2025-2026 College Football Thread

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

Leach has a lot of current and former coaches and players willing to go on the record in support of Leach and stating that Leach didn't do anything wrong and the allegations are a mix of lies and exaggerations. They are stating that Adam James is a spoiled, lazy receiver who never put in any effort and who thought because his dad is Craig James (an ESPN analyst and a college football legend) he should get everything handed to him.

Leach was not well-liked by the Texas Tech administration after he interviewed for other jobs last year without notifying administrators and was due an $800,000 bonus if he was still coach on December 31 so a lot of people think they were just trying to make this seem like a bigger deal so they could try and fire him with cause. There will definitely be a lawsuit over this.

http://dennis-dodd.blogs.cbssports.c...70202/19238949

It's not unusual that players and co-workers would publicly defend a person they liked... no matter what they were accused of. The thing that you don't see at all though, is any kind of denial that the player was diagnosed with a concussion. That is the ONLY factor that matters.

You can't for even a moment be perceived as punishing a player for not practicing or playing due to that type of injury; as it would only encourage future players to deny and ignore a possibly serious injury. Playing with a concussion could have serious life altering or even life ending results.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I'm going to wait to see where this kid was kept, but My radio station said they saw pictures of the rooms and they are very nice.

That's interesting if true. I heard it was a shack, similar to what football teams use to house dummies, blocking pads, etc. I know from personal experience that those are not comfortable rooms. No air conditioning, plumbing, ventilation, etc.

Obviously if it turns out that the kid was sent to a nice space, with A/C, chairs, supervision, etc., then it's all bogus and he'll be sued for defamation, the university will be sued for wrongful termination, etc.

You have to imagine, however, that the university would not FIRE A COACH based upon baseless accusations.

And I just realized I used "etc." 4 times in 2 sentences.

Something's up here. And it doesn't matter if the James kid had the attitude of Randy Moss and the work ethic of Allen Iverson, with a little touch of entitlement thrown in. That is all irrelevant.

By the way, while Leach himself hasn't said anything, his attorneys have. That is the same as Leach talking.

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Obviously if it turns out that the kid was sent to a nice space, with A/C, chairs, supervision, etc., then it's all bogus and he'll be sued for defamation, the university will be sued for wrongful termination, etc.

I don't think that even the conditions he was sent to matters. I think what matters if it was done as a form of punishment or not. If it was done as punishment... that sets an EXTREMELY dangerous example for the rest of the players.

"Gosh... I better shake this headache off.... in fact I shouldn't even tell the docs about it. I don't want coach to hate me like he does that James guy."

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

I don't think that even the conditions he was sent to matters. I think what matters if it was done as a form of punishment or not. If it was done as punishment... that sets an EXTREMELY dangerous example for the rest of the players.

"Gosh... I better shake this headache off.... in fact I shouldn't even tell the docs about it. I don't want coach to hate me like he does that James guy."

I think they're both important in this case.

Punishment in general is fine. I have no problems with that.

Punishment for injuries is the epitome of stupidity.

A guy with a law degree should know that...

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

I think they're both important in this case.

Punishment in general is fine. I have no problems with that.

Punishment for injuries is the epitome of stupidity.

A guy with a law degree should know that...

My point was if the conditions were as bad as stated... then that doubles the error in judgement. But even if he were sent to the cushiest, most comfortable place on campus and given beautiful nude hand maidens to fan his forehead and feed him skinless grapes.... it was still a grave error in judgement IF it was done as punishment.

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

My point was if the conditions were as bad as stated... then that doubles the error in judgement. But even if he were sent to the cushiest, most comfortable place on campus and given beautiful nude hand maidens to fan his forehead and feed him skinless grapes.... it was still a grave error in judgement IF it was done as punishment.

You don't punish injuries. Totally agree.

I challenge anyone here to look at a picture of Leach's eyes and tell me he's not crazy.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

You don't punish injuries. Totally agree.

I don't think that was the reason I think he was told to go somewhere and if he didn't you're off the team and he choose to go.

Thats what my radio stations saying.

Also that everyone hated this kid even the players.

