Huge Sandstorm in Lubbock - Who's To Blame?

Mike Leach was fired at Texas Tech yesterday. First of all, let me state that I don't have a dog in this hunt. However, as a former alumni director at a university that went through its share of media scrutiny and public relations blunders some 20 years ago, it's nice to see the Texas Panhandle winds stirring up the dust 105 miles to the south of my Alma Mater for a change.

Nevertheless, here's what I know. There is Coach Leach's side of the story, there is the player's/Tech's side of the story and somewhere in the middle lies the truth. (I confirmed this fact with our local rocket scientist just to be certain.)

Mike Leach. I have met the coach. He is an interesting character to say the least. A good friend that I grew up with was actually on a coaching staff with him many years ago. Here's my two cents worth on the coach. Genius with X's and O's. Increased the number of butts in the seats in Jones Stadium during his tenure. Good-hearted individual. (I know this firsthand as he and Coach Knight... yes Bobby Knight, took time out of their busy schedules to autograph over 100 Texas Tech stadium seats that were donated to our organization for a fundraiser several years ago.) Graduation rates cannot be disputed. Sub-par in the area of media relations. Doubt if he and the Tech administrators exchanged many Christmas cards over the years.

Opinion. You need to be able to incorporate all of these characteristics if you are going to have a chance in today's court of public opinion. In other words, you have to be willing to "play the game" when necessary. We all want to be the rebel on occasion. Still, if you want to survive inside the fishbowl, you've got to be able to swallow a little humble pie from time to time. Not this coach's style.

Tech's Dilemma. A no-win situation. Ignore the issue and they are facing a potentially huge liability. Settle the issue in-house; which they have indicated was attempted with "the letter", to no avail. Lastly, fire the coach and move on, which they obviously chose to do.

Opinion. A roll of the dice? Absolutely. The way I see it, the dice were going to come up "snake eyes" no matter which path they chose.

So who's to blame? Everyone involved. There's so much more to this story than I will ever know, or care to know. The fact of the matter is this is an accountability issue to the core. From top to bottom, the accountability system failed in this situation. Let me try to briefly explain my theory.

Tech hired this coach. During his tenure, there have been new contracts awarded. In other words, Tech hired Leach on several occasions over the past 10 years. Thus, an accountability system was established from employer to employee, and vice-versa. Ultimately, winning kept the coach employed. Make no mistake about it! There has really never been a mutual admiration society between the two entities. If you think for one minute that Leach would have been offered new contracts with losing seasons, I've got some magic potion you'll be interested in as well.

The chancellor referred to Leach as "unusual" on ESPN radio yesterday. Bottom line, the Tech administration was fed up with his "unusualness". Period. So they canned him.

I'm sure this matter will cost the university some money, in more ways than one. In fact, I'm sure that it already has. It will cost them some points in the court of public opinion. With some folks, I know it already has. But for how long? Until another coach wins.

The longer it takes for another coach to win at Tech, the more Coach Leach comes out smelling like a rose. I hope he can find another job very soon. I like to watch his teams play. My Alma Mater runs the same offense. It sells tickets and makes the game fun to watch. He is no doubt an innovator. I wish him well. He would never ask for my advice, but just the same... Coach, you can't lock a player in a closet and win. You just can't! You also have to "play the game" on occasion. Right, wrong or indifferent... you just do!

For the Tech administration, their students, alumni and fans, I hope this too shall pass very soon. I admit I've never been a big Tech fan. I just prefer the small school setting. But I am smart enough to know that a winning Tech football program benefits us all in the Texas Panhandle and the South Plains. While the Tech administration would certainly never seek my advice, I will share one thought stream just for grins.

There is no such thing as conditional love. You either love someone or you don't. When you hire an employee, in this case a coach, you hire everything about them. We all come with baggage and you have to take the good with the bad.

So next time around, make sure you are willing to love your coach unconditionally! Hold one another accountable from the start and do not continue to "renew" the relationship if it becomes anything less than unconditional. You'll save a great deal of heartache for everyone involved if you do so.