Captain Leach gets his honorary sword
Mike Leach broke the Texas Tech record for football coaching victories Nov. 21. On Thursday, a group of Tech supporters and Leach friends from Houston showed up bearing commemorative gifts.
Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach on Thursday received gifts from Houston boosters, including this sword similar to the cutlasses used by pirates of legend. (Provided by Texas Tech)
They sprung a surprise on Leach near the end of a team meeting.
“It was funny because we were having a bit of a firm conversation with the team,” Leach said, “and then all of a sudden these guys come in with swords and watches and a big double-T. It’s incredibly thoughtful, especially all the way out there in Houston where we’ve got incredibly loyal fans and alumni. It’s great to see these guys, who are huge friends besides.”
Making the presentation were John Gray, Jerry Ippoliti, Lynn Eastham, Dan Cotrino and Gray Gregory, all from Houston, and Leach’s personal attorney, Ted Liggett from Lubbock. The early Christmas included an engraved Rolex watch, a heavy double-T machined from aerospace aluminum and, perhaps dearest to Leach’s heart, a 30-inch stainless steel sword.
“Lynn and I wanted something he would remember the win with,” Gray said, “and so we found this (sword) online. It took me about a month to find it, and we had it inscribed. They did a great job on it. We wanted to thank coach for all the wins, and hopefully he stays at Texas Tech.”
The watch was inscribed “Coach Leach. Excellence is timeless. TT football.” The sword was in keeping with Leach’s love for pirates and use of sword analogies in motivational talks. A company in California produced it.
“It was not a used-to-kill-anybody pirate sword,” Eastham said. “But it’s a copy of a pirate’s sword.”
Leach’s record is 84-43 in 10 seasons at Tech. He broke Spike Dykes’ mark of 82 victories with a 41-13 rout of Oklahoma in the next-to-last regular-season game.
“There are not many active college football coaches that can say they’ve won more games in their program than any other coach,” Eastham said. “I think that’s a big deal.”
To comment on this story:
don.williams@lubbockonline.com l 766-8734
courtney.linehan@lubbockonline.com l 766-8735
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