news you won’t get here:

A mostly full Alamodome crowd of more than 64,000 showed their appreciation.

In Leach vs. Texas Tech, there was no doubt where the fans sided Saturday.

Pirate flags fluttered in the parking lot. Posters venerating Leach and dogging James — “EVERY SUCCESSFUL PIRATE KNOWS BETRAYAL” hanged prominently behind the Texas Tech bench — were en vogue in just about every aisle.

Gray-haired alumni made “Fire (Texas Tech AD Gerald) Myers” stickers a popular accessory, and scores of Texas Tech students arrived in “Team Leach” T-shirts. Even a 10-year-old wore a shirt taking a shot at the James family.

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News you won’t get here:

The wide receiver, son of ESPN analyst Craig James, got a hostile reception all night from the crowd, who booed the sophomore so loud that it drowned out the marching band at halftime.

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Hey Randy

Give it up

Leach is gone and he’s not coming back. If you are a true Red Raider you’ll support our team and players and focus on the positive.

Adam James could be and probably is everything Mike Leach has said about him. The bottom line is coaches are entrusted to do everything in their power to act responsibly and take care of their players’ health, safety and well-being, and Leach wrongfully abused that mission.

Way to go Red Raiders

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Mike — It is people like you who the “suits” are depending on to “forget about this and move on”. We all know Leach is not coming back, and MAYBE that is for the best for everyone; however that doesn’t change the corruption and lack of integrity within our administration. It also doesn’t change that this was all started by a little punk and his self-serving daddy.

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Art Briles has been contacted by TT I know that is fact and he is considering it so TT must be considering the buy out

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Well put teacupttu

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well put teacup

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Congratulations Raiders!!!! Way to come back and take the win over Michigan St. That was a fitting tribute to Coach Leach. You took what he installed in 10 years of coaching and converted it into a win tonight. The meticulous attention to detail that Coach Leach insisted on day in and day out during practice certainly paid off. You should be proud of your performace tonight!! Texas Tech has the most explosive and exciting game in college football today. I hope that tonight’s performance is not the last time we in Raider Nation will expericence it. Thanks to the Tech Administration for putting that into jeporady. More Importantly, THANK YOU COACH LEACH FOR 10 GREAT YEARS AT TEXAS TECH, THOSE OF US WHO COUNT WILL MISS YOU!!!!!!

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Well, we lost a good but quirky coach who had to know that he was skating on thin ice if all that he has done to irritate the administration is true. But we gained, hopefully, a big loveable bear of a coach if the admin does what is obvious and hire Ruff as head coach. I think that he proved last night that he can do the job. And it seems all the players and coaches like him. Go, Ruff.

Mike, I appreciate the job that you did for us but even pirates have to answer to some one. I hope you learned a lesson out of all this and you’ll be even better at your next job.

Adam, the pressure is on you. We all expect you to out work everyone else. Be the example. I sure do not want Adam to be the big loser in all this but he will be if he does not change his attitude. Dad, you keep reminding him to do it.

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teacupttu

are you kidding me? You obviously were on another planet last year during the contract negotiations between Mike Leach and TTU administration.

Mike Leach was looking for another school ( Washington ) to coach at and negotiating a new contract with Tech at the same time.
I don’t blame Tech for being upset at Mike Leach. I agree with them, he didn’t deserve a huge contract. I’m sure people will disagree with me but in my opinion he hadn’t done crap. No BCS games or Big 12 championships since he’s been here. I’m tired of coming in second and third place. You don’t deserve over 2 million dollars a year for coming in second and third place.

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Briles issued a statement to the media and TT admin this morning saying he is happy at Baylor and not interested in the vacancy at Texas Tech.

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The trouble maker needs to transfer to his daddy’s school and see if they (The James Family) can take down that university for a second time. I don’t think the player’s or the coaches at Tech want this slacker, trouble maker, whiner, cry baby, back and I know we the fans don’t want him back. HE NEEDS TO GET THE HELL OUT OF LUBBOCK, WE DON’T NEED HIM AND WE DON’T WANT HIM.

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Mike Leach………………. F (for content ) A (for effort and guts)

Ruffin McNeil……………. A-

Linc Riley………………….. A+++

This guy can’t be more than a yr or two older than Potts. Did you see him take control when Potts asked coach Ruff who was quarterbackin and Ruff deferred you could tell to Linc standing beside him. Then Linc barked at Potts and Potts threw up his hands and walked away! Way to take control in a hostile atmosphere Coach Riley! AND!! Way to stay focused on actually what was happenin on the field the whole time. I’m impressed! We appreciate the leadership. Sometimes we’re right and sometimes we’re wrong but a decision has to be made and executed.. It was. Sticks came thru man! An ex qb from Muleshoe can’t be all bad! Don’t go anywhere kid. We be fixing to have a really big show in the Big 12 next yr. Just you wait……..

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if you were watching the game on tv the espn camera people mad sure that the pro leach signs and the anti adninstration fire myeres signs were not seen

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Mike,

Then as the lowest paid coach in the conference why do you blame Leach for searching for other opportunities when he’s been dealing with an administration and Mr. Sowell who obviously had no intention of paying the AP National Coach of the Year what he was worth? The emails are clear. They wanted to avoid a new contract, get him to work through 2009 and then dump him, and then go find some young hot shot they could pay less than the $1.5 million Leach was getting. They want something for nothing and the something they get they want to control. I don’t blame Mike Leach one bit for looking around and seeing what was out there last year. Your school wants to play in the FBS and budget their staff as if it were in the FCS. Art Briles AT BAYLOR making more than Mike Leach was criminal. Period.

