UPDATE: (8:06p ET): Joe Schad reports that Leach and James were not present for Texas Tech’s practice tonight. I’ve been told by more than one source that this situation may be a prelude to James transferring to another school - possibly SMU. (Father’s alma mater.)
Not that that would be a stunning revelation.
UPDATE: (7:11p ET): I’ve just been informed by ESPN public relations guy Josh Krulewitz that Craig James will now not be working the ESPN Valero Alamo Bowl game broadcast. He had been previously scheduled to do so.
Krulewitz: “He’s (James) not working the Alamo bowl, for obvious reasons.”
UPDATE: (6:59p ET): Adding a twist to Mike Leach’s ordeal, he was scheduled to receive a “completion bonus” of $800,000 if he was still the head coach of Texas Tech on Jan. 1, 2010. Contract detail confirmed at ESPN.com and CBSSports.com.
UPDATE: (6:40p ET): Don Williams of the LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL has more details on the Leach investigation:
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.
UPDATE: (6:27p ET): ESPN’s Joe Schad confirms player is Adam James, has statement from James family:
“Mr. and Mrs. James took the step with great regret and after consideration and prayer to convey to the Texas Tech administration that their son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health,” the family said in a statement released on Monday.
“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.”
UPDATE: (6:20p ET): NBC affiliate KCBD-TV in Lubbock:
Sources have confirmed to NewsChannel 11 that the complaint allegedly involves Red Raider wide receiver Adam James. Adam James’ father is ESPN football analyst and former SMU Running back Craig James.
UPDATE (5:40p ET): I’ve learned from a college football and media source this afternoon that the player involved in Texas Tech’s investigation into Mike Leach’s treatment of an injured player is inside receiver Adam James, son of ESPN college football announcer Craig James.
Coincidentally, Craig is scheduled to broadcast the bowl game that Leach has been barred from coaching: the Valero Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2.
I’ve got an email into ESPN about the prospect of Craig working that game.
As for Leach’s treatment of Adam James, I’ve learned that James was locked in a darkened equipment room during a recent Tech practice after Leach discovered James wearing sunglasses at practice.
James had told Leach that he needed the eyewear to combat symptoms of a recent concussion.
I was also told that wasn’t the only incident involving James, but I’ve not confirmed any other specific actions by Leach to this point.
Joe Schad of ESPN reported this afternoon that Leach’s attorney plans to challenge the suspension and will work to get Leach reinstated before the bowl game.
–
Statement from Texas Tech just released:
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.
Based on Leach’s past relationship with his players and the school’s AD Gerald Myers, it goes without saying that he isn’t going to be given the benefit of the doubt in these kinds of situations.
6:11 pm on December 28th, 2009
if a player is man enough to tarnish a coach’s image and perhaps career, he should be man enough to use his name. if it’s adam, that’s too bad. there were plenty of games that adam could’ve played better. maybe leach thought the dark closet was davey jones’ locker…arrrggg!
6:20 pm on December 28th, 2009
There is a bigger story here. There have been many injured Texas Tech players treated poorly or not at all since Leach took the reigns of this program.
6:32 pm on December 28th, 2009
@pablo - fill us in, man! apparently you have the story every sports writer out there is looking for. What do you have?
7:06 pm on December 28th, 2009
The guy was not forced to play football - they put him in “time out”. I do that with my kids when they need it. Oh, and he also had his parents complain….
7:08 pm on December 28th, 2009
Great news for June Jones at SMU.
SMU is a threat to Texas Tech because of June Jones’ offensive system.
SMU is going to steal recruits away from Leach now.
Maybe Craig James is kind of helping his alma mater in the recruiting wars.
7:59 pm on December 28th, 2009
It appears Capt Leach ask young master James to “take off his sun glasses” …. after young master James stated the doctor said not to…. Capt Leach said go stand where the sun don’t shine… we wouldn’t want to hurt those eyes.
