Mississippi State coach Mike Leach passes away at 61
One of a kind….in the best way possible. Many thought his antics were an act but it’s just him and all his brilliance. If he liked you he’d go out of his way to welcome you into his life no matter if you were the janitor or some big wig. College football and the world lost a great man. RIP Coach Leach
ChiefGritty
- Chicago, IL
When our grandchildren look back on college football in the first quarter of the 21st century, there are going to be two coaches that stand out as names that mattered and are remembered. One is Nick Saban for mastering football where it was and the other is Mike Leach as the guy who conceived and pushed football where it was going. A titanic figure in football history, it's hard to overstate.
RIP
RIP
RIP, Sir. You will be missed.
Fighter of the Nightman
- Chicago, IL
Wow, that's so sad. RIP, Coach. 
I am not saying this from an "Illini perspective," but I really wish we weren't playing them because it would be very easy to root for their seniors to go out with a bowl win in his honor. I always loved hearing what Mike had to say, and he was a fascinating coach and person from what I could tell.
Really sad news, and I hope the Mississippi State family is doing the best they can right now.
I am not saying this from an "Illini perspective," but I really wish we weren't playing them because it would be very easy to root for their seniors to go out with a bowl win in his honor. I always loved hearing what Mike had to say, and he was a fascinating coach and person from what I could tell.Really sad news, and I hope the Mississippi State family is doing the best they can right now.
Prayers and condolences for his family and friends, and the entire Mississippi State community.
the national
- the Front Range
Sad news. Was hearing some thing swirling late last night but was holding out hope. Shocking loss for the football community. Condolences to his family.
Thanks for posting this. I remember the suspicion and eventual acknowledgments, but I never read this detailed story. I think Mike Leach would love to know fans like us remember him this way.
Thanks for that. I just forwarded it to my brother-in-law, 2 nephews, my son, and 2 son-in-laws
I’ve always been a big Mike Leach fan. College football just got a little more boring. Sad day. RIP.
illini80
- Forgottonia
There are several of these threads, but if you are like me and didn’t really know that much about Mike Leach, take them time to appreciate what a unique person he really was. RIP coach.
What a loss for college football. Mike Leach was certainly "one of a kind".
His untimely passing leaves a giant hole in the college coaching community. RIP Coach Leach.
His untimely passing leaves a giant hole in the college coaching community. RIP Coach Leach.
What is it that Alabama does that gives you so much trouble?
I don't think we played well. I don't think we played well at all.
I'll tell you one thing that they do that gives us trouble, we've got some guys that are afraid of the jersey that says Alabama on it. We spent a lot of time frightened of their jerseys. You want to scare some of the guys on our team, put an Alabama jersey on, it'll scare the hell out of them.
Mike Leach, post-game presser after loss to Alabama
I don't think we played well. I don't think we played well at all.
I'll tell you one thing that they do that gives us trouble, we've got some guys that are afraid of the jersey that says Alabama on it. We spent a lot of time frightened of their jerseys. You want to scare some of the guys on our team, put an Alabama jersey on, it'll scare the hell out of them.
Mike Leach, post-game presser after loss to Alabama
The fraternity of grumpy old men with a rye sense of humor just got a lot poorer for the loss.
“As coaches, we failed to get through to them,” . “As coaches, we failed to make our coaching points more compelling than their fat little girlfriends. Now, their fat little girlfriends have some obvious advantages. For one thing, their fat little girlfriends are telling them what they want to hear, which is how great you are and how easy its going to be … and we had a bunch of people who wanted to win the football game but nobody wanted to play the football game.”
Mike Leach, post-game press conference, after Texas A and M loss.
Mike Leach, post-game press conference, after Texas A and M loss.