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What or Who is Team Leach?
The basic answer would be that it is a Facebook group that was started on December 30, 2009, after Coach Leach was terminated by Texas Tech University and by January 7, 2010 we had in excess of 55,000 members. We became a Facebook phenomenon and a shining example of how social networking can bring people together in the 21st Century. We consistently maintained a 60,000 plus membership for nine months.
The larger truth would
be that we are a group of passionate souls that range in age from teenagers to
octogenarians. We come from every occupation, tax bracket and ethnic
group there is. We come from all 50 states and beyond. We have
members that have yet to graduate Jr. High and those with PhD’s and MD’s.
We have Tech alumni and students, but also have many members that have
never even been to Lubbock, but became fans of the Red Raiders only because of
Coach Leach’s tenure as Head Football coach. Most of us joined because we felt
that Coach Leach was wrongfully terminated and at the very least, the situation
was grossly mishandled by the Tech Administration. After much research,
we feel that his termination was choreographed months before and enacted not
only to massage the egos of a select few that hold the power at Tech, but do
not necessarily have the best interests of the Tech students, alumni and fans
at heart, and to refrain from paying Coach Leach the year end bonuses he so
well deserved. We wanted` to show our support in a tangible way for a
coach that we love. Team Leach has given us the direction and a forum in
which to do that.
Team Leach is a place to hold discussions, vent frustrations, research and post links of the legal proceedings, keep abreast of media coverage and to exchange ideas and personal thoughts. Fast and true friendships have been forged, mostly by people that have not yet met in person. And lastly, we are in search of answers as to the truth of what happened as far as the Tech administration is concerned and determined to bring about change to ensure that nothing like this will happen again at Texas Tech University.
Why the passion for Coach Leach? Coach Leach arrived in Lubbock in 2000 to take over a ho-hum program that had never got much attention outside of West Texas, not to mention much respect, and never cracked 20,000 in season ticket sales.
Leach doubled that record, the first of many that he and his teams would set and/or obliterate. Arguably one of the most innovative coaches in the country, he installed an all-out aerial assault on offense, posted a pirate shipload of points, set passing records, never suffered a losing season and made football exciting for Red Raiders and the rest of the country to watch. He was refreshingly original, was a dream interview for media sports reporters and his quirky comments became much talked about sound bites. His distinctive disdain for not “playing the game” on the greens and fairways of local country clubs marked him as rebellious but fans loved that about him. He much preferred to do his “talking” on the field. His teams produced football world talents such as Wes Welker, Taurean, Henderson, Danny Amendola, Joel Filani and Michael Crabtree.
The Team Leach - Mike Leach Scholarship Foundation is an effort by a group of Texas Tech football fans to honor former Texas Tech Head Football Coach Mike Leach.
Leach left Texas Tech University December 30, 2009 after 10 years as head coach. During his tenure, he not only brought success on the football field for Texas Tech, he also established the highest football graduation rate for public universities in the country.
This group of fans, students and alumni are not rich by any means. They do not have the ability to write $50,000 checks on a whim. They do not have the wherewithal to watch football games in skyboxes and go to games to be seen or socialize while looking down at the crowd below.
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