According to Kirk Bohls of the Austin American-Statesman, former Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach has hired attorney Steve Heninger to head his legal team in lawsuits against Texas Tech, U.S. Senate Candidate Craig James, and ESPN. Coach Leach has also sent a letter to Texas Tech in an effort to negotiate a settlement with the university. Leach was fired in 2009 from Texas Tech, allegedly because he out negotiated the university and the chancellor and board of regents held a significant grudge.
That is not how Texas Tech would frame it, but is probably closer to the truth than any explanation the public will ever really get. The problem is that Texas Tech does not seem to want to even discuss the matter with the Leach legal team. That is their prerogative. However, it does show just how much contempt the university has for the former coach and how little respect they have for their alumni and fans.
Public opinion is clearly on Mike Leach’s side. The public in Lubbock, the state of Texas, and sports fans across the country already have a pretty good idea of what happened in Lubbock and who is to blame. For the record, the overwhelming majority are not blaming the coach. That is simply a fact.
Texas Tech has a chance to sit down and at least discuss a settlement. If they are not even willing to talk, then they are not giving many of their fans any reason to support the university. They may want some of those fans back. That is especially true since the Texas Tech football team has been in a state of decline since Leach left Lubbock. Another season like this past year (5-7, 2-7 in the Big 12) and the university may have trouble giving the tickets away.
Texas Tech has a chance to the right thing and at least try to find a way to settle their issues with Leach. That might allow more some healing of the fan base over the next few months. Or they can do nothing, allow fans attack each other in internet chat rooms and comment sections of the local paper. Mike Leach has offered an olive branch. The question is whether Kent Hance is a big enough man to even pretend to civilized.
The ball is now in Texas Tech’s court. Do they sit down, talk, and maybe get this to go away. The suits against James and ESPN might not go away, but at least Texas Tech might be able to help restore some civility into the fan base. The question is which is more important to Texas Tech, the regular old Texas Tech fan that used to go to the games and has a closet full of Texas Tech gear that do not wear anymore, or the administration’s pride?
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