Cougars coach Mike Leach always has been an original communicator. Now comes word that he breached a new frontier when he was coaching at Texas Tech. So unhappy with officiating during a game, he complained profanely to the Big 12 commissioner — from the sidelines on a cell phone. The indirect bill for the call was $10,000 — the largest fine in conference history.
Via USA Today per RedRaiderSports.com, Leach was amid a 59-43 loss to Texas in 2007 when he reached into his pocket for his cell phone and unloaded on then-Commissioner Dan Beebe.
The story was told by ex-Tech quarterback Graham Harrell:
“I can remember in the third quarter, he’s pulling his cell phone out. He always talked to me between series, so he’s talking to me and he pulls his cell phone out and he called the Big 12 commissioner. He’s like cussing out the Big 12 commissioner, telling him like, ‘These refs are screwing us. You better watch my post-game press conference because I’ve got some stuff to say.’”
During his post-game presser, Leach called the officiating “a complete travesty.”
It isn’t known yet whether Leach has the cell number for Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott. But if he did, and understanding the epic mediocrity of conference officiating, he likely would be broke by now.
