Not often is a college bowl game mostly about a coach. But this one is. Mike Leach coached Texas Tech to prominence before being fired after player abuse claims emerged. After making another coaching stop, the plain-speaking Leach relocated to Mississippi State. And, yes, this year’s Liberty Bowl features TTU v. MSU. It’s the “Leach Bowl.’
Courtesy Daily Journal
On December 28, Mike Leach will meet his past in probably the only thing about the Liberty Bowl that’s worth national coverage. That’s because neither team had a great year–Mississippi State finished 7-5, while Texas Tech ended up 6-6. But Leach has coached at both schools, and that’s a big storyline.
Leach coached TTU from 2000-2009, posting an outstanding record of 84-43. Leach is 11-12 overall in his second year in Starksville after going 55-47 in eight years at Washington State.
While Leach is sure to get a lot of press attention between now and kickoff, there is a coaching storyline at TTU, too. Texas Tech fired head coach Mike Wells before the season ended, and interim head coach Sonny Cumbie will lead the Red Raiders against the Bulldogs.
QB Cumbie (photo, TTU)
I went to Texas Tech and watched Leach coach and Cumbie play. QB Cumbie, who played for Leach, excelled in 2004 when he threw for nearly 4800 yards and had 32 TDs. TTU went 8-4 that year and beat Cal in the Holiday Bowl.
As a TTU alum, I’ve been following the coaching situation in Lubbock. Zach Kittley, son of the track and field coach Wes Kittley, is the offensive coordinator, and Emmett Jones is the game coordinator and wide receivers coach. They are both excellent coaches.
Vegas has MSU pegged as an 8.5 favorite, with ESPN giving the Bulldogs a 70% chance of winning. But I think it will be a close game worth watching. Pay attention to Henry Colombi, a Utah State transfer, the Red Raiders starting QB. The kickoff is 6:45p Eastern, Tuesday, December 28, on ESPN.
