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A Tribute To Mike Leach · Johnny's World

• 0:02
  SPEAKER_00: Coming to you live from the Johnny Packer Eyewear Studios in fabulous Dark Vegas, Mississippi.
• 0:09
  SPEAKER_00: Please welcome our co-host, the best I duck this side of the Mississippi, BW.
• 0:18
  SPEAKER_00: And now welcome a true hero, a CF Warrior, whose favorite motto in life is Just Keep Living.
• 0:27
  SPEAKER_01: Here's Johnny All right, welcome back to a brand new episode of the Johnny's World Podcast.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: It's Johnny here today.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_01: I'm doing it solo.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER_01: Uh my co-host PW is busy during the Christmas season, uh helping people with their eyes and getting glasses fixed for uh Christmas present for kids.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm doing this one solo, but uh it's been a while since we uh came on.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um we kind of took a break uh in in memory of uh Coach Mike Leach and what all has been going on this past couple weeks.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_01: Um just Mississippi State family and Bordog Nation starved on Mississippi, just been struggling really bad.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_01: Um and over the loss of Coach Leach, it's just been real difficult.
• 1:25
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I just want to get on here today.
• 1:27
  SPEAKER_01: I went to the memorial yesterday and just talk a little bit about memories that I have with Coach Leach and uh a little bit about the memorial service and how it went for the people who were not able to um to watch it and uh just kind of talk about good memories we had with him because man, I can't say enough good things about Coach Leach.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_01: He is uh he was one of one of one of a million, you know, just uh best there is.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_01: And um I just want to talk talk to our listeners today about that and and uh share good memories I have with him.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um first time I met Coach Leach, uh posted this, I've been posting a lot on Facebook recently.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER_01: So if y'all have been keeping up with me on Facebook or social media, been seeing all my stuff about Mike Leach.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_01: And uh first time I met him was in 2011, um, in the fall of 2011 at LaMire bookstore in Jackson, Mississippi.
• 2:18
  SPEAKER_01: He was there signing copies of his book, uh Swing Your Sword.
• 2:21
  SPEAKER_01: This was in between Texas Tech before we got hired at Washington State.
• 2:25
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I've always been a fan of Coach Leach.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I remember vividly watching the uh Tex when he was coaching Texas Tech and Graham Harrell threw it to Michael Crabtree and and uh and then beat Texas, uh beat number one Texas.
• 2:38
  SPEAKER_01: And that was I was in Florida at the time uh when that happened.
• 2:42
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and I've just always been a fan big fan of uh Coach Leach's.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_01: And when I saw him in Jackson, I was like, I gotta come, I gotta meet him and get this book.
• 2:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I did, and I had on a just keep living hat that day.
• 2:51
  SPEAKER_01: And I remember right when he saw me, he goes, Just keep living.
• 2:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh and then this Matthew McConaughey.
• 2:56
  SPEAKER_01: And and we started talking about he was talking about his friendship with McConaughey.
• 3:00
  SPEAKER_01: And I talked about how I liked him, and and um we just kind of hit it off there.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_01: And I've just been a big fan since.
• 3:06
  SPEAKER_01: And in 2019, when uh we were in the process of uh of uh when Joe Moorhead got dismissed, and we're in the process of looking for a coach.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_01: I remember posting, uh posting that picture for the two of us, me and Coach Leach at Lemuria, and said, This is the guy that John Cohen in Mississippi State needs to hire because he would bring excitement to the fan base.
• 3:28
  SPEAKER_01: He's a legendary, iconic college football coach.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, it would be great for Starbucks community and everything.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: Little did I know that that's who we hired.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_01: I I vividly remember when my mom called and she was uh in the car and heard it on Super Talk from another guy who uh we miss, who we miss and left us way too too early was JT Williamson uh from Super Talk.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_01: Y'all might remember JT.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER_01: He was a great guy.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_01: And uh he was the one who broke the news on the radio that that uh Mississippi State had hired Coach Leach.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_01: And oh my gosh, I was so excited.
• 4:01
  SPEAKER_01: I I was so thrilled.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_01: So I personally I feel like I I'm laughing about it.
