Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire honors Mike Leach at Big 12 Media Days

Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire understood the assignment at Big 12 Media Days, honoring a legend in the late Mike Leach.

Of course, Leach coached the Red Raiders for a decade, before leading Washington State and Mississippi State. Many still remember the late charismatic coach most prominently as the leader of the Red Raiders, and rightfully so, as he accumulated a record of 84-43 with the program.

As McGuire ushers in a new era for Texas Tech, he’s paying homage to Leach and the impact he made on the program. Just check out McGuire’s suit-jacket for his appearance on Thursday, as he’s rocking a pirate-themed lining to honor “The Pirate” himself.

#SwingYourSword 🏴‍☠️ pic.twitter.com/rUtPH6psx6

— Texas Tech Football (@TexasTechFB) July 13, 2023

“#SwingYourSword (pirate emoji)” Texas Tech tweeted, accompanying the phot of McGuire looking oh-so-fly in his jacket.

Joining the ESPN crew, McGuire elaborated on his decision, and his relationship with Leach that may not have been that personal, but he’s feeling more and more like he always knew him.

“It’s just a tip of the cap to Mike Leach, and respect to him,” McGuire stated. “Kind of starts with being a high school coach, and the influence he had on the game. You can’t go a Friday night and not see something that Mike Leach — a part of his offense, in any stadium in Texas.

“So I feel — I didn’t know him very well, but I feel like I get to know him more and more every day, being the head coach of Texas Tech.”

In his first season on the job for the Red Raiders, McGuire led Texas Tech to an 8-5 record, along with a victory over Ole Miss in the Texas Bowl. The future is bright for the program, if that’s any indication of McGuire’s abilities.

Regardless, it’s nice to see Joey McGuire knows you have to honor the past to move into a brighter future. Mike Leach had an undeniable impact on the Red Raiders, and Texas Tech’s current leader recognizes.

Continuing, it has been nearly three decades since Texas Tech has won a conference championship. But head coach Joey McGuire said there is belief within the Red Raiders program that drought could end this year.

Joey McGuire: Texas Tech players ‘truly believe’ they can win Big 12 in 2023

McGuire recently hopped on The Hard Count with JD PicKell and talked with PicKell about how the team is feeling about its chances in the Big 12 in 2023.

“If you’re in this building right now and you ask a player — and I’m sure you can say this about everywhere — but you look at our guys in the eye and you’ll feel that they truly believe that they can win the Big 12,” McGuire said. “It’s one of those deals of one reason is because we have so much experience back. Like I said, we got our fourth football school today, if you’re down there on the offense side of the ball, you’re gonna be like, these dudes are ready to go play a game right now. Just the speed and the grasp that they have of the offense.

“It’s a lot of fun to be in West Texas right now and we’ve got some fans that are pretty fired up.”

Time will tell, but Joey McGuire could be the guy that does it for Texas Tech. He has the support of the fans in Lubbock, and some good times are ahead.