In the interest of full disclosure, I’m an aggie.

I have been watching this circus unfold over the last 48 hours with a huge degree of skepticism.

How can a well documented slacker like James be allowed to stay on the team to begin with? At the risk of sounding like Oliver Stone, it seems the pony express cut a deal with the AD.

Why is no one in the media questioning the injury history of this “kid”? I have read numerous reports stating the kid was a spoiled brat. I would also be curious to hear about his concussion and who diagnosed it.

Not only has TT lost a great coach, the big12 has lost the most entertaining character on media days…

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I would think that Chancellor Hance would have a DATED, cause he could be typing one up right now, letter that he supposedly tried to get Leach to sign as evidence. I would like to see that paper make its face shown. The two letters of dismissal have surfaced along with Leach’s contract; how come we have yet to see anything that shows Tech’s side is true?

I really truly hope that all sides of the storm get a fair and equal treatment as this plays out.

See you Saturday Wreck Em Tech!

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Perhaps Coach Leach should remember not to play poker with Kent Hance. He went all in and got smoked. Pretty nice lawyering job, Brother Liggett, costing your client a couple millions dollars. Remind me never to hire your dumb butt. Nice job, rookies. Way to smoke them, Kent Hance.

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The sad thing that I don’t get is anyone that says they are not going to be supporting the red radiers anymore. That type of thing breaks my red raider heart, it shoudn’t matter who the coach is if you are red and black then no matter what or who is wearing the colors representing Tech then we should root for them. There have been many come and go and the Double T still remains. All of this has been handled like crap but that doesn’t matter to me all that matters to me is TEXAS TECH! So on that note GET YOUR GUNS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Did the physician who examined Adam James for his concussion know about the facial trauma that Adam had suffered in a bar fight that preceded his diagnosis?

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The way I see it, the best option for TTU is to reinstate Leach, under the condition that he not seek any damages or further legal action against the university. I think a stipulation of that should be that Myers (and whoever else instigated this whole thing) mysteriously “retire”. Otherwise, Leach will rake TTU over the coals and with the settlement and the expansion debt (which isn’t even completed yet), TTU will wind up being bankrupt. I deal with union contracts and have sat through many mediations & arbitrations and with the limited amount of supposed “evidence” presented, there’s no way any judge or jury will rule in favor of TTU in this matter.

Would Leach stay? Who knows. With all this BS, other universities might be scared to hire a guy who got the AD and other officials fired, and rightfully so, in my opinion. This is a gigantic mess that TTU should have NEVER let go this far (just like Leach’s contract earlier this year), and now we’re screwed, no matter the outcome.

This is a sad sad day for TTU football, and all other athletics for that matter.

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Fans don’t want to leave TTU…..but how can you be a fan of something like this? It’s not only that Leach got screwed the whole university did, watch what happens to revenue from football over the next 10 years as compared to the past 10.

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Funny how Tech purports to fire Leach “for cause,” with specific reference to one paragraph of his contract (dealing with treatment of student athletes). Then they have numerous officials come out and intimate in public that it really had more to do with his refusal to sign a letter or his general “insubordination.”

Way to go Tech. You’re doing a great job of stuffing that proverbial foot even farther down your mouth.

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AD Meyers should be fired the same as Coach Leach, because he apparently ignored the problem since it was brought up by Craig James. Adam’s father. Do you think that someone not employed by ESPN would have received the same treatment . Certainly not, it would have been handled internally & not made such a big deal. TTU certainly has received bad publicity from this, it will affect the recruiting in future years because the image of Tech shows that coaches do not have the backing of the school’s sport department or the Chancellor. As an alum & former letterman as coach must have the support to punish a guy on scholarship that is creating a problem. Adams James was not worth firing a coach that brought so much attention to Tech. I think this is a money problem more than a discipline problem. Coach Leach deserves to be reinstated.

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Fire Meyers!

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money and ego is what its about adam pansy james was a cover up i mean cmon i had a concussion this year and i had to stand around and watch practice in a helmet in the heat id rather chill in a closet….i have no idea how that little girl made it to tech…..hope he has fun at smu even though they wont put him on scholarship but big daddy james will just give back the money they gave him and call it even or he’ll say here that should cover it or shall i destroy your program again?

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i hope lil james breaks his leg maybe he can sit in a wheelchair in the shed after that HA!

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We’ll soon see how Kent Hance does playing poker when he gets his a&& handed to him during the major lawsuit that Tech is sure to lose. Hance needs to go back to lobbying for his John Birch Society friends and stop destroying my alma mater. FIRE HANCE, MYERS AND BAILEY!!!

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Every member of the Texas Tech student body should return to the Spring semester wearing an eyepatch. In fact, anyone in Lubbock who supports Leach should get an eyepatch or pirate hat so that Meyers and Hance have to see it everywhere they go.

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If you are good at something then use Lubbock as a roadside park, because the local royalty hates nothing more than success. Unless, that is, it is claimed in their name on bended knee. Knew something was up earlier in the season when Lubbock’s royal news agency published a very vague, unsubstantiated article (otherwise known as libel) questioning Leach’s humanity. Then came the pale pony. Craig,did you have your fingers crossed behind your back when you were praying for guidance? And just whose guidance were you seeking?

And let’s not forget FOC (Friend of Craig) and FOM (Friend of Mafia) ESPN. It’s judgement day, boys.

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I feel that being on the team is like having a job. If you don’t like it, it is your legal, and God given right to quit. Surely, Those players who were unhappy could have gotten a pen and piece of paper and wrote ” coach Leach : I quit immediately”. None held a gun to their heads to be there. Toughen up boys, the world is not always warm & fuzzy. I am not a big football fan, but I do believe in right & wrong and in this situation, Tech is wrong.

