In the ongoing legal brouhaha between former head coach Mike Leach and Texas Tech, two of the central figures in Leach’s firing -- Adam James and Craig James -- testified during the course of a four-hour deposition yesterday in Lubbock.
Adam James is the Red Raider wide receiver whose “timeout” in a shed-like structure directly led to Leach’s dismissal. Craig James is the ESPN college football analyst and father of the receiver who some say played a major role in getting Leach dismissed.
The latter testified Saturday -- with Leach in the room -- that, in the words of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, his role was limited in the coach’s firing. James’ attorney, Dicky Grigg, told the paper that his client’s initial conversations on his son’s isolation was limited to Tech Chancellor Kent Hance and regents chairman Larry Anders.
(Any reason father James couldn’t, you know, go to the athletic director initially, instead of going straight to the top of the Tech food chain? I’m quite certain there’s a good, solid reason behind that.)
Grigg did allow that his client wanted Leach gone.
“You can’t say that Craig James influenced the decision, but you can say from early on he was angry and wanted him fired,” the attorney said.
So angry, in fact, that, as noted by our buddy Brooks, “Craig James threatened on Dec. 20 to sue the University if it did not investigate the actions of then-head football coach Mike Leach.” So, no, Craig James had no significant influence on the decision. Nope, none at all.
Perhaps even more interesting -- and bizarre -- than the testimony of the father was the testimony of the son.
Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, told the Avalanche-Journal that Adam James testified that his Dec. 17 isolation “was funny”, which backs up the vibe given off in the “infamous” electrical closet phone video. Additionally, Adam James, who was diagnosed with a mild concussion before being “taken to the shed”, said he felt no physical harm by the treatment and did not believe Leach’s actions warranted his firing.
And, yet, the helicopter dad decided to push the issue?
Amazing what kind of power the ESPN brand gives people these days.