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Mike Leach (Texas Tech)
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I agree we have outrecruited LSU, FL and AL in the past but that was before Saban and Meyer. No matter what you say about Miles he is a great recruiter and talent evaluator. I dont think we will ever be that much more talented than those 3. Im not worried about GA. Thats why we need a great Xs and Os guy.
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/13/sports/playemail/1113playlewis.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
College Football
Texas Tech at the Top? Michael Lewis Isn't Surprised
Published: November 13, 2008
Mike Leach, center, has drawn quite a following since arriving in Lubbock, Tex.
Mike Leach, the coach of Texas Tech, has led his team to the No. 2 ranking in college football, wowing everyone with a high-scoring innovative offense along the way. Three years ago, Michael Lewis saw this storm coming when he profiled the coach and his program for The Times Magazine. We talked to Lewis this week about the phenomenon he saw in Lubbock and why he thought it would be successful.
Lets start with the obvious question: Did you see this coming? When you observed Leachs system, did you think Tech could compete for a national championship?
I didnt know. What I did know was that he would not be constrained by his approach to football. He had won a national championship as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, and so his style of play had proven itself at the highest level. What I couldnt tell was how constrained he would be by the athletes he got. To appreciate what hes done you have to appreciate how hard it is to get players -- he gets third or fourth bite of apple down there. He's working with everyone elses rejects. Generally, hes doing so much more with so much less. The proof is in how few have gone on to the N.F.L. Its funny seeing the nation reshaping its view of the program -- from "Oh, thats a nice little program, to Oh my God, watch out. Now, it is true that if the athletes on the other side of the ball are so much better, it gums things up. But for now, Mike Leach has figured out how to make it really simple for his players while making it really complicated for the opponents.
How much of a parallel did you see to the theme you explored for baseball in "Moneyball -- the idea of an under-resourced team figuring out how to get more value out of its players?
The analogy was almost perfect. The difference between the two stories is the difference between the two sports. In baseball, its personnel driven. Once Billy Beane got the players, they just went out and played. Football ... well, more complicated. Leachs triumph is largely a strategic triumph. He knows what his strategy is, and he finds players who will fit the strategy. With the As, the intellectual activity is in the evaluation of baseball players. At Texas Tech, its the ability to take the players and make them work in your system.
Its the same old fashioned story -- someone finding a new and better way to do something. It isnt just a team thats going on the field, its an idea.
How much of Leachs success is due to his unique and independent personality?
Its a combination of the person and his circumstances. The joy of Billy Beane in Oakland and Mike Leach in Lubbock, Texas, is that both are in places where they instinctively knew they had to be different to have a chance. Lubbock - theres a kind of quirkiness and unconventional nature to it. Mike Leach was going to do whatever he was going to do, but needed an unconventional place to do it.
They call him a mad scientist, but hes more of a mad artist. Hes a thinker. Mike Leach is sitting there almost like a birdwatcher, waiting for something to happen so he can think about what that means. And the players, they feel like theyve walked into the funhouse. They come out of high school and all of a sudden then find themselves on 4th and 16 in their own territory and the coach is sending in a play. It liberates the players.
Could Leach take this system to another big-time football factory and make it work?
If he was at big-time factory and they let him do what he does, and not get in the way, it would be unfair. I mean, is it moral to score 100 points every game? Of course, people will catch up. They already are catching up. But if he had gone to say, U.S.C., 10 years ago and installed his system there, it would be comical. He would score every time - and he would have a defense by default because he would get great athletes.
What is it about pro football that would make it reject coaches like Leach and his theories?
Pro football already has rejected it. But is there anything inherent in pro football that would prevent him from succeeding there - no. There are two factors that are problematic: the chaos he creates in college football is harder in the N.F.L. because everyone has more time to prepare. And N.F.L. people tell you his wide line splits [offensive linemen position themselves 3 feet apart, or more] really bother them. They think it exposes the quarterback too much. But the quarterback is really safer in his system. He can see the field better. They have to run further to get to him. Watch a Tech quarterback operate, and one thing you notice is how visible the field is for him. No, Mike Leach would be a dominant force in the N.F.L. if he were given an N.F.L. offense to run.
Did Leach ever confess to you his ambitions of winning a national title?
No. He doesnt think that way. Hes like, "Hmm, that worked , we killed them. Or, Oh, that didnt work today, oh well, Ill go rollerblade. Hes not really wrapped up in what other people think of him.
College Football
Texas Tech at the Top? Michael Lewis Isn't Surprised
Published: November 13, 2008
Mike Leach, center, has drawn quite a following since arriving in Lubbock, Tex.
