Mike Leach describes conversations with Tennessee in 2017: 'It was like something out of Shakespeare'

[Gatorsec]

What is your point? He is supposed the be the next coming of Nick Saban or Robert Neyland. Don't see any major program even looking his way. If he was that good, why did Texas not try to lure him back. Oklahoma was desperate for a new head coach, but I can't find any evidence Mike Leach was even interviewed. (Thanks BOT for that tidbit) They knew how weak his overall coaching was so they took a powder.

Your acting like these ADs are geniuses, look at these smart ADs
USC-absolute power house, hired Kiffen, Helton etc
Auburn, gave Gus a crazy contract
FSU- Taggart? Hahah
UF- hired boom and a shark freaker
UT- do I have to list the coaches?

The point is a lot of ADs are dumbasses and get away with it. I think leach is just honest and tells them stuff they don't want to hear, he doesn't kiss ass and that's a turn off

 

[BreatheUT]

He took a 2 star QB and got him into the NFL. He can develop talent, especially on offense and has done so at a school with a fraction of the resources we have. At this point, I'd take a coach that knows how to at least win 7 or 8 games a year over the worst start to the season in 30 years.

Worse than 30 years ago. Those teams were better and one was coached by Spurrier and the other was Top 15 I believe.

 

[VolArmy74]

You can see whose opinions are even remotely sane regarding football by their dismissal of Leach. He's taking programs on par with Vandy to 11 win seasons. But the Pruitt worshippers somehow think he's better. Hell, Leach's coaching tree is as good or better than Saban's too.

 

[dcm3w]

Yeah I don’t understand the criticism of Leach. I’m on record as saying I don’t know if he’d fit in a fishbowl like Knoxville, but he’s proven that he’s an excellent coach.

The whole argument of "he won't fit in to the culture/he's odd and no one will like him" is dumb. I don't care if he stood up there and complained that Tennessee is a garbage school...as long as he wins.

 

[Holly Springs 3]

The fact that Currie didn't speak to Leach until after his ridiculous attempt at hiring Schiano was blocked by the Vol faithful, and after going after Dave Doeren also shows how bad he was.

I still cannot believe we almost had Schiano as a head coach. It's embarrassing

Is the guy even coaching anywhere now? Seems like Currie had plans to get an ill equipped coach PAID.

Yeah and Pruitt hasn’t been an embarrassment. Pretty sure Schiano couldn’t do any worse than Pruitt/Fulmer have to this point.

 

[VolArmy74]

The whole argument of "he won't fit in to the culture/he's odd and no one will like him" is dumb. I don't care if he stood up there and complained that Tennessee is a garbage school...as long as he wins.

The irony of this is that everyone would freaking love him here. He's a tobacco chewing redneck who hosts his coaches show in a dive bar. Plus that 58ppg they are averaging at WSU with a juco QB transfer who had 5 D1 snaps coming into the season.

 

[BIGAL27]

Who said anything about Memphis?

LMAO

 

[VOLnMiami]

I'm surprised people would want Leach considering he went 3-9, 6-7, 3-9 in first 3 years in the PAC 12.......

I mean people are already wanting to boot Pruitt after 14 games.

At Washington St...Think about it a minute...He's turned around a school who's really only claim to fame was getting to the rose bowl in 1997 ...I can promise you this, Had We hired him JG would not be starting in his offense that's for damn sure.

 

[NighthawkVol]

The same bunch yelling for Leach are the same morons that were yelling for Chip Kelley to be hired. Who else thinks we dodged a bullet BY NOT hiring ole Chip? ME! ME! ME!

So did Florida. Wish they’d landed Chip.

 

[m1al]

You "hate to break it to me" ?

You mean to tell me there were ACTUALLY people involved with the school the stopped the hire?! No way. I call BS.

Get over yourself, dude.

Never said that there weren’t people involved with the school in play. What I’m talking about is VolNation, VolNation Twitter warriors and the physical demonstration at the campus. Those things changed little to nothing.

Sorry that got your panties in a wad.

 

[JMSqb11]

At Washington St...Think about it a minute...He's turned around a school who's really only claim to fame was getting to the rose bowl in 1997 ...I can promise you this, Had We hired him JG would not be starting in his offense that's for damn sure.