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if you were watching the game on tv the espn camera people mad sure that the pro leach signs and the anti adninstration fire myers signs were not seen

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Maybe, just maybe, we could get Coach Ruff set up in line to be our next A D. He’s smart , persuasive, cool, well-spoken and good lookin!

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Mike — I followed those negotiations pretty closely, and frankly I could care less that he looked elsewhere. I would too if I knew my bosses weren’t sure about extending my contract; hence not showing ME loyalty. And I don’t care who you are — if someone offers you more money elsewhere, it is definitely worth consideration. Give me a break! People see “what else is out there” all the time in the “real” world. While it may be sad, the lack of loyalty is now the world we live in, and we all must consider other opportunities. That is why Tech needed to show their appreciation to Mike Leach and pay him fairly when compared to other Big 12 coaches. He single-handedly brought more exposure to Texas Tech than anything else — and THAT, my friend, is more important than ANY football game.

And obviously more people on this board agree with me than you, so you are as stubborn as Mike Leach himself!

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Kacey—

I feel for you, really do, but you’ll see it will be much better. What you said in your comments was just a “means to an end’ – something that had to happen to get us to the next level. Briles is coming and it is gonna be good. It is gonna be better
than ever!! Red Raiders Rock!!!

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Kacey
My information is not a statement from the media but from source real real real close as of around 8:00 pm

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teacupttu you are dead-on.

The funny thing to me is all this Tuberville talk. Tommy made $2.6 million his last year at Auburn and had a $6 million buyout. If his agent comes walking in the door with those type numbers TT may not need too much longer to find a new Pres., Chance., and AD because based on their past and apparent belief systems all three will have heart attacks.

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i NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND HOW HITLER TOK OVER GERMANY NOW I DO, THANK GOD FOR THE COMPUTER AGE WHERE YOU CAN GET INSTANT INFO,BRING BACK THE CAPTAIN OR WALK THE PLANKAND I DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK.. ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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That was the best game I have seen Tech play. I for one think Leach did not coach well this year. He made some errors that cost Tech the ball game at Houston and he did not prepare the Team for the Aggie game. The trying to draw the other team off side and then calling a timeout was a waste of a time out. The trying to fake taking a knee call by Leach showed his ignorance of the rules. Going for it on fourth and goal during the Houston game instead of the field goal. The Brandon Carter suspension could have been handled better. I sensed that Leaches head was not in the game at times. I love Coach leach and he did get screwed by that idiot Meyers and Kent hance Ruffin Mc Neil is a great man and is Head Coach material. Lincoln Riley was awesome. Where did he come from? Man what great young coaching talent. Tech really played great tonight and I was really proud of the team.

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Don

You are kidding yourself if you think what happened on the field tonight will last under McNeil. What happened tonight is the product of 10 years of tireless practice and training of the coaching staff and players. History tells us that once the leader is gone, the demise of the team is not far behind. It was a great victory but don’t try to make more of it that it was. We celebrate tonight but tomorrow we wonder what path our program will take. That path falls directly on the heads of the ones who fired the Captain! If they can’t put up, I do hope every one responsible for this injustice loses their jobs.

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Red Raider 76 why do you “feel for me”? I’m not a Texas Tech fan. I feel FOR YOU. If Art Briles is the next coach at TT then hey….that’s great. He’s an idiot, but that’s great. Until things change at the top at TT nothing is going to change in the coaches office. Briles may very well come there, but then what happens when he runs 4 9+ win season together and wants a new contract? If the same power players are there he’ll be gone because they won’t pay. Not to mention this whole scene is about to get UGLY with possible NCAA investigations and even State of Texas investigations more probable than not. If some of the things that are being whispered are true we’re talking major sanctions from the NCAA and possible jail time from the state. The key is Leach, how much does he know, and what can they prove. He’s already going to win in court going away for probably his full $12.7 million or a large portion settled out of court because of the email paper trail and other evidence from last winter. If he choses to really burn TT with all the other stuff Hance, James, and others in Austin are involved in then…..godspeed.

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Proud of the Raiders’ performance. Moreso, I’m real proud of Ruff, Linc, and the rest of the staff to keep it together. I’d like to see the coaching staff remain intact–perhaps add a D-Coordinator to fill Ruffin’s place and keep Riley as OC. My opinion is recruits will stay committed with as little change as possible.

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I havent heard anything about any ncaa investigations or state of texas investigations so if you are going talk about such why don”t you just gi9ve us the details on the subjuct

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BRING BACK THE CAPTAIN OR WALK THE PLANKAND I DONT GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK

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Don Williams is part of the “good ole boy” network. Is it any wonder the Journal is goin under. They can’t get advertisers to spend money with them. It’s time to clean house at the Lubbock AJ. Let’s get writers who get the real story. Till then readership will continue to decline and advertising dollars are better spent at the Want Ads!

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JAMES FAMILY LEGACY

1 CRAIG JAMES — SMU RECIEVES DEATH PENALTY

2 ADAM JAMES — GETS TEXAS TECH COACH FIRED

3 ADAM JAMES — SON GOES TO TEXAS — DETAILS TO FOLLOW

MAN I LOVE TRIDENT LAYERS

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Kacey darlin, keep smokin on whatever it is you have and you’ll finish that crime, sex , and mystery novel you been working on the last 10 yrs. Now you got it goin girl!!!!!!!! Just don’t get your you know whuts all twisted up – kay?

Me- I’m going to bed and tomorrow hope dumb -a## Tony (I never cared about winning in Dec cause I had Jessica) Romo has half the game Sticks had tonite!

