Sad Situation at Washington State

Washington State coach Mike Leach is no stranger to controversy. And the pass-happy, offensive-minded head man is in trouble again.

Former Washington State wide receiver Marquess Wilson has accused the first-year coach and his staff of abuse. The Pac-12 Conference has instigated a review of the matter.

Leach was fired from his previous job at Texas Tech based on another alleged abuse charge. Former NFL and college running back Craig James’ son claimed Leach had James’ son locked up in an equipment room.

Washington State paid Leach big money to come to Pullman. He’s making about $2 million per year. So far things are not looking good with the investment. Leach has the Cougars off to a terrible 2-8 record and now the abuse charge.

Leach could be innocent of the charge. Maybe Wilson didn’t like the way Leach changed the football program from the previous administration and he just wanted to cause trouble. Maybe Wilson is correct with his charge and Leach should require disciplinary action.

But here’s the case: Leach has a spotty record in player relations and that’s why Washington State has reached this point. If Leach is guilty, his disciplinary action could be a firing.

Will Leach lose his job?

Congratulations Mike Leach

It was only a matter of time before Mike Leach would return to the college coaching ranks. And I say congratulations.

Leach was named head football coach at Washington State this week. He had been away from the coach sidelines for a couple years after getting fired at Texas Tech. He led the Red Raiders to a bowl game every season he was there (I believe 10), but fell out of favor with the administration over an incident with the son of ESPN commentator Craig James. Leach was accused of ordering James’ son locked up in equipment shed.

But I ‘m glad Leach can leave that behind now and concentrate on coaching football. Hopefully, the guy will put Washington State on the football map.

Leach is a sportswriter’s dream. He is a quote machine. He’s smart. He’s entertaining. He coaches entertaining offensive football. It’s tough to not enjoy covering Leach’s teams.

The coach will fit in nicely with the pass-happy Pac-12 teams. He loves to spread the field and put up wild offense numbers Leach loves those 55-47 games. Isn’t the objective of football scoring the most points?

I believe Leach will win at Washington State. He might even throw in a quote of two from Winston Churchill for good measure.

Let Mike Leach Coach Again

Mike Leach is a colorful, straightforward guy and college football needs colorful and straightforward characters. But Leach cannot land a job.

Texas Tech fired Leach in 2009 after he was accused of ordering Adam James (son of ESPN commentator Craig James) in an equipment closet. There were lawsuits and Leach is still trying to receive back pay from Texas Tech.

There are two or three sides to every story, but Leach’s view seems believable. He said that he didn’t order Adam James in the closet. We will probably never learn the full story, but obviously Leach and James was not a good match. Then you add a high-profile TV commentator (Craig James) to the equation and there was controversy and widespread media coverage and speculation.

I believe Leach deserves another chance. And he wants one too.

He forced people to talk about Texas Tech football. With his deep and colorful comments, high-powered offense and winning ways (84-43 over 10 seasons), Leach made the Red Raiders an item. He also apparently ran a clean program and graduated players.

Apparently, Maryland reached out to Leach about its opening after the 2010 season before hiring UConn’s Randy Edsall. Let’s hope there are more reach outs in Leach’s future.

Coaching Involves More Than Winning

Maryland announced the firing of football coach Ralph Friedgen Monday.

Coaches get fired often, especially this time of year. But most coaches depart due to losing records. Friedgen was fired with a 74-50 record in 10 years with the Terps.

Coaching can be a tough business and this firing was a business decision.

Friedgen actually won the ACC Coach of the Year award after leading Maryland to a surprising 8-4 record in 2010. He leaves with a $2 million severance package.

Maryland is looking for more exposure, more fan interest, more ticket sales and more glitz.

Apparently, Maryland figured Friedgen was yesterday’s news. Frieden played as a reliable old car and the Terps want a sports car.

Rumor has it that Maryland wants former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach. That would be a glitz hire.

But there is still something crappy about Friedegen’s firing. The guy wins games, shows loyalty to his alma mater and gets told “its business.”

Life is sometimes really cold. Friedgen received that lesson this week.

Minnesota Golden Gophers Need a Splash Hire

The Tim Brewster watch is finally over at Minnesota.

Not many coaches get fired in mid-season, but a change was necessary. The bleeding wouldn’t stop. So instead of having a lame duck coach for the rest of the year, Brewster is gone.

Brewster received a nice going away package—reportedly $600,000. Not bad for a coach who won one game this season and couldn’t beat teams like North Dakota State and South Dakota.

Brewster will be fine. He will resurface as an assistant coach somewhere. That is the usual former head coach route.

But the Golden Gophers are in trouble. This season is pretty much a wash. The coaches and athletic director will say all the right public relations things, but it will be tough to salvage this season.

Right now, Minnesota clings to basically two positive things: a beautiful, fairly new stadium and money from the Big Ten Network.

Minnesota need a wow hire as its next football coach. No, Glen Mason or Brewsters this time around. The Gophers need to spend money on a name coach or a so-called can’t miss rising young star.

Two guys who jump out are Mike Leach and Skip Holtz. Leach had his well-documented problems at Texas Tech but would bring some excitement to the Gophers with a high-scoring offense. Holtz keeps winning at East Carolina and might want to jump to Minnesota if asked. His famous dad, Lou had a short stint with the Gophers.

The bottom line is things cannot become much worse with the Minnesota football program. The selling hope program gets old.

The Gophers simply need results. And soon.