• 4:05
  SPEAKER_01: I feel like I had part of uh the reason why we hired Coach Leach because I made that post and then lo and behold, the next day they hired the man, and that's who we wanted, who I wanted all along.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_01: So um, so yeah, I mean I've I've I'd gotten the miracle drug and it was starting to work on me and it still does, but I had a lung bleed in it the night before Coach uh I came up here for the uh introductory press conference and with CF, you know, I have 40 years of lung damage.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_01: So um I'm still gonna have, even though the drug is working great on me and save my life, I'm still having issues.
• 4:37
  SPEAKER_01: I still have constant CF issues that you always have, and one of them is a lung bleed.
• 4:41
  SPEAKER_01: Thank God I didn't have to go to the hospital for that lung bleed, but but because I was determined to be out there at the airport to greet Coach Leach the next day.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_01: And I did.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_01: I went out there and uh this shirt, you can't see it, but I'm wearing the the Coach Leach shirt that they uh passed out that day.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_01: I had some guy try to fight me for it.
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he was like, Yeah, my this is for my kid.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_01: It's like extra large.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_01: I knew he was BS with me when he said it was a kid for his little kid.
• 5:03
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so but it was just tremendous uh um turnout that day.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_01: I can still see it right now.
• 5:09
  SPEAKER_01: Coach getting off the plane with a cowbell and walking around greeting fans, and it was just the excitement was just so it was so awesome.
• 5:16
  SPEAKER_01: I'm um I was so pumped, um, so excited about Coach Leach.
• 5:20
  SPEAKER_01: And and then COVID hit, you know, and and and the pandemic hit.
• 5:24
  SPEAKER_01: And Mississippi State football is dear to my heart, man.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER_01: And I've been a fan since I was an 11-year-old boy, and I haven't missed a season at all in 30 years until the pandemic year, and that was the year um that uh I couldn't go to a game.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_01: So um they had to stand in.
• 5:40
  SPEAKER_01: So I laughed about this.
• 5:41
  SPEAKER_01: I posted a picture of the the cutout that I have um of my dog Bo and he got to go.
• 5:47
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and Coach Leach signed all of them.
• 5:50
  SPEAKER_01: So I laughed.
• 5:51
  SPEAKER_01: I said, I can only imagine what Coach Leach thought of when he signed out when I can only imagine him saying, Wow, that's a good looking dog.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_01: It has to be a golden retriever, right?
• 5:59
  SPEAKER_01: The golden retrievers history, they started in blah blah blah, and then going on a long, hour-long run about the history of golden retrievers or something to that extent.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_01: I could see that happening.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so every time I see that cut out stand in a bow signed by Coach Leach, I always remember coaching.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that was in 2020, and then I was able to get back in football going in 21 and this this year in 22.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_01: And gosh, and and we've we've improved every year.
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_01: That's one thing I loved about Coach Leach is he always goes to these teams like Texas Tech and Washington State, who was like the banner bill of the Pac-12, and built them up.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, uh, and he was doing that at Mississippi State.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_01: It was obvious what was going on each year was getting better.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_01: Eight wins, eight and four this year.
• 6:41
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, we could have gone 10 and 2.
• 6:43
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, we had LSU beat Kentucky.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, Dandy beat Kentucky.
• 6:47
  SPEAKER_01: Well, there's no reason we should have lost that one.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER_01: The only two games we were out of it this year was uh Georgia and Auburn, but gosh, um Georgia and Alabama, excuse me, but everybody was out out of that one of those two.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_01: So we should have finished 10 and 2.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_01: But the way I look at it, if we had beaten LSU and Kentucky, we might have dropped one to Auburn or Arkansas or AM.
• 7:05
  SPEAKER_01: So um it all kind of evened out.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_01: But eight and four at Mississippi State University is a heck of a football season.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_01: And years ago, people would die to be eight and four.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_01: We were so excited for it.
• 7:15
  SPEAKER_01: So um, so props to Coach Leach and the staff, they did an amazing job this year getting eight wins and possibly getting nine on a bowl game.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_01: It just breaks my heart though about Coach Leach that he's not gonna be around anymore.
• 7:25
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, it's just so sad.
• 7:27
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I've I've taken it really hard.
• 7:29
  SPEAKER_01: A lot of uh along with a lot of state fans, you know.
• 7:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I've never had a death like that, like Kobe Bryant.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_01: I remember when that happened, I was pretty shook up.
• 7:38
  SPEAKER_01: But this has really gotten to me because not only Coach Leach was a great football coach, man.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_01: All the if you go to Twitter, I was looking at Twitter and everyone on my timeline with tributes and and stuff, um, honoring Coach Leach from around the world, not just Mississippi.
