Leach's Dismissal Is Flat-out Wrong
By Scott Burks
A disgrace.
Flat-out shameful. Despicable.
Those are the
adjectives to describe Mike Leach's
firing from Texas Tech earlier today.
Look, I do not
know if what is said is true regarding how Leach handled WR Adam James after
he sustained a concussion. If it is true, Leach was wrong for that and
deserved no more than a suspension after a thorough investigation AFTER the
Red Raiders' bowl game. Suspending (and now firing) him only showered
the football team with more distractions for the upcoming bowl game.
Speaking of
James, here are my thoughts: from what I've heard, this kid has been nothing
but trouble since his arrival. Coaches say that James is a spoiled,
entitled kid who hardly went to class and questioned the coaching staff's
abilities. He is also the son of renowned college football analyst
(and former NFL'er) Craig James, which, let's face it, is the why this story
leaked out in the first place. If I were James' dad, I'd be pissed
too!
Again, if these
allegations are true about Leach placing the younger James in a tool shed as
"treatment" for his concussion, Leach should be punished and be held
accountable. However, I do not think Leach should be fired.
Let's face it,
for those who are familiar with the situation at Texas Tech, Leach's alleged
treatment of the younger James is not what got the Texas Tech coach fired.
Texas Tech had issues with Leach for at least the past two-three seasons.
Leach and the school haggled over the contract extension that was award to
Leach in February. Leach and the athletic director never saw
eye-to-eye.
In short, Texas
Tech used this as an opportunity to can Leach's ass and possibly get from
underneath his contract. If that's the case, the school will rue the
day that it fired Leach.
Before Leach
arrived, Texas Tech was a mere afterthought in college football -- if not in
collegiate sports in general. I lived in Texas for four years, and let
me tell you, there was nothing -- ABSOLUTELY NOTHING -- going on in
Lubbock, Texas.
That was reflected in the performance of their football team, and in the
lack of fan support. After Leach got the program rolling, the fans and
recruits poured in that otherwise would have been poached by its Big 12 foes
Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State.
What is going to
attract kids to West Texas now? Hell, how will Texas Tech be able to
compete with the aforementioned schools as well as the Mountain West's TCU?
Again, I am not
saying that Leach should not have been punished. Leach, if the
allegations are true, should be punished with just a suspension AFTER Texas
Tech's bowl game. Firing Leach only puts the school that is in need of
good press in a bad light.
Over time the
administration at Texas Tech will come to realize this: "be careful what you
wish for". Say goodbye to Texas Tech because we won't be hearing from
them in college football for a long time.
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