I’m watching the Michigan State Spartans being dismantled by the Texas Tech Raiders in the Alamo Bowl, in San Antonio.  The Mike Leach firing may have created a slight bit of chaos for the Raiders, but it isn’t affecting the offense, 17-7 with 11 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

I’ve seen Adam James on the sidelines, so he is no longer in the shed.  He isn’t wearing pads or playing, but he also isn’t wearing sunglasses.

The broadcasters and media are sort of overlooking the Michigan State Spartan drama.  They have suspended 14 players, reportedly for brawling.  For a 6-6 Big Ten team, 14 men short in San Antonio against Texas Tech, it is impressive to see how well they are playing, they just scored a touchdown, now it is 17-14.  The Big Ten has done well in the bowl games this year, so if this continues and Michigan State loses, the conference still looks great this year.

The Mike Leach story has been fascinating.  It is the drama of Adam James, son of Craig James, ESPN analyst vs. Coach Mike Leach.  The administration of Texas Tech may not be the biggest fan of Coach Leach, but they have not been able to make a change, or change his attitude, because his teams continue to win.  His offense has revolutionized football in the Big 12, and Texas.  Spread offense and air attacks are the reality of big time football, and Texas Tech epitomizes this.

Lincoln Riley was the wide receivers coach, and he is offensive coordinator in this bowl game.  He is a young man, and excited by the opportunity to move up.  He has also reported to the administration that Adam James has a bad attitude, and cannot be coached.  Adam is a child of privilege, a prima donna.  Football is a team game and players are considered soldiers, coaches are leaders.  Coaches are tough, they break players, then build them up, coach them up, so they work and are effective in the system the coach plays.

Coaches have 100 players they must evaluate, and organize.  Coaches do not coach around any one player, unless that player is Peyton Manning.  Coaches must mold players to play well in the role that is assigned to them.  Can Adam James fit in the system, without being a disruption to the team?  Is he an effective member of the team, or a key position player that the team must have to win?  Coach Leach and Coach Riley would be the people to ask, not the other players.

Some players have said that Mike Leach was too tough.  Some have said Adam should have been treated better.  Some coaches have said Coach Leach has done nothing wrong, and that Adam was treated fine.  This is he said, she said.  Mike Leach, Craig James, and the Chancellor of Texas Tech have all spoken on ESPN, and all of them are saying things that makes sense, and seem logical.

One thing does not seem logical to me:  Why won’t Mike Leach apologize to the school, and the program?  Why won’t Leach identify that all injured student-athletes are the responsibility of the trainer?  Comply with the request of his boss, the President of the University?

It has been reported Coach Leach was asked to write a memo that outlined injured players will be handled by the trainer, and he refused.  I firmly believe that two wrongs don’t make a right.  We all must answer to someone, including the Athletic Director and the Chancellor of Texas Tech.  If Coach Leach has become so insensitive to the components of the machine around him, it is time for him to move on.  His ego, or his inability to identify his responsibilities may change, on his way to his next job.

“If you keep trying to get even, you’ll never get ahead.”  Coach Lou Holtz

Tags: bowl game, football | Category John's Blog Posts, Sports