Critical day for Mike Leach at Texas Tech

[Steve]

Contract negotiations between ML & TT have turned ugly during the past week. Supposedly there is a 5:00 deadline coming up today. Good chance that Leach could either walk or be fired if neither side agrees to give in.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/colle...ch-leach_N.htm

[TheHelgo]

Contract negotiations between ML & TT have turned ugly during the past week. Supposedly there is a 5:00 deadline coming up today. Good chance that Leach could either walk or be fired if neither side agrees to give in.

Sports: USF has the edge in Burnhams vs. Elon

Interesting, but your link is irrelevant to that discussion.

[Steve]

Interesting, but your link is irrelevant to that discussion.

Thanks, should be fixed now.

[jbhtexas]

No worries for Mike...the DC position at UCF is open...

[CyAggie]

He has 2 years on his contract. Both sides have no reason not to drop it until next year, so TT would not have a big payout.

He lost his bargianing power when he was not selected for the PAC 10 job.

Look for him to stay another year, and then TT will go after the Baylor coach.

[4429 mcc]

Things like this are dragging this thing out.

Leach said he was all set to agree on the deal before Tech added in four terms, two of which were rare for coaching contracts. One said that all the money from his personal speaking properties -- for example, if he makes an appearance or writes a book about his life in Wyoming -- would go to Tech.

Bruce Feldman: Top 10 winter soap operas - ESPN

[Steve]

The deadline passed without an agreement. The smart money is on a parting of the ways following a board of regents meeting tomorrow. The hot rumor is TT taking a run at Art Briles.

[jbhtexas]

This is darn late in the game (pun) for a BCS school to be looking for a coach, and then having to hire coordinators. Seems a little whacky...

[erikbj]

This is darn late in the game (pun) for a BCS school to be looking for a coach, and then having to hire coordinators. Seems a little whacky...

they don't have to fire him do they? he has 2 years left and can still work on a new deal? In this current economy, you look kind of like an *** walking away from a $12MM contract because you don't like them not wanting you look at other jobs after they give you a pay raise.

[Omaha Cy]

Im sure the athletic department is seriously considering firing him.

Is it too late to realistically change coaches? Spring practice in many places starts soon. That causes a concern for finding the right guy in quick order then assembling a proper staff. I'm sure if TTu is considering a move here has already started conducting a search as is.

Just how long does are spring practices conducted for? month and half or so....whats the NCAA rules on it?

I feel that if they want to terminate Leach, they should consider him coaching in '09 then pull a move "ala" Ron Prince and lame duck him the last few weeks.

[Bobber]

Actually I don't think it's a bad time to be looking for a coach since all the recruits are locked in? Probably a better time than a month ago.

[clonecard]

On the surface TT needs their heads examined. Or a new AD. Leach is one strange dude and a helluva football coach!

[d4nim4l]

Good job out of Texas Tech for possibly ending a successful football program.

[Omaha Cy]

I guess i havent put much thought into Ruffin McNeil or someone else being promoted from within.

In essence that could be a good stop gap hire on the asap front(and continuity is preserved), and its likely with leach out of work that many of the staff wouldnt leave.

So from that standpoint its feasible, but otherwise bringing in a all new staff they might be completely throwing '09 away.

[JP4CY]

I would think that with Leach being a lawyer he knows what he's doing. With Harrell and Crab gone, maybe he wants to get let go.
Replace Fountain haha?