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Just another angle on this, the money it is going to cost TT to attempt and clean up this mess is not only going to affect the athletic department. That money could also go to recruit top notch faculty, medical researchers, buildings, and heaven forbid more parking! I am in awe of this situation. So is this what being a tier 1 university is all about???? What a pitiful situation TT has put themselves in. If it is truly going to be a new era at TT, there needs to be some more firings too.

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I love Texas Tech. I love Tech football. I hate our “leadership”, or lack thereoff. I appreciate Aggie’s like Junebug because they realize that Tech-fan is not stupid. We know what we love and the facts are black and white. If there were “other reasons” why Mike was fired, then why don’t they come out and say it? They have no problem throwing papers to the media. And because Leach didn’t kiss thier a$$, he was let go.

I am for Ruff, for the simple fact we need an impact NOW. I don’t think Briles will do that. And I would like to see the same coaching staff next year. the only bad thing is experience but that only comes with time.

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http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=11750331&Call=Email&Format=HTML

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A board of regents and chancelor a sabotage a year in the making. Sounds like Leach will mow their lawn in court!!!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/12-09/1231leach.pdf

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I am still waiting for the crying Tech alumni to justify Leach forcing Edward Britton to study outside on the 50-yard line in freezing weather for two hours. You can’t.

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As a former student at The University of Texas at Austin, I have no love loss for Texas Tech. This is purely from a competitive standpoint only. From a purely objective standpoint I want ALL Texas Tech fans to know, and for Coach Leach to know, that because of what the Texas Tech Athletic Director has done, and what the Tech Administration has allowed to happen, has not only dealt a death blow to Texas Tech, but it has also weakened a conference.

Leach has not only elevated Texas Tech football, he also help elevate a conference because he made playing in the Big 12 competitive and as such help to elevate the entire conference. Not only that, he kept many a fine player from Texas in Texas. So, because of a petty insecurity and perhaps jealousy from the Tech AD, and Administration, our state, our conference, and Texas Tech have lost a tremendous amount. Coach Leach, you will be missed sir. I hope and pray that perhaps you could land a job at Kansas or Baylor or some other Big 12 school so that you might keep the competitive edge that we so desperately need in the Big 12. Coach, you got a really raw deal, and I pray that you and your attorney fight this until the bitter end.

When I played football, I had an ex-marine for a coach. Let me tell you, there were many a severe reprimand from him, and we were disciplined severely. However, it made us into the football team that we were, and as a result made men out of us.
Mr. James and his daddy need to stick to ESPN, and take their crying elsewhere. Yes, I am aware that a concussion is a severe matter. I have had a couple myself, but it sounds like to me that all Coach Leach was doing was keeping the crybaby out of the sunlight. How sad that the AD used such a trivial matter to ruin a great program.’

To all of the Texas Tech fans: Rise up my sports brothers and sisters and support your coach to the fullest. If it means not going to games, boycotting, petitions, picketing, etc. DO IT! This is a pivotal moment in your history. Demand that AD be fired, and Leach reinstated. We all need him.

BE PIRATES! Long live the Raider Nation (without Leach don’t know how long that will be)

May God look over all of you.

Good bye and Good luck!

Hook em!

P.S. There is an ipetition that I signed via Lubbock Avalanche. Look it up and sign it! Also, I sent this comment to Myers, et.al.

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The way I see it is everyone has part of the blame. Adam James definitely has an attitude and it is evident in the youtube movie. I wonder why he even remained with the team unless the coaches were hoping he would see the light. His family obviously has spoiled theire little darling and like to throw their weight around. I started to watch the Holiday Bowl last night and turned it off because I could not stand to listen to Craig James’ voice. Leach has his share of the blame as he can be quite obstinate and stubborn and combative and refuses to own up to his own sh** as is evident after the game with Houston and the A&M game. He could stand a bit more of the “buck stops here’” attitude. The administration, including Hance, Myers, Bailey and boosters like Sowell are definitely part of the problem and they have not liked Leach from the beginning because he would not suck up to them. Part of it is the individuals but part of it is the culture. I remember that Jim Carlen took the team to a 11-1 record in 1973 and he had problems with the administration (and media) as well and guess what, he was gone after the next year (1974). Don’t remember if he quit or was fired but somethings never change. Unless the good ol boy culture that is so prevalent at Tech changes we will never truly consistently compete with UT, OU, and Nebraska (now that Pelini has them turned around).

In the words of Forrest Gump, thats all I got to say about that! Wasted too much time already.

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It’s hard to imagine that the $800,000 payment deadline was not a factor in the timing of Leach’s firing. The only other possibility is that the Tech administration didn’t want a public airing of the facts in a courtroom. Either way, their haste suggests personal vendettas and perhaps fear of the national media, particularly ESPN, which didn’t exactly present events in a “fair and balanced” way. Regardless of whether Leach’s actions (the treatment of Adam James, deciding to go to court) were justified, Tech’s decision to fire Leach without substantially more due process is probably going to cost them the $800,000 and a lot more. Leach has got to sue now — there’s no other way he can clear his reputation going forward.

On a personal note, I’ve been a Tech fan for 60 years. I thought I’d never witness anything worse than Jerry Moore’s incompetence or David McWilliams’ dupliciousness. I have now!

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Nerole,

Neither Ed Britton nor his dad is complaining.

Ed Britton (and his dad) are worth more than 100 Jameses. Both are for whatever makes you tougher, stronger, a better man.

Never seen Adam James making the downfield blocks that Ed Britton does.

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Well said orangeblood4life! We appreciate your comments and you nailed it on the head! This hurts the Big 12. Beat Bama!

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I think it is very important for the James family to take care of Adam’s mild concussion and they are negligent parents allowing their injured baby to practice in San Antonio. Tech is negligent if they play Adam again due to the dangers of having a mild concussion. Please help Adam, for his own safety and health, to never play football again!

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I think Kent Hance should be made to go hunting with Dick Cheney!

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At least we can all be happy that ESPN is providing totally unbiased coverage of the Coach Leach saga. As the single largest and most widely viewed sports information network, they can (and have) completely controlled what the general public sees and hears about this issue.