After ya finish makin millions on that , ummm, novel check back with us in a very few yrs to see consistency, values, championships, higher salaries for all, and yes, Virginia, good graduation rates acceptable to all the moms and dads.

And if there is some bench clearing brawl then hell I’ll jump out of my seat with em – lets get some swagger in here so we dont just kick butt at our house but we go do it at Norman and Austin and Miami, etc. And if that is too much for you to handle darlin then go see somethin you like that may be G rated. Cause we like our football and we like it down and dirty!!!!

But we preciate your input-

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NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH

DON WILLIAMS AND ADAM ZUVANICH WILL ONLY USE ESPN OR OTHER WIRE SERVICES TO GET NEWS

MORE DETAILS AS WE GET THEM FROM ESPN OR THE WIRE SERVICES

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The Denton Ryan QB is the one I hope stays commited. The sooner that the Admin. makes a decision on HC the better. If we start losing commits at this point it’s Myers’ fault and no one else’s. Make a decision, Myers, don’t “F” around !!

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THIS WAS A BIG WIN. BUT LET US GIVE THE CREDIT WHERE THE CREDIT IS DUE. THIS IS AND WILL ALWAYS BE COACH LEACH’S TEAM. IT’S HIS OFFENSE AND THEY CAME OUT SWING. THE DEFENSE DIDN’T PLAY IT’S BEST BALL. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, WASN’T MSU MISSING ALOT OF THERE OFFENSIVE PLAYERS. THE OFFENSE OUT PLAYED THE DEFENSE SO MAKE LINCOLN HEAD COACH. BUT AGAIN WE ALL KNOW WHO’S TEAM WAS ON THE FEILD TONITE.

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THE RED RAIDER NATION IS NOT GOING TO STAND FOR THIS, FIRE THE 3 STOOGES AND GET RID OF THE COCKROACHES THAT ARE BEHIND THIS, BRING BACK OUR CAPTAIN OR WALK THE PLANKAND I REALLY DONT CARE WHAT YOU THINK

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GARYOUNT— YOU’RE THE MAN — I BET YOU LIKE TRIDENT LAYERS TOO. BRING BACK THE CAPTAIN!!!!!

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Lance Owens said:

Congratulations Raiders!!!! Way to come back and take the win over Michigan St. That was a fitting tribute to Coach Leach. You took what he installed in 10 years of coaching and converted it into a win tonight. The meticulous attention to detail that Coach Leach insisted on day in and day out during practice certainly paid off. You should be proud of your performace tonight!! Texas Tech has the most explosive and exciting game in college football today. I hope that tonight’s performance is not the last time we in Raider Nation will expericence it. Thanks to the Tech Administration for putting that into jeporady. More Importantly, THANK YOU COACH LEACH FOR 10 GREAT YEARS AT TEXAS TECH, THOSE OF US WHO COUNT WILL MISS YOU!!!!!!

————

Great post.

Leach built the team, the coaches, the plays etc. took 10 years to get it to this point….oh what could have been. Wish the scabs well.

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Dog is right

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BRING BACK THE CAPTAIN OR WALK THE PLANK THATS OUR MOTTOAND I DONT GIVE A DAMN WHAT YOU THINK AND FIRE THE 3 STOOGES AND THE COCKROACHES BEHIND ALL OF THIS MESS AND FIRE CRAIG JAMES WHILE YOUR AT IT TOO.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Most new coaches take over a program that is tired and run to the ground. This program still has alot going for it. But not just any coach can come in and keep it going the right direction. We need someone with the same mind set as Leach with the spread offense and our defense still needs improvements. And can someone please tell me why Adam James didn’t play more. Was it because there are about 10 other recievers that are better than him. You know, Texas Tech was the only D1 school to offer him a ful ride. That should tell you something. Again, Adam, one day when you have a son — sent him to Texas — it’s there turn

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DOG YOUR RIGHT ON WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP PUTTING ON THE PRESSURE ON THESE COCKROACHES AND LET THEM KNOW THAT WE SEE THROUGH THE BULL, WE ARE THE RED RAIDERS WE WILL NOT SURRENDER OUR CAPTAIN TO THE MUTINEERS, HAVE INTEGRITY AND HONOR LIKE OUR CAPTAIN..

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FIRE CRAIG JAMES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Many people may not realize this but Craig James has a hidden agenda. He has just written a book, “A Rollicking Journey to the Heart of College Football “t hat was published November of 2009. If this is not a publicity stunt what is?

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Day-Rollicking-Journey-Football/dp/0470470569

Roll Tide Roll

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THE MAN WANTS TO RUN FOR SENATE IS COUNTRY IS IN TO MUCH TROUBLE TO HAVE HIM AS A SENATOR

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SOCME, HAVE YOU READ THE BOOK, MAYBE HE CAN REPLACE DON WILLIAMS CAUSE HE CAN’T WRITE.

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NEED TO LOOK INTO HOW MANY GAMES THAT ESPN TELEVISED BEFORE ADAM JAMES WAS GIVEN A SCHOLARSHIP IN FOOTBALL AFTER BEING KICKED OFF THE BASEBALL TEAM ? AND HOW MANY TIMES THAT ESPN TELEVISED ONCE HE WAS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM????

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Why, was that Leach’s agenda with that cancer?

That 60 minutes piece showed he liked to play his cards and that he had to to compete with the uT and OU of the world….

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Again no-one picked up the tv rights for the a&m game. Thankfully!

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I have not read the book but I will if I can find it at our local library someday. I have no intention of contributing a red cent to this man’s cause. I would also like to comment on a few of the adults involved.