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by fatediesel

The question is whether Leach did do anything wrong though or if this is just a case of an entitled kid who was bitter about his playing time trying to get back at the coach, and an administration that was looking for a reason to dismiss the coach. I'm not saying he's innocent, it's just that we haven't heard anything from Leach himself and virtually everyone outside the James family is on Leach's side. Leach graduated from law school so he knows to keep his mouth shut rather than say something that could incriminate him.

this

the kid was an arrogant slacker with an entitlement complex because of his daddy, that has been backed up by players that have been and are on the team currently, he showed up to practice wearing shades and thinking he could just not do anything because he was not cleared for contact and was "sensitive to the sun", ok, put him in a place away from the sun and let him do some conditioning, if hes cleared to practice, just no contact, there is nothing wrong with still requiring him to be at practice and to actually DO something, he was found just sitting around in the shaded equipment house, so coolers were removed so that he couldnt sit on them while the rest of the team was working

the university is only too happy to try and use this as a legitimate reason to get rid of a coach they were forced to re-sign by the doners and boosters who called and said they will cease all future donations if leach wasnt brought back

[b0bby]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

You don't punish injuries. Totally agree.

I challenge anyone here to look at a picture of Leach's eyes and tell me he's not crazy.

what is he looking at! yeh he looks crazy. btw that is an extremely sharp picture lol. i see dandruff or something on his collar.

[supersix4]

I'd take him here at MD

[Uniquely]

Originally Posted by supersix4

I don't think that was the reason I think he was told to go somewhere and if he didn't you're off the team and he choose to go.

Thats what my radio stations saying.

Also that everyone hated this kid even the players.

It all boils down to two things....

1. Did the player have a legitimate injury that would medically prevent him from practicing.

2. Is it standard procedure to sequester an injured player during practice.... (or do injured players typically sit on the sideline and observe.)


If the answers are 1. yes 2. no.... then the coach is in the wrong. There can be ZERO appearance that a player has been punished for having an injury... regardless of the past history of the player.

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by robinandtami

It all boils down to two things....

1. Did the player have a legitimate injury that would medically prevent him from practicing.

2. Is it standard procedure to sequester an injured player during practice.... (or do injured players typically sit on the sideline and observe.)


If the answers are 1. yes 2. no.... then the coach is in the wrong. There can be ZERO appearance that a player has been punished for having an injury... regardless of the past history of the player.

the answers are

1.) No, the medical staff cleared him for practice, but not for contact, he was required to be there and to be working on other drills that did not involve contact

2.) No, it is not standard procedure, but in this case, the player was "sensitive to the sun" so he was removed from the sun and put in the shade to do conditioning instead, they found him sitting on his butt instead of working out like he was supposed to be doing, so they removed the water coolers so that he would be forced to stand and walk around or work out on the exercise equipment provided

i do not believe the coach was in the wrong, i believe this is a case of a spoiled little brat that got upset that he had to work when he "didnt feel like it" he is an NCAA football player, not an 8 year old, he is treated as an adult, and is expected to act as such, not go crying to daddy and getting the coach fired because you were forced to participate, i dont think there was anyone holding him at gunpoint, if he didnt want to be there, he could have left

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by supersix4

Also that everyone hated this kid even the players.

Really?

To those of you who think the players and coaches all hated this "spoiled brat", etc., read these quotes from some of the current players:

Starting Center Shawn Byrnes on Leach: “He didnt understand how to deal with people. … Everyone is excited about this to be honest. … Adam James took a stand. How could punish a kid for having a concussion? What could that possibly accomplish?”


Texas Tech defensive lineman Chris Perry on Leach’s firing today and the coach’s treatment of Adam James: “I have no complaints about this decision. (Leach) put Adam in a shed like an animal. Like an animal in a cage. … That was bull. … You call the players. We practiced hard this week. We have our pep back now. We had less stress this week. You know why? Because he’s (Leach) gone.”

Texas Tech defensive back Taylor Charbonnet on Leach’s treatment of teammate Adam James: “I didn’t like it at all. I didn’t agree with it. I don’t know why Leach did that.”

Source: http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/texas-...-is-gone-27510

Originally Posted by jono_0101

2.) No, it is not standard procedure, but in this case, the player was "sensitive to the sun" so he was removed from the sun and put in the shade to do conditioning instead, they found him sitting on his butt instead of working out like he was supposed to be doing, so they removed the water coolers so that he would be forced to stand and walk around or work out on the exercise equipment provided

LOL I love this. "Hey, kid with a concussion. Go sit in that garage over there, the one we keep tackling dummies in. Do some conditioning, which is an excellent way to treat concussions. Wait, what's this? You're sitting down? WITH A CONCUSSION!? Quick, Coach Moron and Coach Clueless, grab those water coolers so the kid with the concussion can no longer sit on something."

