Posted on 01/01/2010 7:16:02 PM PST by Bad~Rodeo
For the first time since being fired by Texas Tech, Mike Leach has spoken out about his dismissal as he conducted interviews with both the New York Times and ESPN to ring in the new year.
And, in both cases, the former Red Raider head coach alternately denied mistreating one of his players to railing against the university, the player -- Adam James -- and the James family -- ESPN analyst Craig James in particular.
As for the alleged abuse of Adam James -- initial reports stated that Leach had ordered the receiver confined to a dark, cramped room/electrical closet -- Leach said it simply didn't happen. According to the coach, he had ordered James to be taken "out of the light" as he had been diagnosed with a mild concussion. More specifically, Leach stated he was unaware where James was taken as he "was busy coaching practice."
Leach then lashed out at what he described as falsehoods being distributed by the media in general and ESPN in particular.
"There have been several things that have been brought to my attention on the ticker that's just false," Leach said according to the Times, referring to ESPN's bottom line ticker. "He was never locked anywhere. At no point was he locked anywhere. At no point was there an electrical closet."
Steve Pincock, Tech's head athletic trainer, backed up Leach's claims, saying in a statement that "Adam was never locked in any facility, and was never placed in an electrical closet or tight space, or instructed to do so."
"Adam showed up to practice in street clothes, no team gear, and dark sunglasses," Pincock said, according to the statement. "Adam walked about 40 to 50 yards,
(Excerpt) Read more at collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com ...
Will someone from Texas Tech or the Lubbock area PLEASE tell me the whereabouts of Beatrice Zeeck (if she is still alive) and Carol King who both used to work in the University News Service there? Thanks in advance.
Why is where he received the concussion relevant to his ability to practice? He either was diagnosed with a concussion, or he wasn't. And, from what I understand of the situation, irrespective of where he received the concussion, the coaching staff as well as the training staff, were all aware of his condition.
He could have received it in a fight, at practice or in a car accident, but that doesn't change the fact that their should be protocols in place for dealing with athletes who were concussed. It appears that there weren't.
Hold on there, ODH. Put yourself in Leach’s shoes. He and his staff have been dealing with a spoiled brat who won’t put forth effort on the practice field and is constantly complaining and stirring up trouble and mouthing off to coaches (this has been documented).
If the kid really did have a concussion, the coaching staff protected him. Watch the video link I posted. There IS a protocol for dealing with kids with concussions - stay out of the light and stay hydrated. If Adam James would have spent the entire practice standing out in the sun, I have no doubt he would have complained about that as well.
The kid is a wuss and his dad is a helicopter parent who threw his weight around to the administration. He made it known that he was pissed his kid wasn’t getting enough playing time and conspired to bring down the most successful coach in Texas Tech history.
Guess it isn’t enough for Craig James that he was instrumental in getting SMU the death penalty, now he feels the need to bring humiliation and chaos to Texas Tech, just as they were on the brink of signing their best-ever recruiting class.
Let's stipulate that this kid is the son of Satan and repeatedly sacrifices chickens during practice. That's not the issue. The issue is - was he treated the exact same way as other contemporary players were treated who suffered from a concussion. If he wasn't, then that becomes problematic for the university. I suspect he wasn't, or the university wouldn't have canned Leach.
My son played baseball at a Big 10 school. He suffered a concussion two years ago - and this was before all this recent hoopla about the dangers of concussions in contact sports. I can tell you he had a very specific regimen that he had to complete before he was even allowed to attend practice, to say nothing of participating at that practice. From what I've read, it doesn't seem that Tech had similar protocols in place.
Personally - I hope once the truth comes out about this debacle, Craig James loses his job at ESPN. It’s high time he receives what he deserves.
I guarantee James wishes he had a ‘do-over’ about now. He and his son have been exposed and he’s probably not liking what he sees in the mirror anymore.
Tech is going to regret this. Lubbock has got to be reeling from all the embarassment. Leach put their program on the map, otherwise they’d be another bye in UT and Oklahoma’s schedule.
The James family should be humiliated for the way they have conducted themselves. Wonder if they’re liberals? They certainly are acting like it.
“...... you would think - especially given all the PR on concussions of late - the school AD would have a much more specific protocol for dealing with athletes rehabbing from these injuries.”
That’s exactly why Leach got his fat ass fired. The University drew up a new policy for dealing with injured players and Leach refused to sign it saying nobody was going to be looking over HIS shoulder.
Adam James would have to be cleared by his doctor before participating in practice or playing in a game. In the meantime, the coach told the trainers to get him out of the sun and in a dark place where he could be hydrated. Don’t know why you seem to want to nit-pick this. It’s quite simple - if you’ve been keeping up with the Leach vs. mgmt issue as long as us fans have.
The prima-donna wasn’t locked in a shed or electrical closet - that much has been debunked. Another player has already stepped up and said that when he had a concussion, he went to the same area Adam James did and can’t believe what the fuss is all about. The administration at Tech over-played their hand now they will pay dearly.
When did they draw up the policy on concussions that Leach refused to sign?
And how did Leach get himself fired? Someone said he made him upset because he was disciplined, Leach thought he did nothing wrong. Then Tech said apologize or youre gone. Would you apologize for something you feel wasnt wrong?
But you seem to like Leach getting fired and making personal insults on your high moral pedestal.
Maybe that's part of the problem. It may be that Leach had already been instructed to handle these kinds of cases in a specific way, and neither time did he do as instructed. Again, when my son was injured the "protocol" was a lot more sophisticated than, "get him out of the sun and keep him hydrated".
And, it wasn't his personal physician who cleared him, it was the team doctor working with training staff and the University Hospital staff. He had something called an IMPACT test, several times, in addition to an MRI. I suspect the AD at Tech is equally sophisticated, and it might be that Leach wasn't on board with the program.
I hope that he does come back and that the AD and the weasel/tool Chancellor go away.
I hope that he does come back and that the AD and the weasel/tool Chancellor go away.
Have you tried the above search URL?
They probably do but after the diagnosis, why would the head coach be involved? His job is to coach; the trainers were the ones involved in the so-called "punishment." The kid is a punk!
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