Even though Leach didn't take the Washington job he'll be moving elsewhere soon, and the brass at Texas Tech seem fine with that -- another reason they'll never have another season as successful as this one.
Here's a link to a story from a Lubbock TV station mentioning documents from the spring where the Tech administration flat-out said they won't pay more for a coach:
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=9462407&nav=3w6y
Here's a link to a story from a Lubbock TV station mentioning documents from the spring where the Tech administration flat-out said they won't pay more for a coach:
http://www.kcbd.com/Global/story.asp?S=9462407&nav=3w6y
AA....From what I understand Leach has been trying like hell to get out of Lubbock for the last two years. And I didn't hear but just part of the story on the radio, but QB Graham Harrell said Leach is on his way out and won't be there next season. I'll try to get more info today. But something else that I heard today that was different from the original story is I heard was Leach was very serious about taking the Washington job. And even took his wife to the interview. Which tells me he was very serious. But Washington turned him down.
The Graham Harrell story, at least part of it, is on Yahoo sports now. The gist is that he feels it's "very likely" that Leach will be leaving but that Harrell doesn't think it has mujch to do with Texas Tech, but rather that Leach wants a new challenge.
The more that I think about it the more I think it may be difficult for Leach to get hired at one of the really big jobs that he seems to want. Despite the success Tech has had over the last several years, and especially in 2008, he still has the reputation as being a on-dimensional gimmick coach. Someone in the same boat as June Jones. It doesn't help his cause that Michigan struggled so much in Rich Rodriguez's first year.
There are so many bigtime programs where he would not fit at all, both because of his free-spirit personality and because of the type of football they expect to see (Leach at Auburn would be a powder keg). That's why I thought him going to a place like Washington would have been a good situation for both him and school -- he needs to find a place that still has a pretty big name but has been down for a while, and that isn't stuck in the mindset of "when in doubt run the ball between the tackles."
If Chris Peterson took another job they'd love Leach at Boise State, but even though the football programs are comparable, moving from a BCS conference to a non-BCS one is a step down.
I guess Bill Stewart is going to get another year to continue dismantling the West Virginia program, but perhaps a school like that would be the best next stop for Leach.
The more that I think about it the more I think it may be difficult for Leach to get hired at one of the really big jobs that he seems to want. Despite the success Tech has had over the last several years, and especially in 2008, he still has the reputation as being a on-dimensional gimmick coach. Someone in the same boat as June Jones. It doesn't help his cause that Michigan struggled so much in Rich Rodriguez's first year.
There are so many bigtime programs where he would not fit at all, both because of his free-spirit personality and because of the type of football they expect to see (Leach at Auburn would be a powder keg). That's why I thought him going to a place like Washington would have been a good situation for both him and school -- he needs to find a place that still has a pretty big name but has been down for a while, and that isn't stuck in the mindset of "when in doubt run the ball between the tackles."
If Chris Peterson took another job they'd love Leach at Boise State, but even though the football programs are comparable, moving from a BCS conference to a non-BCS one is a step down.
I guess Bill Stewart is going to get another year to continue dismantling the West Virginia program, but perhaps a school like that would be the best next stop for Leach.
AA...I think with hiring Leach it really depends on what a school wants out of a coach. Personally, I'm not sure if Auburn would hire Leach because it's simply TOO big of a change. They look like the type of school that wants a change. Just not a big change. Some schools want that kind of change and the quirky personality of Leach that comes with it. On the other hand, a bigtime program like an Auburn will probably want the type of coach who would also make a good CEO. Because that's basically what a coach is at that level. And I'm not sure Leach fits into that kind of a mold. He's going to have alot more to worry about with a major program than just recruiting and calling plays on offense like he does at tech. He's got to mingle with the alumni and regents too. And be able to deal with the media. And Leach just doesn't seem like that kind of coach to me. This is the very same thing that Rodriguez is having problems with right now at Michigan. He went from the more rural area of West Virignia, which isn't a whole lot different than Lubbock, to a big city bigtime school. And from what I've been hearing he just isn't that type of kiss the ass of the alumni type of guy. I'm betting Rodriguez will be out of there in a couple years if he don't start winning quick. But having said all that, as I'm typing this I just now heard on ESPN radio that Leach could be heading to Auburn...Go figure.
Briles also has a great working relationship with Texas high school coaches, having been one not that long ago himself. They would love him in Lubbock and he'd do great -- Tech may get the recruits passed over by Texas and Oklahoma, but they're still a big step up from the kids going to Houston and Baylor.
But if the Raiders claim their coaches salary must top out at about $300K Baylor can afford to outbid them. There are still some deep pockets associated with the Baptists.
But if the Raiders claim their coaches salary must top out at about $300K Baylor can afford to outbid them. There are still some deep pockets associated with the Baptists.
AA....Unless Tech really gets a dynamic coach, I'm betting they'll never be the same again after Leach leaves. Although they had an extra special year this year, on average they usually lose about 3 or 4 games a year. I actually think Briles has a chance to build Baylor back to the way they were back in the 80's and early 90's.
It did take a long time for Tech to build up to where they are. Spike Dykes wasn't the greatest coach in the world but he had a great way with kids, so he was able to get some talent to come out to Lubbock. And, like Leach, he was always entertaining and good for a quote, so the Raiders got some attention.
Then Leach took over and really took everything -- both recruiting and play on the field -- several more steps. But, you're right, the program is sort of in a precarious position. The good players they've gotten over the last many years haven't been going there because of any lifelong love for Texas Tech University or because of the football program's storied history, they've been going because they want to play for a wild man who will let them light up scoreboards like a video game. Whoever comes along next is going to have to pull that same act, or else the program goes back to 6-5 in a good year.
Then Leach took over and really took everything -- both recruiting and play on the field -- several more steps. But, you're right, the program is sort of in a precarious position. The good players they've gotten over the last many years haven't been going there because of any lifelong love for Texas Tech University or because of the football program's storied history, they've been going because they want to play for a wild man who will let them light up scoreboards like a video game. Whoever comes along next is going to have to pull that same act, or else the program goes back to 6-5 in a good year.