1. Kent Hance – A former politician. Have any of you ever believed anything a politician has ever said?
2. Craig James – Wants to get into the political arena. See the connection with number 1
3. Gerald Myers – Accused of player abuse before he came to Lubbock. Endorsed Bobby Knight
4. Jim Sowell – One of several wealthy boosters who run the football program.
5. Texas Board of Regents – See the connection with number 4
6. Mike Leach – No personal skills, very popular, winning coach, fired. See the connection with number all the above

Roll Tide Roll

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time to go to bed out in the shed at least its not the electrical closet annymore, the shed has no windows,and ILLPROBABLY STOMP SOME COCKROACHES TO STAY INPRACTICE AND GET UP TOMORROW AND WATCH THE 3 STOOGES AGAIN

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It pains me that the three stooges saw the game in their luxury boxes and are sleeping at the finest hotel in San Antonio Riverwalk and fly back in corporate jets and live in mansions all paid for by Texas Tech (and Mike Leach’s football program). Hope they enjoyed it.

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JUST LIKE THE HITLER YOU TUBE , SLEEP WELL GERALD YOU TORE DOWNTHE BEST PROGRAM TECH EVER HAD

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It doesn’t matter who is the coach, who is in the uniforms, who is on the sidelines, who the admin. is , HELL IT DOESN’T EVEN MATTER IF IT IS EVEN WASHERS OR HORSESHOES IF IT HAS A DOUBLE T ON IT AND REPRESENTS TEXAS TECH THEN I AM ROOTING FOR IT. THOSE OF YOU WHO THINK DIFFERENT GO AND PUT YOUR PINK PANTIES ON AND BE A PINK RAIDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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TECH GOT A LOT OF MONEY FOR THOSE TV GAMES,WHO WAS TELEVISING THEM ESPN, ADAMS DAD, MORE PLAYING TIME, WASNT KICKED OFF THE TEAM ,EFFECTING THE MORALE OF THE TEAM BEFORE A BIG GAME,CRAIGAND HANCE BUSINESS PARTNERS? YOU FIGURE IT OUT,ESPN CONTINUALLY TAKING CRAIGS SIDE COMING OUT WITH DOCTORED UP LETTERSRIGHT BEFORE A GAME THAT ESPN WAS TELEVISING AND USING A SPORTSCASTER TO CONTINUALLY TALK ABOUT LEACH IN A BAD WAY THAT HAD NOCONNECTION WITH THE PLAY BY PLAY OF THE GAME?? FIGURE IT OUT FOLKS ITS NOT THAT HARD..

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Everyone that is saying that this is Mike Leach’s team, is exactly right. The only difference that i saw was that where Mike would have made a call, it took lincoln and ruffin a timeout to make a decision. The players themselves will tell you that they played on instinct from a playbook that was created by the man himself. The win was ok, but, remember that Michigan State was a 6-6 team coming into the game with a dozen or so suspensions. Might as well get used to being mediocre. If the cameras add pounds to you when you are on t.v, how many cameras did mcneill have on him? The offense played well, but, wasnt really precise. I did see several seniors that wont be around next year as well as on the defense. This is the same scenario that Kristy Curry faced when she showed up at tech, coaching players that she didnt recruit and now that she is using her players, her results have improved. That chemistry is what is necessary for a team to get along and produce positive results. Hance, meyers, bailey, sowell, and james are not team players and for the last time, what is it going to take to make them go away? I was a Miami Hurricane fan before i became a tech fan. This was before meyers was the a.d. I think im going back to that and the only thing that will bring me back to tech is the complete and total dismissal of all the people that i said were not team players.

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Mike said this

Mike Leach was looking for another school ( Washington ) to coach at and negotiating a new contract with Tech at the same time.
I don’t blame Tech for being upset at Mike Leach. I agree with them, he didn’t deserve a huge contract. I’m sure people will disagree with me but in my opinion he hadn’t done crap. No BCS games or Big 12 championships since he’s been here. I’m tired of coming in second and third place. You don’t deserve over 2 million dollars a year for coming in second and third place.

Mike has just a few errors in his statement. Read the emails between Jim Sowell and Kent Hance. And secondly, even a 3rd grader would know that Texas Tech tied for first last year and a team they were tied with played for the national championship and the other team they were tied with could have= had we not beat them. If you can beat OU and Texas every other year with less than youve either outcoached them or outworked them or both. Use a little logic. Or are you a Tech administrator? Or is your real name Mike Hunt?

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Congrats to the Red Raiders. What a great show for Ruffin and “his” boys! Once again I will say this about Potts. You played a great first half and should be proud of your efforts. However, your old problems surfaced in the second half. Once again “Sticks” came out and did his normal outstanding job. We would not have won without him!

Lets hope whoever runs this team realizes he is better for the team than Potts will ever be. Again congrats all. GUNS UP!!!

Tech Alum

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Whether you call them the Three Stooges or Beavis and Butthead (Hance and Myers) it was a good win over a 6-7 football team missing 14 players?

What’s not to like about Ruffin? We are going to see if being best friends with your players as head coach will translate into success.

It will be interesting.

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I read all of these comments and there is not a lot I would add. The game I saw last night contained everything one could want in a football game. About all it needed was an overtime.

That being said, one of the comments talked about the ESPN coverage of the statements released by TTU. Who is this tall guy who kept talking about being a coach and a parent? Was it me or did he have his hair colored funny as well? Forgive me, that’s not supposed to matter.

