More Mike Leach: some internal emails revealed
They aren't very flattering to Adam James. http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/6270202/19238949
December 30th, 2009 at 6:31 PM ^
It appears the apple hasn't fallen far from the tree.
Leach really got a raw deal here, IMO.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:41 PM ^
There are a lot of people out there who support Mike Leach.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:29 PM ^
It is absolutely stunning (although not surprising) that if you were to have watched ESPN all night you would have no idea that there is ANYONE supporting Mike Leach. They have showed several snippets of quotes from TT players all saying that they are glad that Leach is gone. Their bias and protectionism of Craig James is absolutely sickening.
December 31st, 2009 at 12:16 AM ^
Craig James=the ultimate little league dad.. you know.. like the ones that get pissed off because their utterly uncoordinated son doesn't get to play as much as the team's star..
December 30th, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
This is awefull. I hope for an all out player and coach exodus and for TtU decades of agonizing failure. C. James and AD Myers are the only ones that should be fired.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:53 PM ^
This is awfull. I hope for an all out player and coach exodus and for TtU decades of agonizing failure. C. James and AD Myers are the only ones that should be fired.
December 30th, 2009 at 6:57 PM ^
how long before Adam James transfers to a different school, because I doubt he'll be the most popular man on campus. Maybe TTU fans can get ahold of Winston to do a little ski mask stompin
December 30th, 2009 at 6:59 PM ^
If you read those emails what school would even want to take him? I can't imagine any school other than SMU.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:39 PM ^
You would think he would have been at SMU in the first place, as a legacy. Can we assume even they had no interest?
December 30th, 2009 at 7:43 PM ^
Adam James will be about as popular at TTU as Charlie junior is at the ND Student Union after the last three years of Coach Orca.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:04 PM ^
Damn, I don't want the guy from Houston to ever right a performance review for me. I could feel the heat from that burn through my computer screen.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:09 PM ^
ESPN is trying to spin this as "the team is behind Adam James, he's their brother,their team mate". BS
I doubt we see the truth on ESPN.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:12 PM ^
They are behind him. In fact I think I can see the starting center choking up on the baseball bat right now.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:31 PM ^
Why would he leave his DONG hanging out like that?
December 30th, 2009 at 8:13 PM ^
right?
...right?
December 30th, 2009 at 9:04 PM ^
...Craig James was on ESPN News talking about how his whole family are "victims." And ESPN ignored the content of all the emails except to say that a coach said James "claimed to have a concussion" as if to say that the coaching staff were the people with the bad attitudes.
The questions the interviewer asked sounded like James himself wrote them. They were all desigined to allow James to tell his side of the story while making Leach look like the POS instead of the James Gang.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:27 PM ^
Ok, so he was lazy. I get that. But does that excuse what Leach did to him?
December 30th, 2009 at 7:36 PM ^
you didn't see the video footage that showed where the kid was actually "sent" to.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5Q_5nYwWLU
coach leach really did nothing wrong
December 30th, 2009 at 7:57 PM ^
A guy gets fired entirely based on one payer's account, with no chance to prove otherwise. shame.
December 30th, 2009 at 10:51 PM ^
that video shows a whole different side. Jones' Dad has been on ESPN all day regarding this and his color commentary, and I can't stand to listen to him knowing that his kid is such a precious snowflake...
December 30th, 2009 at 11:08 PM ^
you didn't see the video footage that showed where the kid was actually "sent" to.
Did you watch the tape?
Large and dumb in the camo jacket was trying to cover for Leach, but he admitted during his attempted defense of Leach the following facts:
1. The victim was known to have suffered a concussion.
2. The victim was ordered escorted into a storage garage full of pointed and cornered equipment.
3. The victim was assigned a three staff member committee to watch him stand (not sit, not go to the training room to be monitored, stand--for three hours).
Not said, but I think likely to be true, was that Leach ordered complying with the torture and medical risk on pain of loss of scholarship.
December 31st, 2009 at 12:07 AM ^
Huh? Is James 5 years old? Was that dangerous?
"Torture?" WTF?
Are you serious? Holy crap.
This was wrong, at least based upon what JAMES CLAIMS. But to fire him is wrong, with no ability for him to respond and contradict the accuser.
Sorry Craig, not buying.
