Interesting points from a Former TTech Player
Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:29 amThoughts from a former Tech player
From: "Craig Caudle" <[email protected]>
Date: December 30, 2009 5:24:27 PM CST
Subject: Coach Leach Termination - A Great Opportunity
I know I am in the minority here but I am excited about the opportunity that the termination of Coach Leach represents.
Allow me to make my case:
My contention is that Leach’s arrogance and lack of respect for others forced Tech to terminate his employment today. It may just be a coincidence that three of the four Division 1 college coaches that did not play college football have now been fired this year. I’m not sure about Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame, but Mangino at Kansas and Leach’s case both, at least on the surface, involved situations with poor treatment of injured athletes? Rest assured Leach never suffered a concussion from a collision on the football field or put in the physical effort it takes to compete at the collegiate level. Maybe that’s why he enforces a no talk policy about injuries, has a pattern of odd remedies for player punishments, and generally seems awkward around the athletes.
I don’t know Leach and that is the way he wants it. He communicates to us via Texas Monthly Articles, 60 Minute interviews, and clever off color sound bites. He is not involved in the Lubbock or Tech community. He just wants to run his offense. That would be fine if he weren’t the leader of a $23 million football program. I know he has an 84-43 record for us but consider that today’s non conference schedule consists of small schools from lesser conferences. Playing our schedule from 10-15 years ago he would be a career 7-5 guy. Don’t forget that last year, we had to stop OU on 4th and goal and score with 17 seconds left to avoid the worst defeat (score wise) in our school’s history. Follow that up with the Cotton Bowl embarrassment and does it really seem like we have lost our savior?
He has a history of habitually being late for meetings and appointments. This has been documented by bowl officials, former coaches, and this year, thanks to twitter, the players themselves. Sloppy, disrespectful. We have been of the most penalized teams in the country on a consistent basis. This year we are ranked 119th. Sloppy. I have had a front row seat for some bungled recruiting opportunities which resulted from his or his staff’s lack of preparation. Sloppy. His comments about other teams and coaches grab headlines because he isn’t politically correct. He doesn’t make those comments to be cute. He says whatever he is thinking because he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him or about us. I think it shows disrespect for others in his profession and reflects badly on us at times. He does what he does because, until today, he believed that he didn’t have to answer to anybody. Everyone is accountable to somebody for their actions. Going for it late against Houston instead of making it a two score game this year is a great illustration. His arrogance and lack of respect for an opponent cost us and the players the game. After the game, Brandon Carter calls him out on it and gets suspended from the team. Seems a bit hypocritical to me. He shrugs it off, collects his check, and goes back to his laboratory.
The football program belongs to the school, the students, the alumni, and the players who volunteer and work hard for the opportunity to play. The coaches get paid to lead the program and manage the product. Leach acted like it was His team. He threatened the school in court today to get His team back. The school called his bluff and today, we took our team back.
Craig L. Caudle
From: "Craig Caudle" <[email protected]>
Date: December 30, 2009 5:24:27 PM CST
Subject: Coach Leach Termination - A Great Opportunity
I know I am in the minority here but I am excited about the opportunity that the termination of Coach Leach represents.
Allow me to make my case:
My contention is that Leach’s arrogance and lack of respect for others forced Tech to terminate his employment today. It may just be a coincidence that three of the four Division 1 college coaches that did not play college football have now been fired this year. I’m not sure about Charlie Weiss at Notre Dame, but Mangino at Kansas and Leach’s case both, at least on the surface, involved situations with poor treatment of injured athletes? Rest assured Leach never suffered a concussion from a collision on the football field or put in the physical effort it takes to compete at the collegiate level. Maybe that’s why he enforces a no talk policy about injuries, has a pattern of odd remedies for player punishments, and generally seems awkward around the athletes.
I don’t know Leach and that is the way he wants it. He communicates to us via Texas Monthly Articles, 60 Minute interviews, and clever off color sound bites. He is not involved in the Lubbock or Tech community. He just wants to run his offense. That would be fine if he weren’t the leader of a $23 million football program. I know he has an 84-43 record for us but consider that today’s non conference schedule consists of small schools from lesser conferences. Playing our schedule from 10-15 years ago he would be a career 7-5 guy. Don’t forget that last year, we had to stop OU on 4th and goal and score with 17 seconds left to avoid the worst defeat (score wise) in our school’s history. Follow that up with the Cotton Bowl embarrassment and does it really seem like we have lost our savior?
He has a history of habitually being late for meetings and appointments. This has been documented by bowl officials, former coaches, and this year, thanks to twitter, the players themselves. Sloppy, disrespectful. We have been of the most penalized teams in the country on a consistent basis. This year we are ranked 119th. Sloppy. I have had a front row seat for some bungled recruiting opportunities which resulted from his or his staff’s lack of preparation. Sloppy. His comments about other teams and coaches grab headlines because he isn’t politically correct. He doesn’t make those comments to be cute. He says whatever he is thinking because he doesn’t care what anyone thinks about him or about us. I think it shows disrespect for others in his profession and reflects badly on us at times. He does what he does because, until today, he believed that he didn’t have to answer to anybody. Everyone is accountable to somebody for their actions. Going for it late against Houston instead of making it a two score game this year is a great illustration. His arrogance and lack of respect for an opponent cost us and the players the game. After the game, Brandon Carter calls him out on it and gets suspended from the team. Seems a bit hypocritical to me. He shrugs it off, collects his check, and goes back to his laboratory.
The football program belongs to the school, the students, the alumni, and the players who volunteer and work hard for the opportunity to play. The coaches get paid to lead the program and manage the product. Leach acted like it was His team. He threatened the school in court today to get His team back. The school called his bluff and today, we took our team back.
Craig L. Caudle