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Texas Tech fires Mike Leach

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Started 2 years ago by Neil Jaye
Latest reply from jackoh

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Neil Jaye

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Okay, I will admit that I have not read up on this issue in complete detail (and I plan to soon) but I am leaning toward the side of this firing being uncalled for and reeks of politics and money. I understand that by firing him TODAY the school does not have to pay him $800,000. If they took the time to investigate this issue thoroughly they would have missed the 12/30 deadline and would have had to pay him.

It seems really fishy and for a football player in a major sports program to cry about being put in a closet/dark room for a couple hours is ridiculous. If thatÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s all itÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s going to take for you to cry that youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re being Ã¢â‚¬ËœmistreatedÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ you should not be playing at this level.

Like I said, there may be more to it and please add any details you may have.

Posted 2 years ago #
TaraK
probably at the coffee shop
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I don't know much about this story, but being a football player doesn't mean that he should be ready and willing to endure any b.s. that anyone in the university imposes on him. It means that he should understand the rigors of training and sports-related requirements, but not that any treatment is justified.

Could you link to a story?

Posted 2 years ago #
Neil Jaye

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ESPN Article

Here is an ESPN article. I will read more on this as soon as possible, but maybe I just come from the feeling that a little hazing is to be expected (not saying it's right) and this incident was not anything to get worked up about. To my knowledge, he was not harmed. Maybe embarrassed a little, but on-field critiques during practice can be far worse.

Posted 2 years ago #
Columbuzz
Grandview
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I read an interesting column by Stewart Mandel at si.com yesterday that may help to clarify the issue and questions you two have.

The fact that the school suspended Leach before completing an investigation seems the product of a perfect storm: The presence of a particularly notable accuser; the sensitive nature of anything concussion-related; and, most likely, Leach's strained relationship with his employer. (Leach and AD Gerald Myers waged a very public standoff last summer over his contract renegotiations.)

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/stewart_mandel/12/29/texas.tech.leach/index.html#ixzz0bCVyQEUE

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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According to the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, on Dec. 17, Leach "ordered James to stand in a dark shed at the Tech football practice facility because he thought James was faking a concussion he'd suffered during practice the previous day. Leach had him watched, and when James sat down, Leach had things removed from the shed so he could not sit. Two days later, Leach forced James to stand in a dark room for three hours."

However, according to the paper, Leach "did not dispute the facts, but did not believe he had done anything wrong."

Wow, fuck this guy.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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That's one side of the story. The other side of the story is that "dark shed" was actually the equipment room, which was the only nearby air conditioned building (and dark, which is good for a concussion).

ETA: I don't claim to know which story is true, but that seems to be why you have investigations into things like this. Skipping the investigation and doing the firing the day before you're required to pay the guy an 800k signing bonus (that you now don't have to pay), seems fishy. Firing the guy 3 days before the player's father was supposed to be calling the game for ESPN and now won't be...also fishy.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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Core_Models wrote >>
That's one side of the story. The other side of the story is that "dark shed" was actually the equipment room, which was the only nearby air conditioned building (and dark, which is good for a concussion).

Is being forced to stand good for a concussion you don't believe someone has too?

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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"standing" isn't at issue here. If the kid was left standing on the field in the heat, he wouldn't be complaining. He is complaining because he was sent to stand somewhere else, away from the team.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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Core_Models wrote >>
"standing" isn't at issue here. If the kid was left standing on the field in the heat, he wouldn't be complaining. He is complaining because he was sent to stand somewhere else, away from the team.

If you've got more information about this than what's been shared so far, I'd be happy to read it.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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You're right cookie, clearly this story is about a player upset he had to stand.

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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Core_Models wrote >>
You're right cookie, clearly this story is about a player upset he had to stand.

Thanks for the ... oh, my mistake. That's just you acting shitty for no reason again.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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Cookie wrote >>

Core_Models wrote >>
You're right cookie, clearly this story is about a player upset he had to stand.

Thanks for the ... oh, my mistake. That's just you acting shitty for no reason again.

Right. How DARE he infringe on your turf like that.

Posted 2 years ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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lol, rus. BINGO!

anyways...KEEP IN CIVIL FOLKS!

Posted 2 years ago #
dreamweaver646
Clintonville
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This story is being covered all over ESPN and every other sports news channel. The facts aren't in dispute - a coach took a kid who was suffering from a mild concussion and locked him in a dark room with nowhere to sit not once but twice. And the coach doesn't dispute it - he just doesn't think its wrong.

Regardless of the $800K or the kid's dad being on ESPN, that's indefensible by any standard.

Posted 2 years ago #
Sandersen
In the salt lake
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Cookie wrote >>

Core_Models wrote >>
"standing" isn't at issue here. If the kid was left standing on the field in the heat, he wouldn't be complaining. He is complaining because he was sent to stand somewhere else, away from the team.

If you've got more information about this than what's been shared so far, I'd be happy to read it.

Here ya go: read away

Posted 2 years ago #
Cookie
Flyntonville
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Sandersen wrote >>
Here ya go: read away

Thank you.

I still say fuck that guy.

Posted 2 years ago #
Nitsud Regnifloh
Valerio Heights
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dreamweaver646 wrote >>

Regardless of the $800K or the kid's dad being on ESPN, that's indefensible by any standard.

you got it. i have had coaches in my face, close enough to smell their lunch and been kicked in the head while on the ground (while wearing a helmet), but this is ridiculous. what a dumbass.

Posted 2 years ago #
Core_Models
Columbus
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dreamweaver646 wrote >>
This story is being covered all over ESPN and every other sports news channel. The facts aren't in dispute - a coach took a kid who was suffering from a mild concussion and locked him in a dark room with nowhere to sit not once but twice. And the coach doesn't dispute it - he just doesn't think its wrong.
Regardless of the $800K or the kid's dad being on ESPN, that's indefensible by any standard.

Wrong.

The university gave Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, a termination letter just before the two sides were scheduled to meet in court for a hearing on the coach's suspension

Liggett says that the characterizations of where James was put are inaccurate, and that Leach was trying to protect the player from an "unseasonably warm" day

"[Leach] thought James would probably be better off in the equipment room -- it's like a portable building -- it's not a shed," Liggett said. "It's air conditioned, if not very well-ventilated, to a point where it's a luxury to go in there in the heat. "Not only did he put him in a room out of the heat, but [Leach] put him in a room that was very dark, which is good if you have a concussion," Liggett said, adding that an assistant also was ordered to check on James throughout the day.

The facts are very much at question, which is why they were heading into a courtroom when he was fired instead of having the hearing on the suspension.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-tech-university-football-coach-mike-leach-fired/story?id=9449169&page=2

Posted 2 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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amazing... according to Texas Tech's myspace page, their main campus is located in the Arena District!

I had no idea.

Posted 2 years ago #
rus

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Rockmastermike wrote >>
amazing... according to Texas Tech's myspace page, their main campus is located in the Arena District!
I had no idea.

Does that mean your browser has crabs now?

Posted 2 years ago #