Mike Leach really wants the Minnesota job

[2nd Degree Gopher]

What would be really funny is if Maturi gets subpeanaed to appear as a witness in the trial.

Leach isn't going to have Maturi as a trial witness. If Maturi gets a subpoena, it will be from the defendants to give a deposition and provide testimony that he wouldn't hire Leach because he found him to be unprofessional in his personal dealings with him at the Insight Bowl. That would undercut, not enhance, Leach's claims.

 

[GophersInIowa]

Ogee, unfortunately everyone will ignore your post because it is thoughtful and rational. The Gophs have probably talked to tons of people about Leach. If they said the James incident and the suits were not indicative of Leach as a person and that he's a quality person, he'd probably be our coach right now.

For all of you guys beating the drums for Leach, ask yourself one question: If you did your due diligence on Leach and the majority of people you talked to told you to stay far, far away from Leach, would you still hire him?

Any way, this is an absolute public relations train wreck.

Exactly. You and Ogee are right. I would guess there is a lot more information about Leach than what the public knows. There's a reason he hasn't gotten any real looks since he left Texas Tech. If the off the field stuff was only minor, then there's no doubt he would be coaching already.

 

[ruralgopher]

Exactly. You and Ogee are right. I would guess there is a lot more information about Leach than what the public knows. There's a reason he hasn't gotten any real looks since he left Texas Tech. If the off the field stuff was only minor, then there's no doubt he would be coaching already.

The problem with this line of thinking is that the U would look 10x better having interviewed him and deciding against it than not ever contacting him. Whether it is true or not, it appears that from the beginning he was not even given consideration.

 

[Jeshurun]

Leach: Sucks the life out of opposing defenses.

 

[calminnfan]

I'm surprised that Leach is the only guy out of football that is openly campaigning for the job. You would think that if Belotti or Fullmer really wanted to get back in, we would see more of what Leach is doing. Leach obviously still has the fire.

I suspect Fulmer has done some. Maybe Belotti, but who really knows at this time. Whoever the HC ends up being, the earliest we will know whether it was a good choice will be sometime in the middle of next football season at the earliest and probably will not know for sure for a couple of years depending on the programs development. That is unless the new HC totally does not know what he is doing. With an experienced coach with some sort of track record, Maturi can at least steer clear of them.

 

[calminnfan]

The problem with this line of thinking is that the U would look 10x better having interviewed him and deciding against it than not ever contacting him. Whether it is true or not, it appears that from the beginning he was not even given consideration.

So it all boils down to, as GL asked, do you trust Maturi? At least in the case of Leach, there is enough smoke surrounding him that it is at least understandable that Maturi would not have a lot of interest.

 

[glovedgopher]

The ESPN ombudsman came down on ESPN pretty hard for the Alamo Bowl broadcast after Leach was let go.

I read that article and can see why Leach is doing what he is doing to ESPN.

 

[Johnny Olson]

+ 10000

Minnesota is Exhibit A

He is paying for good Lawyer.

 

[ruralgopher]

So it all boils down to, as GL asked, do you trust Maturi? At least in the case of Leach, there is enough smoke surrounding him that it is at least understandable that Maturi would not have a lot of interest.

Depends on who he hires. I've said from day 1 that it isn't Leach per se that interests me as much as his resume being the baseline. If who we hire has a worse resume I will be upset.

 

[Tx_Gopher]

Leach is extremely bright and a master of using the media to send messages and tweak people, and my guess is that this is what he is doing here.

If he knows he is not in (or never was) in the running at Minnesota, what better way to tweak Maturi and the hiring committee then by allowing himself to be interviewed in the press and then expressing his desire to take the job and his bewilderment that he hasn't been contacted?

He knows that the story will generate more media coverage, more questions by "pundits" and the general public about why he wasn't interviewed, more emails to Maturi, etc. It also sets up the "told you so" comparisons for whoever eventually does get the job. (I'm sure you've all seen the report about the letter Trump sent to Miami.)

 

[thailleagle]

Personally I don't trust the search firm that brought us Brewster...

 

[GophersInIowa]

The problem with this line of thinking is that the U would look 10x better having interviewed him and deciding against it than not ever contacting him. Whether it is true or not, it appears that from the beginning he was not even given consideration.

Maybe, maybe not. What if Leach is considered a "scumbag" to the coaching community? That could have a negative effect on us finding a coach. It's all speculation of course. All of it is. We don't know what Muturi and others may know about him. We don't know what his reputation is among other coaches, AD's, etc. Interviewing him just for the sake of it is a waste of time. If they know for sure he has not shot, then there's no point in doing it.

