CELINA, Texas ― It’s been two weeks since the trouble started for then Texas Tech football coach Mike Leach. Here is the timeline of events:
Dec.16 ― Adam James suffered a concussion
Dec. 17 ― James says he is ordered to stand in a dark shed at the Red Raiders’ practice facility
Dec. 19 ― James is ordered to stand in an electrical closet
Dec. 28 ― Coach Leach is suspended
Dec. 29 ― Coach Leach is fired
Some people blame the coach; others blame the player.
In Celina, where people know the player, there is doubt as to whether he is at fault.
Adam James played football and baseball before graduating from Celina High School and enrolling at Texas Tech University.
On Wednesday, coaches and former Celina High School football players described James as a good player and a good kid who practiced hard and did everything he was asked to do.
"I can't speak for what's gone on at Texas Tech and what's happened there," said Bill Elliott, Celina's assistant football coach. "Who knows what goes on in that program? But as far as we had here, he was always a good kid for us, and he never had any issue for us."
Elliott said he was surprised to hear of the accusations involving his former player.
"As you go back 20 to 30 years ago, even when I played, it was so much different because there wasn't near as much exposure in the way coaches handle things and handle injuries, and it's really tragic," he said. "We're under a microscope all the time now."
Yale University Sophomore Adam Thomas, who played with James at Celina, said his family would not have make a big deal over Leach's behavior unless they knew there was something very serious going on.
"I know he hasn't been a star player out of Tech or anything like that, but I know he was a good player in Celina and always worked for the team," Thomas said.
Celina parent Ken Blackburn, who knows the Jameses, said it's a sad day on many fronts.
"I feel sorry for the James family to be put under this light, but I think the truth will come out, but injury has been done to the family," Blackburn said.