I have been watching TT play on TV for most of my life. I remember when the idea of a Tech team even getting to be on TV was a treat for many who couldn’t go to the games. Now almost every game is televised somewhere. Does anyone remember the Monday morning interviews with J.T.King and his “dunno what happened” comments? All of you who keep lamenting about TTU having a mediocre team and season for the past ten years need to look at the thirty or so years before that. As said before, Spike helped Tech turn the corner, and Mike didn’t look back.

I don’t care for Leach as a person. But I don’t have to. His job was to do exactly what he did. He is a strange bird all right. I hear nobody talking about what pirates actually did (and still do) to their victims. I digress from what I want to say though.

Mike Leach’s days have been numbered for at least a year. In my opinion, which seems to be supported by a sampling of emails, Hance and crew never intended for Leach to be the HFC on Dec 31. They were intent on settling public opinion down at the time of the negotiations, that’s all. They wanted Briles, and probably still do, but he isn’t moving for now. Mike’s trip to Washington was a heads up to the admin that he was not going to do doggie tricks for them at their whim.

Bottom line is just that. This bunch of “good ole boys” have painted themselves into a corner now. They have spent a lot of money on a stadium that may not have a sell out game for a long time. That even has question marks all over it, with Myers constantly wanting to take the big games to Dallas or somewhere. That’s a whole other topic though. We now have a lovable big guy to take the job if they will offer it to him. It has been said that TTU needs a coach who won’t look elsewhere and Ruffin just may be that person. He can command attention for a week at a time, but can he do this for ten years or more?

Predictions:
I think he will get the job, for a year. He will be paid the equivalent of what Mike might have made in a year, without the bonuses. There will be no buyout terms. Riley will be considered after that, but I suspect someone out there somewhere has noticed him and he won’t be at Tech too much longer. We will get most of the recruits signed for the coming season. After that it will get tricky. We will have a losing season next year, no bowl game. Fairweather patriots will start complaining. Lubbock has plenty of them to go around. This time next year we will be on yet another hunt for a coach.

Doesn’t sound too good does it. There’s more:
Myers will “retire”. Hance will continue to talk a blue streak, that’s his job. Bailey will move on (very quietly). Craig James will simply disappear from the news. Son Adam will be here another year and fade away. Sowell of email fame will still be there. Marsha Sharp will be the new AD.

The more things change the more they will stay the same…

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Jay:

well said-we should have hammered Michigan State. And lets see if Ruff’s best friend act works when his “boys” dont want to run wind sprints next july……

hey, i want my kids to like me, but im not their friend, im their adult role model. Big Difference.

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That Keshawn Martin was really good. Hopefully Tech can pull in a WR that has speed like that.

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Have to agree with Joe. I remember J T King saying we would most likely lose at least two games (UT and Arkansas), but should be able to compete with the other SWC teams. Then there was Jim Carlen, almost as unpopular with the Administration as Leach, who did not establish a good relationship with the fans. I went to a Red Raider Club function and sat next to a former football player and heard Carlen say that he was going to bring real football players to Tech. Not a good move since the former football player was a HS coach. However, he did find good recruitsl. Steve Sloan did well with those guys, but since he did not recruit well so the cupboard was bear when he left. Once I left for the East Coast I did not hear much about Red Raider football as it was for all purposes a “minor” program. Once Leach started we got more coverage, maybe not so much for winning, but for his “strange” offense. Once the winning started there was more coverage of Tech and I could see the team on TV. What I fear will happen is the next staff will not be able to maintain the continuity and the downward spiral will start again. We don’t have the resources to withstand those lean years like UT or even A&M. With people like T Boone Pickens giving large sums to OSU they will most likely replace us as the conference dark horse and we will be fighting Baylor and A&M for the last bowl spot.

I think they will give the job to Ruffin as he will most likely work for less than Leach’s base pay, and things will go well till he loses the players because he has make those head coach decisions. Will he allow a player to show at practice in street clothes and sunglasses like he was a ESPN analyst visiting practice or will he expect players to follow the established rules?

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We are East Coast transplanted Red Raiders & have been watching the Tech disiaster from afar with heavy hearts. Lubbock deserves SO MUCH BETTER than the Tech Administrative THREE STOOGES & the arrogant $$ Boosters who apparently tell them where & how high to jump. ESPN had some of the most biased reporting we’ve ever seen…Shame on them as well!! Those idiot ESPN commentators should have had their microphones turned off. Their lamebrain comments which defended the THREE STOOGE’S actions of the past week were ridiculous & insulting. We kept hoping to catch a glimpse of the arrogant SOB’s as they sat in their luxury box, looking down on the crowd below. In all honesty, we would have loved to witness them receive a royal tidal wave of Righteous Wrath from loyal Tech fans. Unfortunately ESPN conveniently skewed our TV viewing to what THEY wanted us/ the nation to see. But even so, we support the Tech Team, Coach Leach and all those who have been hurt by this debacle. We still bleed Red & Black & will be cheering for justice from across the country!!!

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Mitchell:

are you kidding me? We tied for first last year? No, we didn’t. Tech tied for first in the Big 12 south. Oklahoma won the big 12. Tech was humiliated in the Oklahoma game. A coach does not deserve 2.5 million a year for not even have won a conference championship. I was at the game last night and I was embarrassed by some of the Tech fans.

For the sake of argument, let’s assume the worst about James, son of Craig James. Let’s assume the young James was a shirking prima donna quick to remind folks about his dad. Let’s assume he was a detrimental, divisive presence on the Red Raider football team. And, just to pile it even thicker, let’s assume he was a quick-tempered, disrespectful wise guy who mouthed off to Leach and other coaches.