 

[ruralgopher]

I'm starting to wonder if this article was Phil's way of sticking it to the U for being shut out of the process.

 

[Iceland12]

Exactly. You and Ogee are right. I would guess there is a lot more information about Leach than what the public knows. There's a reason he hasn't gotten any real looks since he left Texas Tech. If the off the field stuff was only minor, then there's no doubt he would be coaching already.

Leach not getting hired isn't a new thing. He interviewed and was rejected for the Washington job when Willingham was fired. He was rumored to have gone after the Auburn job without success as well. His Tech QB at the time (Harrell?) thought he was gone. Those jobs were before the James incident and before his extension.

Who knows what really happened. I'd be fine with him though I'd like a guy who gave at least some attention to defense. None of us would have to deal with the day to day drama that he's famous for. The next A.D. and President will. Something that may be the main reason he isn't getting a look from the present AD or anyone else for that matter.

That and the demand to be involved in the hiring of the new A.D. may have sealed his fate here.

We keep getting the heat, but I wonder how many Head Coaches the Hurricanes will be able to hire?

 

[Iowasucks]

Ogee, unfortunately everyone will ignore your post because it is thoughtful and rational. The Gophs have probably talked to tons of people about Leach. If they said the James incident and the suits were not indicative of Leach as a person and that he's a quality person, he'd probably be our coach right now.

For all of you guys beating the drums for Leach, ask yourself one question: If you did your due diligence on Leach and the majority of people you talked to told you to stay far, far away from Leach, would you still hire him?

Any way, this is an absolute public relations train wreck.

Due diligence includes interview Mike Leach himself regarding the situation. Everything reported is hearsay. Remember: CBSSports.com had obtained the e-mails of six current and former Texas Tech players and coaches disparaging sophomore Adam James, who has alleged he was mistreated by coach Mike Leach.

Due diligence = Talking to Mike Leach as well, not just listening to hearsay.

 

[Iowasucks]

This is sad:

****UPDATE****

Since people keep asking (and well they should), here's the justification from people at the U for why they won't hire, let alone interview, Mike Leach. Courtesy of Phil Miller blog post from Nov. 3rd:

"Probably a dozen different people with connections to the school have confirmed that, in addition to the controversy that got him fired a year ago, Leach offended people around the program when the Gophers played the Red Raiders in the Insight Bowl in 2006."

It's bad enough they won't even interview him, but to not even elaborate on how exactly he "offended" anyone is just maddening

http://www.thedailygopher.com/

GROW UP.....who cares...if you can hire a winning coach, move on. Talk about being soft.

 

[calminnfan]

Due diligence includes interview Mike Leach himself regarding the situation. Everything reported is hearsay. Remember: CBSSports.com had obtained the e-mails of six current and former Texas Tech players and coaches disparaging sophomore Adam James, who has alleged he was mistreated by coach Mike Leach.

Due diligence = Talking to Mike Leach as well, not just listening to hearsay.

If it is true Maturi already had an encounter with Leach that was a bad experience, would you give an interview?

 

[calminnfan]

This is sad:

****UPDATE****

Since people keep asking (and well they should), here's the justification from people at the U for why they won't hire, let alone interview, Mike Leach. Courtesy of Phil Miller blog post from Nov. 3rd:

"Probably a dozen different people with connections to the school have confirmed that, in addition to the controversy that got him fired a year ago, Leach offended people around the program when the Gophers played the Red Raiders in the Insight Bowl in 2006."

It's bad enough they won't even interview him, but to not even elaborate on how exactly he "offended" anyone is just maddening

http://www.thedailygopher.com/

GROW UP.....who cares...if you can hire a winning coach, move on. Talk about being soft.

Unending road of controversy...not worth it. As another person pointed out, it is not just the UofM...something to consider

 

[Gophers507]

This is sad:

****UPDATE****

Since people keep asking (and well they should), here's the justification from people at the U for why they won't hire, let alone interview, Mike Leach. Courtesy of Phil Miller blog post from Nov. 3rd:

"Probably a dozen different people with connections to the school have confirmed that, in addition to the controversy that got him fired a year ago, Leach offended people around the program when the Gophers played the Red Raiders in the Insight Bowl in 2006."

It's bad enough they won't even interview him, but to not even elaborate on how exactly he "offended" anyone is just maddening

http://www.thedailygopher.com/

GROW UP.....who cares...if you can hire a winning coach, move on. Talk about being soft.