Mr. James is pulling his “don’t you know who I am” routine, with the full weight of ESPN! Tech Administration is afraid the program will never be seen on ABC again……
8:06 pm on December 28th, 2009
The really sad part is how bad this will tarnish Craig James’ reputation especially among hard core fans. It doesn’t even matter whether Leach did it or not or even what his reasons were. Ultimately Adam James will be perceived as a wus, and Craig James’ credibility is shot. Think about it will football fans allow Craig to question a coach or player without thinking abou this.
8:21 pm on December 28th, 2009
It’s CRAP!!!!!
Grow up. Is the guy going to cry if he gets drafted to the NFL!?!?
8:43 pm on December 28th, 2009
If James had a legitimate concussion than the doctors would have told Coach Leach that James shouldn’t be practicing or playing. the fact that the doctors did not pull him from practice makes a statement that he didn’t have a physical problem. Further more lets look at Leach’s contract and the money that Texas Tech is saving by suspending him before Jan. 1st 2010 (800,000) that’s alot of bank. Not to mention if James was wearing sunglasses and not taking practice serious than whats wrong with Coach Mike Leach telling him to go stand in a dark room to help his eyes? I used to believe that Craig James was an honorable father with a talented son. Now it is clear that both of them should be banned from sports!!!!!! If either of the James’s read this, you should both be in our Congress, because neither of you has a back bone or honorable drop of blood.
THIS IS A SHAM AGAINST OUR FAVORITE PIRATE COACH!!!!! LEACH IF YOU SEE THIS, JUST REMEMBER THAT THERE ARE FANS OUT HERE THAT HAVE COMPLETE FAITH IN YOU. TELL YOUR LAWYER TO TAKE THE TEXAS TECH PRESIDENT, ETC. TO THE CLEANERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
8:56 pm on December 28th, 2009
I wish my Mummy and Daddy would have rescued me.Mabby he should have been playing in a girls school
9:24 pm on December 28th, 2009
if the room was dark (void of agitating light), removed of dangerous falling hazards (in case he passed out) and forced to stand (to keep him from passing out/going into a coma), didnt leach go above and beyond???
9:28 pm on December 28th, 2009
For you TT fans who think this is a conspiracy to get James to SMU, think again. Craig James has been persona non grata at SMU for several years. He has had little contact with the athletic department since the early 90s, and it is very doubtful that his son will become a Mustang. By the way, James daughter is an Aggie. As for Leach, he is a world class nut. He is the one who fired an assistant whose wife was dying of cancer because the assistant wanted to spend time away from film sessions to sit with the dying mother of his children. Nice guy.
9:47 pm on December 28th, 2009
Setencich was also not cutting it as a Def Coordinator, if you recall
9:49 pm on December 28th, 2009
Adam, transfer out of Trailer Trash University and go to the blue-blood school.
9:49 pm on December 28th, 2009
Setenech was fired at the beginning ofthe season I think. It was Setenich, who gave Leach, a man who never played a down, his first job as a coach, if I recall.
9:50 pm on December 28th, 2009
For all those fans out there that think it was cool what Leach did; consider if the player had complications or worse did. It is not the same as putting ones kid in time out. Oh but I guess it’s not my child, or brother so what. right?
10:13 pm on December 28th, 2009
No jeff, it was late in the season, and our defense came out markedly improved from previous outings after he was canned, he couldnt spend enough time on the job, had to be let go, noones fault, thats life
tiny, he had all the medical care taken care of prior to any of this, it wasnt the same day
10:27 pm on December 28th, 2009
OK! let’s look at it from another point if the boy was truly hurt and he was to have practiced and died then you idiots would be thinking what the hell was that coach thinking putting a boy out there to be hurt or even causing his death.
It is not up to us to decide what is right and wrong with this but what is at the best interest of our children. I am my childs keeper not the coachs. I do not pretend to agree or disagree with this but to listen to what our kids are telling us because it appears that things like this is happening more often then not it is worst than peer pressure in High school it is also happening as young adults.