Even if all those assumptions were true, it would in no way justify what Leach did. Whatever else James was, when the disciplinary action was meted out, he was a student recovering from a head injury.
Aaron Potts wasn’t sent to a shed when he had his concussion.

From what I’m hearing from many of the players, Coach Leach has been awful this year. Adam James was the first to complain and now him and his family are being persecuted.

A state agency this week fired a state employee for mishandling a health issue involving a 21-year-old student entrusted to the employee.

Can anybody possibly have a problem with that?

And does that change at all because the now ex-state employee was the high-profile, highly paid football coach at a major state university and the student is a player who is the son of a fairly well-known ex-player and current commentator?

No, it doesn’t.

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come on people, don’t buy into the conspiracies so much. Leach was fired more for not cooperating and that Tech couldn’t afford to pay and should not pay championship type money to a coach that never won any championship at all( I dont consider last yrs tie for the South a championship because we played for it outright and got destroyed). The majority of Leach’s wins were against pansy non conference teams and the weak Big XII North. We got into the Cotton bowl twice now that it is much much easier to get into, and never won, woop-di-doo!

I will miss Leach and I appreciate him building some on what Spike dykes started. But because he is gone, all is not lost

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The plain and simple fact is this.
-Coach Leach is the best thing that has happened to our football program.
-We were one of the worst in graduating players and now one of the best.
-The Tech brass hated Leach and all of “his” success.
-The Tech brass wanted to fire Leach but couldn’t last year and were looking for anythng to be able to do it this year.
-Tech had a prima donna in Adam James.
-James gets hurt.
-Coach Leach made a mistake.
-Coach Leach made a horrible mistake.
-Coach Leach gave the Tech brass the ammo that they needed.
-LEACH’S FAULT. NO ONE ELSE’S!!!!!!!!!!!!
-Tech brass will get Ruff for a steal and retain all old coaches.

I will always be a Red Raider and have never been so proud as I was last night. The sooner we all realize that this was a Leach problem and that HE had the control in the long run the better. Forget the Tech brass. There is policites in EVERY football program in the country. The won because Leach let them win in giving them the reason to fire him.

Guns Up!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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“Their lamebrain comments which defended the THREE STOOGE’S actions of the past week were ridiculous & insulting. We kept hoping to catch a glimpse of the arrogant SOB’s as they sat in their luxury box, looking down on the crowd below.”

Probably had Daddy James seated with them.

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Hance was an incompetent politician now proving himself as an incompetent chancelor and incompetent people tend to surround themselves with even more incompetents like Meyers and Bailey and (Sowell just has way more money than he has sense). James a product of SMU during the heyday of corruption when you actually could buy a spot on the team which invoked the death penalty on their program. This all stinks but there are skeletons KEEP UP the PRESSURE to rehire Leach it will be much easier to replace the whole administrative staff.

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My thoughts on the whole situation…..

Thank you Texas Tech administration for making my degree in PUBLIC RELATIONS a worthless piece of paper.

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Mr Speegle: While your comments are certainly worthwhile and amusing basically they could make someone go and slit their wrists!! Maybe you should be a little more careful.

And yeah Hulen everybody is too wrapped up in the temporary emotion of all this, but it will pass and they’ll get over it. I think Briles is real close to coming now from what I’m hearing (and NOT hearing from Waco) from Tech boosters. I think he will bring only a few of his staff with him and basically keep ours intact for continuity and recruiting. And heres hoping Coach Ruff soon moves into the asst AD job positioning him for Big Daddy AD in the not too distant future. Good move for him and great move for Tech!!

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come on AJ people!!!!! Whats with the comment moderation crap??????

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TTU took one final victory lap under the Leach regime last night. Congratulation on the win.

Unfortunately, we learned this week why Tech is destined to remain 2nd class within the Big 12. There are roughly 117 schools in the FBS division. I think it safe to assume each would like to be able to claim top tier status in whatever they are involved in be it football or research. After decades of mediocrity limited as a regional team, Tech finally hired a coach and made the investments necessary to compete nationally. Over the last 10 years, we began to taste success and it was good.

However, our patience and reasonability grew thin. Leach assembled a program that lifted Tech, Lubbock, and even the Big 12 onto a different plain. He then seeks compensation in line with those accomplishments and now the Admininstration questions his results. They draw a bulls-eye on his chest looking for reasons to fire him. Sowell’s email threads questions his loyalty and value in the marketplace. Leach negotiates and they don’t like it. They may not even like him personally. So what. Leach didn’t do anything out of the ordinary in the marketplace. Hance/Sowell probably saw another McWilliams down the pike. Well congratulations boys. You beat him to the punch. We are now looking for another coach just as before but you can beat your chests with pride.

You won. It is a hollow victory. After you resolve Leach’s lawsuit, you will have paid millions and have nothing to show for it. Tech’s reputation will have been drug through the mud. Our recruiting classes will fall apart. You single-handedly have proven the UT and A&M posters correct. We will return to our rightful place in the world order and glow with pride over a victory against West Texas A&M.

The difference between being great and just being good is slight. There is a reason why the top teams endure on top. They are committed to being the best. We just want to play the game.

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Why does everyone seem to think that Ruffin can’t do the job? Is it because he has no head coaching experience? Neither did Mike Leach when he came 10 years ago. All he has to do is put the offense in the hands of a good coordinator who continues the same system and continue to build the defense as he has the last two years. I have high hopes, whether Ruffin is the coach or Art Briles comes in. We have great talent on this team and a great class coming in. I don’t think we lose many recruits because most of them were recruited by assistants anyway. I think Ruffin did a great job this week to beat a good Big 10 team which was determined to put its own distractions behind it. He kept the team focused, and got a big win. He did all you could expect of a guy who less than a week ago did not know what was coming. He deserves a chance.

