TT's Mike Leach Suspended

[RGV Pony]

Question: has anyone seen/heard/read Craig James giving an interview about the situation to any media outlets other than ESPN?

just showed him on ESPN. Basically just said he is a parent. And when he heard about Adam he did what he thought was best

poor guy looks a little ragged w/o makeup

[couch 'em]

The NCAA should set up a "whistle-blower" line for athletes and others who may be aware of physical and verbal abuse. These high and mighty coaches and their assistants should be banned and face criminal and monetary punishment. For amateur athletes who are at colleges of higher learning, this is unacceptable behavior. Of course TT set a precedent for bullies by hiring Bobby Knight. Because he was a great basketball coach, his behavior was overlooked. Terrible message sent that rude, intimidating behavior is ok. It is hard enough for student athletes without having to face this kind of behaviour and knowing you can't complain because you will be ostracized(?) The same goes for the high school ranks and below too!How many great coaches of the past could never have survived in today's environment?

Not defending Leach's actions, if true (which I'm sure it is) but talking about criminal punishment for "verbal abuse" from a football coach is a bit much. What exactly becomes "verbal abuse"?

[MrMustang1965]

Question: has anyone seen/heard/read Craig James giving an interview about the situation to any media outlets other than ESPN?

Why would he, unless perhaps ABC.

James is giving exclusivity to his employer (ESPN/ABC). From a journalistic ethical standpoint that's wrong.

[BRStang]

How many great coaches of the past could never have survived in today's environment?

Not defending Leach's actions, if true (which I'm sure it is) but talking about criminal punishment for "verbal abuse" from a football coach is a bit much.

The CRIMINAL act would be related to confining Adam James against his will or subjecting him to physical distress. None of that has been substantiated, but that is where the criminality would come in. There would be no criminal act related to anything Leach may have said to James verbally.

[mrydel]

Question: has anyone seen/heard/read Craig James giving an interview about the situation to any media outlets other than ESPN?

Why would he, unless perhaps ABC.

James is giving exclusivity to his employer (ESPN/ABC). From a journalistic ethical standpoint that's wrong.

I would think quite the contrary. That is why Cronkite was not on a different network every night. I realize you were in PR for a while but this is unique that one of the parties is an employee of a media outlet. I would not expect any direct interivews with anyone but ESPN and relations.

[MrMustang1965]

I would think quite the contrary. That is why Cronkite was not on a different network every night. I realize you were in PR for a while but this is unique that one of the parties is an employee of a media outlet. I would not expect any direct interivews with anyone but ESPN and relations.

Walter Cronkite was an employee of CBS. He reported the stories. He was not the story. There's a reason 'uncle Walter' was known as 'the most trusted man in America'.

Journalistically, Craig James should either speak to ALL media outlets who are requesting an interview with him or remain quiet.

On a separate note: the sideline reporter at the Wisconsin vs Miami game reported earlier tonight that the Badgers' coach had a player who was prone to fumbling carry a football with him on campus to classes in order to get a better handle on the ball. Ummm....that's hazing, folks. No matter how you cut it.

[BRStang]

I would think quite the contrary. That is why Cronkite was not on a different network every night. I realize you were in PR for a while but this is unique that one of the parties is an employee of a media outlet. I would not expect any direct interivews with anyone but ESPN and relations.

Walter Cronkite was an employee of CBS. He reported the stories. He was not the story. There's a reason 'uncle Walter' was known as 'the most trusted man in America'.

Journalistically, Craig James should either speak to ALL media outlets who are requesting an interview with him or remain quiet.

On a separate note: the sideline reporter at the Wisconsin vs Miami game reported earlier tonight that the Badgers' coach had a player who was prone to fumbling carry a football with him on campus to classes in order to get a better handle on the ball. Ummm....that's hazing, folks. No matter how you cut it.

[lwedge]

On a separate note: the sideline reporter at the Wisconsin vs Miami game reported earlier tonight that the Badgers' coach had a player who was prone to fumbling carry a football with him on campus to classes in order to get a better handle on the ball. Ummm....that's hazing, folks. No matter how you cut it.[/quote]


Drop and give me 20!


[/quote]

[03Mustang]

On a separate note: the sideline reporter at the Wisconsin vs Miami game reported earlier tonight that the Badgers' coach had a player who was prone to fumbling carry a football with him on campus to classes in order to get a better handle on the ball. Ummm....that's hazing, folks. No matter how you cut it.

Oh come on, there's no way you believe what you just said.

[RGV Pony]

Interesting tweet by Chris Level, editor of RedRaiderSports.com, who also reported that there is no truth that AJ was seeking a release to SMU:

FYI, AD Gerald Myers wasn't involved in the decision to suspend Mike Leach. It was almost all Chancellor Hance and a select few regents.

