It’s a heartless story that doesn’t settle to well, within our sympathetic hearts. We knew it was coming, a decision on the future of Mike Leach. There’s no doubt he was the symbol of rehabilitating a program in default. That is, of course, until his name surfaced of atrocity against a player, egregious nature at a much-thriving program.
The average program, particularly in the athletic department, much is emphasized on the meaning of discipline, not the essence of abuse or mistreatment to players. If Leach hadn’t orchestrated inhumanity and insubordination at Lubbock, where he established a culture of magnitude, he wouldn’t have been fired by a disappointed Texas Tech administration. It’s good to know the Red Raiders reacted to an investigation and player’s complaint, immediately minimizing Leach’s possibility of salving his credibility and coaching job.
Shame on a petulant Leach, for the burdens he has left within a school where parents may take a moment to hesitate and ponder. But in these circumstances, some folks in the heart of Texas might feel better about sending their kids to Lubbock, while others are advocates, angry of Leach’s ugly departure. That usually happens when a coach strengthens ideal during a flourishing decade.
But as long as there are senseless misdeeds, insanity by an enigmatic man could tarnish Texas Tech. It’s very disturbing to hear a redshirt sophomore, Adam James, suffer a concussion during a practice that Leach reportedly denied. Instead he believed James was unhappy of limited playing time, and assumed he was finding a convenient excuse. A day following the severe blow to the head, he was diagnosed with a concussion and an increasing heart rate.
As a coach, Leach didn’t have sense enough to care for his player as if he personally despised him. He wasn’t compassionate of the welfare of his health, nor aware of the dangerous matters a severe hit to the head could cause. Even worst, according to reports, he told a trainer to move James to an isolated room, to a dark spot. To be frank, it’s mind-boggling when a large university trusts a coach to discipline, structure kids to strengthen upon a brighter future.
You’d expect coaches to help a student mature for the real life. But instead, the irritable nonsense and lamentable personality is traumatic, featuring barbaric scenes enough to brainwash kids and scare away a recruiting class. Even more malicious is when the Lubbock Avalanche Journal reported the room was a dark shed, where Leach forced James to stand inside for two hours.
But when the truth surfaced that he was forced inside an electrical closet, tremendous respect was lost, much credibility was sabotaged. How dare he stuff another individual into a closet? How dare he mistreat another individual? And lastly, how dare Leach think he could get away with the biggest malicious and despicable stunt in sports. Hearing the upsetting news makes me sick to my stomach, as reality kicks in that James could’ve possibly been a relative of ours.
For committing such depravity, Leach deserved to be fired, losing out enormously on an $800,000 bonus by the university on New Years Eve. What a jerk, for cowardly forcing a kid to stand in a tight, dark closet. Even if James plotted his concussion or was a rebellious teammate, it doesn’t give Leach the justification to commit such a heinous act.
According to Ted Liggett, Leach’s attorney, James added to what was merely a “mild concussion”. He told the Associated Press, “I believe that James was a disgruntled student-athlete that like many, were not happy with playing time.” His attorney is missing the whole point. Either way, nobody deserves to spend time in a tight closet. James isn’t an animal or a prisoner. He’s a normal citizen as everyone else.
Fine, if Leach felt he had to punish him, he should’ve penalized James in an appropriate manner. Texas Tech saved credibility by dismissing the troubled coach. He was once known as the famous coach in Texas, a symbol within Texas Tech athletic program. But now, he’s known as the infamous coach who may never coach on the collegiate level for refusing to corporate with Kent Hance, Texas Tech’s chancellor.
Many believe his insubordination and rudeness, such as filing a restraining order to coach in the Alamo Bowl, cost Leach his job. Later on the telephone, Hance said in an interview. “I like him and I wanted him to be my coach, but insubordination and this type of activity just cannot be permitted.”
If you can recall, Leach ripped his players following an October loss to Texas A&M. He suspended an offensive lineman for violating team rules. He also ceased Twitters, after Marion Williams Tweeted sarcastic remarks. An outrageous predicament, in fairness, is resolved. They couldn’t allow Leach to get a free ride, if Kansas removed Mark Mangino for allegedly abusing players.
As issues look to get uglier, Liggett is filing a lawsuit no later than this week against the university. Even though matters are ugly, Texas Tech protected its credibility before it crippled. Having a violent, wacko coach isn’t a cure, and makes it worst. Getting rid of the spitefulness is, indeed, the only option to avoid outrage.