Yesterday I viewed several excerpts from players condeming the Coach and supporting the player but not a single excerpt from anyone supporting the Coach and condeming the player although these appear widely available on the net. I’ve heard ESPN Analyst James put forth his position ad naseum in a special interview (repeated at least 20 times) as well as a “Live” interview with him during the bowl game last night, but, not a single interview with any of the other coaches, trainers or former players that apparently are available for interview elsewhere. We’ve even gotten a live interview with the Tech Administration. I am particularly fascinated with the description painted by ESPN of where our player in question was made to stand (Electrical closet) which appears in significant conflict with the descriptions I’m reading elsewhere on the net. I guess ESPN just doesn’t have enough people to interview these other folks.

There are an awful lot of unconfirmed rumors and stories out there and I’m personally a bit frustrated that most of the information we are getting via ESPN appears heavily filtered.

I’m a 30+ year OSU Cowboy alumni and I”ve gotta tell ya, there are probably a lot of alumni at 11 other schools I can think of off the top of my head that probably should add the Tech Chancellory to their Christmas card list next year…..

OSUAggie

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John – I’m a formerly proud Red Raider alum who is withdrawing my support. What the admin did is hugely wrong. I’ve been following Tech football for 25 years. So unless/until the admin can explain what they did, the timing and public nature of their decision OR until the current members of the admin and the BOR involved in this travesty are gone I just can’t be a Tech fan right now. I’m one of those people with a double t on my car (gone as of yesterday), double t flag on the house, tons of t-shirts etc., driving up to Lubbock from Austin for games. But this is too big of a travesty. For some of us, it’s too hard to say, “well this sucks but we have to move on”. Nope, I need to see heads role before that can happen. Hope Leach wins every dime he’s looking for in court.

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Thought the players aren’t supposed to be making comments to the press about the Leach situaiton? If that ban is still in place, Ruffin McNeil had better discipline Perry, Charbonnet and Swindall for making statements to the press as they would be in violation of team rules.

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For those of you who would like to drop a line where the impact will be felt, go to

http://corporate.disney.go.com/responsibility/index.html

Go to feedback on left

where you can tell the 80% stakeholders of ESPN that you think it’s inappropriate that Craig James be using a public forum to advance a personal agenda.

Tell them to FIRE Craig James!!!!!

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John W. Warren III, I understand what you are saying and this entire situation has made me feel sad, angry, bewildered, but most of all determined. Determined not to accept just accept this situation and move on and forget. Yes, I understand that the Raiders are the Raiders no matter who is coaching. And in most cases I think everyone would be right on board with you. However, how can we as true Raider fans support the actions taken my this administration? How can we listen to chancellor Hance say that the only person that makes it hard to help Mike is Mike? How can we sit and listen to their accusations painting Mike Leach out to be this bad guy when we all know that simply isn’t true? They are destroying his reputation and for what? To me that is the biggest question and when you think back at those contract negotiations and you read the letter the Dallas Morning News released (http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/img/12-09/1231leach.pdf) you must form an answer to the “for what” question. It is becoming painfully obvious this is all over money and pride. A man’s character being called into question, his reputation being damaged because our institution is hung up on money and pride!!

Remember the moments Coach Leach has brought us as Raider fans. The Air Raid offense, the departure from the ev1.net bowl games. The expectation of winning against any team. The win over California in the Holliday Bowl. The win over Texas and a real shot at a national title game… an 11-1 regular season for crying out loud. Not to mention the highest graduation rate of any other public school in the country. Watching Wes Welker perform in the NFL the way he performed at Tech.

This situation sickens me and I KNOW deep down to my core that something is not right with all of this. The pieces don’t fit and everyone knows it.

Who profits from sale out games… they do! If the Texas Tech games to follow are supported as strongly as before, it screams to the nation that all of this was okay with us, BUT IT ISN’T!! This isn’t okay. They were wrong, they are wrong, and I want them to pay the price for being so wrong!! My heart may belong to the scarlet and black and my prayers will stay with those players on the field, but clear mind and my POCKET BOOK will stay with Leach for the foreseeable future.

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Craig James SMU Ponygate

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SUPPORT YOUR SCHOOL AT ALL COST?

Well I suppose that applied to the Germans in 1940′s….I support my country no matter what idiot is in charge.

Sorry my money and support is on hold till Leach returns.

- ’92 TTU grad.

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randy, I like it, but still like “Tortilla Gate” better. LET ‘EM FLY IN PROTEST AT THE ALAMO!!

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1. ESPN has been so unbias in their reporting, to the point I’ve turned off ESPN.
2. How come we hear nothing about James being in trouble the previous week for slacking at practice and causing team
disention? This kid has been a problem for the team before his concussion.
3. There are reports that James was hit in the head in a bar fight, that might have caused the doctor’s diagnosis of “mild
concussion.”
4. The emails posted on Dallas Morning News makes it clear that in Feb. they planned to fire him at the end of the year.

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Kent Hance finally “got” Mike Leach and defended his action on ESPN with a load of bull where he described how he tried to “save” Mike. And how he was so concerned about the James boy. It is apparent from reports in the Dallas Morning News that Hance and others conspired to get rid of Leach. And then Hance referred to Leach as “my coach”. He was not your coach Hance. He was our Coach. The negative consequences to the University from Hance’s action will take years to heal.
This whole thing could have not been handled in a worse way. Hance is responsible for this and not the coach. The actions of the Board of Regents must become more transparent. This whole affair reeks of back room politics and the Red Raider Nation should consider political activity as well. Someone please list the state reps from the Lubbock area.

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Funny … Things tougher than Adam James:

http://forums.tidesports.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3631098265/m/5081044459

Alabama fans forum.

