The Leach-Texas Tech story takes a turn for the bizarre

I don’t understand a lot of things in life, I’ll admit that. But I have a serious problem when two different stories that are taking the same path have entirely different results. Follow along with me.

1) Texas Tech Wants Lawsuit Thrown Out ESPN is reporting that Texas Tech is wanting the suit against them thrown out from ex-coach Mike Leach claiming that “state law gives the university immunity from legal action.” 

The university contended Leach is barred from suing the university without a waiver of sovereign immunity from the Texas Legislature.

Huh?

You mean a state university in Texas is immune from wrongful termination? Just asking.

And then this:

2) James threatened to sue over Leach Both reports appeared on ESPN today. This particular story says :

The father of injured Texas Tech receiver Adam James threatened to sue the university if it didn’t investigate then-coach Mike Leach, according to a memo released Wednesday.

Texas Tech University System attorney Ronny Wall wrote in the Tuesday memo to the Texas attorney general that the threat came during a Dec. 20 exchange with James’ father, ESPN sports analyst Craig James. The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal obtained a copy of the memo in response to an open records request.

“The threat did not appear to be an idle threat as the parent expressed genuine concern for the health and well-being of his injured child, as well as other student-athletes,” the memo continued.

James spokesman Scott McLaughlin issued a statement late Wednesday saying James never threatened to sue Texas Tech.

“Further, Texas Tech initiated its investigation of its own accord,” he said.

I’m confused. On one hand Texas Tech appears to fire Leach for fear of being sued by James, and then when Leach trys to sue, Tech trys to hide behind the fact that they are a state university? Doesn’t this look like a conspiracy against Leach? Seriously. Doesn’t it? Wow, talk about different strokes for different people. I didn’t think law was supposed to work that way.

James threatened to sue over Leach (ESPN)

Texas Tech wants lawsuit thrown out (ESPN)

The Weekend Wrap-up 1/10/2010

There was so much to keep up this weekend, what with the Cowboys beatdown of the dirty birds yesterday.

I wanted to sort of wrap-up a truly large weekend and maybe spur some interest in getting some comments going here.

Did you know the Rangers actually signed Vladimir Guerrero?

The Rangers have reached an agreement with free-agent outfielder Vladimir Guerrero on a one-year contract with a mutual option for 2011, according to club sources.

The deal and an official announcement are pending a physical and Texas is hoping that will be completed on Monday. The salary is expected to be between $5.5 and $6 million with a $1 million buyout if the Rangers don’t exercise their option. Guerrero can opt out of the second year, but does not get the buyout.

Texas went into the offseason looking for a right-handed bat that could be a presence in the middle of its lineup. Guerrero was at the top of its list and the deal was finally completed this weekend.

This is going to be an awesome signing. Of course, even if he doesn’t do squat on offense, at least he won’t be part of the Angels killing the Rangers as he has always done in the past.

And I guess you heard what happened in Lubbock?  Tommy Tuberville is the new coach at Texas Tech. Good luck trying to repair a split Red Raider Nation.

And don’t look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are probably the hottest team in the league right now. I’m watching the Packers get burned in their game so yeah, I’m liking the Cowboys’ chances for a Super Bowl run. 

Dallas hasn’t trailed during its four-game surge and hasn’t been tied other than 0-0. The Cowboys are doing it with the basic formula for playoff success: a solid quarterback and a stingy defense.

Dallas has given up only 31 points the last 16 quarters, just four touchdowns in four games. And three of those games were against New Orleans and Philadelphia, the teams that scored the most and fifth-most points in the NFL this season. The Eagles had just 18 snaps in the decisive first half Saturday night, and they finished 2 of 11 on third downs.

So now it’s on to Minnesota. Meanwhile, enjoy some moves from LT. I think the term is Bustin a move. Thanks for reading the blog.

Will Leach walk the plank?

Several reports are swirling about the alledged misconduct of Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach.

This is sort of  an amazing story about 2 different people and 2 different stories on what supposedly happened.

I was listening to The Ticket earlier and it seems the good people of Lubbock supports the coach by 75%.  Others support the student, Adam James.

And then this from Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News:

“No matter what you may think of Mike Leach or famous fathers or an athletic department that has employed not one but two high-profile coaches who won games, graduated players and still generated controversy, the facts in the latest circus at Texas Tech appear to be this:

Adam James, son of the ESPN employee and former SMU star Craig James, was diagnosed with a concussion.

His coach mocked the prescribed treatment.

Leach keeps ‘em entertained

By Ivan Maisel
ESPN.com

IRVING, Texas — Welcome to the portion of this job that is known as “Interviewing Mike Leach.” The technical journalistic description of this is “Stealing Money.”

First, there’s the look. His apparel tells you the Texas Tech coach is bucking the status quo. Beneath the dark blazer is a gray Under Armour T-shirt. The khakis haven’t been within a first down of an iron since the first time he wore them.

When Leach opens his mouth, he becomes the Tim Wakefield of college football coaches. His deliveries flutter in the wind, darting from here to there before they nick the corner of the plate.

For instance, there is Leach’s opinion on the traffic jam at the top of the Big 12 South last December. Multiple sources at the Big 12 media days have confirmed that — eight months of arguing and posturing in Austin and Norman to the contrary — the Red Raiders are also South co-champions.

“The truth of the matter is,” Leach said, “if we had lost to Oklahoma the second game of the season instead of the second-to-the-last game of the season, we would have gone to the [Big 12] championship game.”

QB Potts takes spread torch

From ESPN

Mike Leach’s view of the spread offense initially was anything but clear to Taylor Potts.

Soon after Potts arrived at Texas Tech, he embarked on a freshman season characterized by a dizzying array of new concepts and nomenclature. It was a steep learning curve that initially had his head spinning as he received a crash course in Leach’s demands to grasp his offensive philosophy.

“When I first got here, everything was different. The names of the routes were different, and it was almost like I was learning a foreign language,” Potts said. “But now, after being here almost three years, I feel like I’m finally fluent in it.

A Tribute to Texas Tech

I am still wondering what Mike Leach was thinking when he ripped Texas A&M in a back handed way when the Cowboys drafted Stephen McGee.

Maybe the Cowboys saw something like this in McGee?

Mike Leach, Texas Tech Finally Renew Their Vows

There were some dicey moments there when we all thought we were looking at the new head coach of Abilene Christian (or, you know, somewhere). But Mike Leach and Texas Tech have come to terms.

Texas Tech and Mike Leach have finally agreed to a contract extension after more than 10 months of negotiations, keeping the football coach at the school through 2013, a source with knowledge of the talks told The Dallas Morning News on Thursday.

Leach met with Tech chancellor Kent Hance for almost three hours Thursday afternoon and the two sides have agreed to Tech’s $12.7 million offer that will extend Leach’s current two-year deal three more seasons. The contract hasn’t been signed, but that could take place as early as Friday, the source said.

At the heart of the nearly year-long standoff between Leach and the university were four contract clauses, three of which had to do with early termination/departure.The school had given him a Tuesday deadline to sign the contract, but as we writers all know, deadlines are for mocking, not making.

Anyway, party tonight in Lubbock.

 

Texas Tech, Mike Leach Agree On Contract Extension [Dallas Morning News]

Tech Coach Mike Leach may be on the streets soon

 

In one of the most bizarre stories involving contract talks between a school and a successful coach comes this:

Texas Tech’s 5 p.m. deadline Tuesday given to football coach Mike Leach to sign its latest contract extension offer came and went with still no resolution.