• 7:52
  SPEAKER_01: This guy, and I I posted, you know, saying, you know, it's one of those things that you don't really appreciate.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_01: I don't think you really appreciate it until after the fact that we had a legendary iconic coach at Mississippi State University that chose Mississippi State, chose us.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_01: And um, it's just amazing to see his coaching tree and all the footprints he has on the game of college football.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER_01: And just look at the guys in the playoffs this year.
• 8:18
  SPEAKER_01: You know, you got the guy at TCU, um, you got Lincoln Riley.
• 8:21
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, all these guys, big name coaches are um were with Wyke Leach.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: And say it's just really amazing to see, and and uh not just Mississippi, but a worldwide effect he's had on the sport of college football and the things that he did outside of college football that people are coming out saying.
• 8:39
  SPEAKER_01: And and I can relate to that because when I was a boy, and one of the reasons why I fell in love with Mississippi State football is because of Coach Jackie Cheryl.
• 8:46
  SPEAKER_01: And y'all know who listened to this podcast last year when I had Coach on Coach Cheryl on talking about our relationship and how he kind of took me under his wing and let me travel with the team and be part of the team, uh knowing that I was battling CF.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER_01: And I can see that same thing with Coach Leach of how he always going for the underdog and and helping out people behind the scenes and not wanting any um anybody to know about it.
• 9:10
  SPEAKER_01: Like he didn't he didn't want anybody to know.
• 9:12
  SPEAKER_01: It was just him that did it.
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: Like these stories coming out, like the little girl that last year at the Liberty Bowl that um after the game, she he promised to come in the locker room, and we all players were down, we got beat, it was a tough loss.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER_01: And he said, Hold on, open up the door and let her in.
• 9:29
  SPEAKER_01: And she came in and and it lifted up the players and the team and coach, and you know, that's what it's all about.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_01: And then I saw an interview last night where her dad um said that after she passed, you know, she's in heaven.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_01: And and when Coach Leach passed, she probably was like, Come on, let him in, come on in, come on, doing the same thing the coach did to her.
• 9:48
  SPEAKER_01: And it's just uh that stuff right there.
• 9:51
  SPEAKER_01: It's just uh you can just tell, you can see Coach Leach's heart, what what a type of person he was, and it wasn't just about football.
• 9:58
  SPEAKER_01: Matter of fact, if he talked to the man, he probably wouldn't even want to talk to you about football, he wants to talk to you about Bigfoot or Aliens or Geronimo or you know, history, anything outside of football.
• 10:08
  SPEAKER_01: That's just amazing about him, is that he was always learning.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER_01: You know, when you're a kid, you're curious about everything in this big world and you're a little kid, and you grow up, he kind of leaves that curiosity.
• 10:21
  SPEAKER_01: Coach Leeds never lost that curiosity, he was always curious about folks, wanting to know, wanting to learn, um, educating the mind.
• 10:29
  SPEAKER_01: And that's why he was such a smart guy.
• 10:31
  SPEAKER_01: And and he was always wanting to learn more about stuff.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_01: And uh it's just there's no one out there like it, man.
• 10:39
  SPEAKER_01: It's just it's really amazing that he that he was in our lives at Mississippi State um for these three years.
• 10:47
  SPEAKER_01: And um, there's just all these stories like this restaurant in town, where the food, where's the food at?
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_01: WTF.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I read where Coach Leach went there during the pandemic and established a friendship with the owner there.
• 11:00
  SPEAKER_01: And she would come and cook for the him and his friends and family and and teammates at the and uh at his house, and that they recently were struggling, the business was struggling when Coach Leach came and wrote a check.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_01: And um, and they're doing and to to save the business.
• 11:16
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, that just shows right there what type of guy he is, and uh it just can't just can't say enough good things about this man and and uh and just a huge loss to the world not be with him not being in it because he was a bright spot in the world.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_01: There's so much darkness and bad stuff going on in the world.
• 11:34
  SPEAKER_01: We need people in the world like Mike Leach, and it's just it's just sad that he was taken from us, but we can all learn from his um to to to pay it forward and and help give back, you know, and and that's what he did, and that's what he would want us to do.
• 11:48
  SPEAKER_01: And gosh, live each day to the fullest.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: Wow.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: Did Mike Leach live each day to the fullest?
