Don Williams subject;
AMEN to your comments!!! If Don Williams can’t be objective the fire him also!!!!
FIRE MYERS
FIRE DON WILLIAMS
FIRE MYERS
FIRE DON WILLIAMS
FIRE MYERS
FIRE DON WILLIAMS
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After thinking and reading all these postings. I don’t think Gerald is smart enough to be behind all this. Hance is the guy with the biggest ego. At lunch today I heard Hance plans to “fire his ass on Friday” speaking of Leach. Let’s see how it plays out.
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Just got through watching espn, guess what, Tech is allready becoming a laughing stock, hope everyone is real happy about all of this, I feel for us fans the alumni, the players and season ticket holders, hope you are proud of trashing the hard work and success this football team has earned ,nobody in the national sport news can believe what is going on here at Tech, nobody in ttheir right would, there is so much damage alrady done,rverybody involved in this mess needs to resign now from hance to myers to whoever , what a sickening mess, makes me want to puke, ..
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Dallas Morning News is reporting that Leach and Myers have reached a deal.
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garyount,
Luboock has been the laughing stock for years. LOL
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“rverybody involved in this mess needs to resign now from hance to myers to whoever , what a sickening mess, makes me want to puke, ..”
I guess that includes Leach?
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Tex on February 19th, 2009 4:04 pm Dallas Morning News is reporting that Leach and Myers have reached a deal.
Let’s all pray that htis is true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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