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GO BIG RED HUSKERS!!!!

Now ya’ll know what it’s like when a pathetic AD fires a tried and true coach with no less than a 9-3 record and hires one of his friends (like Meyers and Knight). Pederson hired Calahan and destroyed the Husker program. It took paying them to leave and rehiring a former coach to get back on track. Once you get rid of the GOB system at Tech things will change. I’ve lived here long enough to know that isn’t going to happen in Lubbock since they all sleep in the same waller and feed from the same trough around Lubbock. Hance was a pathetic politician who didn’t last long but he’s an excellent YES MAN for the money boys from Dallas. Don’t look for them to hire anyone who desires to build his own system like Leach had done. They won’t allow themselves to lose control over it all.

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Mike, Johnny, & Hulen,
Thank you for making sense.

Evidently, some of these others (garyount) still haven’t sobered up from New Year’s.

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Clay enjoy all that room at the Jones next year. Leg room a plenty.

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i’m hoping you do stay home next year. that way i don’t have to be worried about being hit with a tortilla, nor listen to your foul mouthed tirade when you think you could call better plays.

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This doltish reporter watched Ruffin McNeil’s defense allow a 6-7 team to score 31 points, then gushed that Ruffin should be head coach. He’s not even a good defensive coach. Imagine how bad Tech will be when the offense is no longer super, combined with Ruffin’s 70th ranked defense.

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LIKED YOUR POST JOE BEST ONE I HAVE SEEN MADE A LOT OF SENSE, THIS IS LUBBOCK AND ALWAYS WILL BE,SAD YOU ARE RIGHT ON, YOU HAVE TO BE FROM LUBBOCK AND GROW UP HERE TO REALLY UNDERSTAND, MOST PEOPLE DONT AND WONT, EVER. .. TYPICAL LUBBOCK..

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Great game by both sides! MSU played very hard and I am sure it would have been a different game if they would have had those 14 players. I was very impressed with the MSU band when they played our “Fight Raider Fight” song on the field before the start of the game – CLASS – thank you.
NOW ABOUT TECH. Hold on everyone. Ruffin coached one game – Leaches systems, coaches and players. Yes, he did a great job with all that is going on – he held the team together and he is a great defensive coordinator. However, let’s take a deep breath. It appears the Regents wanted Leach gone because they did not think he could take us to the next level. I am not sure Ruffin can. I think we owe it to the University to do a national search – it would not hurt. West Virginia was in this exact situation three years ago. When RR bolted for Michigan they owed him a lot on money, really could not afford to pay a prime time Coach. So they handed the reins to Bill Stewart the day after he won a bowl game. Stewart is the nicest guy, but WVU has not gone to the next level -still playing in mid size bowls. WVU recruiting is down due to the competition in that part of the country – PSU , etc. He is a great guy, great assistant – but not the coach that will take them to the next level. Notre Dame hired a Coach that had never been a head Coach and look what has happen to them the last 5 years. It will take them years to recover.
Whoever ends up being the Head Coach for Tech they will have 3 years of Leach’s recruits (players) and you really won’t see the effects of new recruiting for 3 to 4 years. A lot of damage can be done in that time. Ask ND. So as part of the Raider Nation, I want to see a National Search which includes an interview with Ruff. Anything less is inappropriate and short sighted! Wreck’em!!!!

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Briles is staying put. Tuberville.

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Leach and only LEACH!

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But the three stooges either have someone lined up (knew what they were doing before firing) or want to inject their independence from students and alumni and hire HS unknown for $200,000. The real reason money and Leach was getting too much publicity (funny that’s what they wanted).

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I am so glad that I taped the Game last year … you remember … ESPN ran the highlights all year … Crabtree Touchdown !!!!

11-1 … #2 in the nation. I will make copies for my grand children … they will never believe Tech was ever this good.

Thank you Coach Leach, you showed us what could be and let us dream big. Your Legacy will be great!

Thanks Administration you crushed our hopes and dreams and your legacy will forever suffer!

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FOR-REAL NEWS FLASH: TECH HAS GOT THE DOCTOR & TRAINER TO BACK UP & CHANGE THEIR AFFIDAVITS.

OF COURSE, THE A-J MAKES IT THE MAIN SUNDAY HEADLINE.

THESE “NEW” AFFIDAVITS LETS THEM GIVE THEIR OPINIONS ON STUFF.

HECK, I COULD GIVE MY OPINION ON A PIECE OF PAPER, & SIGN IT, AND HAVE IT NOTORIZED, BUT THAT DOESN’T CHANGE FACTS.

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THANK YOU COACH LEACH! Thank you for all that you have done for Tech, the football program and lives of young men that you have helped mold. You have brought pride, enthusiasm, excitement, and great success to Raider football. You have filled the stadium with fans young and old. You have brought the student body back into the stadium – they love you and the team. You will be greatly missed. I am very sadden how this all went down and how you have been treated. I wish you and you family the best. I know this has to be very hard on you family. Sometimes people forget Coaches are human and have feelings also. And they have families who are equally affect by all this. I attended the Alamo Bowl last night – I was glad we won but it was not the same without you. Please know there is an entire Raider Nation that loves you and are willing to walk the plank for you at any time. You will always be our Captain. Guns Up!