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Thanks to the Aggie and Longhorns for their comments. Leach is a weird guy at times but he was OUR weird guy and did put Tech on center stage. What most people don’t understand about Leach is that he is a person of strong convictions and he did not feel that he was wrong is what he did. I coached some in my younger years and know how a player like James is said to be can be a disruption to the entire team. Isolation may have been an overkill. It appears that Craig James talked Leach into taking his son in spite of objections from other members of the staff. Another example of NO GOOD DEED shall go unpunished.

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Voice of Reason tells us more about the bar fight??

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Craig James has now destroyed two football programs – once by being a paid player, and the second one by being a douchbag parent. Texas Tech has now become the laughingstock of America.

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Foxsports.com – 59% believe firing leach was a huge overreaction. Not just tech fans

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I would also like to know more about the bar fight.

Also, looks like last night’s article with the closet youtube video has been removed???

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“Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds.” This quote from Albert Einstein aptly sums up what has happened to our beloved Coach Leach.

Thank you, Mike, for bringing excitement and fun back to Tech football. I loved watching you coach and seeing us do well against other Big 12 teams, but more importantly, I loved how it energized the Tech alumni, supporters and students.

The whole pirate thing was a great attention-grabber that brought laughter and entertainment to the South Plains. You were a breath of fresh air in an otherwise stale atmosphere of old men and lackluster conformity.

I wish you all the luck.

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First of all, I am a Sooner fan so I should be happy about this event because with Leach we never knew if we would beat or lose to TTU. Leach knew our game plan which showed by how many times we lost to TTU (this year included).

But, I’m not happy how he was treated with alleged allegations. Every time Craig James or TTU University Admin. makes a statement, it becomes more and more murky how and why they terminated him. The one thing I want to state that I haven’t seen so far is how quiet the NCAA has been. Isn’t it kind of strange to not hear anything from the NCAA? They (NCAA) would have been all over this if the coach would have bought James a meal, used his vehicle to transport the boy to a nice quiet place or even rented him a nice hotel suite to recover from his concussion; however, they’re quiet when it comes to possible physical harm to the boy by having him stay in a room while the other players worked out? Also, not many are mentioning that James is a man who could have left the room unlike a child being made to sit in a corner.

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I think James wanted to destroy a second football organization. He and his son are both cry babies. I hope the truth will come out in the trial. And i hope myers finally gets fired which should have been done sometime back.

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Food for thought:

Senior James reply should have been on ESPN, if anything, was “it’s under investigation and I have no comment”. If the situation didn’t include who he was, why wasn’t the wife on talking?

Wonder about the University wide contract that Leach brought to Tech. Can UnderArmor cancel that? I wish they would. That would hit the Regents, Hance, Pres. hard!

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raider4ever that Fox poll is good and that includes their biased media promoting the James’. People know the truth!

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Hey Red Raider fans who support Leach:

Leach may be a great offensive mind/coach and James may be a huge punk, but it doesn’t matter; You CAN’T lock a person in a shed for three hours and call it no big deal! Even smart people (and I’m not saying Leach is smart) who do dumb things (and no matter what the reason, this was DUMB) get punnished.
Further, anybody who thinks the Tech President “destroyed the football program” is ignorant. Leach might have built the program but he also single-handedly destroyed the program in one day by locking that kid up. No player worth anything would go to Tech if Leach were around with this story out int he Media. LEACH SCREWED UP AND COST HIMSELF HIS JOB!

Husker Fan

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It was reported in today’s NY Times that Craig James had left voicemail message to Tech coaches saying if they would give his son more playing time he would say good things about them while announcing the game. The coaching staff filed a complaint with ESPN against James’ actions. Leach also told his son that if his father did it again he would play the voicemails for the entire team. Why hasn’t ESPN mentioned Craig James attempts to bribe Tech coaches to give his son more playing time?

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It’s not about not “supporting” Tech, as most of us will always support Tech as far as pulling for the team, but DO NOT SUPPORT ONE MORE DAY OF GERALD MYERS OR KENT HANCE!!! Their ignorance has made a mockery of TT and it infuriates me that we that have such average, run of the mill administrators that think they much larger than they are.

NO MORE DONATIONS OR SUPPORT UNTIL AT A MINIMUM GERALD MYERS IS GONE!!!

P.S. Ruffing should suspend both Byrnes and Perry for their statements to the national media. If they are restricted from interviews, they should all have to abide. To see both of their negative statements on ESPN last night without any intergrity of sharing the support statements for Leach is biased reporting. The bowl game on TV last night made me sick to listen to Craig James!

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Jon the “Husker” obviously has not paid attention to the actual facts, otherwise he would not have made the asinine statement about the shed.

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bill moore can you post a link to the story about the craig james voice mail? thanks.

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ESPN Mike and Mike reported most are in support of TT officials. So who is right ESPN or Fox?

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right on brian!

Violation of TEAM rules.

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Ruff better bring the TEAM under control….

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ESPN = lies

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go to the espn big12 blog and submit questions/comments to Tim Griffin about ESPN’s bias. Flood him with comments.

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Kent Hance is a back room wheeler dealer with guys like Alan White, AKA Banker, and Jim Sowell, AKA did someone say crook. They have there good ol’ boy network where they try to act like they are Red Raider Gods. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if they didn’t plan all this with Craig James ahead of time. He’s been known for taking money before.

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These are the same Goof Balls that hired Bob Knight…Humm!!

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Jon “the husker” fan needs to get facts straight before running his mouth off.

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Adam James has a mangina!

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My wish this New Years Eve is that our Texas Tech Football Team go out and win the Bowl Game Saturday Night and play from your hearts for Coach Leach. Guns Up Red Raiders.

