SOONERGUYS Blog

So the university known for resurrecting the physically and verbally abusive Bobby Knight’s coaching career has suspended Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach for making a player stand in a dark “closet.”

Is it no coincidence this is occurring a mere two days before Leach would receive an $800,000 bonus if he remained the head coach on December 31, 2009?

We shift from the Bizarro World of Urban Meyer (where he’s been playing the “Where’s the Pea?” game with the Florida nuts), to Lubbock, Texas and find the Texas Tech administration seemingly moving toward sending Leach packing with no return ticket.

All because ESPN sports analyst Craig James is complaining his son, Adam, a player on the team, was mistreated when Leach made him stand in a dark equipment “closet” when he chose not to practice due to a concussion injury. (Others have disputed it is a “closet”, saying it is rather a storage building).

Oh no. Not that.

In other words, a high profile TV sports personality is throwing his weight around to get the most successful coach in Texas Tech history canned because his son’s feelings were hurt.  (Doctors have said there was no health risk to the son).

Can someone tell me when the pansies took over college football?

James was scheduled to be part of the broadcast team of the Texas Tech vs. Michigan State Alamo Bowl appearance on Saturday. But the conflict of interest was even too much for ESPN to ignore. They have removed James from the game. It remains to be seen how visible James will be on other ESPN broadcasts after this episode.

Speaking of ESPN, if we are going to suspend anyone, let’s suspend ESPN for subjecting us all to:

– Lou Holtz’ pre-season projection that Notre Dame would play in the BCS Championship at year’s end;

– A month of Bob Stoops-to-Notre Dame stories that were outright lies;

– Ignoring the Reggie Bush scandal at USC for another year, but managing to do an expose on how Florida State doesn’t have high academic standards (whoa… now that’s a revelation).

The only truth we know for sure is that Leach has been at odds with the university administration, including the athletic director, for several years. Most of the disagreement has dealt with contract negotiations and the football program’s spending habits.

Meanwhile, Leach’s lawyer is moving for a court order that would allow him to coach in the Red Raiders’ Alamo Bowl appearance on Saturday. Once again the lawyers try to save the day.

Stay tuned. 

– Mike