A Leach Story

[oxfordrebel22]

Someone on the Spirit board mentioned bumping into Leach at a coffee shop in Key West, and it made me realize that I’ve never told this story on this board about yalls new coach. I know many of you already know that Leach is a good dude, but it’s still always neat to hear it confirmed. Below is a direct copy and paste from my response on Spirit board:

I bumped into him in a bar in Key West a few years ago and he couldn’t have been kinder. I spoke and was going to move on and try and not bother him, but he was engaging and friendly. Talked football a little, he made a joke about Ole Miss getting him in the Cotton Bowl and said something about how “we should be glad they (Texas Tech) didn’t want to be there” and smiled. He bought me a drink, and I told him I’d let him be, and went on my way. But, it was really cool the way that he was willing to sit and talk to some random idiot who walked up and said hello. I almost asked him if he’d ever coach at Ole Miss one day, but decided against it. That’s pretty ironic, in hindsight.

 

[FISHDAWG]

Similar thing happened with me and Bobby Bowden .... I never liked FSU or Bowden (although I didn't really "dislike" him) ... We were checking into the Marriott in Panama City at the same time and I nodded hello ... he struck up a casual conversation and wasted about 15 minutes there in the lobby talking to me (of his own accord) ... I left there with him owning my soul and a totally different opinion of him. Although I still continued to dislike FSU I realized you don't really know someone until you have actually interacted with them.
Cool story on Leach - thanks for posting

 

[missouridawg]

Similar thing happened with me and Bobby Bowden .... I never liked FSU or Bowden (although I didn't really "dislike" him) ... We were checking into the Marriott in Panama City at the same time and I nodded hello ... he struck up a casual conversation and wasted about 15 minutes there in the lobby talking to me (of his own accord) ... I left there with him owning my soul and a totally different opinion of him. Although I still continued to dislike FSU I realized you don't really know someone until you have actually interacted with them.
Cool story on Leach - thanks for posting

This is why guys like Bowden are such great recruiters. They have the gift of gab. It's something that I don't possess. I remember chatting with Stansbury on campus while in school in the early 2000s. He had the same gift. I kept trying to get away from him cause I didn't want to be a harassment or anything.... just want to let the guy live his life. He carried on for several minutes about nothing. He could talk your ear off.

 

[RocketDawg]

Mullen is certainly not like that, unless he's changed since he took over our program 10 years ago.

 

[RocketDawg]

This is why guys like Bowden are such great recruiters. They have the gift of gab. It's something that I don't possess. I remember chatting with Stansbury on campus while in school in the early 2000s. He had the same gift. I kept trying to get away from him cause I didn't want to be a harassment or anything.... just want to let the guy live his life. He carried on for several minutes about nothing. He could talk your ear off.

Was that during your freshmens year?

 

[Crucifictorious]

Ain't that the truth. Mullen never stopped to talk with anyone the few times I saw him picking up a pizza at Dave's. Just nodded. I'm not saying he should have listened to the old guys at the bar drawing up plays, but dang Mullen at least shoot the bull a little in the local town bar.

 

[fishwater99]

Ain't that the truth. Mullen never stopped to talk with anyone the few times I saw him picking up a pizza at Dave's. Just nodded. I'm not saying he should have listened to the old guys at the bar drawing up plays, but dang Mullen at least shoot the bull a little in the local town bar.

Some people are just ********.

 

[patdog]

Yeah, but he was our ******* and he was a damn good coach. I still miss him.

 

[oxfordrebel22]

Yeah, but he was our ******* and he was a damn good coach. I still miss him.

He was definitely an *******, and I do NOT miss him! But not because of him being an *******, but because he's a dang good football coach and program builder. Maybe one of the 5 best in the country, I'd say for sure in the top 10.

 

[was21]

told my young son hope he enjoyed those nine years cause that was probably the best nine State football years he'll see. Of course some will disagree. So be it

 

[oxfordrebel22]

told my young son hope he enjoyed those nine years cause that was probably the best nine State football years he'll see. Of course some will disagree. So be it

What he did at State was impressive. The stability he was able to create will be hard to replicate. He built the program the right way (I don’t mean he didn’t cheat, they all cheat, but he didn’t get crazy) and redshirted players and developed them. He’s a phenomenal QB coach, which was huge, especially early on with what he was able to squeeze out of Relf. I think he tried to squeeze Tyler Russell, a square peg, into a round hole, because he was highly touted and signable, but he still won some games. His ability to scout and find talent is top notch. I think he could have probably elevated the program even more in the second half of his tenure, but he never seemed to want to go after elite prospects unless they were from MS. I get that to a degree, but it’s sort of a defeatist mentality which was counter to the rest of his persona.

I don’t think he loved recruiting, but he loved scouting and developing and is damn good at both. The one big negative, was he never seemed able to beat more talented teams. But, he also rarely lost games he should win. So, catch 22. I agree that it will be hard to replicate that run, but Leach inherits a much, MUCH more talented roster, with much better facilities, etc. than what Mullen did. If Leach wins at a high level, and he may, then Mullen is a big part of that foundation. So is the MSU fan base and administration, who have invested and bought into the program.

 

[RogueBooster4you]

Mullen is/was the best. Will always be a fan. We didn’t hire him to be a nice guy. We hired him to win and he did just that.

 

[aTotal360]

Nice to an OM fan? Now I'm questioning his character.

 

[was21]

delete

 

[Duke Humphrey]

And thats why we were probably able to keep him for the 9 years we did.

 

[RocketDawg]

Absolutely. I miss him too, especially after two years of Joe. And he'll win a NC at Florida some day, when we get back to normal.

