Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach Suspended for Alamo Bowl Photo

Texas Tech Red Raiders coach Mike Leach has been suspended while the school investigates complaints from a player and his family about treatment after an injury.

According to the school, defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be the team’s interim coach in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2 against the Michigan State Spartans. McNeill will remain in charge of the team until the investigation is complete.

The player is redshirt sophomore wide receiver Adam James, son of ESPN college football analyst Craig James.

Sources say that the Jameses felt Adam was treated inappropriately by Leach because he was unable to practice after a mild concussion. Apparently, Leach directed a trainer to confine him to an equipment room for three hours and, days later, told the trainer to place James in an electrical closet.
The family released a statement on Monday.
“Over the past year, there has been a greatly enhanced recognition of the dangers of concussions and the potential for long term physical damage to players. At virtually every level of football coaching, cases where children and young men have sustained concussions have generated serious discussion of the importance of correct treatment and diagnosis.”

The statement went on to say that the Jameses felt that their son was, “subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health.”

Over the course of a disappointing 2009 season, Leach has been extremely frustrated with his team. He chastised players after a loss to Texas A&M in October for listening to “their fat little girlfriends,” and thinking the Aggies were a pushover.

Leach also banned his players from having Twitter pages after linebacker Marlon Williams asked on his account why he was still in a meeting room when “the head coach can’t even be on time.”