charlesbenjamin7
Member
- Joined
- Nov 21, 2008
- Messages
- 523
- Reaction score
- 8
- Points
- 18
Since I am probably the only person on this board that has ever met Mike Leach, let me tell you a little bit about him. About a year ago (a week before the ‘James incident’), I actually got to sit down and talk with Leach for about two-and-half hours. I am still not sure what he was doing in New Braunfels (a long way from Lubbock), but he, his wife, and another couple came into the bar that I frequent. As it was a Sunday night and not very crowded, Leach asked if me and my friend would like to join their group. I tried to keep myself from talking too much about football, but he seemed not to mind talking about it. One of the most interesting things he said (which may be related to the James incident) is that the biggest difference between Texas Tech and the Longhorns is the gap in talent level between the second- and third-stringers. His biggest difficulty, he said, was that he had to some way convince his starters that he would bench them, when, in reality, there is no way he could afford to take them out of the game.
Someone also asked him what his favorite NFL team was. Interestingly, he said that he did not really have a favorite team, but that he followed NFL schemes. He said that he was a fan of whatever coaches and coordinators that were innovative and bringing something new to the table. In that part of the conversation, I could tell that he loves football, he loves the chess-match aspect of the game, and is very confident in his ability (not in a conceded way) to be able to out-maneuver the guy on the other sideline.
We also talked some about recruiting, the Crabtree contract negotiations, politics, ghosts, electricity, etc... All-in-all, Leach is exactly what you see on tv. He is very smart and does not hold back his opinions. In the end, the Gophers would be very lucky to have Leach. It would be a tremendous boost to the program (having a coach that actually knows what he is doing on the side-lines) and I have no doubt that we would finally make it back to the Rose Bowl under his leadership.
I would also add that he was genuinely interested in getting to know everyone at the table and had detailed conversations with each of about our jobs and interests. There were about eight people at the table and there was one guy there that obviously did not know much about football. It impressed me that Leach sought him out, asked what he did for a living (an electrician), and then preceded to talk to him for twenty minutes about being electricity. He did not dominate the conversation, but talked to everyone as if his job was not any more prestigious as ours. We was a 'straight up', GOOD guy.
It is my understanding, as is the understanding of most of us down here in Texas, that this whole ‘James incident’ is about a booster that Leach rubbed the wrong way. Instead of winning football games, the booster had rather go to parties and introduce the head football coach of Texas Tech as his personal friend. He (the booster) had been edging to get Leach fired for awhile, and has a close connection to the chancellor and the a.d. The James incident is just the vehicle that the group used to force Leach out.
As far as the reaction in Texas is concerned, I would say that just about everyone down here, especially Red Raider fans, are still upset. Everyone that I have talked to are in unanimous opinion that Leach got the shaft and that Texas Tech is paying dearly (in terms of program momentum) for forcing Leach out.
Mike leach is the only sure-fire candidate that will turn this program around. I have a feeling that we will be regretting letting this opportunity slip through our hands.
Someone also asked him what his favorite NFL team was. Interestingly, he said that he did not really have a favorite team, but that he followed NFL schemes. He said that he was a fan of whatever coaches and coordinators that were innovative and bringing something new to the table. In that part of the conversation, I could tell that he loves football, he loves the chess-match aspect of the game, and is very confident in his ability (not in a conceded way) to be able to out-maneuver the guy on the other sideline.
We also talked some about recruiting, the Crabtree contract negotiations, politics, ghosts, electricity, etc... All-in-all, Leach is exactly what you see on tv. He is very smart and does not hold back his opinions. In the end, the Gophers would be very lucky to have Leach. It would be a tremendous boost to the program (having a coach that actually knows what he is doing on the side-lines) and I have no doubt that we would finally make it back to the Rose Bowl under his leadership.
I would also add that he was genuinely interested in getting to know everyone at the table and had detailed conversations with each of about our jobs and interests. There were about eight people at the table and there was one guy there that obviously did not know much about football. It impressed me that Leach sought him out, asked what he did for a living (an electrician), and then preceded to talk to him for twenty minutes about being electricity. He did not dominate the conversation, but talked to everyone as if his job was not any more prestigious as ours. We was a 'straight up', GOOD guy.
It is my understanding, as is the understanding of most of us down here in Texas, that this whole ‘James incident’ is about a booster that Leach rubbed the wrong way. Instead of winning football games, the booster had rather go to parties and introduce the head football coach of Texas Tech as his personal friend. He (the booster) had been edging to get Leach fired for awhile, and has a close connection to the chancellor and the a.d. The James incident is just the vehicle that the group used to force Leach out.
As far as the reaction in Texas is concerned, I would say that just about everyone down here, especially Red Raider fans, are still upset. Everyone that I have talked to are in unanimous opinion that Leach got the shaft and that Texas Tech is paying dearly (in terms of program momentum) for forcing Leach out.
Mike leach is the only sure-fire candidate that will turn this program around. I have a feeling that we will be regretting letting this opportunity slip through our hands.