• 11:54
  SPEAKER_01: He sees the days, he swang his sword, you know, that was his thing, swing your sword.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_01: He did that.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if he has any regrets, but I wouldn't think it was many because that guy lived his life on his own term and did what he wanted to do, and he was successful at it.
• 12:08
  SPEAKER_01: People like run the ball, coach, run the ball.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_01: You know what?
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_01: He was gonna pass the ball.
• 12:12
  SPEAKER_01: That was his thing with the air raid, and he was gonna pass it, and he was successful.
• 12:16
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, so I want to do a little recap of the memorial service uh yesterday at Humphrey Coliseum for those who couldn't come.
• 12:23
  SPEAKER_01: Um, they they started off with some uh with some songs before it started with with all the coaches and people from around the world, college football.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_01: I read that there were like 93 Jets that came into Golden Triangle yesterday to to come to the uh memorial service.
• 12:38
  SPEAKER_01: So this man was loved by many.
• 12:41
  SPEAKER_01: And uh they played Willie Neltz and uh you were always on my mind, and I couldn't help but think about his wife Sharon Leach and his his kids and grandkids because they'll always be he'll always be on their mind.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER_01: And and then and then they played uh Frank Sinatra My Way before the service started.
• 13:00
  SPEAKER_01: And I was like, wow, this is the perfect song to play because like I what I just said, Coach Leach lived his life on his terms my way.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_01: And and he did it, he lived it to the fullest.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_01: And that just uh that just was him.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_01: And it was a perfect song to start off with.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Dr.
• 13:17
  SPEAKER_01: Keenum started off the memorial service, and man, let me just tell you about Dr.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_01: Keenum.
• 13:21
  SPEAKER_01: We are at Mississippi State University, are so blessed to have this man lead our university.
• 13:26
  SPEAKER_01: He is uh uh just a high-class uh man, and I can't say enough good things about Dr.
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_01: Mark Keenum.
• 13:34
  SPEAKER_01: And so he talked a little bit about uh how when Mike Leach got hired, and and then uh he talked about the rivalry, you know, there's this big game at the end of the season, we gotta win.
• 13:44
  SPEAKER_01: And just a few weeks ago, there he was in the locker room with the egg bowl trophy with uh Coach Leach um after beating Ole Miss.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_01: And then uh Greg Sankey, Southeastern Conference Commissioner, spoke and he did a great job.
• 13:56
  SPEAKER_01: And then um the tribute started coming in, and um how mummy was the first one.
• 14:00
  SPEAKER_01: And wow, I I I thought he he was the best one of all because you could just tell the friendship between Hal Mummy and Mike Leach.
• 14:07
  SPEAKER_01: Um, they're one of those people that you would love to have been on a road trip with.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, he told the story about them going down from um wesland to um to try to find a player to um for their system for their air raid when they're starting the air raid, and they found a guy they wanted to get and get in Key West, but the university only gave them about$800 to get down to Key West, so they flew to Orlando and then they got in a 1984 car, Prius or something like Taurus or some type of car, and drove 10 hours to Key West.
• 14:39
  SPEAKER_01: Can you imagine being that car route with Mike Leach and Al Mommy 10 hours to Key West?
• 14:44
  SPEAKER_01: And I mean, they they he talked about how he was late and and uh he didn't say anything to him, and and finally my uh Mike Leach was late as usual.
• 14:53
  SPEAKER_01: That's what he was known for, and how he looked at how he goes, obviously you're mad at me, Al.
• 14:59
  SPEAKER_01: But then Hal just laughs and I couldn't be mad at you long.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_01: And then they get down to Key West.
• 15:03
  SPEAKER_01: He talks about the story about the pirate, how that came to be.
• 15:06
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Captain Tony's was this bar down there.
• 15:09
  SPEAKER_01: This Mike Leach's favorite in Key West.
• 15:11
  SPEAKER_01: He's named after the uh the mayor of Key West, Tony.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, I can't remember his last name, but anyway, Hal and Mike were in this bar, and uh it got to be about one o'clock.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_01: And Hal had to, he was like, Man, I I've got to go back to sleep.
• 15:25
  SPEAKER_01: I gotta go back to the hotel, I gotta get some dress.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_01: And he said Mike got stronger as the night went on.
• 15:30
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh we know that he was a night owl, he'd shoot people texts at two and three in the morning.
