The cavalry supporting Mike Leach against complaints from Craig James and his son Adam has officially arrived.
(Clockwise from top left: Harrell, Loper, January)
Adam Zuvanich of the LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL has four former Tech players defending Leach’s methods while blasting Adam James as a ‘prima donna’ and claiming the reason for Leach’s suspension was the media profile of Adam’s father. (Craig is an ESPN announcer.)
Former Tech offensive lineman and current Tennessee Titan Daniel Loper:
Some former Tech players, who said they have been in contact with current Red Raiders and the coaching staff, questioned the validity of James’ complaint as well as his motives and intentions. They also said James has a reputation for being soft and somewhat of a prima donna.
“I think some people honestly are not tough enough to play college football, and (James) might be one of them, especially if he’s worried about being called out or humiliated,” Loper said. “… Sometimes that happens, especially at the collegiate level. It’s not like high school and Pop Warner, where everyone gets to play and gets a pat on the back. Sometimes coaches can be mean and yell.”
Former Tech offensive lineman and Glenn January:
January said the shed in which James spent practice on Dec. 17 might have been the most appropriate place to deal with his concussion, because it kept him out of the sunlight. January said he and his teammates on the offensive line often retreated to the same shed during practices to rest and escape the heat.
“It’s not like it’s some dungeon,” he said.
January and some other former Tech players also suggested the incident wouldn’t have been scrutinized if James wasn’t the son of Craig James, a former SMU and NFL standout who now works as a television analyst for ESPN.
“It’s basically a non-issue,” January said. “The only reason it’s getting any attention is because of who his dad is.”
More from Loper:
“Anybody that looks into this story should not be shied away,” Loper said. “I don’t know the whole situation with Adam’s father and his influence, and I don’t know if they’re thinking they’re being mistreated like the deal at Kansas. I don’t think this is a situation where (Leach) should be fired or even suspended. From what I’ve heard, I think it’s a little over the line.”
Former Tech quarteback Graham Harrell:
“He was hard on us,” Harrell said, “but it wasn’t like he ever threatened us or put us in a situation that was dangerous to us.”
Former Tech player Eric Morris was also cited as supporting Leach in the matter.
Interesting to note the marked difference between this situation and the Mark Mangino episode. Mangino received no such early support after accusations from multiple current and former KU players - and their parents in some case.
The fact that James originally came to Tech as a walk-on perhaps is also fueling the reaction of former players. Between accusation and reaction, the truth of the matter is probably somewhere in the middle.
The wildcard in this situation is the disdain for which Leach is held by Tech Athletic Director Gerald Myers, who has tried to force Leach out in the past. Remember, Leach is owed an $800,000 ‘completion bonus’ if he is the Tech head coach this Friday. We could be setting up for a huge legal battle in short order.
1:03 pm on December 29th, 2009
The father is a bit of a “dick”… little league dad…and all around A-hole
1:31 pm on December 29th, 2009
they couldnt have wanted to let leach go that bad or they would not have resigned him in feb.
2:33 pm on December 29th, 2009
The obvious question that no one is asking is: Why was the kid being punished AT ALL for having a concussion and being under doctor’s orders not to practice?
2:46 pm on December 29th, 2009
A shed?!?
What we would have given for a shed!
When I was playing we stood under the shade of a stop sign if we wanted rest.
And we were thankful!
2:51 pm on December 29th, 2009
Sounds like Adam is more of an Eve.
2:56 pm on December 29th, 2009
SOunds like the ESPN analyst needed more “air” time and his prima dona son needed to be tucked into bed at night, to bad that TV and especially ESPN has to be part of this, this kid should be a hands off to every other school! To bad a coach has to worry about prima dona types!!
3:03 pm on December 29th, 2009
There are a few “injuries” for which there should be over-the-top concern, no matter the player. A head injury should fall into that category. He may be a “this” and his Dad may be a “that”, but to punish a kid for a head injury? I just can’t find support for that.
