Fanhouse NCAA Football Blog - Texas-Tech

Longhorns Steer Big 12 to Big Signing Day

Terrance Harris — 2010-02-03T20:57:00 00:00

Filed under: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech, Big 12, National Signing Day 2010

There is no debating the Texas Longhorns have been consistently good on a football field during Mack Brown's 13 seasons on the job.

He's been rewarded with highly ranked recruiting classes, and this year's take is no different. The Longhorns, with their usual grab of Parade All-Americans and four- and five-star recruits, pulled in another stellar class during Wednesday's National Signing Day.

The 25-member class -- which is highlighted by star defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat, the player rated No.1 overall in the country by some recruiting services, and No.1 outside linebacker prospect Jordan Hicks, of West Chester, Ohio -- is being touted as the second-best collection of incoming players in the nation. Florida, the 2008 BCS national champion, is No.1 by a very slim margin.

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Big 12 Review: SEC Still a Better League

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-29T15:44:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Baylor, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Texas, Texas Tech, Big 12, SEC

This was supposed to be the season the Big 12 made its run at the SEC for college football supremacy.

Well, there is always next season.

Aside from a season-opening win by Oklahoma State over Georgia, the Big 12 spent the rest of last season still looking up at the best conference in college football. But if there is a silver lining, it's the Big 12 didn't lose any ground as the second-best conference in the country after unsuccessfully squaring off against the SEC for the second year in a row.

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Craig James Threatened to Sue Texas Tech if Leach Wasn't Investigated

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-28T15:32:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Texas Tech, Campus

Craig James, the father of Texas Tech receiver Adam James, threatened the possibility of a lawsuit if the university did not investigate former head football Mike Leach for the mistreatment of his son last month, according to a document obtained by FanHouse on Thursday through an open records request.

Leach was fired Dec. 30 as allegations swirled that he had mistreated Adam James, who was suffering from a concussion sustained in a December practice. Leach ordered James to be secluded in dark places on two occasions during practice.

Craig James, the former SMU running back and current ESPN college football analyst, apparently contacted the school and demanded action after hearing his son's side of the story. The school said it took James' threat to sue seriously and almost immediately began an investigation.

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East Carolina Hires Ruffin McNeill

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-22T13:38:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: East Carolina, Texas Tech, Big 12, Conference USA, Coaching

Less than two weeks after coming up short on the Texas Tech job, longtime assistant coach Ruffin McNeill has been hired to lead his alma mater -- East Carolina -- the school confirmed Friday.

McNeill, 51, was introduced Friday morning as the Pirates' new head football coach.

"There is no doubt about his ability to lead ECU Football to new heights and his determination to guarantee that happens under his watch," ECU athletic director Terry Holland said in released statement. "He intends to bring new and exciting offensive schemes to Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, combined with an aggressive defense that will be designed to get the ball back in the offense's hands."

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Leach's Lawsuit Against Texas Tech Will Go Forward

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-20T18:58:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching

Texas Tech and ousted football coach Mike Leach had better dig in because it appears the two sides are headed for a fight.

A judge ruled Wednesday that Leach's wrongful firing lawsuit against the university can go forward. The only problem for Leach and his attorneys is it may not be as speedy as they would like.

Leach was fired with cause Dec. 30, as his team prepared to play in the Alamo Bowl, amid allegations he mistreated receiver Adam James, who was suffering from a concussion. Leach was in the first year of a five-year contract extension that was to pay him $12.7 million. Texas Tech contends it does not have to pay any of Leach's remaining contract.

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Tuberville Axes Most of Leach's Coaching Staff at Texas Tech

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-14T15:32:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Alabama, Texas Tech, Troy, Big 12, Coaching

New Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville (right) is quickly putting together his new staff and only a few will be holdovers from the Mike Leach regime.

Coaches who not be asked back include interim head coach/defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, inside wide receivers coach Lincoln Riley, cornerbacks coach Brian Mitchell, special teams coordinator Eric Russell, running backs coach Clay McGuire and recruiting coordinator Dave Emerick.

The only on-field coaches who will carry over from the Leach era are offensive line coach Matt Moore, wide receivers coach Dennis Simmons and defensive ends coach Chris Sadler, along with Tommy McVay, who has been director football operations since the Spike Dykes era.

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Texas Tech Hires Offensive Coordinator, 29-Year-Old Neal Brown

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-12T16:45:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Sun Belt, Texas Tech, Troy, Big 12, Coaching

New Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville promised to keep the aerial attack that Mike Leach brought or something very close.

He has apparently settled on the latter.

