Arghh! A Pirate's Response to the Texas Tech Mess

Coach Mike Leach fancies the pirate's life in many ways.  So now that the axe has fallen in Lubbock, we might look to the pirate's behavior to predict what Leach might do next.  

Leach might run up the Jolly Roger flag outside his Lubbock home--the Jolly Roger is the common current-day symbol of the pirate with the skull and cross bones.  This flag originates from the flag used by American and European pirates.  It is said that pirate ships often raised the Jolly Roger flag prior to raiding a ship at sea.  

Flying the Jolly Roger while Leach was employed at Texas Tech might have been disturbing to the administration.  Raising it now might disturb them more and signal an intention to raid the University for treasure--a warning that the legal battle has begin for just compensation.

Leach might now begin the search for kindred pirate spirits in pursuing his next coaching position.  Pirates readily accepted outcasts from other societies.  Now that Leach is an outcast, he might look for a college football program or NFL team that dares to be bold.  Such programs, would need to be hungry for success and willing to overlook some of the issues related to Leach's tenure at Tech.  

So what college football programs might fall in the rebel category?   My guess is that this might include programs like the University of Cincinnati or the University of Memphis.  Leach might consider a school that would allow him to work as an offensive coordinator for a year or two before moving on to the head coaching position.  This would allow some time for the school to let the turmoil pass before allowing Leach to be a head coach again.

On the NFL side, the clear choice here is the Oakland Raiders.  Can you imagine the possibilities of Leach at the helm of the Silver and Black? The marketing possibilities and merchandise revenue alone make this a no-brainer.  The Raiders have a history of taking in players who have been dumped by other NFL teams.  Taking in an outcast coach fits this historical pattern and would inspire the rabid Raiders fan base. 

On whatever level you may feel Leach is being punished badly for his behavior, his fate pales in comparison to that of the real captured pirates.  During the 17th and 18th centuries, many were hung in a public execution.  Some famous pirate captains had punishments that lasted beyond death.  Their bodies were placed in iron cages and elevated to swing into the air until their flesh was rotted away.  This was the fate of the pirates William Kid and William Fly.  

Leach might feel he is being persecuted, but his treatment at Texas Tech will not be nearly as severe as that of the real captured pirates.   He might choose to take on the pirate's swagger and move boldly forward with his personal and professional life.