For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 136 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He talks about the biggest challenge ahead to turn around the program, why this is a perfect fit for him, loyalty in college athletics, his philosophy on non-conference scheduling and thoughts on Matt Barkley deciding to return to USC. Plus, he comments on his plans moving forward with lawsuits towards ESPN and Texas Tech and offers a thought on Craig James running for Senate.

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Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

In some cases, college football coaches have a difficult time with the understanding. Arizona State’s new head football coach, Todd Graham, left Pittsburgh after one season, but before that left Tulsa after just one year. Listen, the argument isn’t leaving one university for another. Players often leave college early for the pros so coaches should have the same opportunity to leave if a better situation arises. It is a different story in how you leave. Informing your players that you have accepted a different coaching job at a different school through either a text message or a phone call is not acceptable. Graham isn’t the first coach to leave this way and won’t be the last.

One coach who understands the meaning of the word is new Washington State coach Mike Leach. Leach spent 10 seasons coaching at Texas Tech recently went on the Victor and Matt Show on 110SportsPodcast.com and talked about loyalty, “I’m just focused on Washington State. Like Texas Tech, I was never in a hurry to leave there. We were getting better and better each year. We won 29 games the last three seasons.”

In Lubbock, the Red Raiders never had a losing season with Leach calling the shots. Sure better opportunities might have come along, but the continued success developed because Leach didn’t jump ship.

“I think building (a program) is exciting, but to continue to improve is huge,” Leach added.

The days when coaches like Bobby Bowden and Joe Paterno would stay with one school for 30+ years are behind us. Nowadays, if a coach stays at a school for 10 years it’s looked upon with surprising eyes. When a coach does stay with one school and shows the commitment necessary to be successful, it’s refreshing. With Leach, the Cougars will have that marriage. He won’t be looking for the next job by using this as a spring board. The future looks bright in Pullman.

– For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 136 on 110SportsPodcast.com.

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Email Victor: victor(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 125 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He discusses all aspects of the situation with Arizona football: thoughts on Mike Stoops‘ firing, his interest in the opening and if anyone has contacted him. Leach also talks about other possible openings in college football, the ideal school he would like to be involved with, how public perception has changed since the release of his book (Swing Your Sword) and why he likes going for it on fourth down. Plus, find out if he would drop his lawsuit against ESPN and Texas Tech if a school requested it before hiring him.

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Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

While this move might be considered a little unorthodox, Leach’s resume speaks for itself. Before he took over the reigns of the Red Raiders program the football team was on academic probation. Under his guidance he turned the program around, both on and off the field. At his time in Lubbock, he guided his teams to an 84-43 record in 10 seasons, including an 11-2 record in 2008 when they won the Big 12 South Division. All ten of his teams competed in bowl games. It’s important to note that his team in 2009 made a bowl game, but Leach was fired after the regular season and did not coach that game. Academically, he had one of the highest graduation rates of all public institutions. And, maybe more importantly, in a time when teams are under the microscope of the NCAA, Leach never had any issues with violations. He ran a clean program, which graduated his players and won football games. What more could an athletic director want?

Leach, who to this point has not been contacted about the vacancy, talked with the Victor and Matt Podcast on 110SportsPodcast.com about the Arizona job, “I think Arizona would be a good job. As far as interest, I don’t know what their goals and interests are or what they are looking for specially. It’s a job that I think anyone would be interested. It’s in a great conference and it’s in a tremendous location. Even though it’s not necessarily a great recruiting base, it’s right in between two of the greatest recruiting bases in America, which are Texas and California. There are definitely a lot of positives. It comes down to what are they looking for and what are they interested in. I doubt anything will happen right now because Arizona has to tend to the rest of its season.”

Leach’s lawsuits with his former employer and ESPN should have no bearing on whether he should get the job or not. He would be an ideal candidate for many reasons, starting with he knows how to win at a school without the endless amount of supplies that some schools have like Oregon and Oklahoma state. He’s a proven winner that is available now and the university won’t have to break the bank to get him.