If this is true what the James family is saying I would want more than (I’m SORRY) I would kick his ass back to what hole he crawled out of.
10:30 pm on December 28th, 2009
for making sure your kid was in the safest place for his condition possible???
11:14 pm on December 28th, 2009
It sure it’s in an electrical closet.
I know that there are things we can’t shield our kids from they are going to get hurt but not at the hands of a situation like this. heck they can step off ther porch and fall and break there necks and die from that. But this guy needs a lesson on common sense.
11:21 pm on December 28th, 2009
The story is coming out, there was no electrical closet, a press room and storage room, under supervision from a trainer
11:25 pm on December 28th, 2009
I do think Leach’s actions are correct based on the information given. Based on what has been said thus far Leach’s actions are consistent with what other coaches would do- even H.S. coaches. The H.S. coaches I’ve talked to about this have all admitted to similar actions. One even boldly stated that the good of the many outweight the good of the one. Another said it sounds like there is some helicopter parenting going on in the James family.
Again the realy losers here are the James family- whether you agree with them or not. Adam will be labeled a “loser”; Craig will lose great credibility with college football fans especially powerhouse school ones- they aren’t going think highly of him criticizing or pointing out much of anything between coaches and/or players; and the James home life will now come into questions b/c they will be seen as helicopter parents.
The other loser may be TTU. If they don’t clear this up and make Leach look good they will terminate him or he will leave. Either way TTU isn’t a good enough name brand to be that selective in a new coaching process. Recruits will not look well on TTU without Leach. Most of them aren’t coming to play for TTU they are coming to play for Leach. Back to 6-6 average and 8-4 good years for TTU, and more importantly their revenues will begin dropping due to attendance, TV slots, etc.
The big winner either way- Mike Leach. It won’t matter what TTU does Leach will be seen as the victim in this matter. Whether he’s terminated or quits after being re-instated Leach will now have a reason to move beyond TTU. If somebody thinks this is the end of Leach they are idiots. I guarantee SEC, PAC-10, Big 12, Big 10, and Big East powers are already paying close attention. The big names in the big conferences WILL NOT CARE about what TTU says they will hire Leach and go on to reap the rewards from the absolutely worst decision in TTU sports history. And more importantly they’ll smile right at ya and “Thank you”!
11:51 pm on December 28th, 2009
for Starters:
Its December 28th- the incident was December 16th.
Craig James can wait one week:? Wrong, he clears himself from callng the game (what a boob) he infects his sons team prior to a bowl game (what a boob)
Tech AD- G Meyers - knee jerk suspension of Tech best coeach ever…. (what a boob). Maybe he wants to save $800k in Leach salary…. and go back to a 6and6 also ran… (what a boob)
Adam James is 10th receiver option for Tech. Wines to daddy about treatment; maybe harsh, maybe helpfull- either way he’s not a notable player and cant fill daddy shoes so he makes a scene (what a boob)
Mike Leach: Sure Tech Loves him, but so would, NotreDame, Michigan, Floirida State, Miami, Oklahoma and Oh yeah…. Uterus of Texas..
Looks like Tech ‘effed up again.
Leach, thanks for the good times!
12:47 am on December 29th, 2009
Sometimes you take a stand for what is right and you give a damn about what people are going to say. Call the James’ all the names you want, but they are doing the right thing by their son and by all of the other NCAA (and younger) players (TTU and others alike.) The pressure ultra intense coaches not to mention the players put on themselves toplay through injury is ridiculous. I am sure Leach has the team doctors wrapped around his fingers. NCAA is big money for the schools, coaches and they don’t have players best interests at heart. Good for the James’ for taking a stand and putting up with the grief they will be getting for years to come.
1:55 am on December 29th, 2009
TechFan/SMUalum - do you watch college football at all? Are you even a male?
