Sportshistory
Sports History, News, and Opinion
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Pete Carroll To Take Seattle Seahawks Coaching Job-ESPN Says

Written on January 9, 2010 – 10:09 pm by Sportshistory

Pete Carroll, USC’s coach since 2001, has, according to ESPN, agreed to take the job as head coach of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.  The Seahawks, who are owned by Microsoft Billionaire Paul Allen, fired Coach Jim Mora on Friday, January 8, 2010.

Coach Carroll previously coached in the NFL, serving as head coach for the New England Patriots from 1997-99 and for the New York Jets in 1994.

Carroll also worked as the Jets’ defensive coordinator from 1990-93, the defensive backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings (1985-89) and the Buffalo Bills (1984).

See also: http://historyguy.com/sportshistory/carroll_pete_coach.htm

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Failure to Apologize to Player’s Family Led to Mike Leach Suspension

Written on December 30, 2009 – 1:06 am by Sportshistory

An ESPN blog post (and that company would obviously have an inside lead on the details of this story), reports that Coach Mike Leach’s failure to apologize to the family of player Adam James led to his suspension, with pay, from his coaching duties at Texas Tech.

According to Tim Griffin’s post:

“Mike Leach’s reluctance to apologize to Adam James and his family led to his school-mandated suspension for the Valero Alamo Bowl.

The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reported Tuesday that the Tech coach did not dispute the facts after ESPN analyst Craig James had complained to school officials about Leach’s treatment of his son, Adam, after he suffered a mild concussion last month.

The Avalanche-Journal reported that the school completed an initial investigation before suspending Leach. Leach did not dispute the facts, but also did not believe he had done anything wrong. The Tech coach also told officials that Adam James was “a slacker” and that Craig James was too involved in his son’s football career.

Leach had until Monday to write a letter of apology to James and his family. When he didn’t, Tech officials took action.

It led to Leach’s suspension, with pay, from his job as head coach.

Leach’s attorney, Ted Liggett, told the Avalanche-Journal that he hasn’t given up hope that Leach will coach the Red Raiders in Saturday night’s Valero Alamo Bowl against Michigan State in San Antonio. Liggett said he could consider legal action to get him back on the sideline.”

This sorry story is not over by a long shot.  The attorney for Coach Mike Leach says they will resolve this in court.

I pity the poor players who have to deal with this drama so near to what for the seniors will be their last game as Red Raiders.

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Texas Tech Alamo Bowl in Jeopardy

Written on December 29, 2009 – 9:22 pm by Sportshistory

The sports blogosphere is full of banter over the suspension of Texas Tech coach Mike Leach on the cusp of his team’s Alamo Bowl game.  Based on complaints from ESPN analyst Craig James, whose son is a Texas Tech player, the school suspended Leach from coaching the upcoming Alamo Bowl. Leach allegedly ordered Adam James, who suffered a concussion in practice, locked into a closet because he was not able to participate in drills due to the concussion. 

The latest news is that Leach is looking into obtaining a court order to force his employer to allow him to coach the game.  If the charges are accurate, Leach will likely lose his job.  If the charges prove to be inaccurate, then forcing him out of the Alamo Bowl is unfair to Leach, and, more importantly, to his players and Texas Tech fans. 

Given that the father levelling the charges is Craig James, who hold a lot of repect in the world of college football as well as in the sports media, the unbiased observer must take these allegations with added seriousness.

For more on Texas Tech Bowl History and Mike Leach’s bowl record with the Red Raiders, go to: http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/texas_tech_bowl_game_history.htm

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Rose Bowl History Page Online

Written on December 23, 2009 – 12:04 pm by Sportshistory

Go to http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/rose_bowl_history.htm to see information on the Rose Bowl games of the 21st Century, including the two BCS National Championship Games played in Pasedena this decade.

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Las Vegas Bowl History: BYU defeats OSU in Windy Bowl Game

Written on December 23, 2009 – 8:41 am by Sportshistory

The Maaco Las Vegas Bowl of December 22, 2009, is now history, with Brigham Young University (BYU) defeating the Oregon State University (OSU) Beavers in a very windy desert football bowl game in Las Vegas, Nevada.  BYU defeated Oregon State 44 to 20.  This edition of the Las Vegas Bowl was unique in that for the first time ever, both teams entered the game nationally ranked, with OSU ranked #14, and BYU ranked #18.

This game marked the most points ever given up by an Oregon State team in a bowl game.

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9th New Orleans Bowl Won By Middle Tennessee State

Written on December 21, 2009 – 9:05 am by Sportshistory

The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders won the 9th New Orleans Bowl by defeating the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles by a score of 42 to 32.

See more on the history of the New Orleans Bowl at http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/new_orleans_bowl_history.htm

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New Orleans Bowl History

Written on December 20, 2009 – 8:51 pm by Sportshistory

The 2009 New Orleans Bowl matchup features the Southern Miss. Golden Eagles playing the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders on Dec. 20, 2009, See more at:  http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/new_orleans_bowl_history.htm

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New Mexico Bowl in Double OT Starts The Bowl Season Off Right!

Written on December 20, 2009 – 6:14 am by Sportshistory

The N ew Mexico Bowl provided an exciting start to the 2009 bowl season.  For a review of New Mexico Bowl History, go to:  http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/new_mexico_bowl_history.htm

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St. Petersburg Bowl History

Written on December 19, 2009 – 9:15 pm by Sportshistory

The History of the ESPN-owned St. Petersburg Bowl Games are now collected in a SportsHistory page at:  http://www.historyguy.com/sportshistory/st_petersburg_bowl_history.htm

The 2009 game featured Rutgers against Central Florida.

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LSU Beats Washington Huskies 31-23

Written on September 6, 2009 – 6:00 am by Sportshistory

LSU Beats Washington Huskies 31-23 in Seattle Washington on Sept. 5, 2009