Texas Tech's Mike Leach Suspended

(Photo courtesy of Texas Tech Sports Information Department)

By Robert H. Kelly
Copyright 2009 TexSport Publications

Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach has been suspended indefinitely as the result of complaints from a player’s parent.

Most news services are reporting that the player and his parents are unnamed, but anonymous scores are reporting the player was Adam James and his parents are ESPN football analyst Craig James and his wife.

The younger James is a redshirt sophomore wide receiver while his father Craig was former running back for SMU and played in the NFL for the New England Patriots from 1984 to 1988.

The complaint was brought because they (his parents) were concerned about the way Leach treated their son after he was diagnosed with a concussion and an elevated heart rate.

The elder Craig and his wife issued the following statement through ESPN:

“Mr. and Mrs. James took the step with great regret and after consideration and prayer to convey to the Texas Tech Administration that their son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health. The James family believes this is a matter important to protect all the fine young men involved in Tech football and the University’s reputation for developing and educating young men and women.”

ESPN has reported that sources have told Joe Schad, its college football reporter, that the parents accused Leach of isolating James in an equipment room and later an electrical closet after he suffered a mild concussion and could not practice.
Calls and a text message to Leach, asking for a comment, were not immediately returned.
There has been strife within the Red Raiders football program this season, which resulted to some tongue-lashing of his players by Leach.

He chastised players after a loss to Texas A&M in October for listening to "their fat little girlfriends," and thinking the Aggies were a pushover.

And after the Red Raiders' loss to the Houston Cougars, Leach suspended indefinitely starting offensive lineman Brandon Carter for violating team rules.

That same week Leach banned his players from having Twitter pages after linebacker Marlon Williams posted a question on his account why he was still in a meeting room when "the head coach can't even be on time."

Texas Tech has appointed defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill as the interim head coach to lead the Red Raiders in the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State.