Mike Leach suspended for Alamo Bowl

[DallasCowpoke]

Over complaints by parents regarding an injured player.

Must be something to it for them to take that step.

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.

The decision to take these actions was made in consultation with the Texas Tech University president, and the Texas Tech University System chancellor, and Board of Regents chairman and vice chairman. 


Because this is a personnel matter no further comment will be forthcoming.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Any rumors floating around as to what he allegedly did?

 

[kmp77]

Any rumors floating around as to what he allegedly did?

Said something during the A&M game about locking him in a dark room or something?

 

[The Realist]

ESPN just said an injured player was isolated in a dark electrical equipment room for hours.

That's some Jack Bauer stuff right there.

 

[Chief]

Must be something to it for them to take that step.

Yep. The incident must have been confirmed by some coaches or players for them to take that step.

Leach uses some unorthodox methods in dealing with players. Last year, one of his players (Edward Britton) reportedly missed study hall or something, and Leach had a desk and chair put out at midfield of Jones Stadium. They made Britton sit out there in the middle of the field and study in some pretty foul weather.

He always has a player or two in the dog house, too. They usually come out of it and finish strong.

If this incident is true (and the university certainly must have some good evidence), then this is pretty rough.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

ESPN just said an injured player was isolated in a dark electrical equipment room for hours.

That's some Jack Bauer stuff right there.

I would have took a nap.:laugh1:

 

[Hypnotoad]

He should be suspended and probably sued. Concussions are serious and his behavior discourages players coming forward. This is inexcusable especially now when the NFL, lawmakers, and the public want football to improve their policies.

Locked a person in a dark confined, small room for hours with guards outside when a player said he had a concussion.

 

[DIAF]

Saw this on another board, don't know if its true or not, but supposedly the player involved is Craig James' son, and he wore sunglasses to practice because he had a concussion. So Leach locked him in an electrical room. If this is true, I think he's toast at Tech.

Edit: Reported on ESPN2....It was Craig James' son.

Mike Leach is SO fired.

 

[Chief]

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal......

Tech football coach Mike Leach was suspended for ordering a player to stand in shed at the Tech football practice facility for two hours, then repeating the punishment two days later because he felt the player was faking an injury that happened during practice on Dec. 16, the Avalanche-Journal has learned.
A source told the A-J Leach did not dispute the facts, brought to the university’s attention by the player and his parent.
Leach had until Monday to write an apology and when he did not, the university felt it had to take action.
“This was not taken lightly,” the source said, adding that Leach did not show any signs of remorse or did not say he wouldn’t do it again.
The player suffered a concussion at practice on Dec. 16 and Leach thought the player was faking.
The next day at practice, the player was ordered to stand in a shed. Leach had him watched and when he sat down, Leach had things removed from the shed so he could not sit down.
Two days later, Leach had the player stand in a dark room for three hours.
During the university’s initial investigation, Leach said the player was a slacker and his father was always calling and acting like a Little League dad.

 

[Avaj]

Saw this on another board, don't know if its true or not, but supposedly the player involved is Craig James' son, and he wore sunglasses to practice because he had a concussion. So Leach locked him in an electrical room. If this is true, I think he's toast at Tech.

Edit: Reported on ESPN2....It was Craig James' son.

Mike Leach is SO fired.

Wow really? Craig's son. Wow!!

 

[Chief]

Wow really? Craig's son. Wow!!

That's what I've read too -- Adam James.

 

[peplaw06]

Lubbock Avalanche-Journal......

Tech football coach Mike Leach was suspended for ordering a player to stand in shed at the Tech football practice facility for two hours, then repeating the punishment two days later because he felt the player was faking an injury that happened during practice on Dec. 16, the Avalanche-Journal has learned.
A source told the A-J Leach did not dispute the facts, brought to the university’s attention by the player and his parent.
Leach had until Monday to write an apology and when he did not, the university felt it had to take action.
“This was not taken lightly,” the source said, adding that Leach did not show any signs of remorse or did not say he wouldn’t do it again.
The player suffered a concussion at practice on Dec. 16 and Leach thought the player was faking.
The next day at practice, the player was ordered to stand in a shed. Leach had him watched and when he sat down, Leach had things removed from the shed so he could not sit down.
Two days later, Leach had the player stand in a dark room for three hours.
During the university’s initial investigation, Leach said the player was a slacker and his father was always calling and acting like a Little League dad.

This doesn't surprise me.... Not that what Leach did was appropriate, but I've never thought much of Craig James.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

That's what I've read too -- Adam James.

Not that any player should be coddled over another at that level, but if it was in-fact Craig James' kid, THAT was moronic on Leach's part.

Craig James has a reputation as a bit of a prima donna, especially when it comes to anything in Texas. And with the position/clout he holds at ESPN/ABC, Leach is an idiot to challenge him.

 

[DIAF]

It IS Craig James' kid. They named the family during halftime of the Independence Bowl on ESPN2. Of all the players to screw with, Leach picked the one with the most powerful dad.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

It IS Craig James' kid. They named the family during halftime of the Independence Bowl on ESPN2. Of all the players to screw with, Leach picked the one with the most powerful dad.

Saw that too.