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Sporting news: “Look, if ESPN can’t help Tech fire Leach, who can? Imagine the giddy feeling Myers must have felt when he realized, for the first time, that ESPN actually was on his side this time.”

http://www.sportingnews.com/college-football/article/2009-12-30/james-gang-helps-texas-tech-get-revenge-on-leach

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Tech how come you don’t buy into innocent until proven Guilty. You bring out a letter of apology{admission of guilt} and want Leach to sign it. Are you kidding me? Leach believes he did nothing wrong so he is not going sign a admission of Guilt. You claim he wouldn’t work with you, well you had him guilty and have allowed espn to Roast Leach all in favor of Craig james. I do believe you will have a tough time finding another coach with the way you have abandoned your Coach when he needed you most. Your afraid of James and the espn media. The player James sounds like a brat and from what I’m told from an insider he tried to undermine authority on several different occaisons. Tech you blew it, Leach will win in court and you will pay his contract. This whole thing stinks and there is more dirty work being done by Tech than all of what Leach is accused of. For you to say he’s quirky and weird on the radio shows your using more and more to try to win your side which sounds shaky ay best. The Ad should be fired for the way he mishandled this event.

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ESPN did not talk to this alum. I emailed Hance and the regents this morning and told them that I have thrown away all of my ttu stuff and on Monday I am going to remove Tech as the benficiary of an insurance policy that I put in place 14 years ago.

ESPN is just trying to keep “James the program killer” from looking like the jerk that he is.

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Well said orangeblood4life. Beat Bama. Go Big 12. GO TECH! Fire Myers!!!

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From outside Lubbock, punishing a kid who was diagnosed with a concussion was a bad decision that could have been overcome. If lawyer Liggett is orchestrating Leach’s decision making, the decision to hire him and listen to his advice was fatal to his client’s future at Tech.

A sad day for all except the inept lawyer… he still gets paid.

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60,000 people do not pay money to see a chancellor and BOR

and they will soon find that out

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ASK YOURSELF RAIDER ALUMNI. WHY DID JAMES AND MEYERS BRING THIS OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE BOWL GAME? RIGHT WHEN ITS TIME TO PONY UP 800 GRAND. NO ONE GAVE LEACH THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT. ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT BOBBY KNIGHT AND ALL HIS STUNTS IS OK BUT A UNFINSHED INVESTIGATION WARRANTS A FIRING. IT’S ABOUT THE MONEY AND THE CONTRACT. THEY WERE NO HAPPY ABOUT THE 12.7 MILLION. TOO MANY PLAYERS AND OTHERS HAVE SAID THE JAMES BOY IS A CRY BABY AND TRIED TO UNDERMINE COACH LEACH MANY TIMES. THIS STINKS TO HIGH HEAVEN AND THE ALUMNI MUST DO SOMETHING ABOUT THESE MEN IN CHARGE. THEY WILL HURT RED RAIDER ATHLETICS. THEY SHOULD PAY LEACH AND SIGN A LETTER OF APOLOGY! . GOOD LUCK COACH LEACH YOUR ABOVE THESE IDIOTS AND I WOULDN’T HAVE SIGNED AN ADMISSION OF GUILT EITHER ESPECIALLY WHEN I DID NOTHING WRONG!

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On a more optimistic note… I vote for RUFF’s RAIDERS !!!! (It’s his job 2 lose for now)

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I am new to Lubbock but have been a Red Raider fan for a long time. I am appalled at the actions of TTU Adm. There is no doubt that Coach Mike Leach’s firing is directly related to money, (and perhaps some personal grudges) Would anyone really expect TTU to admit that, even if it is the truth?? Coach Leach has been there for many years and has not had any significant personality changes in the last year. As for young Mr. James, he was not injuried by Coach Leach’s actions, and was able to take pictures while being isolated, and has posted those pictures on the internet…..seems to me he is using this incident as a means to get attention and has suffered no ill effects of any kind. I think that Red Raider fans should (and I know they will) support the team on Sat. and in the future, however you can support the team without supporting the decision and those who made the decision.

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Sorry, but I don’t have a link to the NY Times story. I read it in this morning’s paper. I suggest finding a copy today’s issue or it might be on the NY Times website.

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Jon the Husker Fan is an idiot….he probably supported the firing of
Frank Solich and his staff, and the total carnage of the Nebraksa football program, 6 years ago…..and if Texas Tech is fortunate enough to get a Coach like Pellini, it will take 6 years of frustration to get close to where you once were, under Coach Leach. When Nebraska fans had enough of Pederson and Callahan anc Co., they were fired and Nebraksa football under the guidance of someone that cared about it (Tom Osborne), finally, is back on track…..too bad we had to go through all of that (including a 70-10 pasting from the Red Raiders). So, good luck TT fans….take a lesson from what happened at Nebraska–re-install Mike Leach as your Head Coach, and rid yourself of those that would destroy your greatest football legacy !

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First the time is right for another sports network to rise up as one is badly needed. CBS, Fox step up to the plate.
Second if I were a big raider fan I would dress in pirate shirts, jackets, hats whatever and if I were going to the bowl game bring pirate flags to show my suport for Leach and disaproval for the lousy leadership you have at this school. The only hand any raider fan can play in trying to clean house is hold on to your money. We are in a recession people and universities all over the country are in a finacial bind. It should not take long for the powers that be to get the message that one they screwed up and two it’s not going to get any better until they leave. The fact that Hance was so desperately trying to make a case for their actions and make Leach the bad guy on espn only goes to prove they are worried by this huge negative reaction to what THEY did. If this was all thought out on how to get ride of Leach and the whiney James kid became their catalyst they are in a state of shock that it did not go the way they thought it would go. They misread how they could manipulate the football public and they are fast getting to a panicked state. Those that call you fair weather fans for withholding your support are living in a dreamworld if they think things will get better if they keep supporting the school and not take a stand. Alot of people that ended up on the bad side in wars and elections thought the same way. I thought how they treated Bobby Bowden at florida state was bad (and it was) but this might be worse in some ways as the guy was exceeding by far expectations as a coach. You guys let your management get away with this crap and it will only continue. To keep a kid in a room as a for of timeout is nothing. College football players have the opportunity to choose which school and which coaching staff to play for. This staff has been there for years and his record about everything was known when they SIGNED THE CONTRACT. The James family knew Leach was the only one willing to give this whiney kid a chance (sure the SMU story is pretty much bull or they would not try so hard to get someone else they felt they could minipulate more playing time from aka the interim caoch) and that Tech was the ONLY D1 option for this kid. He is now out of options if he leaves Tech. As far as Tech trying to make it an insubordination thing if they were so worried about Leach why did they not cover themselves by putting in safety clauses for the students in the CONTRACT. They were not so Leach knew they were trying to word a NEW adendum or binding contract onto the existing contract so he didn’t sign as they were trying to make it easier for them to fire him. They fired him anyway thinking they could still spin it their way. It BACKFIRED

