Leach situation is indication the college football world has gone mad

The Mike Leach controversy at Texas Tech is a fluid situation at the moment and by the time you read this it could have changed again.  Based on the complaint of one player Adam James who has a very well known father in ESPN announcer and former NFL player Craig James, Leach is on indefinite suspension for his treatment of James following a mild concussion.

Leach has gone to court seeking an injunction against the school so he can coach their bowl game Saturday and word out of Lubbock is that the most successful coach in school history may be fired at any moment.  How did this situation blow up so far so fast?  Leach reportedly refused the school’s pleadings to apologize for his actions, saying he’d done nothing wrong.  The doctor who treated James said Leach didn’t do anything wrong by placing James in a dark equipment garage next to the practice field with ice and access to trainers.

It’s all so bizarre.  Leach is an off beat character who moves to his own drumbeat.  He loves Pirates, has the most prolific passing game in the country, comes up with wild quotes for the media, the fans love him and of course he wins.  Tech has been to 11 straight bowl games.  

It’s interesting that Leach was an outspoken supporter of recently deposed Kansas coach Mark Mangino who was ousted under similar circumstances.  Is this where college football is quickly headed?  Schools coming down hard on coaches at the first whiff of a player or parent complaint?  This is football after all.  

Parents think their kids are the greatest and don’t like it when their son isn’t getting to play.  Is that Craig James’s motivation?  He’s been accused of being a dad always nagging the coaches.  Rumblings from the team are that Adam James is soft and a disruptive force.  Was this just a motivation tactic by Leach.  Head injuries are nothing to be ignored, but I’m not sure I understand where James has been mistreated as Leach has been accused.  And shouldn’t the school investigate prior to convicting the accused?

Chiefs play well but still can't win

Kansas City didn’t just pack it in against the Bengals as they did all they could to keep Cincinnati from securing a playoff berth before falling 17-10.  The defense played exceptionally well considering their performance of recent weeks, but when they needed a stop late there was no one to make the big play as the Bengals drove 98 yards for the winning score as Carson Palmer hit Chad Ochocinco for a six yard strike.

The first half was marked by a turnover by both teams as each QB was picked off once while going deep.  Other than that it was a defensive struggle.

With two and a half minutes to go in the half, deep snapper Thomas Gafford launched the ball over punter Dustin Colquit’s head.  Colquit kicked the ball out of bounds at the KC seven saving a TD.  Palmer hit Ochocinco for an apparent TD but he’d stepped out of bounds earlier in the route and was ineligible.  KC then held to force a 29 yard field goal by Shane Graham and it was 3-0 Bengals.

The Chiefs two minute drill moved from their own 19 to the Cincinnati 11 and Ryan Succup hit a 30 yard FG to tie the game at 3 at halftime.

On the opening drive of the second half Cincinnati had more total yardage than the entire first half as they drove 77 yards, capped by a 10 yard TD pass from Carson  Palmer to Laverneaus Coles and a 10-3 lead.

Late in the third quarter, Jake O’Connell partially blocked a Bengal punt and the Chiefs then drove 49 yards with Matt Cassel hitting Tim Castille in between three defenders for a 20 yard score and 10-10 tie.

A final drive attempt by KC moved to midfield but Cassel was picked off by Leon Hall on a pass intended for Chris Chambers.

Cedric Benson had 133 rushing for Cincy, 99 in the 2nd half, Jamaal Charles had 102 for KC.  The Bengals are now 10-5, the Chiefs 3-12 with one game left in Denver next Sunday.