 

[tatedog]

Mullen is higher on waving and hugging than chatting.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

Mullen is certainly not like that, unless he's changed since he took over our program 10 years ago.

I was one of three at a table for four in Biloxi at the 2011 MSU Summer Extravaganza. In walks all the speakers, with Mullen in tow. After going through the food line, Mullen sees an empty seat at our table and asks if it is taken. We say, “of course not, coach” and ask him to sit. He was both personable and amiable...he talked about how he was ready to “beat both Southern Miss and Northern Miss in the same season.” I never felt like he thought he was too good for us.

 

[missouridawg]

I was one of three at a table for four in Biloxi at the 2011 MSU Summer Extravaganza. In walks all the speakers, with Mullen in tow. After going through the food line, Mullen sees an empty seat at our table and asks if it is taken. We say, “of course not, coach” and ask him to sit. He was both personable and amiable...he talked about how he was ready to “beat both Southern Miss and Northern Miss in the same season.” I never felt like he thought he was too good for us.

The spring he was hired, before he coached a game, he came to Houston for the Road Dawgs tour. We were standing in a group of four just chatting and he walked right up and joined the convo. My wife is a CU grad and we chatted about Dan Hawkins, who was in the middle of his tenure up there.

I think Starkville wore on him, as time went on.

 

[RocketDawg]

He came to Huntsville about the same time, right after he was hired. He seemed sort of overwhelmed and not really friendly, one on one. Byrne was much more personable, but that's a major part of his job. Maybe he was just a bit surprised at the large turnout, being out of state and in UAT territory.

 

[Mobile Bay]

The spring he was hired, before he coached a game, he came to Houston for the Road Dawgs tour. We were standing in a group of four just chatting and he walked right up and joined the convo. My wife is a CU grad and we chatted about Dan Hawkins, who was in the middle of his tenure up there.

I think Starkville wore on him, as time went on.

I think he knew he wouldn't be able to get to the next level here, especially with Saban at Bama. I remember before the UMass game his last year him coming out to an empty student section pregame. He just kept looking at it and them looking down, with his hands on his hips. I think that is the moment he decided to take the Fl job.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

I remember before the UMass game his last year him coming out to an empty student section pregame. He just kept looking at it and them looking down, with his hands on his hips. I think that is the moment he decided to take the Fl job.

Just another example of those damn millennials and zoomers ruining everything Gen X built.

 

[InTheIttaBenaHotSun]

Mullen is/was the best. Will always be a fan. We didn’t hire him to be a nice guy. We hired him to win and he did just that.

You're right, we hired him to win but we also hired him to NOT be a jerk. I met Mullen when he came over to speak at the AL High School Coaches Convention in 2010 or 2011. Walked up after his talk, wearing an MSU hat, and thanked him for driving over and representing State at the meeting. He didn't give two 17's. Spoke about 7 words and barely look me in the eye. I walked away understanding why he had the reputation he had with HS coaches in FL. Just a weird interaction.

 

[Barkman Turner Overdrive]

And he'll win a NC at Florida some day, when we get back to normal.

mullen won’t win anything of significance at UF (for UF standards).

 

[oxfordrebel22]

Nice to an OM fan? Now I'm questioning his character.

I left out the part about him asking how I put up with those damn MSU fans with me being a graduate of the flagship and all. I kid, I kid. He called y’all State, not MSU.

 

[Mobile Bay]

Nope, he won't. Big game Dan will Big Game himself into a critical loss, likely Georgia every year like how he always lost to Alabama. Even if he does make it to Atlanta big game Dan is gonna big game the big game. Looking like a fool chewing on his playcard.

 

[RiverCityDawg]

He came to Huntsville about the same time, right after he was hired. He seemed sort of overwhelmed and not really friendly, one on one. Byrne was much more personable, but that's a major part of his job. Maybe he was just a bit surprised at the large turnout, being out of state and in UAT territory.

I had a similar experience in Birmingham. Was introduced to him with another couple of people. It was only meant to be a handshake and a quick chat, but he was clearly not listening to or making eye contact with any of us. With that said, It didn't really bother me and I know a lot of coaches are just not into that stuff. I was always a fan of him as a coach.

Sure, a personable guy is better, but not instead of being a winner... Really I don't care too much about my coach's personality as long as he isn't a Petrino/Freeze level scum bag that embarrasses the program.

 

[FISHDAWG]

Nope, he won't. Big game Dan will Big Game himself into a critical loss, likely Georgia every year like how he always lost to Alabama. Even if he does make it to Atlanta big game Dan is gonna big game the big game. Looking like a fool chewing on his playcard.

yep ... thing is that it's going to take more than just one big game ... more like 3 or 4 big games to get a Natty and I just don't think he can pull that off

 

[atomic dawg]

I think he knew he wouldn't be able to get to the next level here, especially with Saban at Bama. I remember before the UMass game his last year him coming out to an empty student section pregame. He just kept looking at it and them looking down, with his hands on his hips. I think that is the moment he decided to take the Fl job.

I always thought Saban at Alabama had a little something to do with him leaving. I cant remember which year it was, maybe 2011 or 2012, the number 1,2 and 3 teams in the national poll for a couple of weeks was Alabama, LSU and Arky. During Mullen's tenure, he couldnt win his conference or even his division without being a contender for a national title. Very few conferences or divisions have someone thats consistently dominating as long as Saban has. I realize dealing with that is why those guys make the big bucks... its a lot pressure with high risk, high reward but its a tall order when you look at the teams, talent and money he was up against.

 

[o_tacodawg]

I remember Mullen walking into the OS field house when Joe Morrow was getting recruited. We were working out and as teenagers we were all shocked and tried saying hey. He zoomed by everyone without a single word and went straight to Joe to watch him work out. Then just left.