Top 10 OTL Segments You'll never See

As I followed ESPN's "coverage" of the Leach firing, I decided to create a list of Outside the Line Segments You'll never see...

1. Craig James' parenting methods: revolutionary or revolting
2. What ESPN's former jock personalities say about Erin Andrews when the mic's are off
3. Trent Dilfer - the ultimate game manager
4. John Clayton biopic: How espn transformed me from stuffed inside a locker to an ESPNInsider
5. The Lou Holtz Effect: how do his teams keep getting probation after he leaves
6. Media-ocrity: How we take failed QBs like Jesse Palmer, Tim Hasselback and Sean Salisbury and make them experts on the position when their playing time is over
7. Holly Rowe: the hottest girl in Salt Lake City
8. Matt Millen: how did he land a job in sports again?
9. Todd McShay: ESPN NFL Draft Expert or Mel Kiper Jr's coffee runner?
10. Tim Legler: how playing for one of the worst teams in NBA history allows me to tell you what it takes to be an NBA champion

If you have additions, put them in the comments.

Analysis of the affidavit from trainer

The big news in the Leach drama today is the affidavit of Steve Pincock the HFAT (Head Football Athletic Trainer) at Texas Tech. Could you be the Football Trainer and not be the Football Athletic Trainer? Perhaps there's a Football Academic Trainer? I digress.

The morons at ESPN keep saying that Leach was punishing Adam James for having a concussion. As I said previously, Leach appears to be punishing Adam James for being a punk, as we'll see below.

Anyway, I wanted to share a couple of excerpts from this and provide my opinions, full copy of the affidavit is here:

"3.In the morning on Dec 17, 2009, James reported to the training room...he was examined by Dr Michael Phy, who diagnosed him with a minor concussion...James should not practice and should not perform exercise that would increase pressure in his head."

I have no comment on this part, I'm just providing to add context. The emphasis added below is mine.

"4. In the afternoon of Dec 17, 2009, we had practice...Injured players are placed in an area on on the field referred to as "muscle beach" to participate in activities that are consistent with their respective injuries. James arrived for practice wearing street clothes, his cap on backwards and sunglasses and began walking around the field in a very nonchalant way. He was not wearing the standard jersey and cleats or workout gear expected of all players during practice, including injured players.

So, Leach was unhappy with a player who was loafing, and did not show up in the appropriate gear to practice, even for injured players. I ask you, the reader, what would you do in that instance? Is it appropriate for a coach to discipline a player for a nonchalant attitude?

"5. ...Leach was upset and concerned about James appearance and attitude. Leach said he did not want him loafing while the players were working...Leach told me to place James in a dark place "in a place so dark that the only way he knows he has a dick is to reach down and touch it".

I don't care you you are, right there, that's funny. This is not bridge club, it's football. I do believe that college football coaches have been known to swear on occasion, and it seems like Mr. Leach is no different. If you don't want your players sworn at, send them to Vanderbilt.

"6. ...Leach ordered me to place James in the dark, enclosed area where he could not sit or lay down...I told James that he was to stand in the dark for the entire practice....When I went to check on James after approximately 30 minutes...found him on the floor."

So, within 30 minutes, James had a) shown up for practice not prepared; b) walked around nonchalantly; c) disobeyed the coach's and trainer's instructions to remain standing.

"11. I am not aware of any other football player...being placed in a darkened shed or room similar to James...I feel that Leach's treatment of James was inappropriate, and I did not agree with it."

Look, I've had the same boss of the better part of the last 14 years. I've followed him from one job to another. There are times that I do not agree with decisions he's made that I must follow/administer. Every time that happens, I go through the same type of questions: a) does this violate my ethics?; b) am I required to do something as a result that will violate my ethics? c) do I understand the position and just disagree with it? d) do I need to gain further understanding of the decision before I proceed?

Note that Pincock did not agree with it, but did not take a stand and refuse to comply. Nowhere in Pincock's affidavit does he indicate that this treatment impaired James rehabilitation, nor does he indicate James is increase the likelihood of a recurrence of injury.

The treatment Mike Leach is trying to address here is best addressed by a quote from an email by Lincoln Riley, who is James' position coach, "Adam is unusually lazy and entitled...I have always been worried about Adam's effect on my other players because of his weak and conceited attitude."

And another email from Riley, "Two practices before...Coach Leach and I were forced to discipline him for poor effort...this has been a common theme...during his entire career...it was very clear Adam did not agree with the punishment."

An email from Dana Holgorsen, Adam James first position coach at Tech, "I always remained critical of Adams ability to play at this level due to being lazy not only in the classroom but also in the offseason and during practice."

