Craig James 2, Schools In Texas 0

I was going to do a blog on the impending 1/4/10 smorgasboard of wrestling, but this kinda takes precedence. Sorta.

Mike Leach. Here's a guy who reminded us that the state of Texas is not just limited to mentioning Texas and Texas A&M. He took Texas Tech from obscurity to being labeled the Little School That Almost last year, rising as far as #2 in the polls last year before OU out Texas Tech'd them. Apparently, as a testament to how pussified the world around us is getting, Mike Leach was suspended for his treatment of Adam James. Who's Adam James? Big play wideout filling in for the absence of Michael Crabtree? No. Perhaps a slot guy who was...no, no, NO. Let me put it this way...the most famous part about this guy, is his daddy. Craig James, ya may have heard of him? Part of the famous "Pony Express" during SMU's glory days in the early 80s, the last time that school was relevant before hit with the dreaded "Death Sentence" by the No Crap Athletic Association. Now mind you, this has been a banner year for headhunting coaches who take "tough love" just a little too far. Mark Mangino was given Das Boot in KU for being overly hard on his players, but since KU's breakout season two seasons ago...they've done nothing since.

Mike Leach was to college football what Mike Martz's system was to the NFL in the early half of this decade for the Rams. 8 times since he took the helm, a Red Raider QB has led the nation in passing. EIGHT OUT OF TEN. There's no question that he was effective at implementing his system and getting players who could fit his system (coughs Rich Rodriguez coughs). Meanwhile in places like Ann Arbor, men like Rich Rod are still struggling to implement their system. Hell, maybe Michigan might want to look into hiring Leach. So now, the Alamo Bowl has all but turned into the Bad Boy Bowl. Michigan State's got suspended players, Texas Tech has a fired coach. Now, apparently Mike Leach kept Adam James in a dark place under watch while recouping from a concussion. Mind you, this is the same NCAA that had Woody Hayes punching out folk on the sideline DURING GAMES...Leach keeps some kid in a closet for safekeeping and it's an issue? Okay, playing Coward's Advocate here for a minute (NCAA/TT's side), it's a little out there in terms of treating an injured player. But what doesn't help is when said player's daddy just so happens to work for the Four Letter Network. A network that just so happens to be covering Tech's bowl games and could potentially leave Texas Tech in the dark so to speak for many years to come. (Maybe he doesn't have that kind of power up in Bristol, but maybe he does with Tech.) So Adam cries, cuts a video on his phone and faster than you can fry up some good ole Texas BBQ, Leach's been wished well in his future endeavors while trying to appeal the suspension that would've kept him from coaching this weekend against Michigan State.

Lou Holtz put it best, there are no winners here. Mike Leach graduated players, won football games at a school that was thought of as an afterthought in the OU/Texas Division of the Big XII. Tell me Tech, name one other coach in school history that got you the type of national attention that Mike Leach has done in his time there. Oh and perhaps at the moment, you feel justified in acting on the whims of a pissed off player and pandering to his daddy who didn't even have enough balls to play for your school (opted for Slush Money University instead)...but what if you're wrong? What if all comes forward and Mike Leach wasn't the horrible SOB you and Craig James have made him out to be? Conversely, as I type this I listen to Craig's bit, I find myself wondering what Steve Levy asked and Craig obviously didn't answer.

"If Adam's father was named Bob or Bill and wasn't a former NFL player turned national broadcaster, would this have ended differently?"

Craig obviously, couldn't err, wouldn't answer that but I will.