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http://www.baylorfans.com/forums/showthread.php?t=181688

Lists all the letters written by former players & coaches along with letters from the current staff. All are a very good read with strong support for Coach Leach.

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Houston Chronicle poll: 73% says firing was wrong.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsupdate/archives/2009/12/should_mike_lea.html

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I am a Tech Graduate from 1977. This incident has been badly handled by Kent Hance, Gerald Meyers and the University. Coach Leach has been convicted and fired before all of the facts have come out and a full investigative report released. Here in the USA people are innocent until proven guilty. That opportunity has not been given to Coach Leach. From the few details that has been released it sounds like Coach Leach a discipline “spoiled whiney soph. player who has probably been told he was great all of his life and he got hit by the reality bus by Coach Leach. I am witholding ALL monetary support to TTU until this has been resolved. Depending on how TTU handles this will affect my future support. Shouldn’t the University suspend BB Coach Knight for his obscenity filled remarks the other night on TV? Can’t have a double standard. Gerald Meyers needs to go. He has never liked the football program or Coach Leach.

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What was the cause of James head injury? Football related or rumored “bar incident”. I would suggest the true cause of injury might indeed warrant standing in a dark place for awhile.

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it’s delightful seeing the mental gymnastics expended on defending Saint Leach.

The fact is that guy was an abusive sh–head. All the rest is commentary.

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Where’s the Press Conference that most teams have after a firing explaining the situation? If they would have just come out and at least explained the situation to everyone, I might have been able to understand their actions but the only thing we get is a written statement and half a** interviews I have to hear on “Slanted ESPN”. Most universities on Tech’s level, especially the Big 12 have a press conference. We got nothing; therefore, the administration will just keep on doing the same ole things thinking that the fan base and alumni are just a bunch of gullible individuals that are happy to throw our money to Texas Tech.

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The pirate walked the plank.

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This whole thing boils down to a spoiled baby (James) who didn’t like to play by the rules. When he got called on his behavior and punished for it, he threw a temper tantrum to his big powerful media daddy (Craig James) and his daddy’s employer (ESPN). The University didn’t like the publicity and instead of sticking up for thier coach and his rules, they found an opportunity to get even for Leach making them look silly in the contract negotiations last year.

I’m a proud Tech alum and always will be, but if this group of jokers that we have in the current leadership of the University remains much longer, the entire system will crumble. I hope they all burn in hell for destroying a man’s carreer and life the way they are doing. It’s not Mike that should be fired here, but Hance and Meyers, and swiftly. They’ve done more to tarnish our reputation than Leach ever has. We’ve lost a fantastic coach and will soon lose a fantastic football program with him including all of the alumni dollars that program brings in. Who would want to work such a group of people as the leadership of our great University. Any coach worth his salt would avoid a 300 mile radius of Lubbock, Texas now. Welcome back to the land of mediocrety. FIRE MEYERS AND HANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Kick James off the team!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Looks like Hance and Meyers could not stand a coach that was greater than his bosses. Sad, so sad.

And, it is the kids that suffer because those with power cannot act like grown-ups.

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Regarding Hance’s comment that the impending $800K bonus was “never a consideration” in the decision to fire Leach, just how naive does Hance really believe people are? Regardless of which “side” you support in this controversy, surely you realize everything is ALWAYS about money.

The James’ complaint being initiated by father Craig James is just more evidence that the epidemic of overparenting that has been rampant in the public schools during the last decade has now insidiously infiltrated the highest administrative echelon at the university level. Shame on you Myers, Bailey, and Hance, for letting helicopter parents provide you with the trump card you were seeking. I hope that the replacement Tech football coach is one who has already swallowed that difficult pill of acknowledging that affluent, pseudo-celebrity parents run the athletic program there.

I don’t know how much truth there is to the numerous allegations of Adam James’ laziness, entitlement, and poor work ethic. However, it seems clear to me where he may have acquired those attributes. Do you have any idea, Mr. Craig “Sikorsky” James?

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I read Tech’s counter filing for the injunction hearing. As soon as Ligget files any suit against Tech the AG is going to file for dismissal on the grounds that as a state agency, Tech cannot be sued unless the state legislature waives the universities immunity. And it will probably be dismissed. Liggett will have to refile before the legislature in 2011 and try to get them to permit the lawsuit. With $12,000,000 plus lost wages if Leach doesn’t find another job I would be very surprised if they allowed it. Then again, I was very surprised Leach got fired. With the information we have the only reason the Tech administration would feel comfortable firing Leach was if they were sure they would not be sued.

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According to Leach’s side of the story, he was not punishing the kid. The kid was supposed to stay out of the sun. He was sent to the shed where he could be out of the sun. According to one former players response that I heard, that shed is where players go to cool down when they are overheated. Adam James was being treated the way other players who needed to get out of the sun were treated.

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The contract was changed fromthe prior one that Leach had, article 5, pure and simple the ad set a trap for him,also getting a real lesson in media spin onn this whole matter also.

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I support Hance. Period.

