Via ESPN-TV, here’s some of the first on the record responses from Texas Tech players about Mike Leach’s firing today.
Starting Center Shawn Byrnes on Leach: “He didnt understand how to deal with people. … Everyone is excited about this to be honest. … Adam James took a stand. How could punish a kid for having a concussion? What could that possibly accomplish?”
Texas Tech defensive lineman Chris Perry on Leach’s firing today and the coach’s treatment of Adam James: “I have no complaints about this decision. (Leach) put Adam in a shed like an animal. Like an animal in a cage. … That was bull. … You call the players. We practiced hard this week. We have our pep back now. We had less stress this week. You know why? Because he’s (Leach) gone.”
Texas Tech defensive back Taylor Charbonnet on Leach’s treatment of teammate Adam James: “I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t agree with it. I don’t know why Leach did that.”
Also, I’ve been told by ESPN pr guy Josh Krulewitz that Craig James will address the Leach firing later today on SportsCenter. The exact time of that reaction has not yet been determined. James will also address the matter on ESPN’s Holiday Bowl telecast tonight.
Joe Schad of ESPN also continues to report this afternoon that there’s a possibility of a contract settlement between Leach and Texas Tech.
Reaction from former Texas Tech offensive lineman under Leach and current Tech football broadcaster Toby Cecil:
“This is blown out of proportion, the kid was never in any danger. I’m at a loss for words. He hasn’t put anyone in any danger. It hasn’t been that long since I’ve been removed from the program (as a player). Guys have to be more mentally tough.
He’s the guy who built out the stadium to the level it is now, and I’ve had past players that there not interested in renewing their season tickets next year.”
4:27 pm on December 30th, 2009
Who the eff cares about Texas Tech?
4:46 pm on December 30th, 2009
Apparently you do.
4:52 pm on December 30th, 2009
New coach should terminate these yahoos.
5:02 pm on December 30th, 2009
Texas Tech will slip back farther into obscurity. I think little James needs to blow some sand out of his coochand his daddy needs to be chain whipped.
The BigXII will miss coach Leach. We’ll definitely miss them stomping the sh!t out of A&M 4 out of every 5 years.
This whole thing reeks of set up. I hope EJ Holub does the right thing and decks that wuss Meyers…
5:31 pm on December 30th, 2009
Shawn Byrnes? I might care what he has to say if he wasn’t a cluster@#$# all season long. I don’t doubt he dislikes Leach, as his terrible performance probably earned him more than one lecture.
Sour grapes.
6:54 pm on December 30th, 2009
Hope they enjoy losing, because without Leach they won’t touch 8 wins the rest of their careers.
And, hey, Brooks: please stop parroting ESPN’s garbage on this. They have a serious interest in keeping the narrative on Leach’s supposed transgressions and not Craig James and his kid’s involvement.
6:56 pm on December 30th, 2009
These are 3 of the guys Leach was referring to in the past. Maybe you remember them - they have fat little girlfriends and need their mommies to dry their tears and tell them they’re OK.
7:25 pm on December 30th, 2009
Any one wonder who Adams circle jerk buddies are ?
Coaches and former players standing up for the coach and these 3 dopes are singing Adams praises. These guys are losers and there careers, if they had one, ended today.
7:40 pm on December 30th, 2009
I had Shawn in one of my classes last year. He was by far the biggest slacker I’ve ever seen. The only reason he passed after being caught cheating 3 times is because he begged the professor to let him pass, then gloated about it. I can’t stand the kid, never came to class, skipped on community service for the class and expected to pass.
7:42 pm on December 30th, 2009
It’d be funny if one of them said, the dude had a concussion, he didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition.
[Jarring chord]
Leach dressed as a Cardinal jumps out and screams ‘NOBODY expects the Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise…surprise and fear…fear and surprise…. Our two weapons are fear and surprise…and ruthless efficiency…. Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency…and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope…. Our *four*…no… *Amongst* our weapons…. Amongst our weaponry…are such elements as fear, surprise…. I’ll come in again.