YES, it would've ended differently. It would've been looked into and eventually, the story would've lost its sizzle. Adam would've either transferred or been swept under the bench, the beat would've continued on with Leach as head coach. Adam plays in an offense where, if you've got a pulse and a lick of ability, you're gold. The ball's gonna be thrown your way, all you have to do is catch it and go. Anybody ever heard of this kid before now? Seen his name pop up in a box score? No? Bueller? Now maybe Craig's not a national broadcaster at home, but what you do from 9-5 most definitely makes it possible for your kids to live greater than most. What you do from 9-5 definitely had pull on the spinally deficient decision makers who caved to the four letters who employ you in a rather expeditious fashion, so please. Spare us this whole routine that you didn't want it to come to this. Adam, spare us with this video you shot that just pops up AFTER Leach has been handed his pink slip. You fired a man who had no previous incidents on his docket, clearly showing no matter what you say in weeks to follow, that this wasn't just cause Daddy James works for the Four Letter Network. (When we all know that's exactly the reason to begin with.) Oh, speaking of said network...

You've shown your ignorance when you rode the Cavalier bandwagon straight into Magic City last May, where it inevitably crashed and burned horribly. Your analysts continue to pander to this wet dream of LeBron getting Cleveland to the NBA Finals, yet you showed unmitigated bias here as you protect Craig James, his rugrat and the decision that I think will inevitably show Texas Tech was wrong in this. But don't take my word for it, here's the link to a Dallas news story that shows emails on how Texas Tech admin really felt about Mike Leach...

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/colleges/texastech/stories/123109dnspoleachletters.2d4b0ea8.html

So ultimately, with Leach's untimely and perhaps unjustified firing, we get the fall of that other Texas school we really came to enjoy watching. Because really, if you're a college coach, would YOU want this job? Would you want to coach a team that has the son of a broadcaster that is credited for helping hand SMU a 'Death Sentence' it only JUST NOW shook free from and helped lead to Leach being given the 'Bootstrap Bill Treatment'? (Thrown over the side with a cannon tied to his bootstraps, in case folks aren't up on the Pirates Of The Carribean shit.) My respect for ESPN before this wasn't anything close to the ESPNis sentiment that exists here but now...I'm there. Other than Around The Horn and Pardon The Interruption, this network is dead to me.

FU ESPN. To any school out there that needs a turnaround, hire Mike Leach I say. With no spoiled brats around to hinder his ability to do his job, your school will reap the rewards. Just ask Texas Tech.

Posted 12/31/09 by Len | Filed under: ESPNis

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Comments

To the Red Raider Nation... the ones that need firing are Hance/Bailey/Myers/Craig James... which can be done by pulling support, not purchasing season tickets... and boycotting ESPN/ABC by alerting their sponsors that the Red Raider Nation and their multitude of numbers will not purchase products from companies that advertise on their network!!!

Posted by Charley Robinson at 12/31/09 18:39:59

As a Red Raider football and Mike Leach fan from Lubbock I want to let you know that apparently the cause of much of this confusion was that Adam James requested a release so that he could attend SMU. As was Mike Leach's policy he released players who wanted to tranfer out of state but would not release players to another Texas college. (This is definitely now information provided by TTU. However, now TTU's honest, truthful Chancellor Kent Hance, along with AD Gerald Myers,apparently signed a release to allow Adam to transfer to SMU. This is amazing that SMU would want another James to play for it because as you undoubtedly know, Craig James was allegedly connected to the 'death penalty' SMU received some years ago. Evidently it is perfectly acceptable for a foodball player to be unsubordinate with the coaches but not for the coach to be insubordinate. (They so-called reason for firing Coach with the Board of Regents approval.

Posted by MGW at 01/01/10 18:01:07

I have been a fan of Texas Tech since before the days of Donnie Anderson (The Golden Palomino). Although I am an Auburn Alumni, I have lived many years in Texas and Arkansas and well remember the SWC.
With that perspective, I will say this about your blog.