December 31st, 2009 at 12:14 AM ^
My girlfriend has to put padding on all the pointy furniture in our house so I don't hurt myself. Of course, that is just because I'm an uncoordinated alcoholic, but still, there is no need to be insulting and underestimate the terrible danger of just trying to walk around without seriously injuring yourself.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:44 PM ^
Well what we don't know exactly what it was Leach did to him. We know that Leach isolated him from the team in those rooms, but we don't know if he did so to pressure James into participating in dangerous full contact drills at practice or for other reasons.
The only ones claiming it was for the former reason are James and his family. These documents have to make you wonder how much credibility their complaint actually has (especially in light of that video showing the electrical closet to be a media room).
December 30th, 2009 at 7:29 PM ^
Makes you think about how much money the James family donated to TTU.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:00 PM ^
it better be at least $400,000/year.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:33 PM ^
It doesn't excuse it but from some of the reports coming out this isn't the first time it ever happened. So why all of a sudden is this a huge deal garnering national media attention? Does it make it right? No. Is it an offense Mike Leach should have been fired for? Absoultely not. The kid was given a chance more or less solely on the merit of his fathers collegiate career. His sense of self-entitlement alienated him from quite a few in the program. In the end this is football, toughen up a little bit there James family.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:34 PM ^
But it's clear that there's friction between him and the administration. They didn't give him any benefit of the doubt. A suspension because of one accusation? Talk about harsh!
Nonetheless, I find it curious that Leach sent that kid to the "s-h-e-d." I saw the video with the attorney, and I agree that it's not a terrible room to be in. However, what the hell kind of punishment is that? Go sit in that room for an hour? As other posters have noted, Leach really should have sent him to the training room, and maybe cut his playing time to make a point. Leach left himself pretty vulnerable to attack.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:51 PM ^
This is what I think happened: Leach is known to make injured players participate in practice, working out however they can. James came in with sun glasses on, saying his doctors told him he shouldn't be exposed to too much light and made some smartass remark to Leach. Leach got pissed and told him he could sit in the shed where it would be real nice and dark for him.
December 30th, 2009 at 7:55 PM ^
Some of these emails are straight cold blooded. The message also seems to universally be, "we love Mike Leach," and "Adam James is a total douchebag."
There is going to be an unbelievable shit-storm at Tech because of this.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:13 PM ^
that people actually sign their letters and e-mails.
What. A. Concept.
No "former players" who "fear realiation."
Paging Michael Rosenberg...
December 30th, 2009 at 8:27 PM ^
...that so many of us are taking the words of Mike Leach's friends as truth. Craig James played pro ball and knows how tough coaches can be, so for him and his family to bring these accusations are intriguing. Of course, Adam James and his parents could have a sense of entitlement, as well.
The point is, there aren't a lot of facts out there other than: a) Adam James claimed he had suffered a concussion, and b) Mike Leach decided to put him in a shed. We really don't know a whole lot more than that for this specific situation. There are some background facts which can lead a person to opine on either side of the fence. Here are just a couple:
Mike Leach side:
-Adam James reputation is that of a spoiled kid with an attitude
-TTU was sore about the contract negotiations last year and felt they had no choice but to give in to Leach, so they were really waiting for a chance to get back at him, and this incident was the catalyst
Adam James side:
-Leach showed his character with the "fat little girlfriends" comments
-At least one current player has unequivocally stated that this current situation showed Leach's true stripes and now all the players are relieved that he's gone
I am not on either side, just waiting for more facts to become known. These e-mails are *not* facts, just testimonials from loyal Leach supporters. They could be true or they could be fabricated. The jury's still way out on this one.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:31 PM ^
-At least one current player has unequivocally stated that this current situation showed Leach's true stripes and now all the players are relieved that he's gone
I haven't seen any news article to this effect. Can you please provide a link?
December 30th, 2009 at 8:51 PM ^
Will do some research to try and find it in print.
FOLLOW-UP: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/bowls09/news/story?id=4781981
"Some Texas Tech players believed the university's decision to dismiss Leach was appropriate.
'I have no complaints about this decision. [Leach] put Adam [James] in a shed like an animal. Like an animal in a cage. That was bull,' defensive lineman Chris Perry said. 'You call other players. I think it was a good decision. We have our pep back now. We practice hard this week. We had less stress this week. You know why? Because he's gone.'
"Wide receiver Tramain Swindall said he supported the decision to fire Leach.
'I do agree and I'm supporting Adam and what he's doing because it's the right thing to do,' Swindall told the AP in a telephone interview.
"Swindall said he believes Leach was at times out of line in how he treated players.
'And so do most of the players,' he said.