8:09 pm on December 30th, 2009
Nice to see the ignorant slackjaw rubes defending Leach. I guess players are expendable in your sad little world.
Good riddance to that worhtless POS. Leach is an embarrassment to the school and profession.
8:39 pm on December 30th, 2009
This rube has a MBA JF - so please - show the proper respect. Football players are expendable at every level - if you think otherwise, you’re not paying attention.
Do you seriously believe that the same Athletic Director that hired Bobby Knight - while video of him choking Neil Reed at an Indiana basketball practice is readily available - cares one whit about the football players at Tech? If so, you’re incredibly naive . . .
This was the coup de grace to a massive pissing match - One in which Tech AD Gerald Myers had previously been emasculated by Tech Chancellor Kent Hance. Gerald may have a leg up at this point but he won’t win the war . . . there’s still a lawsuit to lose, more cash to fork over, a massive revolt from season ticketholders, boosters and alumni, empty seats in the recently expanded stadium, transfers from kids that are loyal to Leach, a ruined recruiting class, a new coach to find (by the way, have you ever been to Lubbock? It’s a real garden spot.) and Myers’ eventual firing. This one is far from over . . .
The worthless POS may be leaving Tech but college football won’t be rid of him. He’ll simply move to the next place and put them on the map.
9:52 pm on December 30th, 2009
You morons praising Leach may have degrees of note, but I’ll bet you are non or frustrated former players who have to live your miserable lives through Texas Tech football
10:15 pm on December 30th, 2009
What is almost as sickening as Leach being fired, is ESPN’s slanted one-sided reporting of the situation. The ONLY players they quote are 3 dissing Leach…lets be honest…why not report on the current and former players that have come out in support of Leach
Why not report or ask James about:
1) reports by Adam James’ teammates about his piss poor attitude and the fact that he is a spoiled brat punk…ask his former Tech baseball teammates about him being a quiter/whiner/baby/dick-head
2) the fact that James asked for a release so he could transfer to SMU but was denied by Tech due to the fact that Tech (like most schools) has a policy of not releasing players to play for other Div I schools in the same state or conference….smells like some sour grapes James
I hope other college head coaches BLACK BALL Craig James and deny him any info or access for him to do his ESPN gig…surely they recognize the “punishment” (suspension and eventual firing) DO NOT fit the crime being forced onto one of their coaching brethren….BLACK BALL the M-F’er
Sure Leach is a “different” individual/coach and has a large ego himself…so was Bob Knight…he is the same coach you signed to a 5 year contract extension earlier this year…it is that same coach that brought this program out of mediocrity and gained it some national recogniction over the past few years…
Shame on ESPN….Shame on Tech Administration for letting their EGOS get in the way and set Tech FB back.
Shame on Craig James…his son was put in NO DANGER…if the reports of Adam James prima dona attidute are only half way accurate, Leach did nothing that hasn’t been done in countless gyms, fieldhouses, and fields today at the high school and college level. Grow some balls…..James used his position/influence at ESPN to make this a much bigger deal than it needed to be. Had this happend to any other player, the story would have never seen the public light.
Gerald Myers…you should be FIRED!!!!
12:23 am on December 31st, 2009
Gerald Myers should be fired and maybe Kent Hance along with him!!!!!!!!!!! I wish the players would forfeit the game on Sat.
12:59 am on December 31st, 2009
Hey Pete Carrol, go get Leach to run your sorry offense!
1:15 am on December 31st, 2009
How about some objective reporting here? Where is the other side of the story, you know, the former and present players the support Coach Leach? Shame on you, ESPN. You’d be wiser to leave Craig in the dust.
1:45 am on December 31st, 2009
Texas Tech administration the worst mistakes made in modern college football. There are numerous accounts of Adam James being lazy and a jerk. He was not offered ANY other D1 scholarships. After speaking with Craig James, MIke Leach decided to offer him a scholarship, against the advice of the position coach. Leach has been really good to the James family. Adam James has been a malcontent on the team for 3 years according to both of his wide receiver coaches, a former running back, and Graham Harrell.