Good god people take off your pissy panties and get over it!!! You wanna win or not. I think the only person good enough for these people at the U is Jesus

 

[gophergrad]

This is sad:

****UPDATE****

Since people keep asking (and well they should), here's the justification from people at the U for why they won't hire, let alone interview, Mike Leach. Courtesy of Phil Miller blog post from Nov. 3rd:

"Probably a dozen different people with connections to the school have confirmed that, in addition to the controversy that got him fired a year ago, Leach offended people around the program when the Gophers played the Red Raiders in the Insight Bowl in 2006."

It's bad enough they won't even interview him, but to not even elaborate on how exactly he "offended" anyone is just maddening

http://www.thedailygopher.com/

GROW UP.....who cares...if you can hire a winning coach, move on. Talk about being soft.

I wish I hadn't written my Maturi re HIRE LEACH email yet. I could have included the point that after he offended the Gophers program pre - game HE THEN OFFENDED THEM IN THE GAME BY HISTORIC PROPORTIONS

 

[Duluthguy]

No, due diligence does not require talking to Leach to get his side of the story IF the search process revealed others in the profession warning us to stay away for other reasons. It doesn't have to have a single thing to do with the James incident. Do others in the know strongly recommend him? If not, no use in talking to him. If they all support him, then hire him. But no one on this forum can even to pretend to know that much about Leach and why he isn't being considered.

 

[glovedgopher]

Unending road of controversy...not worth it. As another person pointed out, it is not just the UofM...something to consider

What is worse a little controversy or more losing and a loss of ticket sales? Joel is already knee deep in controversy with his pathetic head coaching hires. Let the public take this one off your hands Joel and we will take the blame if it fails.

 

[glovedgopher]

No, due diligence does not require talking to Leach to get his side of the story IF the search process revealed others in the profession warning us to stay away for other reasons. It doesn't have to have a single thing to do with the James incident. Do others in the know strongly recommend him? If not, no use in talking to him. If they all support him, then hire him. But no one on this forum can even to pretend to know that much about Leach and why he isn't being considered.

Who is telling us to stay away from him? It sounds like everyone is telling Coaches to stay away from us. We are like two losers on Prom Night. We need each other to make magic happen.

 

[Maverick]

So a program with warts won't hire a coach with warts?

NEWSBREAK!!! Every coach has warts...even squeaky clean Urban Meyer and Jo Pa! Get over it already and hire the guy!

 

[jjgopher]

Leach was boozing it up in Tempe, missed some mandatory pressers, went on an all nite bender and still showed up to coach the game hammered, and STILL gave us one of our most embarrassing losses in our history.

 

[Iowasucks]

No, due diligence does not require talking to Leach to get his side of the story IF the search process revealed others in the profession warning us to stay away for other reasons. It doesn't have to have a single thing to do with the James incident. Do others in the know strongly recommend him? If not, no use in talking to him. If they all support him, then hire him. But no one on this forum can even to pretend to know that much about Leach and why he isn't being considered.

Well, you and I will strongly disagree here. If someone asked me if I did my due diligence in selecting a contract/hiring an individual and I tell them I did not interview the one's not offerd the contract.......my organization would say.....really, you just listened to hearsay and did not get the other side of it?

 

[Too Long in the Wasteland]

Good god people take off your pissy panties and get over it!!! You wanna win or not. I think the only person good enough for these people at the U is Jesus

I dunno. If JC wanted to run the spread then I don't want him. Also, I want a guy who can devote all his attention to the football program. Seems to me that the Son of God has a lot of other stuff on his plate right now. OTOH, we do need a miracle worker.

 

[glovedgopher]

Leach was boozing it up in Tempe, missed some mandatory pressers, went on an all nite bender and still showed up to coach the game hammered, and STILL gave us one of our most embarrassing losses in our history.

What happens in Tempe stays in Tempe! He was just getting his New Years Eve drink on.

 

[GophersInIowa]

What is worse a little controversy or more losing and a loss of ticket sales? Joel is already knee deep in controversy with his pathetic head coaching hires. Let the public take this one off your hands Joel and we will take the blame if it fails.

Just like any other coaching candidate, it's not 100% certain that Leach would win a lot of games at MN. How does anyone know that a Golden or Calhoun type coach wouldn't be more successful than Leach? Yes Leach has the track record at a BCS school, but that doesn't guarantee lots of success at his next job. Some of you guys are acting like it is.

 

[glovedgopher]

I dunno. If JC wanted to run the spread then I don't want him. Also, I want a guy who can devote all his attention to the football program. Seems to me that the Son of God has a lot of other stuff on his plate right now. OTOH, we do need a miracle worker.

Jesus would most likely get nailed for some BS recruiting violations that would landed us the death penalty. The AD will deny it 3 times and his OC Pete will throw him under the bus and watch out for the DC.