Your comment was so idiotic - Mike Leach is a good coach for a deep second tier team like Tech, but Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida State, Miami, Oklahoma and Texas?!? These are schools that can and have hired the best coaches in the country and never would they even consider a boob like Mike Leach.
That’s just ignorant and insulting to the likes of Bob Stoops and Mack Brown.
4:12 am on December 29th, 2009
As for Leach, he is a world class nut. He is the one who fired an assistant whose wife was dying of cancer because the assistant wanted to spend time away from film sessions to sit with the dying mother of his children.
——————————————————————————————–
If it was that important for Lyle to be with his dying wife then he should’ve quit the job to be with her. Nobody was forcing him to be there….although when he was he sucked massive ass. The guy was a joke as a DC and stole from the State of Texas.
8:20 am on December 29th, 2009
Let me get this straight: TT annouces to the whole world that the winning coach in the history of the school is suspened (indefinitely) five days before a bowl and then, an then the school announces that they are going to “conduct an investigation” to determine if the allegations are true? What the …..?
Whatever happens with Leach and James it is clear that it is time for the Old Fart Atheletic Director Meyers to go to the retirement home.
10:22 am on December 29th, 2009
” The big winner either way- Mike Leach ”
ABC has very deep pockets, so does TTU. ESPN better hope all the facts are 100% correct, or Leach who has a few Million to spare would have one hell of Libel suit ! Its not hard to prove Intent when one of the “faces of ESPN” is pressuring a school.
Don’t think Florida State, Florida (yes i said it), are not interested. Leach could go 11-1 for the next 3 season at Tech and still not get into a BCS Bowl game.
Biggest Looser is Tech - the alumni are going to stop giving money to the school - so all those professors that ran Bob Knight out of town are going to have to think again in few years when they are going to need a pay cut for lack of funding — (wonder how those BB tickets are selling now?)
I hope an pray that once again Kent Hance can somehow clean up Gerald Meyers mess! yet again!
10:29 am on December 29th, 2009
sdi -
Ur a genius of the obviousness.
Of course he’s good for second tier teams. his tenure at tech proved that. Florida State would take leach in a heartbeat:
Does Michigan want to get back in the hunt for #1? U bet they do. looks like leach will be available.
If he takes the job at Bowling Green we will accept your lower tier typecast.
saals has it right
Bigger problem: for Tech supporters is the AD:
Indefinite suspension 5 days before bowl game for a situation they will conduct and investigation…
What kind of coach will Meyers attract that will accept indefinite suspension on matters prior to an investigation being conducted…
10:46 am on December 29th, 2009
Craig James,
Good luck as CBS College Sports.
2:46 pm on December 29th, 2009
that must of been some prayer…”oh Tim Tebow with all your divine powers, etc……..
12:13 am on December 30th, 2009
@sdl…..guess you haven’t studied up on Leach….he has been sought by some of the big schools as of late, and if Tech fires him, you will see that he will go to a powerhouse school or NFL, and quick.
Craig James is a tool…..his son a cry baby….read EVERY POST on the article posted on ESPN’s page….there are thousands of them.
Nothing more than a crybaby kid, and overbearing father who is nothing more than a has been, and the WORST Athletic Director (Myers) in history….thats it in a nutshell.
1:24 am on December 30th, 2009
Craig James has a history as a “Not accused” member of the team at SMU responsible for the Death Penalty. Just happened to be there at the time. A grade 1 or 2 concussion is at best, hard to definitively diagnose. The “symptoms” have been posted all over the internet. Football and concussion have recently become almost synonymous. Holding Adam James out of contact probably was a medical decision. I can’t find where the Dr. cleared or ruled out practice. Dark room, if headaches or photophobia were a symptom, is reasonable. It certainly wouldn’t hurt or jeapordize his health. Keeping him away from the team, if there were any issues of morale, malingering, etc. is good coaching. If his teammates thought he could practice and wasn’t participating, it would be negative for morale. SO, no danger to the athlete, humiliation perhaps. The only real issue is whether the Dr. cleared him to practice and at what level, e.g. contact or physical exercise. If the doctor didn’t clear him, then the coach wouldn’t want him on the field. He can’t help the practice session. Father knee jerked to hurt the coach, but this is so far out of hand now. Really sad.
