An open request record filed by the LUBBOCK AVALANCHE-JOURNAL unearthed a bombshell involving Craig James and Texas Tech attorneys.
(Tech lawyers blaming investigation on James to keep Leach records seal)
A-J reporter Matthew McGowan notes this week that as part of an appeal to thwart the newspaper’s request for records involving the Leach investigation, Tech attorneys stated, “Craig James threatened on Dec. 20 to sue the university if it did not investigate the actions of then-head football coach Mike Leach.”
More of the plea from Tech to the Texas Attorney General: “The threat did not appear to be an idle threat as the parent expressed genuine concern for the health and well-being of his injured child, as well as other student-athletes.”
Tech attorneys are trying to keep all records sealed within the university as it pertains to the Leach investigation, but in the process of trying to keep those secrets, university lawyers tipped off just how much influence Craig James was trying to exert over the Texas Tech football program - and Leach himself.
The reason Tech lawyers released the statement about James’ threatened lawsuit was an attempt to prove to the state’s attorney general that the school had no choice but to go forward with its subsequent actions against Leach. And that behind-the-scenes details of those actions needed to be sealed forever.
So Tech lawyers are saying that a potential Craig James lawsuit was the primary reason it needs to keep all documents pertaining to Leach’s firing secret.
James attorney Scott McLaughlin responded to the official statement from Texas Tech by denying what Tech’s legal counsel stated in its legal document to the attorney general: “Craig James never threatened to sue Texas Tech University. Further, Texas Tech initiated its investigation of its own accord.”
Meanwhile, Leach attorney Paul Dobrowski recently told the Avalanche-Journal that Leach “will have to consider” suing Craig James at some point.
With Tech’s own lawyers now claiming that Craig James was the primary impetus for keeping school records about Leach’s firing secret, I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think that James employer ESPN would be concerned about him representing the network on future college football broadcast.
I’ve got an email into ESPN about that and await its response.
9:14 pm on January 28th, 2010
If James wants to sue anyone, let him do it. I hope Coach Leach sues him and TTU and whomever else damaged him and his reputation and his entire life. I would never ever vote for someone like Craig James no matter what. I want to know the whole story about this. What about ESPN? Didn’t James use that media to defame Leach?
12:49 am on January 29th, 2010
Little Adam James learned his behavior well from dad growing up.
He expected it given to him….and dad threatened if little Adam didn’t get it.
9:59 am on January 29th, 2010
Is this really surprising? It doesn’t even prove anything bad against the James’. If Leach was really abusing you son, and the school was ignoring it, wouldn’t most parents sue, or threaten to sue?
I don’t even know how Leach could sue James, or how he could win. James threatening to sue only caused the investigation. If he was wrongly terminated, that would still fall on the school
4:39 pm on January 29th, 2010
I believe Craig James, ESPN and Kent Hance each defamed Coach Leach. James and ESPN continually repeated the false accusations that Adam James was locked in an ‘electrical closet’. The sworn affivadit from the trainer who actually placed Adam in the weight room and media room stated that there was such a closet in one of these rooms and that he specifically told Adam not to enter the closet. As for Kent Hance, in the past TTU has refused to discuss personnel matters yet after firing Coach Leach, Hance was interviewed on ESPN and apparently TTU provided the video to ESPN showing Coach Leach cursing at Adam. The video was played immediately following the Leach interview. The fact that the video was shown indicates a personnel vendetta against the coach by Hance. If the firing was simply because of mistreatment of a student why would Hance make a personal statement and allow the video to be shown. Also, in documents released and included in the the Leach Third Amended Petition there is no written statement, sworn or otherwise, by either James. Who in the world institutes an investigation based on allegations on a telepehone call without a sworn statement?
1:00 am on January 30th, 2010
“Goodbye from the world’s biggest polluter.” –in parting words to world leaders at his final G-8 Summit, punching the air and grinning widely as those present looked on in shock, Rusutsu, Japan, July 10, 2008