Lastly, James was not “thrown in a shed with a concussion”. That makes it sound like he got knowcked out and Leach immediately threw him into a shed. He suffered a mild concussion. He was checked out by doctors. A couple of days later he showed up wearing sunglasses to practice. He was asked to remove the sunglasses, and said he couldn’t. So Leach sent him to an equipment room and the visiting press room: heres the “shed”
http://news.lalate.com/celebrity/home.html?task=videodirectlink&id=963
8:55 am on December 31st, 2009
Are you all aware that we are talking about a man that is obsessed with Pirates….. Pirates people. Bring in the “Strangler” from Indy, or Cpt’n Spread Arrrffense, it really doesn’t matter because West Texas is so desperate for recognition that character is not a concern. Do yourself a favor and watch some Pro-Ball so that GIGANTIC stadium in Arlington will help you forget about your inferiority complex. Maybe if your lucky the Cowboys will draft one of Leach’s prima donnas so they can hold out for 7 weeks
4:37 pm on December 31st, 2009
Speaking of one sided reporting, how about any and ALL of the news channels in and around Lubbock. I agree that the way everything was handled was inefficient, but name calling on any of your parts is ludicrous. Act your ages and show that Raider fans can actually have some class outside of those that they attend please.
4:45 pm on December 31st, 2009
By the way, I can’t stand Texas Tech.
7:50 am on January 2nd, 2010
There is a big gulf between the Hances, Baileys, and Myers of the world and someone like Leach. Leach lacks the political acuity they have. It is not in his nature to do or say anything short of honesty to himself. You do see what you really get. Mike removed Adam from the field in disgust being forced to by his appearance and attitude for the teams sake, so that the team’s poster child for entitlement would not be seen as winning on his words and attitude past and “that” day. I think we all have met an Adam James in our life with a dad that believes his lying child and takes it’s perceptions personally without knowing it’s nature. The AD knew that demanding an apology from Leach on a deadline would not be met by him. “Concussion” was the scapegoat buzzword for Craig James’ power play with Leach to get for Adam what Adam couldn’t win for himself. The apology tactic deadline was scripted by Myers from contract negotiations. He lost the battle but he was determined not to lose face to the point of seeking another opportunity to try again. Sadly, I predicted it going down again similarly. Hearing Hance say he really “wanted Mike to be his coach” was so absurd, but so natural to him. These Tech administrators are all politicians. Leach honestly believes that a work ethic producing success on the field and in the classroom is his only job. He doesn’t play himself to the perceptions of others. He only feels power when a game is won, and won well. When he gets out these kids an effort worthy of their ability. That is the kind of person he is. It is a core motivation.
For all the malice and lies in the James’ heart, they were just pawns and an excuse for the politicians. Maybe they have “fat little wives”, so when Mike uses an expression that he heard used by others that made sense to him in showing the lameness of distractions to committed players, their sensibilities got “hurt”. I thought Mike did fine creating clarity on what he was attempting to do for the players in saying that after the A&M game. Mike didn’t fail to understand the politicians, it just wasn’t relevant to his job or his compensation for the success. But, for all their knowledge and learning they could neither understand or own him. He didn’t play their game because another game was his job. They are politically correct politicians. Mike isn’t. In our culture we don’t call people liars publicly. That’s too direct!. We call them politicians. That means that they lie in a culturally sensitive way. Mike doesn’t. He needs clarity, truth, and absolutes to get working leverage with players to turn them to think his way and create buy in to form a “team”. In the light of moral absolutes, politicians do lie, and it is OK in the USA. They aren’t punished for it, right? Image is everything because to them everything is an “illusion”. Hance, Bailey and Myers all have created the illusion of being fine upstanding citizens, and they have the documents and awards to prove it, but they are in fact “politicians keeping score”. Their “work” here is done behind closed doors, then they paint a public face for it and give it some “nice” framing. I honestly believe that at some near future point in time that the words politician and liar will be accepted synonyms in the dictionaries.
Craig James now wants to be a politician, at least he has given serious thought to it. So, we must see all that he says and does via ESPN media as practice for his next career. He will come to the aid of all the Adams in his sand box (he promises) and be a better parent to your kids than you, for a small fee. You and I will pay these fees in taxes.
