Mike Leach Blasts Texas Tech Leaders, Adam And Craig James

Dallas News ^ | 1/2/2010 | Kate Haiopolous

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

...In interviews late Thursday night with the NY Times and ESPN and Friday with the AP, Leach denied mistreatment of sophmore receiver Adam James...

Multiple statements from Tech athletic staff members - which came to light Thursday and were obtained by the Dallas Morning News from a Leach representative Friday - have surfaced that contradict James' version of events.

... Leach told the Times he only ordered James to be taken "out of the light" and said "he was never locked anywhere."

... Leach said Craig James called Lincoln Riley, Adam's position coach often to lobby playing time & also called Tech administrators.

"I think he used his position at ESPN to coerce me into allowing Adam to play more," Leach told the Times. "He made it clear that he had a business relationship with our chancellor, or was certainly in conversation about such things."

... A statement from Steve Pincock, Tech's head football trainer, details a version of events different from initial reports that Leach had locked Adam James in a shed and an electrical closet...

Pincock's statement said James came to practice in street clothes & showed "a non-caring attitude" when asked to walk during the session. When Leach noticed the "poor effort" he "asked that Adam be placed in a location where sunlight could not bother him, as he was wearing sunglasses" the statement said.

"While in the garage, Adam was walking around, eating ice, sitting on the ground, and at one point, sleeping; at no point was there any enforcement to make Adam stand up..."

Pincock wrote that during the second incident, James was taken to a media room that "was at least as big as a two-car garage and contains an electrical closet. "At no time...was Adam ever placed in the electrical closet," Pincock wrote.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

More links below...

Did Adam James go into the electrical closet of his own volition? Was he forced to go in there?

According to the article above:

"Leach told the Times that e-mails published Thursday by The News prove Tech didn't want him around" and that they "took place during the contentious contract negotiations in late 2008 and early 2009."

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Adam James Footage.mov

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZqvajnhZDU

Now another video...

Adam James Is A Liar

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZW-vTsPV5A

[rawhide]

Form all that I know, I stand by Leach, and his version of what transpired. Leach was railroaded out of Tech and the admin knows it. The admin thought he would go quietly, but figured wrong. Good for Leach standing up for his reputation and livelihood. Adam James is a little spoiled brat who runs to his enabler daddy. It is terrible how his dad had ruined him for life.

[rednek]

My email to Kent Hance - Chancellor TTU - this morning.

Mr Hance,

I am sure your email box is overflowing and your phone is still ringing off the wall, but I want to express my displeasure with the way the entire situation with Coach was handled by both sides.

This is a personnel issue and should not be tried in the news media by either side. The constant dribble of leaks from the Coach and the University are disgusting and all involved need to go down the road. Texas Tech is now the laughingstock of college football because of the childlike behavior of Coach Leach’s supporters and the University. I am embarrassed to tell people I graduated from TTU.

Will the adults in Lubbock please take charge of the situation. Clean the house of all involved (that includes administration, athletic director and coaching staff and anyone else leaking emails or comments to the press) and lets move on.

Sincerely,

Rednek
TTU ‘81

[starlifter]

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

Now more links:

Athletic trainer backs Leach, disputes Adam James

http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=11756080

Now another link...

Tech Trainer Says He Didn’t Agree With Treatment 1/3/10

http://www.cbs7kosa.com/news/details.asp?ID=17199

What is going on?

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

So you think that Adam and Craig or Leach or the university are whiners.

Hmmm.

[Republic of Texas]

From everything I’ve read, and my own limited experience, the very thing that you want someone with a concussion to do, is sit quietly in a dark cool room. Sounds to me like Leach was looking out for the little snot.

[newheart]

"I think he used his position at ESPN to coerce me into allowing Adam to play more," Leach told the Times. "He made it clear that he had a business relationship with our chancellor, or was certainly in conversation about such things."

Gee, wasn't James a member of the best college football team money could buy at SMU—just before they got hit with the death penalty? Perhaps he would like to explain precisely what his 'business relationship' with the chancellor might be.

[Cyclone59]

Adam James should have dressed in warm ups, hat and sunglasses. More importantly informed his coach about how the sun was bothering him. He then should have asked for a clipboard and been in the coaches hip pocket until he could “pad up”. Just because you can’t physically practice doesn’t mean you can’t mentally practice. End result, Adam James is a wuss and a daddy’s boy.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

What will be interesting is if there is investigative work done to see if and when there were calls made by ESPN’s Craig James to whomever on campus that Mike Leach said took place and what all the other football players themselves have to say about Mike Leach and Adam James.

[geologist]

Coaching is a tough job. There is always someone after the job, or wanting a change. Leach did a great job at Tech. He put them in the spotlight and brought them up in the standings.

Give the guy some thanks.

Coaching has to get the boys in shape, not play favorites, no prima donna’s, etc.; and make a team out of them doing their best efforts. Handling a bunch of boys at a time of ages, and of change and development, requires shill and leadership. Some bring unfounded law suites as to mistreatmant in order to get the monies; which of course damages the coaches record and reputation. Unfounded is the important word here.. All too often this happens at all levels, high schools etc..

Thank you, coach Leach.

[Laissez-faire capitalist]

If there is an investigation initiated by Leach’s lawyer (or whomever) into the “business relationship” that Mike Leach says was made clear to him by ESPN’s Craig James, things could get really interesting.

[Ready4Freddy]

Were the trainer’s and doctor’s jobs threatened by Tech?

[bwc2221]

ESPN definitely has a black eye because of its biased coverage: from Craig James commenting on his son's situation during games he was working to ESPN’s non-coverage of the signs that dotted the AlamoBowl.

[rintense]

Simple. The trainer and doc want to keep their jobs. Unfortunately, their contradicting statements make them less than credible if this goes to court.

The TT admin is just plain corrupt. After it was revealed a big time booster was involved in the Leach contract negotiations, I don't put anything past the admin.

[rintense]

Trust me. The ties between Craig James, the school administrators, the communications firm James hired to post the phone video, etc. will all come out. And it will be dirty- and politically motivated. Rumors going around James will run for Hutchinson's seat- as a Republican.

No way in hell any Texan would put James into office now.

[Richard Kimball]

My prediction is that when it all shakes out they'll find the college was planning on firing Leach well before the Adam James incident. I wonder if James will ever figure out that he was used by Texas Tech.

[Republic of Texas]

This wasn’t about the James kid. This was about Leach’s contract and the $800,000 bonus he was owed on Dec. 31.

[geologist]

I concur. Not a smart decision in my opinion.

Too bad really ...

Leach will be difficult, if not impossible to replace with another excellent football coach. Apparently the TECH board are not willing to pay the going price of the GOOD/EXCELLENT coaches.

Sorry Texas Tech.