[Topper]

This is all making my little brain spin......sounds like a 'made for TV' movie....or a new Oxygen Channel Reality Show ..whatever happens, it makes for good ole Texas football drama...

It seems to me that if a player is not injured you make him practice. If he is injured, you let him watch from the sidelines or you give him a playbook or some film to study. What purpose is served by making the player stand in isolation during practice? It is obvious to me that Leach wanted to punish the kid but was afraid to do so because a Dr. somewhere said he couldnt play. It doesnt matter to me if Adam is the snot nosed brat some of the Tech fans are portraying him to be, or if Craig is the overprotective "helicopter" dad Leach makes him out to be, you just don't treat a kid this way. You either make him practice or you don't.

[huskerpony]

Agree....and that Leach's actions promote an environment where players will feel the need to hide an injury in order to avoid humiliation. If the team doctor has not cleared you to practice, you don't practice.

The statement that came out from their wide receivers coach is outrageous.

[Phxfan]

This is all making my little brain spin......sounds like a 'made for TV' movie....or a new Oxygen Channel Reality Show ..whatever happens, it makes for good ole Texas football drama...

It seems to me that if a player is not injured you make him practice. If he is injured, you let him watch from the sidelines or you give him a playbook or some film to study. What purpose is served by making the player stand in isolation during practice? It is obvious to me that Leach wanted to punish the kid but was afraid to do so because a Dr. somewhere said he couldnt play. It doesnt matter to me if Adam is the snot nosed brat some of the Tech fans are portraying him to be, or if Craig is the overprotective "helicopter" dad Leach makes him out to be, you just don't treat a kid this way. You either make him practice or you don't.

If even only partly true, sounds like he wanted to punish the kid and then did it. Will be good to get the real story/truth.

There is another part to this. A few weeks back, AZ Cardinals QB Warner got a "minor" concussion. I believe the team Dr. cleared him to play, however Warner said he still felt some effects including light sensitivity and did not want to take the chance knowing how little we know about brain injuries. So he didn't play. Nobody put him in a shed, locked him in a closet or whatever. He just took it easy for another week. This is just sadistic crap, if true.

[BrianTinBigD]

Love the mess that Leach has created. Also love that Lincoln Riley looks like he pissed away his coaching career with the e-mails that he wrote the AD somehow wound up in ESPN's possession.

In one of two e-mails written by current Tech inside wide receivers coach Lincoln Riley, obtained Tuesday by Schad and ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, Riley referred to James as "unusually lazy and entitled" and said he has been worried about James' effect on the rest of the receivers because of "his weak and conceited attitude."

In a separate e-mail, this one to the Texas Tech AD, Riley wrote: "Two practices before Adam James claimed he had a concussion, Coach Leach and I were forced to discipline him for poor effort from the previous practice and poor effort during the early drills of that day. This has been a common theme about Adam's work ethic and attitude during his entire career."

Whether James is a lazy brat or not, you don't go out of your way to trash a 19 year old and leak the messages to the press to defend your idiot coach. This is not about Adam James being "laxy and entitled". It is about the actions of the head coach which if true are quite damning. Then he blows off repeated requests to talk with the university and resolve the situation long before he gets suspended. Young Mr.Riley has managed to tie his fate with that of his head coach and this appears to have back fired on him. I am pretty sure that he will be let go not long after The Pirate. Looks like another unemployed Sand Aggie.

[Topper]

Love the mess that Leach has created. Also love that Lincoln Riley looks like he pissed away his coaching career with the e-mails that he wrote the AD somehow wound up in ESPN's possession.

In one of two e-mails written by current Tech inside wide receivers coach Lincoln Riley, obtained Tuesday by Schad and ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach, Riley referred to James as "unusually lazy and entitled" and said he has been worried about James' effect on the rest of the receivers because of "his weak and conceited attitude."

In a separate e-mail, this one to the Texas Tech AD, Riley wrote: "Two practices before Adam James claimed he had a concussion, Coach Leach and I were forced to discipline him for poor effort from the previous practice and poor effort during the early drills of that day. This has been a common theme about Adam's work ethic and attitude during his entire career."

Whether James is a lazy brat or not, you don't go out of your way to trash a 19 year old and leak the messages to the press to defend your idiot coach. This is not about Adam James being "laxy and entitled". It is about the actions of the head coach which if true are quite damning. Then he blows off repeated requests to talk with the university and resolve the situation long before he gets suspended. Young Mr.Riley has managed to tie his fate with that of his head coach and this appears to have back fired on him. I am pretty sure that he will be let go not long after The Pirate. Looks like another unemployed Sand Aggie.

Tom Penders, the old UT basketball coach had an assistant leak the grades of one of the players to the press in order to embarrass the player. That consituted a crime, but same sort of thing. Penders lost his job at UT over the incident, but rebounded and has been in coaching ever since.