College Football Notebook
Published 12:03 am Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Leach claims Tech officials conspired to fire him
LUBBOCK, Texas — Attorneys for Mike Leach claim in new court filings Friday that a day after signing a new contract last year a top Texas Tech administrator and two members of its board of regents “secretly agreed” to fire him before the school had to pay him an $800,000 bonus.
Information in the documents was drawn from depositions and electronic communications between university officials that Leach’s attorneys have gathered in his lawsuit against the university.
Leach was fired Dec. 30, two days after he was suspended following a claim from the family of receiver Adam James that the coach mistreated the player after he got a concussion.
Leach has denied he mistreated James and said he suspects the $800,000 bonus he was to have received was the reason he was fired.
Tech attorney Dicky Grigg said Friday’s filing shows despair.
“Today’s action by Mike Leach and his attorneys is another absurd act of desperation,” he said in a statement. “This is the legal strategy one deploys when the facts and the law are irrefutably against him.”
Georgia kicks QB off team
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia has one less contender for its starting quarterback job. Coach Mark Richt announced Sunday that touted redshirt freshman Zach Mettenberger was kicked off the team for violating team rules.
Mettenberger threw two touchdowns in Georgia’s April 10 spring game but already was facing at least a one-game suspension after being arrested on alcohol charges during spring break. The team didn’t reveal if Mettenberger was involved in another incident, or if his dismissal from the team was the result of more details becoming known from his arrest.
Petersen nears big payday
BOISE, Idaho — Boise State coach Chris Petersen is poised to get a new five-year contract worth more than $8 million.
The new deal awaits approval Thursday by the Idaho State Board of Education.
University officials announced the new contract during the Fiesta Bowl in January.
Under the terms, Petersen will make $1.2 million in salary in 2010, plus a $200,000 bonus if he’s still coaching the Broncos on Feb. 1, 2011. In four seasons, Petersen is 49-4 and has led the Broncos to three conference titles and two Fiesta Bowl wins.
Boise St. putting in new blue turf
BOISE, Idaho — The blue turf at Boise State University’s Bronco Stadium is being replaced with different blue turf for free this summer due to a reflective glare that has irritated fans the last two seasons. Athletic director Gene Bleymaier says light-reflecting fibers in the current artificial field cause problems for people watching the game in person or on television.
Vols’ Myles Jr. charged
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee safety Darren Myles Jr. has been charged with public intoxication, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after a disturbance at a Knoxville restaurant and nightclub. Knoxville police say Myles was arrested Sunday about 2:30 a.m. after bouncers removed him from the restaurant. Police say the freshman then created a disturbance in the parking lot and fought with officers as they attempted to take him into custody.
Texas’ McGee arrested
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas tailback Vondrell McGee has been suspended for the first game of the 2010 season and maybe more after his arrest on a drunken-driving charge. Texas coach Mack Brown said McGee will miss “at least the first game next season and will be working with the scout team until he is eligible to play.” McGee started four games and ran for 300 yards and two touchdowns in 2009 and was in the mix to earn the starting role again next season as a senior.
Associated Press
