Texas Tech AD addresses playing former coach Mike Leach in bowl game

Texas Tech and Mississippi State will meet in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in Memphis, Tennessee on Dec. 28 for their scheduled bowl game. However, given both schools connection to Bulldogs coach Mike Leach, some have labeled it the “Leach Bowl” this season.

With all the chatter about the reunion of sides, Texas Tech athletic director Kirby Hocutt addressed the elephant in the room and gave his thoughts on Mike Leach’s relationship with the school.

“First thought,” Hocutt explained, via Carlos Silva Jr of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. “As coach (Sonny) Cumbie said earlier, is that this game is going to be about the players that are playing for both teams and the opportunity that’s in front of them.”

He continued: “With that said, obviously coach (Mike) Leach is the all-time winningest coach at Texas Tech. And that’s special. He is a great who I have a tremendous amount of respect for. Things happened at Texas Tech a long time ago – I’ve been at Texas Tech for over a decade now and coach Leach’s time predated me. Still have a lot of respect and admiration for the success that this football program under coach Leach’s direction during his time as head coach.”

The tumultuous end to Mike Leach’s Texas Tech exit included lawsuits and more as both sides disagreed on the series of events which led to his firing, but did precede Kirby Hocutt’s tenure.

“I don’t know coach Leach really well, but we did cross paths together at the same time we were at Oklahoma – when he was offensive coordinator for Bob Stoops,” Hocutt continued. “And I saw what he did there, tremendous success every stop along the way. A lot of folks have great memories about what coach Leach accomplished with the football program at Texas Tech.”

Mike Leach trolls Texas Tech

Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach provided his first snarky comment since Sunday’s bowl assignment, trolling his former employers and future opponents at Texas Tech. The veteran coach took to Twitter to inform Bulldog fans that the Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium – which is due to be renamed Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium – will allow cowbells for fans at the Dec. 28 AutoZone Liberty Bowl.

Looking to troll Texas Tech, Mike Leach added a quick and witty comment on the history of both schools ahead of the bowl.

“Texas Tech has a bell that they ring but ours will be louder,” Leach posted.

Mississippi State has a longstanding tradition of fans ringing cowbells throughout the stadium, creating a loud and distracting environment within the stadium. Many locations have banned the use of the cowbells, but the stadium in Memphis has not.

Texas Tech’s bells date back almost 100 years. The “victory bells” ring out for 30 minutes after each Red Raiders win. According to Texas Tech’s website, the tradition began in 1937 after a win over in-state rival TCU.

Perhaps unintended, but the constant reference to bells serves as a quick reminder of the historic Liberty Bell, which graces the logo for this bowl.