Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach delivers Delivery Room Advice

Wednesday Oct. 12 Mike Leach took phone calls from reporters on the weekly SEC Teleconference. October 12 is also the due date for my second child. This baby is in no rush to move. Given extra time to prepare to bring a new life into this world, I was obligated to ask Mike Leach for delivery room advice. The outspoken Mississippi State head coach and father of four was happy to share a few tips once he learned more details.

“You never know when lift-off is on those things.” He asked, “This is the first one?”

“It’s actually No. 2,” I replied.

“Number two usually happens a little faster than number one. I would say go, for sure. I was at all of my kids’ (births). I almost missed my son though. He popped out real fast,” Leach recalled.

In case my wife is reading this, I always planned on attending the delivery of our child. There’s nothing that would make me miss it in the world, not even a fourth quarter comeback win for Will Levis over a Top 25 team at Kroger Field. Now, back to what the Mississippi State coach was saying.

“The first one I waited, well shoot, probably 22 hours. I’ll say this, bring provisions. Make sure you have some food. I ordered pizza at one of em. The guy comes in the hospital saying, ‘Who ordered pizza?’ Of course, I did. But you’re going to want some food. Definitely bring some food. It is a heck of a day. It’s pretty exciting.”

After one childbirth, this reporter can confirm that witnessing the birth of your child is exciting. Our first son was born about two weeks after COVID-19 shut down the world. That also meant the hospital’s cafeteria was shut down for spouses. I can also confirm that extra food is a necessity. In 2020 I packed a couple of PB&Js. They were wonderful, but I would have happily exchanged one of those smooshed, soggy sandwiches for a hot slice or two or ten.

Mike Leach actually has some delivery room experience in the state of Kentucky. While serving as the offensive coordinator for Hal Mumme in 1998, his wife went into labor in Lexington.

“Thursday night she went in, spent the night (at the hospital). My daughter came, had my daughter and I hurried to the bus to catch the plane to Gainesville,” Mike Leach recalled. “We went down and played Florida. I literally went from the delivery room, my daughter had been around for about two hours, and caught the bus and the plane to Gainesville to go play Florida.”

Leach did not get to celebrate the birth of his daughter with a win as Kentucky fell 51-35 to Steve Spurrier’s Gators. Hopefully I will be celebrating a Kentucky victory over Mike Leach and the Mississippi State Bulldogs with a happy and healthy newborn this Saturday.