[FartWaffles]

http://ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/2009/12/2...nds-mike-leach/

Word is going around that he locked a player in a dark closet, because he was injured and couldn't practice...

This post has been edited by SteVo: 31 December 2009 - 09:37 AM

[CincisUKFan]

lol for real? that would actually be a brilliant reason to get suspended, beats getting it for swearing or some pointless crap...

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F]

fasho... better chance for us to win... even though we'll be missing half our team....

[jagsfreak27]

This seriously sickens me, i'm glad he's getting what he deserves.

[FSUViking]

Son of ESPN analyst behind Leach suspension?
Posted by John Taylor on December 28, 2009 6:14 PM ET
CollegeFootballTalk

Obviously, the big news of the day has been the suspension of Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach.

According to a press release, Leach was suspended after a Red Raider player and his parents complained to school officials about his treatment following an injury.

The school did not release the player's name, but the talk around Internet message boards and at least one Lubbock-area radio station -- KSTQ-FM -- is that the name of the player is Adam James.

James, a redshirt sophomore receiver, is the son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James.

According to the report on KSTQ, James suffered from the effects of a mild concussion and came to practice wearing sunglasses as advised by his doctor.

Leach apparently did not like the fact that James was wearing sunglasses, so he allegedly ordered the player into a darkened equipment room for a couple/several hours. ESPN.com's Joe Schad reports via Twitter that Leach "is alleged to have isolated a player in a dark closet for not practicing with a concussion."

Again, these are just rumors at this point and, as of this posting, we have not seen them confirmed anywhere.

[FSUViking]

James confirms he was source of Leach complaint
Posted by John Taylor on December 28, 2009 7:06 PM ET
CollegeFootballTalk.com

As it turns out, it was indeed ESPN analyst Craig James and his wife who complained to Texas Tech officials about the treatment of their son, Tech receiver Adam James, leading to the suspension of head coach Mike Leach.

The couple released a statement today regarding the incident that led to their complaints.

"Mr. and Mrs. James took the step with great regret and after consideration and prayer to convey to the Texas Tech Administration that their son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health. The James family believes this is a matter important to protect all the fine young men involved in Tech football and the University's reputation for developing and educating young men and women.

"Over the past year, there has been a greatly enhanced recognition of the dangers of concussions and the potential for long-term physical damage to players. At virtually every level of football coaching, cases where children and young men have sustained concussions have generated serious discussion of the importance of correct treatment and diagnosis. The entire James family is supportive of the University and looks forward to a resolution of the matter."

It's rumored that Leach forced Adam James to sit in a darkened room after coming to practice wearing a pair of sunglasses. James allegedly told his coach that he was advised by a doctor to wear the glasses due to sunlight aggravating a mild concussion.

In an intriguing twist, as noted by AOL Fanhouse, James was scheduled to be a part of the broadcast team for the Alamo Bowl. Obviously, given this current situation, James will have to be replaced in the booth.

UPDATE 7:42 p.m. ET: ESPN.com has updated their report on this developing situation, providing additional details into the alleged actions that led to Leach's suspension.

A source close to the family said James sustained a concussion on Dec. 16, was examined on Dec. 17 and told not to practice due to a concussion and an elevated heart rate. The source said Leach called a trainer and directed him to move James "to the darkest place, to clean out the equipment and to make sure that he could not sit or lean. He was confined for three hours."

According to the source, Leach told the trainer, two days later, to "put [James] in the darkest, tightest spot. It was in an electrical closet, again, with a guard posted outside."

An attorney for Leach said that while James was secluded twice, the circumstances were not as portrayed in that account.

Ted Liggett, Leach's attorney, said James "was placed in an equipment room as it was much cooler and darker" than the practice field "after a doctor had examined him and returned him to the field."

Liggett said that on that day, a trainer was posted outside the room and that James was provided ice. Liggett said that James was secluded for one to two hours. Liggett said that on another occassion, James was placed in a "press room with air conditioning and a stationary bike he coud use."


Leach's attorney added that Leach will take the necessary legal steps to get the suspension overturned.

[razorback.red]

I doubt this would be such a big deal if ESPN didn't report it so morbidly.

This post has been edited by razorback.red: 30 December 2009 - 04:46 AM

[FSUViking]

I doubt this would be such a big deal if ESPN didn't report it so morbidly.

Treating a kid with a concussion like he's a detainee at Gitmo is no big deal?

[Tridentdawgpound]

Whenever they mention this story, they have to throw in the appositive "Son of ESPN analyst Craig James". If this wasn't James's son, it's a non-issue.

