It'll be interesting to see how CML is viewed in 5, 10 years

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

I'm just processing this and vomiting a stream of consciousness here, so bear with me.

First, of course thank you to him for the wins and the bowl games. There were a lot of fun times during his tenure.

Did he single-handedly resurrect Cougar football? Ehhhhh.....

Chun, Moos, and Floyd were the push behind the facilities.

In retrospect, it would be nearly impossible to not improve from the CPW years. In fact, there are some on this board who would argue that just going 6-6 the last 9 years would have been enough.

He's leaving the cupboard completely bare on defense. I know this isn't "his side" of the ball, but he's ultimately responsible.

I noticed ST seemed to be regressing, which is never a good sign.

We have an offense that has been very specifically recruited to, so if the incoming coach isn't running AR we are FCKED.

I think overall he left our program with more prestige, but as for the very present he is kinda bailing on a sinking ship, which is completely understandable but ultimately sh!tty because its HIS ship and he was the one sinking it.

Any coach who is coming in will see the job in front of them and have to realize that they are going to have a lot of work in front of them.

Again, we are trying to win the conference, not 6 games. I guess we now know where Leach stands as far as being able to win the conference.

 

[dgibbons]

I'm just processing this and vomiting a stream of consciousness here, so bear with me.

First, of course thank you to him for the wins and the bowl games. There were a lot of fun times during his tenure.

Did he single-handedly resurrect Cougar football? Ehhhhh.....

Chun, Moos, and Floyd were the push behind the facilities.

In retrospect, it would be nearly impossible to not improve from the CPW years. In fact, there are some on this board who would argue that just going 6-6 the last 9 years would have been enough.

He's leaving the cupboard completely bare on defense. I know this isn't "his side" of the ball, but he's ultimately responsible.

I noticed ST seemed to be regressing, which is never a good sign.

We have an offense that has been very specifically recruited to, so if the incoming coach isn't running AR we are FCKED.

I think overall he left our program with more prestige, but as for the very present he is kinda bailing on a sinking ship, which is completely understandable but ultimately sh!tty because its HIS ship and he was the one sinking it.

Any coach who is coming in will see the job in front of them and have to realize that they are going to have a lot of work in front of them.

Again, we are trying to win the conference, not 6 games. I guess we now know where Leach stands as far as being able to win the conference.

Not singlehanded, but he gets credit where credit is due. We were in the gutter. There was always a certain level of frustration because you had the feeling we were often close but never quite able to breakthrough.

Disagree on ST. Oscar and Mazza are pretty darn good. If you're referring to the coverage teams, then yes. But that's a function of drop off in defensive talent and depth.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

Not singlehanded, but he gets credit where credit is due. We were in the gutter. There was always a certain level of frustration because you had the feeling we were often close but never quite able to breakthrough.

Disagree on ST. Oscar and Mazza are pretty darn good. If you're referring to the coverage teams, then yes. But that's a function of drop off in defensive talent and depth.

Coverage was garbage. As was the inconsistency on KO, though I'm not entirely sure he wasn't instructed to kick short in situations. And yes, those teams are usually indicative of defensive depth, so take that for what its worth.

Also, as has been mentioned, S&C seems to be sorely lacking. Again, this falls back on CML.

 

[Flatlandcoug]

It will be interesting to see if the SEC grinds him up and spits him out or not. If he gets fired from Mississippi State in six years, it will be said that he only succeeded at Tech and WSU because they were weaker conferences.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

It will be interesting to see if the SEC grinds him up and spits him out or not. If he gets fired from Mississippi State in six years, it will be said that he only succeeded at Tech and WSU because they were weaker conferences.

I hate you for saying that, but ultimately you're right.

 

[Observer11]

Same as Dennis Erickson. He came, he saw, he conquered, realized the cupboard was gonna be getting bare and bailed.

I actually kinda respect the guy for NOT hiring a DC. Let whoever is coming down the pike make whatever staff changes are necessary.

Been there, done that on coaches leaving. Posted this earlier today:

D1 football coaches are carpet-bagging mercenaries looking for their next contract extension or payday. It's big boy business.

Feigning emotional ties is part of the gig that keeps the fans/donors on the snide.

Just assume they are always on the way out and it's a lot more tolerable when they actually hit the exit door.

 

[Coug1990]

I think he is in the NFL within 2 years.