It appears Tuberville has gone outside of the current staff to bring in Troy offensive coordinator Neal Brown to fill that same role with the Red Raiders, according to sources on both sides. Tuberville met with Brown on Monday at the Football Coaches Association Convention. An agreement was reached Tuesday that will bring the 29-year-old Brown, the youngest Football Bowl Subdivision offensive coordinator, from the Sun Belt Conference to the much more challenging Big 12.

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Texas Tech Set to Introduce Tommy Tuberville as New Coach

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-09T16:21:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Auburn, Mississippi, Texas Tech, Big 12, SEC, Coaching

Texas Tech has a reached a deal with former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville to take over the Red Raiders football program, and he will be introduced as the new head coach Sunday, a source familiar with the situation told FanHouse on Saturday and the school's Web site confirmed later in the day.

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Report: Texas Tech to Hire Tommy Tuberville

Michael David Smith — 2010-01-09T15:07:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Texas Tech

Texas Tech is reportedly set to hire former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville as its next head football coach, replacing the recently fired Mike Leach.

ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel reports that a news conference is set for Sunday at 3 PM ET to make the hiring official.

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Art Briles Decides to Stay at Baylor

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-07T13:43:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Baylor, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching

Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers has confirmed Baylor coach Art Briles will not be interviewing for the Red Raiders' vacant top job.

It turns out Briles' $4 million buyout clause in his current contract was too much to even consider having a serious conversation. Myers sought and received permission from Baylor to talk with Briles on Tuesday.

According to sources, the two never talked. Through a third party, Myers found out the buyout number and that Briles was interested in remaining at Baylor.

That leaves Myers and and Texas Tech still searching for a coach to replace the ousted Mike Leach.

So far, interim coach/defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill and former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville have interviewed and both are believed to remain in the mix. Another source said a visit is being arranged with former Clemson and Tulane coach Tommy Bowden within the next 48 hours.

Myers is giving indication he will continue his search and that his original goal of having a new coach in place by the end of the week may be pushed back.

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Texas Tech Seeks Permission to Interview Baylor's Art Briles

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-06T12:25:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Baylor, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching

Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers has contacted Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw to seek permission to talk with second-year coach Art Briles, two sources familiar with the situation confirmed to FanHouse Wednesday.

This comes does days after Briles reaffirmed his commitment to Baylor, and indicates Texas Tech may try and be bold in replacing Mike Leach, the winningest coach in Red Raider history.

What's still not certain is whether or not Briles will pursue the vacant Texas Tech job. When reached by FanHouse, McCaw declined to discuss whether or not Texas Tech has sought permission to speak to the Baylor coach or if Briles is a candidate for the Red Raiders' opening.

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Texas Tech Reportedly Adds Tuberville, Bowden to Wish List

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-05T16:09:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Auburn, Clemson, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching

The line to replace ousted Mike Leach at Texas Tech seems to be getting awfully long.

In addition to interim head coach and defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill, Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers has now added former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville and former Clemson coach Tommy Bowden to his radar, according to a story appearing in Tuesday's Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Both highly successful coaches are set to interview, with Tubervillle slated to talk about the job with school officials Wednesday.

When reached by FanHouse Tuesday morning, Tuberville's agent Jimmy Sexton declined to discuss his clients interest in the job. Tuberville has been out of coaching for a year since being ousted by Auburn last year following his first losing season in 10 years.

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Texas Tech Players Ready To Move On, Suggest Leach Do Likewise

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-03T13:00:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Texas Tech, Coaching

Ousted Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is preparing for a fight to get his old job back.

But the message he should have received from the Red Raiders is clear following Saturday night's 41-31 win over Michigan State in the Valero Alamo Bowl: move on because the team and school have. Leach, the winningest coach in Texas Tech football history, was dismissed last Wednesday because of his alleged mistreatment of receiver Adam James.

The crowd in the Alamodome on Saturday night was definitely pro-Leach, even to the point that the boos directed at James, who was in street clothes on the sidelines, drowned out the band.

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Video Shows Mike Leach Cursing at Adam James

Michael David Smith — 2010-01-03T07:59:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Texas Tech, Video

A video uploaded to YouTube on Friday shows former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach screaming and swearing at wide receiver Adam James, the player he was fired for allegedly mistreating.

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No Leach, No Problem as McNeill Leads Texas Tech to Victory

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-03T02:15:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Michigan State, Texas Tech, Big 10, Big 12, Coaching, Bowl Games

Texas Tech interim coach Ruffin McNeill called it the most difficult week of his life as he watched his boss be suspended and later fired.