Especially dumb on Leach's part, 'cus Craig J. was VERY vocal as a supporter of his anytime I saw him on a Tech game or highlight package.

 

[Hypnotoad]

Saw that too.

Especially dumb on Leach's part, 'cus Craig J. was VERY vocal as a supporter of his anytime I saw him on a Tech game or highlight package.

An average parent might have just overlooked what was happening and considered it part of the brotherhood. An average player might have not understood the risks of a concussion.

Foolish. Foolish Leach.

 

[Biggems]

the same Craig James who helped put SMU football on death row.

If Leach did lock the kid in the closet, he should be fired and brought up on criminal charges. what if the building caught on fire and the kid died? what if the kid was claustrophobic, had a panic attack, and died? If the kid had a legit injury, then there is no reason to even discipline him.

But, if the kid was trying to avoid practice.....Just confine him to his dorm for the remainder of the week, make him clean the latrine, or something else along those lines......hell, I am even cool with what he did to the kid who missed study hall......but never lock someone in a room as a disciplinary tactic.

 

[DallasCowpoke]

How THIS...

the same Craig James who helped put SMU football on death row.

Has any bearing on this...

If Leach did lock the kid in the closet, he should be fired and brought up on criminal charges. what if the building caught on fire and the kid died? what if the kid was claustrophobic, had a panic attack, and died? If the kid had a legit injury, then there is no reason to even discipline him.

But, if the kid was trying to avoid practice.....Just confine him to his dorm for the remainder of the week, make him clean the latrine, or something else along those lines......hell, I am even cool with what he did to the kid who missed study hall......but never lock someone in a room as a disciplinary tactic.

Is beyond me.

 

[goliadmike]

From the AP

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -- Texas Tech suspended Mike Leach on Monday while the school investigated complaints from receiver Adam James and his family about how the player was treated after a concussion.

James is the son of former NFL player Craig James, now a television sports analyst for ESPN.

Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be the interim coach when Texas Tech plays Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2.

School officials declined to identify the player, but James' family released a statement to The Associated Press saying it was Adam.

A person with direct knowledge of the complaints told the AP that James, while unable to practice with a concussion, twice was forced to stand in a small, dark place for hours while the team practiced.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the complaint and the ongoing investigation.

James was injured Dec. 16 and the next day was diagnosed with a concussion by team doctors, the person said.

According to the person, James was sequestered at two consecutive practices:

- On Dec. 17, James said Leach told trainers to put him "the darkest place you can find." James was sent to an equipment shed near the practice field, where a member of the athletic staff checked on James to make sure he did not lean against anything or sit on the floor. James said Leach told him that if he came out he would be kicked off the team.

- When the team returned to practice two days later, on Dec. 19, James said Leach told trainers to "find the tightest, darkest place" for the player. James, in his street clothes, was put in an electrical closet inside the football stadium for hours, again monitored by a member of the athletic staff.

The James family contacted the university after the second practice, the person said.

Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, disputed the account.

Adam James "claimed to have been hurt," was examined and diagnosed with a "mild concussion," Liggett told the AP.

"I believe that (Adam James) was a disgruntled student athlete that like many were not happy with their playing time," Liggett said.

He told ESPN.com that James "was placed in an equipment room as it was much cooler and darker" than the practice field. The second time, Liggett told ESPN.com, James was placed in a "press room with air conditioning and a stationary bike he could use."

McNeill, who will remain in charge of the team until the investigation is complete, declined to answer questions about the complaints after Monday night's practice in San Antonio. Players were not made available to the media.

"Mike's my friend. We've been friends for a long time, and I don't think right now is the right time to go into that," McNeill said.

He said Leach arrived with the team in San Antonio and that Adam James also was with the team, but not practicing.

McNeill said he was told Monday afternoon that he was taking over for Leach, then told the players shortly afterward.

"They were probably a little shocked, but at the same time, they did a good job of coming on the field and doing what I asked them to do. I was proud of that," McNeill said.

Craig James was scheduled to announce the Alamo Bowl, however, ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said James will no longer work the game.

The James family issued a statement Monday saying their "son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health."

"Over the past year, there has been a greatly enhanced recognition of the dangers of concussions and the potential for long term physical damage to players. At virtually every level of football coaching, cases where children and young men have sustained concussions have generated serious discussion of the importance of correct treatment and diagnosis."

There's been internal strife this season with the Red Raiders (8-4).

Leach chastised players after a loss to Texas A&M in October for listening to "their fat little girlfriends," and thinking the Aggies were a pushover. After the Red Raiders' loss at then-No. 12 Houston in September, Leach indefinitely suspended starting offensive lineman Brandon Carter for violating team rules.

That week Leach also banned his players from having Twitter pages after linebacker Marlon Williams posted a tweet that asked why he was still in a meeting room when "the head coach can't even be on time."

Leach led Texas Tech to the best season in program history last year, going 11-2. But he and the university were at odds for months over negotiations for a contract extension. In February, Leach and the school agreed to a five-year, $12.7 million deal that could keep him there through 2013.​

 

[Aikbach]

Locking it was a bit much if that is true but making him isolated is not.
A bratty football player was disciplined, boo hoo.
Shame of it is Leach may have gone completely off the PC grid with his discipline but I'm rather convinced the James boy deserved a reality check.