It's f'd up and indefensible. It amazes me that people still try to defend it, and then inevitably resort to "yeah but he was a jerk and a pain in the ___". It doesn't matter if he was Satan; that's not how you deal with a head-injured player.

[supersix4]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

It's f'd up and indefensible. It amazes me that people still try to defend it, and then inevitably resort to "yeah but he was a jerk and a pain in the ___". It doesn't matter if he was Satan; that's not how you deal with a head-injured player.

I'm going by what my radio show said, they said their are pics on the net of where he was kept and if its not a shanty or dilapidated, then really I guess I'd sit on the fence.

* Never mind found some video of where he was kept... I guess its not as bad as it could be and not as good as how my radio station described it.

http://sportsbybrooks.com/video-shed...xas-tech-27504

[Steelmaker]

Know what I honestly think? I think the player is a big pu$$y douche who dogged it in practice and cried to mommy and daddy when things didn't go his way. If the guy was a real football player he would've grew a pair, did what the coached asked him to do, and tried to get better. Instead he went boo hooing to mommy and daddy and got his coach fired. I say take the football away from this kid and get him an effin' apron!

What's next? Army recruits crying to their Mommy's that army life is too tough and trying to get their drill sergeant dishonorably discharged for being too rough on him??

If people ONLY knew some of the things my coaches did when I played sports!

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

Really?

To those of you who think the players and coaches all hated this "spoiled brat", etc., read these quotes from some of the current players:



Source: http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/texas-...-is-gone-27510



LOL I love this. "Hey, kid with a concussion. Go sit in that garage over there, the one we keep tackling dummies in. Do some conditioning, which is an excellent way to treat concussions. Wait, what's this? You're sitting down? WITH A CONCUSSION!? Quick, Coach Moron and Coach Clueless, grab those water coolers so the kid with the concussion can no longer sit on something."

It's f'd up and indefensible. It amazes me that people still try to defend it, and then inevitably resort to "yeah but he was a jerk and a pain in the ___". It doesn't matter if he was Satan; that's not how you deal with a head-injured player.

exactly how long should he be excused from team practices before he is required to start participating again??? he was cleared for practice by the MEDICAL STAFF, i think thats a pretty good indication that he's good to go, if he was really THAT bad off, he wouldnt have been cleared for anything, this is NCAA football were talking about, these arent 10 year olds that need mommy and daddy to take them to practice and games and make sure everyone's being nice, if he wasnt ok to practice and the coach made him work anyway, then they have grounds for what they did, but he was cleared for practice, sothe coaches expected him to practice, so the james family is in the wrong, and the school was only too happy to take the opportunity to get rid of a coach the chancellor of the school didnt want in the first place, and to save some money by not paying his bonus

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by jono_0101

exactly how long should he be excused from team practices before he is required to start participating again??? he was cleared for practice by the MEDICAL STAFF, i think thats a pretty good indication that he's good to go, if he was really THAT bad off, he wouldnt have been cleared for anything, this is NCAA football were talking about, these arent 10 year olds that need mommy and daddy to take them to practice and games and make sure everyone's being nice, if he wasnt ok to practice and the coach made him work anyway, then they have grounds for what they did, but he was cleared for practice, sothe coaches expected him to practice, so the james family is in the wrong, and the school was only too happy to take the opportunity to get rid of a coach the chancellor of the school didnt want in the first place, and to save some money by not paying his bonus

If he was cleared, then that changes things a bit. I didn't know he was cleared.

Still, the medical staff might not be able to tell if a player is having head problems due to a concussion. The player might.

All of this "he's a baby" and "mommy and daddy" stuff is irrelevant. None of it matters. What matters are the facts: what was wrong with him, and what did the coach do about it.

All of the other extraneous, red herring-type, issues don't matter. Which is funny, because you only hear that from Leach and his attorney.

The players, the University, and the player affected seem to say in unison: "this wasn't right."

I can guarantee you Leach doesn't win his lawsuit against the university.

[broganreynik]

Well, a little change of pace. How about that Humanitarian Bowl? I was a little disappointed because I picked Bowling Green in my Bowl Pick 'Em (and it cut in on the Holiday Bowl), but it was still an exciting game. And heck, I can't be mad, since Idaho's QB is a Nebraska boy. Of course I thought the Holiday Bowl was even more exciting, but anyone who's not a Nebraska fan or staunch Arizona hater I could see thinking of it as a total snooze-fest. Man I can't wait until next season.