Even though wazzou was in the crapper, he would still face a tougher schedule, tougher recruiting battles, and have to overhaul the roster and culture to install his offense.

Once again, winning 12 games in 3 years here is the same crap people are wanting to hang Pruitt for. What I don’t understand is why the patience for Leach to do it

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Even though wazzou was in the crapper, he would still face a tougher schedule, tougher recruiting battles, and have to overhaul the roster and culture to install his offense.

Once again, winning 12 games in 3 years here is the same crap people are wanting to hang Pruitt for. What I don’t understand is why the patience for Leach to do it

Because Leach has proven he can turn lower tier programs around due to being a great HC. He understands the game.

Not to mention he tried getting the UT job last coaching search.

And yet, here we are again going through another “process” with a bargain bin hire who’s 0-2 against cupcakes.

 

[JMSqb11]

Because Leach has proven he can turn lower tier programs around due to being a great HC. He understands the game.

Not to mention he tried getting the UT job last coaching search.

And yet, here we are again going through another “process” with a bargain bin hire who’s 0-2 against cupcakes.

Yet what has Leach exactly won that warrants turning everything upside down to have him here?

And it’s funny you say “process” when Leach’s turnarounds are 3-4 year things.....


“We will give Leach a 3 year pass because we trust him”

Makes total sense

 

[VolFreakJosh]

Yet what has Leach exactly won that warrants turning everything upside down to have him here?

And it’s funny you say “process” when Leach’s turnarounds are 3-4 year things.....


“We will give Leach a 3 year pass because we trust him”

Makes total sense

So you do you believe Pruitt’s team has improved since last year??

 

[JMSqb11]

So you do you believe Pruitt’s team has improved since last year??

In some areas for sure.

There’s a reason that a big chunk of the best players on this team are his recruits and true freshmen.

There’s also zero reason to think that a team with tons of freshmen and sophomore players are capable of playing perfect games week in and week out.

It also doesn’t help our defense that there is a 17-24 point ceiling on our offensive output vs FBS teams with a certain QB under Center.

There’s also zero reason to think Pruitt who has been a great coach in his career mixed with Chaney and other recruiters and coaches suddenly forgot how to coach just because they are at Tennessee.

Once again- unless you’re willing to write that 10 million dollar check to fire him and the staff, you’re just blowing smoke out your a$$ and having a little mood swing.

Here’s a tip, deal in reality and not fantasy land.

 

[kiddiedoc]

If he was so good, he would have been at a big time school by now.

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.

This is usually a good point of reference. It might be alarming to learn that no powerhouse programs were trying to hire Pruitt as HC.

 

[finn]

Get back with me when he wins the PAC 12.

Does WA ST beat UT if they played this weekend?

I don’t think Leach is the best coach in America but I’d take him over our last 3 coaches in a heartbeat.

Btw, they’d absolutely crush us at the moment with or without that PAC12 championship.

 

[Shades]

The Mike Leach Wisdom Page
Mike Leach Wisdom

Worthy of a read, guaranteed for a few belly laughs. Here is one of my favorites:

 

[OriginalCoach]

Riley is a student of Leach. So you mean to tell me OU thought hey the student is definitely better than the master? I mean lol. Ok so now let’s move on to Texas. Why didn’t they hire him? We know money wasn’t an issue. There is no way Wazzu could match what Texas could. Yet they hire Herman?

I could go on and on with teams that DIDNT hire the great Mike Leach.

Why would OU go after Leach when (A) Leach’s controversial dealings with Texas Tech was still lurking (B) Riley had made a name for himself away from Leach’s shadow without controversy and (C) you have 2 HOF coaches vouching for Riley. Why do you think OU kept the hire internal instead of reaching out to Leach? As for Texas, their boosters would have never allowed Leach inside DKR Stadium. Shows your lack of understanding big time college football business. Not shocking considering UT administration doesn’t either.

 

[Holly Springs 3]

Meh, I'm probably the only one but Im glad that didn't happen. I would have taken him over Pruitt at the time, but I'm happy with Pruitt now.