Texas Tech's Firing of Mike Leach Magnifies a Big Problem

How can something that seemed such a small matter end up costing a coach his job?

For me, the firing of Mike Leach from Texas Tech is the final nail in the coffin.  There are two points that need to be addressed.

First of all, as I have written already , the firing is nothing more than how the Texas Tech administration operates.  They operate without proper procedure and base everything on what has been mentioned to me from friends in the Lubbock area as a "good ol' boy" mentality.

Voices from the campus are already starting to rise in protest of the firing.

The second point is how outrageous these issues have become nowadays.  It started with Mark Mangino and now it continues with Mike Leach.

It has gotten to the point to where the accusation of the crime is more important that what is the crime itself. 

It shouldn't be a surprise to everyone that not all of the players will agree with how head football coaches run their programs.  It shouldn't surprise people that players will have some problems with disciplinary actions when those players break team rules or the law.

Where are the days where if you have an issue with a coach that you go and talk to them in person?  Where did it go to putting your problems out to the public instead of taking those problems head on?

I'll be honest.  I have never been in a FBS football program, nor ever worn football pads in my life. 

That doesn't mean I don't know how to talk about troubling issues up front and out of the court of public opinion.

The most recent incident with Mike Leach is another example that this issue should have been kept internal.  

It's no secret that Leach has a unique personality and handles problems differently than most of his peers. 

His quirky antics garnered the attention of traditional media and bloggers alike.  When people mention his name, they think of pirates, spread offense, and a winner.

Now, the winningest coach in Texas Tech history will never coach again on the Red Raider sideline.

I never thought that my first Texas Tech football game would ultimately be Coach Leach's last home game in the Jones. 

Now we have to ask, what can be done about this?

In all honesty, there is hardly anything anyone can do.  The NCAA can make more rules, the conferences can add more stipulations, the compliance offices around the country can make more paperwork.

The reality is you will never please everyone all of the time. 

It needs to be the responsibility of the players to talk to the coach if they have an issue.  Players talking to their parents is fine, because that is what good parents should do.  

Lets keep these accusations and problems to where they need to be.  If and only if this is consistent throughout the team does appropriate action need to take place.  Even then, the media doesn't need to be involved.  

These "isolated incidents" will end up causing more problems for coaches and how they can handle their teams.  "Big Brother" will ever more be watching in many college towns in the country.

In such little time, the boiling point has been reached. 

Unfortunately for Leach, the lid has come off quickly.