• 15:35
  SPEAKER_01: And uh the next next day he he comes down and looks at looks at Hal and said, You're gonna hate me, you're gonna be so jealous.
• 15:43
  SPEAKER_01: And Al said, what did you do now?
• 15:45
  SPEAKER_01: And Mike told him that after you left, uh Tony, the mayor of Tony came in and he started talking about about uh about Jimmy Buffett writing the song, The Last Tango in Paris or something like that, about pirates and all sorts of stuff, and and about how that became to be known as Captain Tony's the bar and all that.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_01: And they he talked about how they listened to Jimmy Buffett, Hell Mommy said that's all we listened to back then, Jimmy Buffett.
• 16:13
  SPEAKER_01: And I could see Mike Leach doing that.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh I saw a tribute to Mike Leach with the song uh lovely uh cruise, and I thought that was pretty appropriate by Jimmy Buffett.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_01: But uh, so Captain Tony's became his his spot when he was down there.
• 16:25
  SPEAKER_01: And our friend Hobie Hobart posted a video last summer when he was in Key West, and he walked in there, and lo and behold, there was Mike Leach in there, and he has his own bar seat where it says Mike Leach on there.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_01: I can't imagine what that was like seeing Mike Leach and Captain Tony sitting on his bar stool.
• 16:41
  SPEAKER_01: So uh it's just memories like that with Coach Leach.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_01: They'll never die.
• 16:50
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they say, what do they say?
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_01: Heroes remember uh uh heroes are remembered forever, but legends never die.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: And that's right with Coach Leach.
• 16:57
  SPEAKER_01: Um after that, Bob Stutz came up and uh, you know, he was the head coach at Oklahoma who hired when he hired Mike Leach to be his offensive coordinator, and he did a great job.
• 17:07
  SPEAKER_01: He ended it talking about how he would wants these Mississippi State players to go in there and play that ball game for Coach Leach.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Coach Leach would want them to do, go out there and fight to the end.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_01: And uh he commends them for going to this ballgame and and to fight and play for Coach Leach.
• 17:23
  SPEAKER_01: And then he said, I can only imagine right now Coach Leach is in heaven and there's fourth and two, and they're on their own 40, and he's going for it.
• 17:30
  SPEAKER_01: He draws up a play and uh he makes it successful.
• 17:33
  SPEAKER_01: And and I thought that was a pretty neat way.
• 17:35
  SPEAKER_01: And then Lincoln Riley comes up to uh after him.
• 17:38
  SPEAKER_01: And Lincoln Riley, you know, he's the big name in the college football world right now as head coach at USC, and he's got it rolling over there.
• 17:45
  SPEAKER_01: And he's the Heisman Trophy whisperer.
• 17:48
  SPEAKER_01: Caleb Williams just won it, but he also had Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray at Oklahoma and Jalen Hurts was up for it.
• 17:54
  SPEAKER_01: So he uh he's a great football coach, and all started with Mike Leach again at Texas Tech.
• 18:00
  SPEAKER_01: And Lincoln Riley told the story about how he was in the car.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_01: Mike Leach never drove, but in this particular instant, Mike Leach was driving.
• 18:07
  SPEAKER_01: Lincoln was riding shotgun, and Mike Leach had a phone call.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_01: He looked down, it was Matthew McConaughey calling him.
• 18:16
  SPEAKER_01: And they said Coach Leach is he was so invested in the phone call talking, he wasn't paying attention to the work to the road, and there was this truck over to the right.
• 18:25
  SPEAKER_01: And Lincoln was like, you know, if he truly coach sees this truck on the right, but sure enough, he puts the blinker and he starts merging over to the right, he's like, No.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_01: Anyway, they almost have a wreck.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_01: And Mike Leach was oblivious to the whole thing.
• 18:38
  SPEAKER_01: And the guy rolls down the window, and Lincoln said, He gets he told us we were number one.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_01: Would you know he was shooting in the middle of the finger?
• 18:45
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh Mike Leach rolls down the windows, hey, I'm Mike Leach.
• 18:49
  SPEAKER_01: He thought he was a fan.
• 18:51
  SPEAKER_01: I thought that was a funny story.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_01: And then uh Gardner Minshew comes up as a former player tribute and about his time at Washington State with undercoach leach.
• 18:59
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, it's really interesting to see how God works.
• 19:03
  SPEAKER_01: It's just full circle with with Gardner and the Brandon High School connection with Will Rogers and his dad Wyatt.