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Texas Tech Trainer, Physician Disagreed With James' Treatment

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-02T16:56:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching, Bowl Games

Texas Tech athletic trainer Steve Pincock did not agree with Mike Leach's treatment of receiver Adam James after all.

In an affidavit obtained by the Associated Press Saturday, Pincock says he told James he was "sorry" for having to place him in an equipment room near the field while he recovered from symptoms of a mild concussion during last month's preparation for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

Pincock talked with Texas Tech officials Dec. 21 and told them he did not agree with that "form of treatment for anyone" and that Leach "wanted James to be uncomfortable."

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Mike Leach Details Craig James' 'Meddling' on ESPN

Michael David Smith — 2010-01-02T10:50:00 00:00

by Michael David Smith

Filed under: Texas Tech, Media Watch

ESPN is in an awkward situation when covering Texas Tech's firing of Mike Leach: The firing was precipitated by an ESPN employee, Craig James, complaining to the school that his son, Texas Tech wide receiver Adam James, had been mistreated by Leach. And so there's an inherent conflict in any coverage of the story.

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Briles Commits to Baylor Amid Texas Tech Speculation

Terrance Harris — 2010-01-01T21:45:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Baylor, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching, Rumors

The timing seemed interesting Friday as second-year Baylor football coach Art Briles came out and affirmed his desire to continue the rebuilding the project he has started in Waco.

There was never any mention of a school or why on Jan. 1 Briles suddenly wanted to make known his commitment to the Baylor Bears. But we know the intent is to ward off the speculation that Briles will be the prime candidate to take over Texas Tech after Mike Leach was suddenly fired Wednesday on the heels of an 8-4 Alamo Bowl season.

Briles makes sense for so many reasons. He has West Texas ties as a former high school coach in the area and he worked as Leach's running backs coach for a few seasons and runs a similar style offense. He also turned around the Houston program running a similar style offense he learned under Leach.

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Goodbye to Mike Leach and the Real Football Coaches

Terence Moore — 2009-12-30T22:30:00 00:00

by Terence Moore

Filed under: Kansas, South Florida, Texas Tech, Big 12

Let's see. Texas Tech officials fired Mike Leach on Wednesday for allegedly banishing one of his players with a concussion to what was described as "small, dark" spaces during a practice. Not only that, this otherwise popular football coach was due an $800,000 bonus by the university on New Year's Eve. He is disputing the charges, by the way, along with others who strongly defend whatever he did.

Yeah, well. This is about to get uglier, especially since Leach's lawyer already was talking more about lawsuits than shoulder pads long before the Red Raiders prepared to play Saturday in the Alamo Bowl.

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Texas Tech Prepares for Life After Leach

Terrance Harris — 2009-12-30T19:51:00 00:00

by Terrance Harris

Filed under: Michigan State, Texas Tech, Big 12, Coaching

While Mike Leach, the ousted Texas Tech coach, and his attorney prepare for a legal battle, school administrators went on the offensive late Wednesday afternoon in justifying firing the program's winningest coach.

School officials said Leach left them with little choice but to terminate the coach with cause after the mistreatment of sophomore receiver Adam James, followed by defiance as the school tried to reach a resolution. Leach, who was in his 10th season at Texas Tech, was placed on indefinite suspension Monday because of alleged mistreatment of James, who is the son of former SMU star running back and current ESPN college football analyst Craig James.

Leach, meanwhile, expressed a mix of anger and disappointment in a statement e-mailed to media.

I want everyone to know what a privilege and pleasure it has been to teach and coach more than 400 student-athletes at Texas Tech University over the past 10 years. ....

Over the past several months, there have been individuals in the Texas Tech administration, Board of Regents and booster groups who have dealt in lies, and continue to do so. These lies have led to my firing this morning. I steadfastly refuse to deal in any lies, and am disappointed that I have not been afforded the opportunity for the truth to be known.

Texas Tech's decision to deal in lies and fabricate a story which led to my firing, includes, but is not limited by, the animosity remaining from last year's contract negotiations. I will not tolerate such retaliatory action; additionally, we will pursue all available legal remedies.

These actions taken by Texas Tech have severely damaged my reputation and public image. In addition, Texas Tech has caused harm to not only my family, but to the entire Red Raider nation and the sport of college football.

Leach was seeking a temporary injunction in a Lubbock, Texas, court Wednesday morning to lift the suspension so that he could coach the Red Raiders against Michigan State in Saturday's Valero Alamo Bowl, when his attorney Ted Liggett was informed of the termination. Liggett decided not to go forward with the motion.

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