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All the supposed “fans” who tear down 1. The AD 2. The board of regents 3. The father of a player the coach admits to having abused are why slimebags like Leach can keep getting jobs in college football, no matter how badly they abuse their players. As long as a coach wins, integrity, honesty and honor can all be tossed aside.

If the player in question violated team rules by showing up to practice in street clothes, then send him back to change into appropriate clothes. But overruling the team doctor and trainer? Leach better hope he wins his lawsuit against Tech, because he’s going to have to turn around and give a couple trailers of cash to James before this is all said and done.

What’s most telling is that the players themselves are backing James and saying Leach had become distant and dictatorial, demeaning his players on a regular basis. If James was the cancer, the players would have stood by Leach. That the players say they’re glad Leach is gone – and played like it – should be all any real Tech fan needs to know.

But the Leach-or-the-highway crowd doesn’t really care about the school or the team – they only care about winning, and feeling like winners vicariously through the school.

Hopefully all the cranks will cancel their season tickets – will free up seats for fans who enjoy winning football – as long as it’s not at the cost of integrity.

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Bad boy players (or drinking buddies). Most of the team and all the stars are mum. Next….

Winning and grades! Isn’t that what they and we all want? Next….

Free up 95% of the stadium. Enjoy the room.

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Thanks Coach Leach. Hope you get your money. Keep your head high.

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WATCHDOG 113 CANYOU POST THE HITLER YOU TUBE AGAIN

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Regardless of all the conspiracy theories and the bitterness towards our administration (which is in constant flux anyhow), the ‘proof is in the pudding’. Off the field Leach was a difficult person to manage and obviously felt all others should compromise for the sake of the program, but not him. On the field we didn’t win any conference titles or even sniff a BCS bowl. I tired of seeing our team so undisciplined on game day. Elite teams don’t turn the ball over at the rate we did under Leach and we were often one of the most penalized teams in the country. Last season was great, but it was the exception not the rule.

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garyount, calm down son you’re going to have the “big one” if you don’t relax a little bit. Some advice my dear old dad once gave me; “some people are like catfish, all mouth and no brains”. Leach is history; Meyers, Hance, and the others aren’t…….

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ESPN has hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. Only a miniscule number of them are interested in TT athletics and almost all of the others don’t even know where the school is. They’ll continue to watch Craig James’ broadcasts without a second thought. Adam James will transfer to SMU without sitting out a year due to the “abuse” and will receive a Tier 1 education instead of a Tier 3 degree. This is a “win-win” for the James family.

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Adam James is not the cause of Leach’s firing but simply the excuse to do so a day short of the prescribed time his contract called for an 800K bonus to be paid. Certainly, the James family acted like spoiled brats. Craig James played his part well as the helecopter dad, adam as the spoiled, insolent brat disrespectful of the coach who gave him a chance when no one else in the country would have or should have.

It’s becoming increasingly clear that kent hance, jim sowell, gerald meyers and company were going to get rid of Mike Leach, the most successful coach in the history of TTU and it was all about money. The emails between the “powers that be” clearly explain that. What they’d like is to find themselves a really good 5A coach who fits in with their “good ol’ boy” network, wins a few games here and there and call it good. Of course, they will all claim that they have the university’s interests at stake and, most importantly, the kids involved. “We are committed to TTU and the students here”, they will all chirp in unison as if they really mean it. And, when you hear them say these things, it will almost sound believable.

However, the facts are the facts. They didn’t like Mike Leach and have not for some time. They wanted to pay him a meager amount and get Bob Stoops results. Jim Sowell states this in so many words. They are not going to pay him what Bob Stoops and Mack Brown make because he hasn’t won a national championship and the big 12. Well, if that’s the case, then run him off.

Under Mike Leach, TTU has done more with less and always had a better chance of winning than they ever had. The sad truth is that TTU picks up a lot of the players that UT, OU and the other legacy programs that somehow attract the 4 star blue chip players. Mike Leach has helped these players at TTU achieve success and beat the teams that didn’t want them, for the most part. That’s not to say that TTU has bad players at all.

Sucesss breeds success. TTU was starting to be more and more of the 4 star athlete’s first choice and TTU was starting to compete for the blue chip atheletes. It was fun to watch. Mike brought pride back and success to the football team. They always believed that they could win.

What we have from the likes of ESPN is a campaign to smear Mike Leach. He has done no wrong that I can see. Adam James was giving him attitude instead of hard work. Adam James knew what the practice rules were and he was insubordinate. Adam James and his helecopter dad were both miffed that he wasn’t getting more playing time. So, they do what most spoiled rich kids do and use their station in life to complain to the upper management when they don’t get their way.

Has anyone noticed that ESPN keeps showing the commentary by 3 or 4 disgruntled players? They don’t show any of the comments made by Graham Harrell, Eric Morris and others who have, 1. stated that Adam James was lazy and; 2. defended Mike Leach’s honor and character. Instead, they constantly show the comments made by a scout team player who is Adam James’ roommate.

Kent Hance, Gerald Meyers, Jim Sowell and company had this planned all along. The emails obtained by the open records act clearly show this was their intention. They want a cheaper guy. If he does good, that’s just great. If he does mediocre, that’s just great. A 5-7 (or whatever) record is a win as far as they are concerned.

Nevermind that Leach has the highest graduation record of any college coach in America. The next graduation exercise that I’m attending and I hear Kent Hance talking about his commitment to the University, the excellence that he’s striving for for all the kids will sound as hollow as it can be.

Mike Leach has done a tremendous job at TTU. Can the same be said about Kent Hance, Gerald Meyers and Jim Sowell?

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So Gerald (a.k.a. Mike on this board) what surprises do you have for us next?

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