Finally, Leach's firing was a result of insubordination, which I believe comes from refusal to sign a document Texas Tech instructed him to sign. Leach's firing, resulted from a long-standing contentious relationship between Leach and TT AD Gerald Myers, as well as certain people higher up in the TT administration. It's a great example of how regardless of your ability to execute (in Leach's instance, measured by wins and player graduation rates) may not override your penchant to complain about money and have a bad relationship with your boss.

Conversely, if I may comment on Myers and Hance, part of being a leader is learning to manage different personalities and utilize their strengths. If they attempted to appreciate his difference and manage through them, it was clear they were done with that long before this most recent episode.

Stolen Thoughts 12-31-09

A couple of thoughts for the New Years Weekend:

Urban Meyer's heart problems may stem from riding in the car with his players. Current team members have 250+ traffic citations.

The Wiz has a great pictorial essay of the challenges of Notre Dame recruiting.

Allegedly Adam Leach made a video in a closet he was confined to in practice. Why did he show up for practice with his cellphone? Is there a texting drill that I'm not aware of?

The Pirate is Dead

Long live the Great Pirate. Leach is gone. I have three different areas to discuss on this.

1) public airing of grievances
2) espn coverage
3) the real story, in my opinion

Public airing of grievances: We're now in an age where differences are aired without discretion, without filter. Get your story out to the internet, where everyone can speculate. i love the fact that we can all have a voice, it's what freedom of speech is about. Conversely, not everything should be dealt with in public. People, use some discretion. That's you, Craig James. the new world order of dealing with conflict indirectly and publicly is concerning on many levels.

ESPN Coverage: The WWL coverage of this was abysmal. They were quick to have the scoop on Leach's suspension. Word quickly got out that it was a result of the treatment of Adam James, son of ESPN personality Craig James. Gee, I wonder how they figured that out so quickly? The next day, Craig is talking on camera and issuing a statement to the Associated Press. What a crock. Deal with it in private, people. Your kid appears to have been playing the part of a spoiled punk, and nailing the role. ESPN became the a part of the story, and their coverage did not address the emails supporting Coach Leach until after Leach was fired.

Real story, as far as i know. Here's what we know: a) the TT folks were clearly not happy with the negotiations last year with Coach Leach; b) Leach seemed to unofficially seek jobs every year; c) Adam James wouldn't be playing d-1 football if it weren't for Leach; d) Leach was clearly using humiliation and embarrassment as a tactic to get different behavior from James from what he's displayed previously; e) Leach won more games than anyone at Texas Tech ever and had the best winning percentage of anyone since the Red Raiders departed the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association; f) lawyers are going to make some money on this one.

I don't think Leach was trying to pressure James into getting back on the field. My perception from afar is that he was embarrassing James while protecting him from sunlight. He was not in danger. Had James demonstrated good practice habits over the years a la Danny Amendola, Wes Welker, Eric Morris, do you think this would have been handled in this way? Me either.

The losers in this equation: Texas Tech, Mike Leach and the Big 12. The league just got a little less interesting.

Merry Christmas Everyone

To both of my readers, Merry Christmas. If you're interested in doing a little good with your wallet and on Christmas, here are some options:

Jack's Closet: Jack is a 12 year old boy with leukemia and is raising money for snuggies to give kids in cancer treatment. http://www.jacksclosetfoundation.blogspot.com/

Sooner assistant coach Josh Heupel has a foundation to impact children in need. http://www.the14foundation.com/charity_foundation.php

Compassion International is one of my favorite charities. You can sponsor a child for a few bucks a month and make an impact all over the world.http://www.compassion.com/

I pray you all have a wonderful Christmas.

LandThieves Bowl Mania

Join the LandThieves College Bowl Mania contest on espn.com. Winner gets the .... satisfaction of besting 2-4 other people you don't know in a lame contest.

Observations from the Coaching Carousel

Brian Kelly leaving the Bearcats for the Fighting Irish leaves Cincy coachless for now. By Sep 25, 2010, when the Sooners play the Bearcats in Cincinnati, the two-time defending Big East Champions will have a new coach. It may be Kevin Sumlin, or someone else, but there's a chance that the disruption is going to benefit the Sooners' chances in beating a BCS non-conference team on the road.

Mark Stoops, younger brother of the Head Visor, is leaving the employ of his brother Mike at the University of Arizona to become DC or Florida State under new HC Jimbo Fisher. This has two consequences; a) it puts Stoops as DC against his brother on Sep 11, 2010 when the Noles travel to Norman; b) it gets one Stoops brother out of the Texas recruiting pipeline. There's no need to raid Texas when there is so much bounty in-state.