Raiders Still Seeing Red?

Six assistants out at Texas Tech
ESPN.com news services

Texas Tech defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill and four other assistant coaches were fired Wednesday as new Red Raiders coach Tommy Tuberville cleared the way for his own staff.

McNeill and assistants Lincoln Riley, Clay McGuire, Brian Mitchell and Eric Russell were let go on Wednesday. A sixth assistant, Carlos Mainord, is retiring.

So far, Tuberville has hired Neal Brown, formerly of Troy, as offensive coordinator. And The Tuscaloosa News reported Wednesday that Alabama linebackers coach James Willis had agreed in principle to become the Red Raiders' defensive coordinator, according to a source close to the situation. Willis worked with Tuberville at Auburn for three seasons, according to the report.

Riley, who called offensive plays in Texas Tech's 41-31 win over Michigan State in the Valero Alamo Bowl, released a statement asking the school's supporters to support back the new regime and the players, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.

"I know many people are upset about many things that have happened, but that is the hand that we have all been dealt," Riley wrote, according to the report. "During this time it is important for all Texas Tech fans to pull together behind the new staff and, most importantly, the players. You have a special group of young men that represent you, and I encourage every Red Raider to never take that for granted."

Meanwhile, "Team Leach," a group of Leach's supporters, was planning to demonstrate Thursday on campus in support of the fired coach.

"[The rally] is to show there are a significant number of people who have concerns about the way coach Leach was fired," group spokesman Charlie Hodges said, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. "We have a number of questions we'd like to have answers to. We don't want anything swept under the rug."

I was wondering how bad the backlash would be against Tech for the whole Leach firing and I guess the fact that the "Team Leach" rally is still going to happen is a good sign that not everyone is on board with the new team. These firings probably didn't help. I'll agree that Lincoln Riley called a great game at the Alamo Bowl but his fate was probably sealed when he didn't distance himself from the Leach/James scandal immediately. Not to mention I think Tuberville does want to change the offense. I'm just not sure to what to degree.

So when will all the fans finally get on board? Not sure. There still seems to be a fair amount of pissing and moaning but whether the checks will stop rolling in all together is yet to be seen. But I'll guarantee you there is one group of people not upset at all over Leach's firing and willing to welcome Tommy T to town. You guessed it - the fat little girlfriends.



P.S. - Apparently Leach has also been contacted about the South Florida opening. Because USF doesn't hit its players. They just get to go to "time out" in the toolshed. Just remember this, noone puts baby in a corner and NOBODY CIRCLES THE WAGONS LIKE THE SOUTH FLORIDA BULLS!

P.P.S. - BREAKING NEWS - South Florida hired Skip Holtz. I guess they wanted a real pirate instead of a shaggy haired overweight guy who's obsessed with pirates.