Dykes, TCU honor Leach with pirate flag sticker label
PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz.– When TCU takes the field for its College Football Playoff semifinal versus Michigan at the Vrbo Carnival Bowl on Saturday, the Horned Frogs will commemorate Mike Leach, coach Sonny Dykes said.That homage will include a sticker label of a pirate flag on the helmets of all TCU players.
“I think that’s going to be a huge part of my feelings pregame tomorrow– simply the effect Mike had on my life and truly college football in general,” Dykes said Friday. “I’m sure there’ll be a little bit of shoutout to Coach Leach before I take the field, just what he suggested to me personally in my life.
“I definitely wouldn’t be here without his guidance or mentorship and the huge impact he had on my life.”
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Leach, who coached for 21 seasons, died Dec. 12 at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson from a heart condition. He was 61 years old.Dykes was an assistant on Leach’s staff at Texas Tech from 2000 to 2006, working as wide receivers coach and later on co-offensive organizer. Dykes, who formerly worked alongside Leach as an assistant at Kentucky under head coach Hal Mumme, was heavily influenced by the “Air Raid” attack developed by Mumme and Leach. “He was simply an initial man that did things his way, outside-the-box thinker, and I simply was really blessed and lucky to have a possibility to deal with him, “Dykes said.TCU offensive organizer Garrett Riley played quarterback at Texas Tech for Leach, who was nicknamed The Pirate.Both Dykes and Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh matured as sons of college head coaches– Jack Harbaugh was at Western Michigan and
Western Kentucky; Spike Dykes was a long time coach at Texas Tech.Jim Harbaugh discussed his father talking about having fond memories of going to coaches’centers and talking store with Spike Dykes.”The real center sought
the clinic,” Harbaugh said. “They ‘d go to the hotel bar, have a beer, and all of an abrupt the paper and the napkins came flying.
And they’re drawing plays and couldn’t wait to talk football and tell them everything that you know. We don’t do that. That’s something that has actually altered.” Dykes joked how, when he was maturing, he would get home from a high school football game at 1 a.m. and his daddy would be having a beverage in the living-room with competing coaches, such as Texas A&M’s R.C. Slocum, on the night before a game against them.”So because spirit, I was going to invite Coach Harbaugh by the hotel tonight to see if we wish to open up a bottle of bourbon and reminisce a bit, “Dykes stated as both coaches chuckled.”I don’t understand if he’ll take me up on it.
“Said Harbaugh:”That’s method past my bedtime.”