 

[Cougatron]

Leach will be fondly remembered for what he did. The most wins in program history in a single season, Minshew Mania and bringing the program back from the dead going bowling 6 out of 8 years.

facilities are nice and no doubt that was a tremendous improvement, but there are a lot of schools with nice facilities and not nearly the success Leach had with us.

The real question is whether or not we can get someone to build on what he did here.

 

[dgibbons]

I think he is in the NFL within 2 years.

I think he'd hate and fail miserably in the NFL. He's not a 100 hours a week grinder, and at his age is not going to change.

 

[PINGDUDE4]

It will be interesting to see if the SEC grinds him up and spits him out or not. If he gets fired from Mississippi State in six years, it will be said that he only succeeded at Tech and WSU because they were weaker conferences.

He will be 66 years old by that time, so who cares.

 

[32eekortS]

As somebody who WSU saved from the abyss and who then bailed in mid January for more money after a shitty season.

 

[cougarmike]

55-47 overall; 36-36 Pac 12; 6 Bowl appearances. Show me who has ever done better.

 

[Coug1990]

I think he'd hate and fail miserably in the NFL. He's not a 100 hours a week grinder, and at his age is not going to change.

Perhaps. NFL teams have already been talking to him. That they hired one of his unsuccessful protege's tells me it is a huge possibility. He, like all head coaches, has a big ego. He would love to prove all the naysayers regarding his offense in the NFL wrong. If he gets a great QB, he will have success.

 

[GrayOnGray]

It will be interesting to see if the SEC grinds him up and spits him out or not. If he gets fired from Mississippi State in six years, it will be said that he only succeeded at Tech and WSU because they were weaker conferences.

Agree and that's why it's a head shaker. Can understand wanting more money (kind of), but I don't see this ending well for him, if that is something he cares about. I think he might have started to feel the need for a new start elsewhere. Maybe MSU went 6-6 and still somehow has loads of unharnessed talent, but it really seems like a desperate move.

 

[chipdouglas]

I think he is in the NFL within 2 years.

Maybe not 2 years, but this is a real possibility, and consistent with the challenges ML seems to seek out.

Especially if Kingsbury starts making noise in Arizona, and players like Goff/Mahomes continue to excite. Why wouldn't you want the father of that instead of his brat kids?

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

Maybe not 2 years, but this is a real possibility, and consistent with the challenges ML seems to seek out.

Especially if Kingsbury starts making noise in Arizona, and players like Goff/Mahomes continue to excite. Why wouldn't you want the father of that instead of his brat kids?

Because he's not a HC. He's an OC. And HC in the NFL is even more administrative than it is in college. I don't think that interests him. He wants to philosophize about offensive schematics.

 

[chipdouglas]

We did start from a low point, but it's hard to imagine someone who would have done better over his tenure here than CML.

Other than the new challenge and proximity to FLA, I think Leach want/ed a situation where someone will just take care of the defense/ST for him. With the turnover we've had, that wasn't happening.

 

[dgibbons]

We did start from a low point, but it's hard to imagine someone who would have done better over his tenure here than CML.

Other than the new challenge and proximity to FLA, I think Leach want/ed a situation where someone will just take care of the defense/ST for him. With the turnover we've had, that wasn't happening.

Presumably a bunch of money had something to do with it too.

 

[DaUwillRiseAgain]

How can he not be remembered fondly? I
There is a very high chance the next coach doesnt come close. Even mike price didnt go .500 in league.

 

[BleedCrimsonandGray]

How can he not be remembered fondly? I
There is a very high chance the next coach doesnt come close. Even mike price didnt go .500 in league.

This is true, and I'll give it to him, but to be fair I don't think I can remember the teams in the south/ conference ever being so weak. There are basically 4 gimmes and two toss ups, which the same can't be said of the North.

That being said, running Oregon 4 straight years and Stanford five(?) is commendable.

 

[COUGinNCW]

He will be 66 years old by that time, so who cares.

If he fails at MSU he won’t be there 6 years.

 

[kougkurt]

At least he didn’t quit

 

[chipdouglas]

If he fails at MSU he won’t be there 6 years.

Walden is a crank but he brought up a good point in that phone interview.