[jono_0101]

Originally Posted by O_V_N

If he was cleared, then that changes things a bit. I didn't know he was cleared.

Still, the medical staff might not be able to tell if a player is having head problems due to a concussion. The player might.

All of this "he's a baby" and "mommy and daddy" stuff is irrelevant. None of it matters. What matters are the facts: what was wrong with him, and what did the coach do about it.

All of the other extraneous, red herring-type, issues don't matter. Which is funny, because you only hear that from Leach and his attorney.

The players, the University, and the player affected seem to say in unison: "this wasn't right."

I can guarantee you Leach doesn't win his lawsuit against the university.

yeah, he was cleared for practice, just not for contact, and there are doctors on the field for practice, so he could have had someone take a look at him if he didnt feel right and if he wasnt ok, they would have pulled him, it seems like he just didnt want to do anything

the only reason i bring up the mommy and daddy thing, and i think its relevant in this case, is that dad works for what is basically the voice of sports for lots and lots and lots of people, and they are all standing behind their guy, and not really reporting all the facts, but rather playing the coach up to be the bad guy, and people are buying it

i havent heard any player besides the ONE that ESPN keeps quoting say what happened wasnt right, and in fact, there are many players and other coaches that are coming to leach's defense, saying what he did wasnt what its being made out to be AND that the kid was just a slacker who didnt want to work hard, and wanted to use this to keep from having to practice

the coach can only go by what the medical staff says, if they say hes good, then he is expected to practice, if he went on what the players said only, half the team would be "hurt" and not able to practice when they had something else they would rather do, like i said before, the only way i see the coach being wrong here is if the doctors said no, but the coach made him get out there anyway, if that comes out, then ill join the ranks of people that want the guy hung, but if the doctors say hes good to go, thats what the coach has to go on, and i think he was totally right in his decision

there is a side to sports, especially at the upper levels, that we dont see, they train hard, and coaches dont let the players get away with slacking, when that starts happening, the team starts to fall apart, and the authority of the coaching staff is compromised, so its not always nice, but the players are expected to perform, and slacking off because of a headache is not an excuse, i understand the headache was probably linked to the players recent concussion and light sensitivity, but the doctors said he can practice, and the coaches arent doctors themselves, so thats what they have to believe, and any slack on his part is viewed as being lazy

[Chordata]

Originally Posted by jono_0101

yeah, he was cleared for practice, just not for contact, and there are doctors on the field for practice, so he could have had someone take a look at him if he didnt feel right and if he wasnt ok, they would have pulled him, it seems like he just didnt want to do anything

the only reason i bring up the mommy and daddy thing, and i think its relevant in this case, is that dad works for what is basically the voice of sports for lots and lots and lots of people, and they are all standing behind their guy, and not really reporting all the facts, but rather playing the coach up to be the bad guy, and people are buying it

i havent heard any player besides the ONE that ESPN keeps quoting say what happened wasnt right, and in fact, there are many players and other coaches that are coming to leach's defense, saying what he did wasnt what its being made out to be AND that the kid was just a slacker who didnt want to work hard, and wanted to use this to keep from having to practice

the coach can only go by what the medical staff says, if they say hes good, then he is expected to practice, if he went on what the players said only, half the team would be "hurt" and not able to practice when they had something else they would rather do, like i said before, the only way i see the coach being wrong here is if the doctors said no, but the coach made him get out there anyway, if that comes out, then ill join the ranks of people that want the guy hung, but if the doctors say hes good to go, thats what the coach has to go on, and i think he was totally right in his decision

there is a side to sports, especially at the upper levels, that we dont see, they train hard, and coaches dont let the players get away with slacking, when that starts happening, the team starts to fall apart, and the authority of the coaching staff is compromised, so its not always nice, but the players are expected to perform, and slacking off because of a headache is not an excuse, i understand the headache was probably linked to the players recent concussion and light sensitivity, but the doctors said he can practice, and the coaches arent doctors themselves, so thats what they have to believe, and any slack on his part is viewed as being lazy

The Craig James angle is tainted, I totally agree. I'm not basing my thoughts on him, ESPN, or anyone else at ESPN. Just AP stuff typically. In fact, the link I provided from the 3 current players this morning who came to James' defense was from CNNSI.com, which usually trashes ESPN.

I haven't seen one quote by a current player defending Leach.

Can anyone link to one?

No matter what, I feel bad for the players on the team who now go to a bowl game without a coach. But to be fair, some of the players have been quotes as saying they're glad Leach is gone.

Who knows.