Texas Tech Fires Mike Leach, PR Battle Ensues

Bob McCarty Writes ^ | 12-31-09 | Bob McCarty

[BobMcCartyWrites]

Texas Tech University's firing of head football coach Mike Leach has launched what I predict will be a heated public relations battle involving YouTube videos and aggressive personal injury lawyers.

[BobMcCartyWrites]

Texas Tech University's firing of head football coach Mike Leach has launched what I predict will be a heated public relations battle involving YouTube videos and aggressive personal injury lawyers.

Within hours of news breaking about Leach's firing, a 16-second video which purports to show the electrical closet where receiver Adam James, son of ESPN sportscaster and former NFL running back Craig James, was confined for hours after suffering a concussion during practice was uploaded to YouTube.

The video was posted by family friend and public relations consultant Rebecca Shaw of Dallas-based Spaeth Communications at about the same time as a news release touting the video was issued via PRNewswire. The release included the statement below:

This video was taken by Adam James, a player on the Texas Tech Red Raider football team on Saturday, December 19th, after being confined by Coach Mike Leach in an electrical closet off the Press Room at Jones AT&T Stadium. James was suffering from a concussion received during an earlier scrimmage game. James was ordered to stand in the darkness until released several hours later. James momentarily turned on a light to record his surroundings with his cell phone.

I contacted Shaw by phone this morning to confirm her relationship with the James family and ask if they expect litigation to follow.

"They don't have any idea what to expect," Shaw said, careful not to rule anything out amidst a circus of media attention given to the case.

Shaw is wise for not ruling anything out. If the advertisement at right is any indication, Leach's attorney Ted Liggett appears to be the aggressive type.

According to a post published last night at SBNation, a sports-focused fan site, Mike Leach's Attorney Has An AGGRESSIVE Personal Injury Advertisement.

Developing...

[GoCards]

This makes me ill. First, my opinion of Craig James couldnt be lower now. Leach isnt a saint but I like him ALOT! I am from Lubbock and family still live there they are devasted. I heard Kent Hance last night say Leach just didnt want to deal with it or talk about it. Well boo hoo he was trying to get his team ready to play ball asshats!

Sad Tech Grad ‘92

[Figment]

Bear Bryant couldn’t coach today

[dynachrome]

heh. Football is being PC’ed to death.

[deport]

http://simg.sportsbybrooks.com/7/4/7427351fad17fb65a7f3f485963e2274_texastechshed.gif

Click on the above for a better view of the "shed" and the "closet" in which the punishment supposedly occurred. Not exactly real confining spaces....

[misterrob]

I detest what the NCAA has devolved into. The game is all about money for the coaches and the schools and the kids are used and abused in exchange for an education that is often viewed as an impediment to the players’ time on the practice field.

The coach has a multi-year, multimillion dollar contract with other perks but a scholarship kid caught earning a few dollars mowing lawns or moving boxes can be considered ineligible for the season?

James went to bat for his son and a number of players were fine with Leach being canned. If Leach was exerting pressure to get a student athlete with concussion issues to play then he should be fired. Look at the NFL players who have post concussion syndrome. This isn’t about “manning up”.

[misterrob]

But is he confining him? Having him stand in the dark?

If true then WTF is that all about? What is the coach trying to prove?

[randomhero97]

I agree. Concussions are no joke. It’s permanent brain damage even though the effects are never seen. That’s one of the reasons my time in the ring was cut short. Even in winning a fight it still felt like I had a concussion.

[Man50D]

I’m sure all the animosity and Leach’s firing will help the football team focus on their upcoming bowl game

[the808bass]

One job of a college football coach (the most important job, in fact) is to teach his players how to function outside of football “in real life.” If someone can tell me any of Leach’s actions in this saga which need to be emulated by his players it might be helpful. Cussing out an injured player? For being injured? Being too arrogant to admit he has any fault in the incident? What exactly are the life lessons to be taken from him here? When disciplined, litigate?

[dynachrome]

There seem to be two different naratives in this case (and I don’t pay much attention college football)

One is the “helicopter” famous dad hovering over the player and complaining about how the coach runs things.

Two is the coach resting the possibly injured palyer in a cool dark place for a concussion and rumors that said player is a prima donna.

Just seems like PC suff to me going on.

[misterrob]

Or thinking you are bigger and badder than the people with the ability to fire you?

I learned that lesson at the age of 20.

[misterrob]

You are missing the other side and that is how the coach may have behaved that did not represent the best interests of the player or the university or what his bosses considered to be insubordinate behavior on his part.

Rarely are these issues ever clear cut according to the views of the individuals involved.

[deport]

Lots of unanswered questions surrounding this fiasco. However there are assertions out there that the kid showed up to practice wearing sunglasses and complaining that light hurt his eyes. So what do you do? Coach sent him to an enclosed area and removed the light which was hurting his eyes.

Who knows what the final outcome will be but I suspect that both the coach and the University will be hurt to some degree by it.

[misterrob]

Leach loses his job, rep and income stream

School loses ticket sales, booster cash and reputation, not to mention commitments by players. Next season might suck as well.

Craig James may take a hit to his rep but he’s a broadcast guy so not huge

His son isn’t likely going to play football any more

[writer33]

Agreed. Football is being PC’d to death.

[over3Owithabrain]

Sweet Baby James was a constant complainer, not just on the football squad but baseball as well. Always concocted injuries to avoid practice drills. Always whined about coaches.

[the808bass]

Why does everyone on Leach’s side use terms like “possible” when describing a brain injury diagnosed by a doctor?

[mathluv]

My daughter is a a Tech grad. I have been watching this because of that, and a former student is now playing for Tech.

[napscoordinator]

I don't know about that. Why didn't the coach send this player to the hospital? He put a guy with a concussion into a dark and small electrical closet for hours alone and you think that is cool???? I think you need to rethink that one.