'It wasn't just about Adam. It was always a negative vibe.'
Said cornerback Taylor Charbonnet: 'The players make this team, not one coach. As Adam's friend, I didn't like it at all what [Leach] did. He was my brother and I didn't agree with it. I don't know why [Leach] did that. But I know we are fully behind [interim] coach Ruffin [McNeill]. We love him and support him.' "
December 30th, 2009 at 8:54 PM ^
Steve's post makes my post made at the same time look like I put in a James at WR drills level of effort.
December 31st, 2009 at 3:53 AM ^
Thanks for the link Steve. As Keynes said, "When the facts change I change my mind." Prior to this I saw no reason to give James' side much credibility. This makes the situation much more muddled.
December 31st, 2009 at 10:11 AM ^
about him too. Any coach who coaches hard and gets in players faces is going to make enemies of a few. These quotes prove nothing to me. Leach was wrong based on the facts as they are known--currently-- but to fire him without due process is wrong as well.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:52 PM ^
I saw a thing on the bottom of the screen for the Nebraska game that a current So DT said that Leach treated James like a dog, like a caged animal, and that the team was a lot less stressed this week because Leach was no longer with the team. He ripped him pretty hard.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:38 PM ^
as in, not from the players/coaches in question? that would come out pretty rapidly. harrell and co. either agree with the content or they don't. it's far simpler to believe they sent the emails independently and in support of a coach who took them to heights they didn't know they could. there's a difference between a testimonial and testimony. these are far closer to the latter than the former unless Leach asked for coordinated, conspiratorial written support which Occam suggests is much less plausible.
pending additional testimony, there are all other players and dads and then there's Adam and Craig James.
December 30th, 2009 at 9:48 PM ^
are addressed "To Whom It May Concern" leads me to believe that there is a strong likelihood that they were not spontaneously sent, but collected by Leach and his lawyers in response to a specific request they made to persons that they thought would be supportive.
My guess is that the ESPN quotes from players supporting James were not acquired by randomly choosing which players to call. Rather, the James family provided names of some players that they knew would be supportive.
December 31st, 2009 at 10:13 AM ^
The way I read Dr. Saturday's account of this, the 'in a shed like a dog' remark isn't from an email, it's a direct quote to the media at the Alamo Bowl.
http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Current-Rai…
December 30th, 2009 at 8:36 PM ^
If James was such a problem,per the emails, why didn't Leach kick him off the team? That lack of leadership almost seems like a bigger problem than the "closet incident". From the emails that were posted this kid was a pariah. So does that mean Leach ignored the situation or people were afraid of the "James clout"?
December 30th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
We've all seen this before with a player that thought he was entitled and was lazy to boot. Remember Justin Boren?
As far as Leach.....being a wild card like he is when things got hot he had no one to cover him or a lifeline to keep him safe.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:40 PM ^
As pointed out in another thread, there is a massive disconnect within Texas Tech's athletic department if they think that Leach's alleged actions are grounds for firing, while having provided a landing spot for Bobby Knight after he was shit-canned by Indiana.
That said, it looks like a couple of current starters are actually on the side of the James kid and are happy to see Leach go. Which remains proof positive that most people have no goddamn idea.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
"That said, it looks like a couple of current starters are actually on the side of the James kid and are happy to see Leach go."
link?
December 30th, 2009 at 11:30 PM ^
Steve Sharik posted this above. In case you missed it, here it is again. Scroll down for the players' comments:
December 30th, 2009 at 9:39 PM ^
of one of the most corrupt and downright crooked programs in any sport in the history of the NCAA: SMU football. The only school to receive the "death penalty" from the NCAA. When it comes to integrity, Craig James has more issues that Time Magazine.
I have no idea whether this kid was hurt or not, and if so, the severity of his injury. I also refuse to speculate. If he was truly hurt, and Coach Leach fucked up as bad as was alleged, he's got to go. But if it isn't true, I hope he sues James's nuts off, and confirms once and for all just what a piece of shit Craig James really is.
December 30th, 2009 at 11:39 PM ^
It is true that Craig James was a part of the SMU program during the time mentioned when players were receiving money from a slush fund, but it appears that no wrongdoing on his part was found. Still being a star player right in the middle of this so called slush fund time, does raise my suspicion on whether or not Craig is clean. Still as he comes off as an ass on TV, and after reading the letters sent in, it seems like his son is a chip off the 'ole block so to speak.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Methodist_University_football_sca…