Wow, I'm amazed at the number of people on here taking CML's side in this....based on what his lawyer is saying. I tend to believe the player in a situation like this. Why would Adam James make this up? Why would the witnesses make this up? If this is true, CML should be fired. You do not do these types of things to players, especially injured ones. JMO.
Which witnesses are you referring to?? The only non-biased witnesses in this whole matter (ie, not a member of the James family, and not a current member of the TT staff) have indicated that Adam James was a lazy brat. To my knowledge, no other corraborating witnesses have come forward on James' side.
Looking strictly at the facts that are agreed upon, and widely reported, this is all we know:
1. Adam James played baseball and not football his freshman year, had friction with the baseball staff, and quit mid-season (per Graham Harrel email);
2. The former WR coach at TT has stated that James had attitude and effort problems at practice (per email released to the media);
3. The former WR coach at TT did not want to keep James on the team, but Leach over-ruled him (per email);
4. James was not happy with the amount of PT he was receiving at TT (widely reported in the media);
5. James suffered a slight concussion at practice;
6. Thereafter, Leach forced James to sit/stand inside an equipment shed near the practice field once. After viewing the shed thru Leach's attorney's interview, it has running water, a fan, and an ice machine;
7. Leach forced James to sit/stand in the opposing team's media room for 1-3 hours;
8. Prior to any of these incidents, Leach and TT have had a strained relationship due to Leach's interest in other jobs, and his aggressive contract negotiations;
9. Leach is due an $800k bonus if he coaches the Alamo Bowl, and remains the TT head coach thru the rest of the season;
10. Perhaps most important, there are absolutely no allegations that Leach forced James to participate in any type of contact/physical exertion during practice which could possibly aggravate the injury, or further expose James to head trauma.
I got on some TT message boards, looked at a Dallas News station's tour of the "shed" and "closet," etc. Based upon the facts cited above, and drawing some reasonable inferences,
my opinion is:
1. James is a spoiled kid, with an entitlement attitude, and a weak work ethic;
2. James obviously did suffer some type of concussion injury;
3. James' doctor released him to practice, but suggested that he not expose himself to bright light (common advice for concussions);
4. James showed up at practice in street clothes with shades on, and told the staff he couldn't go out that day;
5. Leach disciplined James in a way that both fit the unique situation, yet did not endanger him, and actually fit with his treating doctor's advice;
6. Certain members of the TT administration still have an axe to grind with Leach, and this became a convenient, and media friendly way to (1) throw egg on Leach's face; (2) put a very public reprimand in his HR file to damage his marketability to other schools; (3) probably run him out of Lubbock; and (4) possibly save TT $800k in the process, while (5) taking the same $800k out of Leach's pocket.