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We must stand together as TECH alumni and make sure that the seats are not filled next season and it possibly should even start with BB. It is unorthodox as alumni to take action that will hurt our student athletes…..but if we stay quite nothing will change. We need to do our part for our university and run them out and the only way that message can be sent is by keeping our money and support for the current admin. It hurts having to speak such action….but I’m telling you fellow TECH ALUMNI….WE HAVE TO SEND OUR MESSAGE. These people have destroyed the image of the university and for that they must pay by being removed. Lubbock will see the truth in short time and we ALL will understand the crookedness of the actions taken by the chancellor, president, ad and most surprisingly the bor. The emails that have come out on DMN speak volumes of the good ol boy system that is in place and has been for some time….what is funny too…is that chancellors and presidents have come and gone but for some reason the AD has been fixed to his position…you have to raise an eyebrow at that. TECH alumni please except this post as a call to spread the word that we need to recover our university and bring people in who can start doing proper business that helps the university prosper. We also have to ask ourselves…”Why is it that the ad’s job is being done by the chancellor or the president? It looks as if we can do without the ad position…when others are doing it for him.

Always for the RED & BLACK

Changes need to be made!!!

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Evidently there is evidence of an e-mail from a regent or someone with power thats quoted as saying they can’t afford a big contract with leach, give him less money thats basically the jest of it. The story is in the dallas news. They must have waiting for any way to rid themselves of Leach and the 12.7 million contract. They have blew it, Leach is a great coach whats sad is nowadays parents want all kids to get a trophy, no one wants to lose and get better. Mickey Mantle called home and his dad said suck it up. Jason White called home his dad well you can pour concrete with me if you can’t handle it, toughen up or come home, White went on to the Heisman trophy Mickey mantle well you know what he did. James is a punk his dad should have flown to Lubbock and spanked him, instead James has brought down the football program with lies and mistruths. It’s all about the money. I think Spike Dikes would come back and cheaply too. The Big 12 south will only have 2 teams now trhat we know will win year in and out, when before this you could never count out the Red Raiders with Mike Leach and the helm. sad day that a guy who only cares about football and studies it like Belechik is fired for no good reason . Oh well thats life theirs winners and losers and then their cheats and liers like the James and Meyers.

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Not supporting the teams will do more harm then good. You want a change of administration you do it in a way that does not damage the University or the athletics.

If you want to do something…wait for the facts and then if you want them out…draw up a petition to have them removed…but don’t damage the University any more then it has been. Not supporting the kids there is not the sign of a true Red Raider. Fill the stands and support the athletes. If it comes down to needing to remove members of the Administration….you do it the right way.

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I agree TTU Gun Slinger. Unfortunately I don’t think the powers that be at Tech will listen any other way. Petitions, etc. will not work with these good ole boys. Only money will talk. Sad times.

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I agree with TTU Gun Slinger. When my alumni membership is received in February I will send it in with “FIRE GERALD MEYERS AND THEN I WILL RENEW” written in bold letters.

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Spike Dykes = Zero Big 12 Football Conference Championships

Mike Leach = Zero Big 12 Football Conference Championships

Next coach ??

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I think you are right about numbers…but it is people not dollars that will cure the problem. If enough Red Raiders want change…then it is possible. The question is…can you find enough that support your view. I don’t think you can. Especially once the facts come out.

Either way…no one will hear your cry until the facts are out.

The current players and their comments weight heavy right now…if they say the team was glad to see Leach go…I have to think that whether people think the Administration was right or Leach…it is probably best that Leach is gone.

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opps I have gotten moderated….

AJ is becoming TTU authorized speach only…

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This is the old “get a rope” mentality on here. You people need to show some patience and wait for this to play out. Hard to believe so many poeple in America are so quick to get a rope and hang someone. Find out the truth people and look at it from both sides.

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Its been said that Craig James wants to run for political office some day. He (Craig) is just practicing on how to screw people over.

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Wrongful termination suit is the first thing I thought of. While others I’ve talked to have mentioned defamation of character suits. Let’s be honest here for a minute.
Can or would any court of law be able to prove that Leach intentionally or even unknowingly did any harm to James?

I find it awfully difficult to believe that Leach won’t EASILY win a case against Tech and these flimsy reasons.

Leach’s attorneys appear to have quite a legitimate beef I think. And let’s face it…there’s been bad blood and this is the incident or an incident the AD and administration had hoped would happen. They look bad if they let him walk away after last year. They actually look bad now, too, though they don’t think they do. In most impartial eyes, they do, and about all who are partial to Leach. In fact, who other than the chancellor and pres. are in Myers’ camp? Or other key BOR?

It’s certainly true those folks hold the most power for decision making, but they’ll be shocked when they see how much clout and power the rank-and-file season ticket holders wield when a huge chunk opt not to renew. Also I think you can say goodbye to some major TV appearances in the future as well!

Hopefully I’ll be wrong on all of that. I do wish the best for my school!

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Adam James is Texas Tech’s Helen of Troy.

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Guy Bailey has never worked at a school that had a big time football team. He should have taken his time in dealing with this issue. If Leach isn’t reinstated as head coach, Tech will drop out of site. A&M and UT have had coaching issues, but both of those schools have a bigger “cushion.” Tech does not. Too many issues here suggest that politics has again claimed another victim.

Bailey and Hance have shot down Tech. Leach has put the school on the map. If he doesn’t return, Tech will go back to the “good ole days” of 6-6 seasons. The defensive coordinator wants Leach’s job? What a laugh.

Football isn’t everything, but it sure can give a university exposure to the outside world. I’m not a Red Raider, but I do know what Leach has done for the school’s image. Bailey’s an English major, and few of those folks like sports of any kind. Bailey will regret his haste in not fully exploring the Leach-James issue and putting off a decision until after the bowl season. Very bad judgment.

Former students should demand Bailey’s and Hance’s resignations. Gov. Perry will stay out of this mess. Why not? Without Leach, his beloved Aggies should have another easy game on their schedule.

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SMU does not need another James boy!