Mike Leach, the coach of Texas Tech, has led his team to the No. 2 ranking in college football, wowing everyone with a high-scoring innovative offense along the way. Three years ago, Michael Lewis saw this storm coming when he profiled the coach and his program for The Times Magazine. We talked to Lewis this week about the phenomenon he saw in Lubbock and why he thought it would be successful.
Lets start with the obvious question: Did you see this coming? When you observed Leachs system, did you think Tech could compete for a national championship?
I didnt know. What I did know was that he would not be constrained by his approach to football. He had won a national championship as offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, and so his style of play had proven itself at the highest level. What I couldnt tell was how constrained he would be by the athletes he got. To appreciate what hes done you have to appreciate how hard it is to get players -- he gets third or fourth bite of apple down there. He's working with everyone elses rejects. Generally, hes doing so much more with so much less. The proof is in how few have gone on to the N.F.L. Its funny seeing the nation reshaping its view of the program -- from "Oh, thats a nice little program, to Oh my God, watch out. Now, it is true that if the athletes on the other side of the ball are so much better, it gums things up. But for now, Mike Leach has figured out how to make it really simple for his players while making it really complicated for the opponents.
How much of a parallel did you see to the theme you explored for baseball in "Moneyball -- the idea of an under-resourced team figuring out how to get more value out of its players?
The analogy was almost perfect. The difference between the two stories is the difference between the two sports. In baseball, its personnel driven. Once Billy Beane got the players, they just went out and played. Football ... well, more complicated. Leachs triumph is largely a strategic triumph. He knows what his strategy is, and he finds players who will fit the strategy. With the As, the intellectual activity is in the evaluation of baseball players. At Texas Tech, its the ability to take the players and make them work in your system.
Its the same old fashioned story -- someone finding a new and better way to do something. It isnt just a team thats going on the field, its an idea.
How much of Leachs success is due to his unique and independent personality?
Its a combination of the person and his circumstances. The joy of Billy Beane in Oakland and Mike Leach in Lubbock, Texas, is that both are in places where they instinctively knew they had to be different to have a chance. Lubbock - theres a kind of quirkiness and unconventional nature to it. Mike Leach was going to do whatever he was going to do, but needed an unconventional place to do it.
They call him a mad scientist, but hes more of a mad artist. Hes a thinker. Mike Leach is sitting there almost like a birdwatcher, waiting for something to happen so he can think about what that means. And the players, they feel like theyve walked into the funhouse. They come out of high school and all of a sudden then find themselves on 4th and 16 in their own territory and the coach is sending in a play. It liberates the players.
Could Leach take this system to another big-time football factory and make it work?
If he was at big-time factory and they let him do what he does, and not get in the way, it would be unfair. I mean, is it moral to score 100 points every game? Of course, people will catch up. They already are catching up. But if he had gone to say, U.S.C., 10 years ago and installed his system there, it would be comical. He would score every time - and he would have a defense by default because he would get great athletes.
What is it about pro football that would make it reject coaches like Leach and his theories?
Pro football already has rejected it. But is there anything inherent in pro football that would prevent him from succeeding there - no. There are two factors that are problematic: the chaos he creates in college football is harder in the N.F.L. because everyone has more time to prepare. And N.F.L. people tell you his wide line splits [offensive linemen position themselves 3 feet apart, or more] really bother them. They think it exposes the quarterback too much. But the quarterback is really safer in his system. He can see the field better. They have to run further to get to him. Watch a Tech quarterback operate, and one thing you notice is how visible the field is for him. No, Mike Leach would be a dominant force in the N.F.L. if he were given an N.F.L. offense to run.
Did Leach ever confess to you his ambitions of winning a national title?
No. He doesnt think that way. Hes like, "Hmm, that worked , we killed them. Or, Oh, that didnt work today, oh well, Ill go rollerblade. Hes not really wrapped up in what other people think of him.
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The best part of that article was this guy's comment...Retain Cutcliffe as DC.
Posted by VolFan @ 1:28 PM Thu, Nov 13, 2008
When Leach comes to Knoxville, he should retain Cutcliff as DC.
It would be dangerous. I am tired of our coaches being scared against teams like FLA, ALA, GA, and LSU. They have already won the mental battle before the coin flip has even taken place. Leach would bring a nice big middle finger with him to Knoxville. Can't wait.
Posted by VolFan @ 1:28 PM Thu, Nov 13, 2008
When Leach comes to Knoxville, he should retain Cutcliff as DC.
It would be dangerous. I am tired of our coaches being scared against teams like FLA, ALA, GA, and LSU. They have already won the mental battle before the coin flip has even taken place. Leach would bring a nice big middle finger with him to Knoxville. Can't wait.
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