6:20 am on December 30th, 2009
A concussion involves headaches much like ones you get from anesthetics involving an operation. The body has to readjust itself for several weeks to overcome that Morphine debt to the body. Leach recognized that is why he put James in the shed to keep him out of the sun which will exacerbate the headaches. I know from personal experience after an operation and hit the sunlight it affects the nervous system because of the imbalance. Craig is aggressive sometimes misguidedly so remembering his tug of wars with Lou Holtz. Leave the coaching to the Experts Craig and keep things in perspective.
9:59 am on December 30th, 2009
Leach probably handled this situation poorly. Maybe he even “mistreated” this player. SO WHAT!!!! Did he cause harm to the the boy? Did he physically harm him?
I think the coach probably mishandled this situation, but to run & tell mommy & daddy??? Then to have the father step in & fight this battle is te prefect example of what’s wrong with sports today. Life is difficult at times! Life is UNFAIR at times! His boss later on in life may may treat him unfairly. Will his parents run to his rescue then?? Teach him to deal w/ the situation as a man. Have him “handle” the situation himself. Go have a conversation w/ the coach & if it gets nowhere - then go to the AD. Running to Mommy & Daddy to fight your battles is exactly the problem for me. I can guarantee that Woody Hayes, or Joe Paterno, or Brear Bryant did alot worse. Learn a lesson from it & MOVE on!! Craig James should be completely ashamed at stepping in this. Kid just ruined his own career!
11:16 am on December 30th, 2009
I think Daddy should have kicked his son’s behind and talked some sense into him, suck it up and be a man. Especially since Leach was doing a favor for his daddy by giving him a free ride to TTU. Adam should be trying as hard as possible to validate the scholarship instead of acting like a spoiled brat. Only thing Adam is going to learn from this is that he doesn’t have to work hard to earn anything and he is entitled to everything.
11:31 am on December 30th, 2009
I cannot believe what I am reading. Have we become so crazed about football that nothing else matters?
Are football players supposed to be treated like their health and perhaps life does not matter. We might as well go back to the gladiator days. Mike Leach is a jerk as well as the rest of you do or die fans!!!!!!!!!!!!!
1:40 pm on December 30th, 2009
Craig let your son grow up. Some one said Meyers should have been gone a long time ago. I love espn but as long as Craig has anything with them I will not watch or listen. Hope Leach all the luck.
2:19 pm on December 30th, 2009
Like Lou Holtz said last night… “Coaches do not make decisions concerning the health of college athletes”, so there must be so much more to this than has been reported.
All this to say… I believe Coach Lou may be on to something when he talked about what really happens to an injured player, and who makes the decisions concerning their treatment.
Leach is “head and shoulders” above Spike Dykes and the other coaches who have tried but failed to lift the Red Raider program to a respectable level… Looks like Baylor will have a better chance to become bowl eligible when they play their “weak sister” at the end of the 2010 season.
3:15 pm on December 30th, 2009
It is sad that Texas Tech is behaving in this manner. James was the one who got SMU in trouble for players paid to play. He is know as a pain in the … where his son played. We find it funny that he is throwing the mud. NEVER liked to watch him during ANY game…AND will boycott the station if they let him back. What has happened to “you are inocent till proven guilty?”….
5:12 pm on December 30th, 2009
Maybe the big 12 is behind this? One less chance for
an overated number one team with a horrible schedule
to go undefeated and win the Very Little 12 and subsequently get pounded in the championship game?