Byrne and the university have not announced any candidates to replace Stoops, but Leach should be on the list. Florida Atlantic has already said publicly that Leach is its top priority. New Mexico also fired its coach during the season and could be another suitor for the “mad scientist.” The longer Leach stays on the market the possibility of better jobs than Arizona open up which may intrigue Leach more. Then Arizona is back to square one without a proven coach. The Wildcats need to pull the trigger on Leach so he can save next year’s recruiting class and do what he loves to do: coach football.

– For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 125 on 110SportsPodcast.com.

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Email Victor: victor(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 125 on 110SportsPodcast.com. Finally, the guys discuss the Arizona football coaching search.

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110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 114 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He discusses his new book, offers the background story to his eventual firing, thoughts on Craig James, why ESPN’s reporting was so misguided and comments on his future coaching ambitions. Plus, he delves into his unorthodox style, Bruce Feldman’s suspension and if the Big 12 can survive long-term.

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Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 114 on 110SportsPodcast.com. He offers the background story to his eventual firing, more thoughts on Craig James, why ESPN’s reporting was so misguided and comments on his future coaching ambitions. Plus, he delves into his unorthodox style, Bruce Feldman’s suspension, college football’s slippery slope and if the Big 12 can survive long-term.

Connect with us on Facebook or Twitter.
Email: matt(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

Currently, Leach is involved in two lawsuits, one against Texas Tech for not paying his salary for his last year of service for the school and the other against ESPN who only told one side of the story. Which side of the story were they telling? The side of Adam James, whose father, Craig, is employed by ESPN as a college football analyst.

It started when Adam told his father that Coach Leach locked him in an electrical closet for three hours because he had a concussion. Without checking with Leach, Craig went straight to the top and demanded Leach be fired. To this point, only James’ side of the story was being told. It wasn’t until later when Adam’s teammates said Adam was a problem who always talked backed to the staff. Then, it was discovered that the training staff told him not to go in, but he choose to go in anyways, because as later stated in his sworn testimony and the video he captured he thought it would be funny.

Leach gave his insight of the situation on the Victor and Matt Podcast on 110SportsPodcast.com saying, “The reason you were misled by ESPN was because 10 days before anything happened Craig James hired a PR firm to smear me nationally. The thing that is so powerful in the book (Swing Your Sword) is it’s in the words of the perpetuators through sworn testimony, memos passed between them and court documents. It’s all in their words. There’s no disputing what they said or what they did. It’s their record. Craig was upset about Adam’s playing time and Adam’s testimony said I never placed him anywhere.”

The funny part is that during his testimony Adam mentioned he never felt threaten and didn’t think Leach should have been fired. When you sit back and absorb all facts there are three people who deserve all the blame and they are Craig and Adam James and Texas Tech for making a decision. Tech either didn’t have all the information or choose to ignore parts of it.

In a day and age when having an elite football team is essential to the success of an entire athletic program Tech made a mistake. Leach took this program to new heights winning at a constant rate, graduating his players and running a clean program which not too many elite programs can claim right now. Leach will land on his feet and take over another program and continue his winning ways. For a guy that seems to do the right things how can you not be in his corner?

– For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 114 on 110SportsPodcast.com.

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Email Victor: victor(at)110SportsPodcast(dot)com

110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.

Former Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mike Leach talks with the 110 Sports Podcast this week (Photo by Bruce Thorson-US PRESSWIRE)

Today on the “110 Sports Podcast with Victor and Matt” they discuss Tiger Woods’ caddy situation and talk with former Texas Tech head football coach Mike Leach about his new book, Swing Your Sword. He offers the background story to his eventual firing, thoughts on Craig James, why ESPN’s reporting was so misguided and comments on his future coaching ambitions. Plus, he delves into his unorthodox style, Bruce Feldman’s suspension, college football’s slippery slope and if the Big 12 can survive long-term.

For the full interview with Mike Leach listen to Episode 114 on 110SportsPodcast.com. The guys also announce a contest winner and offer the perfect scenario for Leach.

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110SportsPodcast.com features a weekly sports podcast and daily blogging. Episodes include interviews, entertainment, comedy, insight and analysis.