Being in deep SEC country where even the sh---iest teams' boosters somehow expect to be competing for SEC titles every year, he will not enjoy the same level of separation from boosters. We may be reading about a golf course beating at some point in the next 5 years when Mr Moneybags demands a formal roadmap from the pirate on getting hardware after 2x .500 seasons

 

[HCoug]

Walden is a crank but he brought up a good point in that phone interview.

Being in deep SEC country where even the sh---iest teams' boosters somehow expect to be competing for SEC titles every year, he will not enjoy the same level of separation from boosters. We may be reading about a golf course beating at some point in the next 5 years when Mr Moneybags demands a formal roadmap from the pirate on getting hardware after 2x .500 seasons

Yes. But Mike Leach is an attorney who is aware of the recent coaching history at Mississippi State and has experienced the duplicity of the administrators at Texas Tech.

He’s probably structured this as his bridge job to retirement, largely guaranteed. I’d be surprised if his contract didn’t cover all contingencies such that he will return to the Keys with a buyout well into eight figures if he is pushed out before the end of his contract. (And I bet he has a signed copy!)

 

[FnuLnu]

Yes. But Mike Leach is an attorney who is aware of the recent coaching history at Mississippi State and has experienced the duplicity of the administrators at Texas Tech.

He’s probably structured this as his bridge job to retirement, largely guaranteed. I’d be surprised if his contract didn’t cover all contingencies such that he will return to the Keys with a buyout well into eight figures if he is pushed out before the end of his contract. (And I bet he has a signed copy!)

Did Price ever collect money from his attorney/agent who sent him to Alabama without a signed MOU with $ attached to it?

 

[dgibbons]

Yes. But Mike Leach is an attorney who is aware of the recent coaching history at Mississippi State and has experienced the duplicity of the administrators at Texas Tech.

He’s probably structured this as his bridge job to retirement, largely guaranteed. I’d be surprised if his contract didn’t cover all contingencies such that he will return to the Keys with a buyout well into eight figures if he is pushed out before the end of his contract. (And I bet he has a signed copy!)

Leach is a football coach, not an attorney.

 

[425cougfan]

I'm just processing this and vomiting a stream of consciousness here, so bear with me.

First, of course thank you to him for the wins and the bowl games. There were a lot of fun times during his tenure.

Did he single-handedly resurrect Cougar football? Ehhhhh.....

Chun, Moos, and Floyd were the push behind the facilities.

In retrospect, it would be nearly impossible to not improve from the CPW years. In fact, there are some on this board who would argue that just going 6-6 the last 9 years would have been enough.

He's leaving the cupboard completely bare on defense. I know this isn't "his side" of the ball, but he's ultimately responsible.

I noticed ST seemed to be regressing, which is never a good sign.

We have an offense that has been very specifically recruited to, so if the incoming coach isn't running AR we are FCKED.

I think overall he left our program with more prestige, but as for the very present he is kinda bailing on a sinking ship, which is completely understandable but ultimately sh!tty because its HIS ship and he was the one sinking it.

Any coach who is coming in will see the job in front of them and have to realize that they are going to have a lot of work in front of them.

Again, we are trying to win the conference, not 6 games. I guess we now know where Leach stands as far as being able to win the conference.

:: Paste :: The facilities were necessary, not sufficient, for WSU to even have a shot. :: / Paste ::

Mike Leach is the one who recruited players and inculcated a culture and values that allowed, e.g., several wins over schools like Oregon and Stanford (when Stanford was pretty good), USC, UCLA, etc., and let WSU punch well above its weight for several years.

A lot of coaches would have improved on what Wulff was doing, owing to their own competence and getting the bump from the facilities, but I think most generic decent but not household name coaches (say, e.g., what it looks like Jonathan Smith probably is ... I'd name some of Leach's contemporaries but most of those guys like Graham, Mora, Rich Rod, Sumlin, Andersen, MacIntyre, and pretty much anyone else failed or is failing despite having greater resources, making it difficult, which is instructive on its own) would have topped out at 7-5 or something. Leach took it to a pretty well sustained 8- or 9-win level and peaked at 11. Let's not try to pretend he doesn't deserve credit.

The points about the "system" and where it leaves us are valid. I'm not wedded to the Air Raid, necessarily, but we do need something that differs from the norm to have a shot in Pullman.

 

[HCoug]

Leach is a football coach, not an attorney.

Right. I should have said that he has a law degree but chose to pursue a more honorable profession instead. Thanks for the clarification.