College football: Embattled Mike Leach gets ax from Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech fired Mike Leach on Wednesday after the coach took the school to court to try to overturn his suspension for alleged mistreatment of an injured player.

"I'm very sad to say there's only one person to blame for this and it's Mike Leach," Texas Tech chancellor Kent Hance said.

Jerry Turner, vice chairman of the university system's board of regents, said "other things" came to light during an investigation of Leach's treatment of receiver Adam James. The sophomore alleged the coach twice confined him to a small, dark place after the player was diagnosed with a concussion.

Turner declined to elaborate about the other issues.

Leach was suspended Monday after he refused to agree to guidelines for dealing with players set forth by his bosses in a Dec. 23 letter.

When Leach decided to fight the university in court "in defiance" of his suspension, that's why "we are where we are," Turner said.

Leach was in San Antonio with his team, which is preparing for the Alamo Bowl against Michigan State on Saturday. His interim replacement is defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill.

"In a defiant act of insubordination, Coach Leach continually refused to cooperate in a meaningful way to help resolve the complaint," Texas Tech's statement said. "He also refused to obey a suspension order and instead sued Texas Tech University."

Leach later released a statement to the media.

"Texas Tech's decision to deal in lies and fabricate a story which led to my firing, includes, but is not limited by, the animosity remaining from last year's contract negotiations. I will not tolerate such retaliatory action; additionally, we will pursue all available legal remedies," Leach said in the statement.

Wide receiver Tramain Swindall said he supported the decision to fire Leach.

"I do agree and I'm supporting Adam and what he's doing because it's the right thing to do," Swindall said.

Swindall said he believes Leach was at times out of line in how he treated players.

"And so do most of the players," he said. "It wasn't just about Adam. It was always a negative vibe."

Stanford QB may play

EL PASO, Texas — Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck has had pins removed after surgery to repair his broken right index finger, and coach Jim Harbaugh said the freshman might play in today's Sun Bowl.

Harbaugh said Luck "is progressing nicely."

Tavita Pritchard, a senior from Clover Park High School near Tacoma, has been taking snaps for the No. 19 Cardinal in practice.

Note

• Miami junior running back Graig Cooper could miss next season because of a right-knee injury.