6:47 pm on December 30th, 2009
To everyone saying that people are forgetting to think about the player’s health, and if it was your child you would be mad, etc., go to webMD and look up concussions. Leach’s treatment of the situation could not have harmed James in any way. It was, in fact, in line with normal treatment of concussions (a symptom of which is photophobia; if you don’t know what that means, then you obviously have no medical basis for comment). The talk of a nonexistent isolation to an electrical closet put the media in a tizzy, and the Tech AD is a fool.
12:20 am on December 31st, 2009
“For you TT fans who think this is a conspiracy to get James to SMU, think again. Craig James has been persona non grata at SMU for several years. He has had little contact with the athletic department since the early 90s, and it is very doubtful that his son will become a Mustang. By the way, James daughter is an Aggie.”
I love it! Craig James, you have totally screwed your entire family. What an idiot! Didn’t they teach you PR 101? ESPN should definitely fire you!
12:31 am on December 31st, 2009
Why can’t people see this for what is worth? All these people blaming the James family for pointing out something that IS wrong. The fact is that this is more about how Leach has acted with the people who emply him as well as those he is employed with. Let’s not forget, he had a job because of a University, the University existed for years before he arrived and will continue to exist after he is gone. For all of you out there that can not see past the “god complex” Leach possessed, go to your boss(es) tomorrow and tell them to f— off and you will not do what they have instructed you to do, see how much longer you have a job! Get a life and a realistic view of the situation here. I am so sick of all these arm chair - jock sniffing quarterbacks out there that only knows the personification of Mike Leach the pirate and does not know the real man. I do. He does not believe he answers to anyone and it has only grown more out of control with his success! The Tech Administration just earned a high level of respect from me and a higher level of support from me in the future. Go Red Raiders!!!!!!!!!
12:43 am on December 31st, 2009
Please get your info from other news sources other than ESPN. This one-sided reporting is ridiculous. See details on the”electrical closet” and the “shed” here……
http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/12/30/leachs-lawyer-takes-camera-inside-the-shed-and-closet/?sms_ss=email
Unbelievable. Also, here is a link to a petition to fire Craig James.
http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?Firetrev
11:58 am on December 31st, 2009
Craig James and his son are a bunch of bitches… really the best coach Texas Tech had and because someone with some hip pocket camera’s and some attention to the fact that his son is a spoiled brat who was not getting his way or play calling the way he wanted… pathetic! The only thing you did “Daddy” James was label your son a bitch and a problem child; I hope is career is very short in football I don’t care to see him go far in the sport. As for Coach Leach trust me he is a great Coach and when Texas Tech is done paying him all the money they owe him for breaking his contact. The $800,000 bonus he should have received (today) in addition to the law suit he will be awarded when the TRUTH comes out Coach Leach will have the last laugh…
Texas Tech will still be paying him money while he is coaching elsewhere laughing all the way to the bank for their stupidity, but hey you still have a half ass whining bitch on your team.
12:12 pm on December 31st, 2009
On another note, it sounds like Adam James could have used a “Time Out” its not his fault he had to be a father figure to a grown spoiled brat.
2:17 pm on January 1st, 2010
Craig James should be fired and his wus of a son should go to a ladies’ football program. The firing of coach Leach stinks and one day we will know the real reason. He was a great coach and the James are just loosers.
2:47 am on January 2nd, 2010
Trailer Trash University. Haha that is what you get for hiring a jerk like the leach!!
9:42 pm on January 2nd, 2010
Texas Tech is just saving themselves the $800,000 they were going to have to pay Leach and I think that really stinks. Leach is obviously a very successful coach. It will be TT’s loss. And Adam James is a spoiled baby brat, and his “daddy” needs to realize he is in college and stay OUT of it. So sickening….
7:29 pm on January 4th, 2010
Anyone else notice that the Trainer says he took all the chairs out so he couldn’t sit down & Adam’s video clearly has a chair in it.
5:09 pm on February 27th, 2011
Any idea what the big news from the packers hall of fame?