I’d have done the “time” if it were me, but….If you’re gonna dish out penalties, be accepting of them when they hit you back. Leach has to take his medicine too, as it sounds like dude took his. Schools pay a heavy price when these stunts go bad these days. Its not like it use to be.
3:56 pm on December 29th, 2009
Everybody should be honest…if that was your kid (with a concussion) and he was put in an equipment shed for 3 hours…YOU WOULD BE PISSED…no matter if your kid is considered SOFT…Just an ASSHOLE thing to do a kid.
My one problem with Craig James was that he Complained to the A-D…I would have drove down to campus and GRABBED fat ass LEACH by the Neck and threw him in the equipment shed..and Locked the Door.
4:04 pm on December 29th, 2009
Ask Michigan players under Coach Mo or Carr what happened if they got a concussion. Leach sounds like a dream coach to me…putting a player out of the sunlight and in a nice roomy, cool shed.
5:03 pm on December 29th, 2009
I used to whip kids with a “cat o’ nine tails” whenever they went down with a cramp. If a kid on my team ever got a concussion, we’d make him play with no helmet to see if he was tough enough to make it through the day. Forget water for dehydration. We’d hide the cooler behind some bushes and make ‘em find it.
Lookin’ down from Heaven today I see a bunch of softies. Adam James woulda never made it with me, Hayes, Schembechler, or Rockne coaching him. What a wimp. . .
5:24 pm on December 29th, 2009
The player was removed from contact and a trainer assigned. There was apparent artistry in the telling of the tale. I would love to see a HUGE defamation suit brought against ESPN, the dad and particularly the university. Not that I give a rat about Leach. I’m just tired of the media dictating right and wrong against an individual without inquiry or objective view of the facts. As far as the university and their athletic director, unjustified arrogance has been paramount there as long as I can remember (ex student). Maybe a nice dip into the butter and egg money would be just what the doctor ordered.
6:04 pm on December 29th, 2009
Sounds to me like the Texas Tech AD was looking for a reason to can Leach and void the $800K “completion bonus” and suddenly here’s Adam James. Total BS in my opinion.
6:20 pm on December 29th, 2009
Shannon - you hit the nail on the head. Well said.
10:01 pm on December 29th, 2009
Pussies should not be playing football.
10:48 pm on December 29th, 2009
The obvious question that no one is asking is: Why was the kid being punished AT ALL for having a concussion and being under doctor’s orders not to practice?
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The obvious answer is, it’s not anyone’s business. If a football coach wants to put a football player in a shed to discipline him (regardless of the reason) then he should be able to.
How do you know he didn’t show up at practice with an attitude?
12:12 am on December 30th, 2009
He did have attitude. He’d had at least two other discipline problems, and his former position coach didn’t even want him but Leach is the one who gave him a scholly (bet he regrets that!) See http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/sports/local/091229-leach-goes-court
The supposed injury happened some days earlier; some of you seem to think it had just occurred but not so. Players who have injuries have to show up to practice (no skating out) and work on other things such as upper body, etc. He was sporting sunglasses and goofing off, then told a coach that he needed the ’shades as the doctor “said he need to stay in dark” so Leach said fine, go to the shed where it is cool and dark.
2:24 am on December 30th, 2009
Bunch of Einsteins who know as much about how to treat a concussion as Leach… I wonder how many of them are going into coaching and must rely upon Leach’s help to make it?
The more Leach tries to defend himself, the worse he looks.
Stay Classy Tech!
6:10 am on December 30th, 2009
Once again, the moron brigade wants to blame the victim for not being manly.
9:54 am on December 31st, 2009
Did Adam always attend practice with his cell phone/video camera on him? Seems funny that after his concussion he had the where with all to grab his camera and video tape the “shed” he was locked in. There are famalies that live in crappier homes than that. Maybe he was pissed there was no flat screen TV to watch and play video games.