Only one person was wronged here. He isn’t perfect, just honest enough not to sell that part of himself to be owned by his bosses perceptions or anyone else’s. It isn’t pride to refuse to apologize for something you neither intended or did, but today it is thought of as not being very “practical”. He’s just about something else. He knew how to keep his job; that is what to say and do. He wasn’t able to do that. Myers knew this. Leach is amazed that the truth and his intent was not clear. He believed that the truth about the person and the circumstances would be self-evident. But what he really wanted was for Adam to “get it” and change. Grow up. His daddy removed that possibility. It really is that far beyond him to be that way. He can’t compete with a James or Myers at their game. College Football and the success of his student players is the only trick he’s got with them. This is an aspect of him that too many are quick to dismiss as “real”. As far as work done against resources on hand . . . I give him a solid “A”. Why is Mike Leach wronged and more relevant than any of these others? For many of us dispersed Red Raiders, he brought us proudly back home to Tech. My college football following friends with other alma maters think he is an enigma, entertaining, but all of them are amazed that he did what he did with what he was given. My friends are embarrassed for me not because of him but because of the Hances, Baileys, Myers and James now in my corner of the college football world who use the sport for influence peddling and power ploys to enHANCE their own domains.
If I were on campus what would I do? I’d fly the Jolly Roger from every window I had access to. Little ones across the paths on campus that they trek. They would magically appear at all kinds of sensitive times for these politicians until each and everyone one of them has been removed from their post.
If I lived in a district where Craig James ran for anything, I’d write in for Mike Leach. I would not vote him in as “dog catcher”.
What I will do is write to each of these Administrators to be clear that in winning their war, TTU will suffer until they are suffered no more. If I get to attend a TTU game in Lubbock, I will where a bleeding black Jolly Roger shirt not in reproach of a new coach, but in reproach of the “Gang of Three”, specifically. When I feel well enough again to write a check to Texas Tech Alumni Association or Tech Athletics the endorsement will begin “Given with reservation until the associations of Kent Hance, Guy Bailey, and Gerald Myers with Texas Tech have ended. It seems that when these Administrators let their Guns Down, they are aways shooting us in the foot. Tier 1? Not with these, please! Maybe when we have an Administration that can both reward and own the success of others instead of being threatened by it. When Tech’s Administrative world can be as diverse as they want to proclaim their student body to be. Their was room for a Mike Leach at Texas Tech. Dust storm ions must allow at least allow it, even if it can’t be tolerated at the administrative echelon.
These are immoral men who demand apology on their authority and command alone to placate a sports talking head with a BOY who is squandering his opportunity to become a man given as a gift by the hand they now destroy not for a truth, but for their own selfish pride that isn’t grounded in anything real in their son to be proud of. I think this might be the “right stuff” for “politician”!
Good luck Mike! I know all has been made for you a matter for justice now, and that is where “fair” will have to be “played out”. You are a winner. They will leave the table before check comes! It will be hard to be a Red Raider for along time, maybe, but I won’t forget what you did for the Red Raider Nation diaspora. Win or lose, I longed for one more time in The Jones. I recovered my Double T pride because of you and the excellent carnage of a game you ran that builds such nice houses to be held in. Hance, Bailey, and Myers had nothing to do with that! You made it fun and enjoyable.
11:38 pm on January 2nd, 2010
Wow…okay…let’s think about this for a second. Yes, maybe the James kid is a complete tool. You could cede that point and it wouldn’t make any difference. The head coach admittedly had him locked in a shed (at least the guys lawyer ceded that point) but that he was in no danger there. As soon as he admitted to locking him up and refusing to apologize he was gone. You just can’t do that. The kid being lazy does nothing to change that. It’s so far over the line that what is most shocking is the number of people who can’t seem to get past it - can’t seem to get past blaming the James family. They are irrelevant in this at this point. It’s like blaming a really slutty girl for getting raped. It just doesn’t matter, it’s still wrong.