Expect the unexpected with Leach

Interviewing Mike Leach is like chatting with Forrest Gump. You never know what you’re going to get. Quotable responses are anticipated, but there are no guarantees. Sometimes Leach will be charming. Sometimes he’ll give you attitude. Sometimes he’ll respond with a mumble or groan. Sometimes he won’t shut up.

The most innocuous questions often result in the greatest answers from Leach — his thoughts on global warming, Geronimo, his favorite book, did actor Johnny Depp make a good pirate on the Carribean?

Expect the unexpected with Leach. That’s why him getting fired as Texas Tech’s football coach on Wednesday should not have been a total shock.

Leach’s brain is tuned to its own frequency. Only he understands his own brilliance, but Leach claims even he can’t understand why he longer is coaching the Red Raiders.

Leach was fired for his treatment of backup receiver Adam James, a sophomore who complained of a mild concussion and alleged Leach twice confined him to small, dark spaces while the team practiced. James is the son of former NFL player and ESPN analyst Craig James.

Adam James hasn’t budge with his accusations, Leach firmly believes he did nothing wrong, and now neither party will be in Lubbock for long. Tech officials last week tried to shove Leach into an apology. Leach refused and shoved back. Leach initally was suspended Monday and then fired Wednesday morning.