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From the state of N.C ,your football coach got screwed! Give Adam James a tampon ! I am a East Carolina Pirate fan, but I will have to say I always enjoyed watching the Texas Tech football team knock off the traditional powerhouses in the Big 12! This program had a lot of momentum under Leach. The political stench is pretty strong ! Craig James was in on the plot from my perspective to remove Leach. Tech fans need to demand answers.

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I have funny shirts supporting our coach!! I’ll be in Fort Worth in the morning, Austin tomorrow afternoon, and in San Antonio Saturday. Email me if you would like one and we can make arrangements…. luckyzcw@hotmail.com

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I am surprised at the number of fans who say, support TTU, suppor the administration no matter what?? The only way to get things to change is vote with your wallets and stay away. This is exactly what happens at other schools. When the alums are unhappy and the money stops flowing, then the powers that be act and try to fix the situation.

My TTU stuff is going in the rag bag.

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Leach will not be reinstated.

Leach is a LIAR and completely delusional.

Leach is history.

Time for Tech to move on.

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If he did that to my son, I would punch Coach Leach in the face until he got a concussion, then I would put him a closet.

This Coach was an inhuman monster.

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OK LETS MAKE THIS EASY TO UNDERSTAND. How many parents of any age child (though under the law this whiney kid is a full fledged voting adult who could also join the military if he wished and carry an m16) have sent a child to a room, den, garage, chair in the corner of a room, etc., for timeout. Did you feel you damaged said child for doing so or did you feel like you sent that child a message to change behavoir. THAT IS ALL THAT LEACH DID! In fact I watched the 16 second video that the dumb kid put on youtube and you can tell he is more interested in getting away with something than about his mental psycy. What Houredraider doesn’t seem to get when a comment is made to send your money cause you don’t want to hurt the school and the players is that has already been done by the current corrupt administration. Also said was give them time to work it out. DID THEY TAKE TIME TO MAKE SURE DUE PROCESS WAS ACCOMPLISHED IN THIS CASE AND AVOID HURTING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF PEOPLE. Yea right. The reason a person parts with their hard earned dollars (and they are hard earned of late) for an organization is because they believe and trust that that organization will do the right thing with those dollars and make decisions to help the school and teams. How have these quikly made decisions helped the RED RAIDERS. If you have leadership you don’t trust why would you throw money their way? You point out a couple of players trashing Leach on a biased station like espn and them claiming the rest of the team feels the same way. Well why are not the rest of the team stepping forward to confirm this? Or are they a couple of the true friends of the James kid and exagerating their point just as the James kid and his daddy did about his mistreatment and emotional trauma. From what I see emotions are real high right now to get rid of the current threesome that are resposible for the firing and only time will tell if people stick to their guns to get a change.

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Good for you Tammy,well put..

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It’s funny that talks of a settlement are already at the forefront, when the GOBs want everyone to think they were 100% in the right in this whole matter. If they were 100% in the right, why the settlement talk?

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Well done boys (Sowell, Meyers, Hance) resolving this matter privately and and supporting your coach instead of your egos would have cost you a lot less $ than what you will deal with down the road.

Thanks again

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What chance to you think Leach and his half-wit attorney have in a law suit against the State of Texas? I wouldn’t want this Liggett representing me in traffic court. Since Tech is a state-supported school, they will be going up against the Attorney General’s office and all of the legalese at their disposal. Leach would be better off to hire Armstrong Moving & Storage, pack his stuff and leave town. He won’t get a dime and if he does, Liggett will take 9cents.

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Bernie, from what is being reported they are in settlement, what does that tell you?

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Interesting how we get some great support from folks from UT and A&M. There are also support on websites from Baylor, UofH and even Alabama (this one is funny – “things tougher than Adam Craig”). Quality coaches from across the nation cannot understand how this could have happened to a querky but quality coach. Maybe Leach falls too hard on his law background. Certainly Jim Sowell deals with negotiating with a college football coach like he is dealing with a construction worker (both good people, but totally different in negotiations). Hance apparently has no clue what to do in a relationship negotiation. Myer and negotiating – Ha Ha Ha. His batteries ran out years ago. With all the brain trust found on TTU property one would think they could find a good negotiator, and if not a good counselor. We all get a TTU education and go forth into the world and do wonderous things. The guys at the top can not get through a conversation with fellow TTU employees. So sad. So sad.

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Tuberville is a LOT better coach than Leach. TT fans should be thanking their lucky stars this turned out the way it did. Tuberville has instant credibility around the nation – something Leach never had.

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Nerole Coach leach brought inso much money to lubbock simply because of his personality and air raid offense,and made sure his athletes graduated, Leach is gone there is no denying that but if your coach or anyone else thinks all of this is going to go away anytime soon you and any coach are sadly mistaken ,people here in Lubbock and other places are mad, let me repeat that mad, simply because of the underhanded way he was fired,it was wrong and evil, let me repeat that evil.get it evil ,read the e- mails, nobody and I mean nobody is going to come in right away and expect everything to be like it was , recruting this year is going to suck, let me repeat that again suck!!! why would so many people be so upset because they know it was wrong, Leach was very popular here,and willbe for a long time..

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Most likely this Adam James player inherited arrogance, ego and a big mouth like his dad, Craig James. I didn’t get the chance to watch much TT football but watching one highlight when Coach Leach was coaching James and what looks to be James arguing with Coach Leach, pretty much tells it all. I suggest the Big 12 request any ESPN or ABC televised games come without Craig James.

I think TT in part was trying to get out of paying Leach and they may have cut their nose off despite their face not mentioned giving other universities ideas of saving money and putting current Coaches on paranoia alert. Oh, and what about those past famous college and past and current NFL players that have sons playing the game. If I was a college coach, I would be a little leary of recruiting them.

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I have no problem accepting the fact Adam was put in the “time-out chair” in the shape of a garage. Several people on the field those days confirmed Adam was peacocking around, ignoring coaches instructions. He needed a time out just like any 6 year old misbehaving.

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