[FartWaffles]

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news...t&type=lgns

Texas Tech fires football coach Leach

LUBBOCK, TEXAS(AP) —Texas Tech fired coach Mike Leach on Wednesday, just two days after he was suspended by the school as it investigated his treatment of a player with a concussion.

The school handed a termination letter to Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, just minutes before the two sides were to appear in a Lubbock, Texas, courtroom for a hearing on the coach’s suspension.

Liggett said that Texas Tech general counsel Pat Campbell approached him outside the courtroom and told him that win, lose or draw in the hearing, Leach was out, effective immediately.
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When Liggett entered the courtroom he told the judge there was no need for the hearing on Leach’s request that he be reinstated to coach the Alamo Bowl.

As for Leach’s reaction, Liggett said, “Well, he’s not thrilled.”

Liggett said he planned to file a lawsuit on Leach’s behalf against the school “soon.”

“We can guarantee that the fight has just begun,” he said.

Liggett said Leach’s side has evidence that shows the decision to suspend the coach was without merit.

“So they pulled the trigger,” Liggett said. “They don’t want that coming out.”

In February, Leach and the school agreed to a five-year, $12.7 million contract. According to terms of the deal, Leach was due a $800,000 bonus on Dec. 31 if he were still the head coach at Texas Tech.

Leach was suspended by the university on Monday after receiver Adam James alleged the coach twice confined him to small, dark spaces while the team practiced.

James is the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James.

“We appreciate that the university conducted a fair and thorough investigation,” said a statement from the James family. “From the family’s point of view this has always been about the safety and well being of our son and of all the players on the team.”

Texas Tech plays Michigan State on Saturday in the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

Tech is the second Big 12 school to launch an internal investigation into a coach’s treatment of his players.

On Nov. 16, Kansas investigated Mark Mangino, who got a big raise after he was national coach of the year and went 12-1 in 2007. Some players said he was insensitive, though others defended him.

Mangino resigned Dec. 3 after reaching a settlement with the school that was later disclosed as a $3 million buyout.

In an affidavit included in Tuesday’s court filing, Leach said he “would never intentionally harm or endanger a player” and that he has been “forced into this situation without being afforded any process.” He also said “absolutely” no evidence had been given to him that showed he had violated any university rules or standards.

Several former and current Texas Tech players and coaches defended Leach and harshly criticized James’ work ethic in e-mails obtained by CBSSports.com.

Among those were former Texas Tech wide receiver Eric Morris, who wrote that James was “never known as a hard worker” and “seemed to have a negative attitude toward the football program the majority of the time.”

Morris told The Associated Press on Wednesday the letters were written as school administrators began looking into the incident, before Leach was suspended. Morris said they wanted to show their support for Leach and show James’ possible motives.

Morris said he spoke with Leach as the incident began unfolding.

“He told me he would never do anything” to harm a player, Morris said. “He was trying to hold someone accountable.”

[razorback.red]

Treating a kid with a concussion like he's a detainee at Gitmo is no big deal?

Apparently the player had a lot of issues with respect, dedication, and work ethic. That's probably what the punishment was for.. poor performance. The kid just happened to have a mild concussion (which was to be cured by wearing sunglasses?!) and a daddy in ESPN to complain to.

[FSUViking]

Apparently the player had a lot of issues with respect, dedication, and work ethic. That's probably what the punishment was for.. poor performance. The kid just happened to have a mild concussion (which was to be cured by wearing sunglasses?!) and a daddy in ESPN to complain to.

Ah, no. It was a lot deeper than that, as many Tech players are now coming out with. A doctor told Leach the best remedy for a concussion is to make him STAND in a dark closet for three hours? More than once? Then that "doctor" needs to be fired and stripped of his medical license and join Capt Jack Sparrow Leach in the unemployment line.

Leach has been an eccentric dick for years. This is the same guy who interviewd for the Washington job last year, then sued Texas Tech for trying to move on and get a replacement for him and told his players they have fat girlfriends leading into a game a few weeks ago. There's lots of former and current players saying Leach was a borderline nutjob this week.

The NFL and NHL just spent weeks in front of Congress talking about the prevention and treatment of concussions both in the short-term and long-term and I doubt any doctor or league official said "right now we're leaning towards making players stand in a 10x10 lockbox in the dark. We feel that's perfect for treating symptoms."

It's obvious to anybody that Tech and Ole Blackbeard have been trying to divorce each other for years. This was the final nail in the coffin.