I agree with everything you wrote and you are dead on target, except your remark,
"So Adam cries, cuts a video on his phone and faster than you can fry up some good ole Texas BBQ, Leach's been wished well in his future endeavors while trying to appeal the suspension that would've kept him from coaching this weekend against Michigan State."
No one from Texas or the South would ever think of frying BBQ. Two entirely different methods of cooking. Other than that, you got it right. You scored a 99.8. A+

Posted by Silver Eagle at 01/02/10 10:28:23

The adminstration for TT is totaly inadequate to be in controll at TT or any other college. I believe that it will be revealed that there is a fox in the hen house, and it was not Mike Leach. Good luck to Mike Leach.

Posted by DCOK at 01/02/10 20:28:25

Actually, it probably helped that James had a dad with pull, but it could have been pretty much any player in this case. After all, Leach had already pissed off TT's admins with his contract dealings the year before, and I'm sure they were looking for any reason not to have him gainfully employed by them as of 12/31, when he would have qualified for a 800K bonus. The fact that they were willing to risk disrupting their chances at winning a bowl game just to get rid of him indicates just how much they didn't want him there. His actions simply played into their hands.

Posted by Jade at 01/03/10 02:49:09

Craig James' son Adam was not hurt by sitting in a dark room for a few hours. Many American son's are in a war in the Middle East facing more than a room at Texas Tech with the lights switched off.

I grew up about 90 miles SW of Lubbock and waited many years for Tech football to become what it did under Leach and it's sad to watch Hance and James stop this current program.

Leach didn't hurt Adam and it is mostly a lot of hype.

We also saw a new side of Ruffin at the end of the Alamo Bowl. He sucked up to the Tech administration and said he wouldn't hurt the parents most prized possition; their kids. He threw Leach under the bus in a heartbeat.

Jones Stadium was enlarged while Leach was coaching, but time will tell if those bew seats will be needed anytime soon. Might be a good spot for the monthly "Hance/James Flea Market".

Posted by Dulin at 01/04/10 18:46:36

Why doesn't anyone mention the fact that Craig James and Kent Hance are business partners?

Posted by mike at 01/06/10 12:27:46

IN WHAT BUSINESS???

Posted by BULLET at 01/10/10 20:45:08

Below is the email I sent to ESPN on 12-30-09:

I am an employment law attorney with no connections to Texas Tech. My comment is that Craig James should be fired. I am never going to watch a game that persnickity helicopter parent announces. ESPN should have policies and procedures for his suspension and termination for his blatant and unforgiveable BS brouhaha that resulted in Mike Leach's firing at Tech. Craig James should be fired for creating the uproar over nothing and violating all professional broadcasting principles of fairness and unbiased reporting over his son's fabricated alleged mistreatment by Coach Leach. If ESPN has any principles at all, James should be fired for his complete and utter unprofessional behavior in this whole ridiculous scenario. Also, feel free to quote me and use my name and send a copy to James if you care to. James needs to go! David S. Jones

Posted by dave jones at 02/26/10 19:42:49

Kent Hance and Craig James are partners in a wind farm project. Fat Rats that wanted Leach out include John Scovell, Alan White, and Jim Sowell.

Posted by KevinM at 03/20/10 09:32:20

I wonder what these guys take as supplements and shakes. Obviously they need them to proform as well as they do. They are huge. I met the Caves last year and I only come up to their bellys. It made me feel like a kid thats how big they are and they still move faster than us little folk.

Posted by b vitamin at 06/11/10 20:09:35

College football games are great. People come from miles around to support their alma mater. Many travel from out of state to catch the biggest of games.

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Posted by Bella at 08/17/10 05:05:45

Is watching college football one of your favorite pastimes? Indeed, it is not just college students who get hooked at following college football games. Even if some people are not in college anymore, they still watch these college football games and even make college football predictions.

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Wrestling is one of the oldest sports known to man. Its origins go back all the way to the first Olympics.

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Football landscape is changing and knowledgeable College Football picks can make an experienced sports bettor a lot of money throughout the season and here's why. Over the past 5 years most College Football teams have gone to a pro style offense which is very appealing to talented recruits coming out of high school which means the most talented players are choosing to play on the offensive side of the ball.

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