LOOK: Miami-Ohio will honor Mike Leach with Bahamas Bowl helmet today
When Miami (OH) and UAB get together in the Bahamas bowl to kick off bowl season today, the challengers from the MAC will be sporting a helmet decal to honor the late Mike Leach. It’s but one of dozens of gestures around the sport since Leach died on Tuesday.
And what better homage to “The Pirate” than putting the MAC pirate flag decal — the MAC-themed Jolly Roger flag has been adopted by the league. This version of the decal reads “#FlyYourFlag” and bears Leach’s name.
The message to “fly your flag” is a not-so-subtle tip of the cap to a Leach maxim: Swing your sword.
It’s hard to imagine a more apt tribute for a man who was nicknamed “The Pirate,” and who moved to Key West, Florida, during his brief stint between head coaching jobs, than this remembrance happening at the Bahamas Bowl.
Mississippi State announced a scholarship in honor of Leach
Mississippi State announced an endowed scholarship for the late head coach on Thursday.
“Leach arrived in Starkville on January 9, 2020, as Mississippi State’s 34th head football coach,” a statement from the school read. “He led the Bulldogs to a 19-17 record, including an 8-4 mark in 2022, and bowl appearances in all three seasons. Leach’s offense led the SEC passing in each of the last two seasons. The Bulldogs defeated seven AP Top 25 opponents during Leach’s MSU tenure, which tied for third most by a Bulldog head coach.
“Leach coached MSU to its two largest comebacks in program history in 2021. Forever a college football icon, he leaves an incredible legacy as a husband, father, friend and leader of young men.”
Leach was the head coach of Mississippi State for just three seasons. He went a combined 19-17 in those three years and led the Bulldogs to a bowl game every season. The 2022 season, his final one in Starkville, he went 8-4, his best record with the Bulldogs. Mississippi State earned a berth in the ReliaQuest Bowl against Illinois.