Texas Tech suspends Mike Leach

[JonLP24]

Texas Tech has suspended head coach Mike Leach following a complaint from a player and his parents regarding his treatment of the athlete following an injury.

Below is a press release from the University.

<snip>

Press release

STATEMENT FROM TEXAS TECH ON SUSPENSION OF FOOTBALL COACH MIKE LEACH

Texas Tech University recently received a complaint from a player and his parents regarding Red Raider Head Football Coach Mike Leach’s treatment of the athlete after an injury.

At Texas Tech all such complaints are considered as serious matters, and as a result, an investigation of the incident is underway. Until the investigation is complete, Texas Tech University is suspending coach Leach from all duties as Head Football Coach effective immediately. The investigation into this matter will continue in a thorough and fair manner.

Coach Ruffin McNeill will assume duties as Interim Head Coach and will coach the team during the Alamo Bowl.

http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/local/story/BREAKING-Texas-Tech-suspends-Mike-Leach/3HTG1FB8T067p68ypPJCzw.cspx

[fishnfla]

1. CRAP I HAVE THEM IN THE EXTRAVAGANZY POOL

Crap inna bucket

[trumad]

2. It had to be pretty damn serious whatever it was...

[JonLP24]

5. Here is the allegation -- if true it is pretty serious I think

Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach was suspended for the Alamo Bowl by Texas Tech today. The decision to suspend Mike Leach from the Alamo Bowl stems from a player complaint that filed by player Adam James. It seems that the school is taking the claims very seriously, and it using the time during the Mike Leach suspension in order to do some investigating. They must also find some credence behind the claims, because this is a very big move to make less than a week from an important bowl game.

In the complaint against Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach, the player is claiming that he was mis-treated while trying to recover from a concussion that he sustained on December 16th. An ESPN source is quoted as stating that Leach told a trainer to "put James in the darkest, tightest spot. It was in an electrical closet, again, with a guard posted outside." This followed a statement that Leach told a trainer to move James "to the darkest place, to clean out the equipment and to make sure that he could not sit or lean. He was confined for three hours."

The argument from the other side is that James was placed in an equipment room because it was much cooler and darker than the practice field. The Texas Tech suspension seems very harsh, unless they have some concrete proof that Leach did indeed force the player into a closet and post a guard outside the door to not allow him to come out. If Leach did what is alleged, it would not have been a smart move at all, because the father of Adam Jones actually works for ESPN (Craig James).
http://news.google.com/news/url?sa=t&ct2=us%2F0_0_s_1_0_t&usg=AFQjCNGjO3XkMCtbH0Ctzbd_n6AOR1ArJA&cid=17593682896213&ei=qXU5S5jaCY_0lQTc7Lgs&rt=SEARCH&vm=STANDARD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.examiner.com%2Fx-7460-Spokane-Headlines-Examiner~y2009m12d28-Texas-Tech-Coach-Mike-Leach-suspended-for-Alamo-Bowl

[SpiralHawk]

6. Time to come out of the closet, Dude

sheesh

[LisaM]

3. One team will have no players, and the other team, no coach

My dad said, just call it the Suspension Bowl!

[Condem]

4. Doesn't matter...

Bobby Bowden could coach Tech and win. Hell, half of the thugs on Michigan State are suspended.

[Capt. America]

7. Look at Condem hating on a fellow Big 10er. Of course, I was thinking maybe the Illini could hire

Leach now.

[JonLP24]

8. Well who knows where this investigation goes

But I don't feel Leach would be a good fit for the Big 1O.

His finesse, pass heavy offense wouldn't be able to last a full season against the physical, balanced teams of the Big 1O. They'd be able to hang with teams such as Minnesota, Indiana, and maybe Purdue and Michigan.

In fact I would say Michigan State wins if Leach was coaching but if "half" their team is suspended then I'm not so sure.

[Capt. America]

10. I agree with your assessment. I doubt the Big 10 would be to keen on him being in the club, given

the apparent ethical lapses. Of course, the Big 10 also allowed Bobby Knight and Rich Rodriguez to coach.

I just hate Ron Zook, he is horrible and as a former Illinoian (who did not attend U of I) I just wish we could do better.

[fishwax]

11. I'd like to see him at Illinois

I'm not convinced about the ethical lapses, and he also places a strong value on education--his graduation rates are, iirc, in the top 10--which the Big 10 would like. His offense is fun to watch and would excite the fans here.

And he could win here, too. I'm not saying he'd build Illinois into a national power, but if he could do for Illinois what he's done for Tech, I'd be thrilled :)

[Capt. America]

12. At this point, who could do worse than Zook? Tech was really nothing before Leach anyway.

[TZ]

9. This is such a bizarre story

I can't understand why a person with a concussion was locked in a small electrical closest. What is the logic there? Someone is not being honest on what happened.