• 19:10
  SPEAKER_01: And Gardner just did a great job.
• 19:12
  SPEAKER_01: And you can tell he's he's one you can tell why Gardner and Mike Leach messed so well.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_01: He's that type of person you can tell.
• 19:18
  SPEAKER_01: Like Mike Leach just doesn't care what people think, and you know, he's gonna say what he wants to say and and not let it, and that's just it.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's just the way he is.
• 19:26
  SPEAKER_01: And so I can I think I thought that Gardner did a great job, and I commend him for who he is and and what he's doing.
• 19:32
  SPEAKER_01: He's playing Dak in the uh Cowboys getting a start this weekend uh for the Eagles.
• 19:37
  SPEAKER_01: So um it'll be good to see him uh do well.
• 19:40
  SPEAKER_01: And then they had uh watched the state player Gabe Marks, uh wide receiver, uh speak.
• 19:46
  SPEAKER_01: And then um and then Will Rogers and Bookie uh Watson came up for uh Mississippi State to talk.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_01: And my my heart just breaks for Will.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um he's such a good kid.
• 19:56
  SPEAKER_01: But you can tell it's really uh you can tell it's really has him shook up.
• 20:00
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, um Coach Leach was not just a coach to him, he was a friend, and he mentioned that, you know, and and um I just I just my heart breaks for him.
• 20:10
  SPEAKER_01: So uh please pray for Will Rogers and and the whole board off football team and the family because I mean it's this is a tough situation.
• 20:17
  SPEAKER_01: No one we've never been been in this situation, hardly anyone's ever been to lose a coach like this in the middle of the season, just just absolutely awful.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so please uh lift up lift up the players and especially Will in your prayers.
• 20:30
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but I thought Will did a great job under the circumstances of of losing someone like that.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_01: And I just hope that they can come out in the ball game and make Coach Leach proud because that's what they would want them to do.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_01: And then um his agent came up to speak, uh Gary O'Hagan.
• 20:45
  SPEAKER_01: And I thought this was funny.
• 20:46
  SPEAKER_01: Gary uh says that he was in Los Angeles and Coach Leach is wanting to meet um John Wooden, the famous UCLA basketball coach, because Gary knew Coach Wooden.
• 20:57
  SPEAKER_01: So he's like, All right, Mike, uh, meet me at this restaurant at this specific time, specific time, and we'll go meet him.
• 21:02
  SPEAKER_01: Well, in Mike Leak fashion, he was an hour late.
• 21:05
  SPEAKER_01: So Gary was like, Mike, where were you?
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_01: And he was like, Well, you know, I was with my friend Matthew, and he has a tree house, and we were in the tree house drinking Brazilian drinks.
• 21:13
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm only guessing that's McCone again.
• 21:16
  SPEAKER_01: And I can see them in the tree house drinking Brazilian drinks.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh Mike Leach, I remember him posting about if you have a tree house, uh post send me a picture of a tree house.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_01: He was fascinated by tree houses and wanted to see him around the around the world and thought that was neat.
• 21:30
  SPEAKER_01: We also and then also I was hoping for a mccane uh video, but we didn't see one.
• 21:34
  SPEAKER_01: But we did see one from Toby Keith sending the video, um, which was pretty neat.
• 21:39
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and then we had uh Dave Emmerett come up who Dave has been with Mike at Kentucky, Texas Tech, Washington, Mississippi State, and now he's with Lincoln Riley at USC.
• 21:50
  SPEAKER_01: And Dave uh showed a lot, he shared a lot on Twitter in this past week of memories and stories with Coach Leach, and he did a great job.
• 21:58
  SPEAKER_01: And then um then we had a pre Moment of reflect when Dr.
• 22:01
  SPEAKER_01: Matthew Holland came up and speak spoke.
• 22:04
  SPEAKER_01: And um, he did a really good job.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_01: And then they had the um Mississippi State Choir sing a song.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_01: And then we ended it with uh Neil Price, the voice of the Bulldogs, uh, talked about his friendship with Coach Leach because his he'd be with him every Thursday night for the for the uh calling show uh before football season.
• 22:22
  SPEAKER_01: And I thought, I mean, during football season, I thought he ended it great by saying that uh Coach Leach will forever be wrapped in maroon and white.
• 22:30
  SPEAKER_01: And that's the absolute truth.
• 22:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, Mississippi State, and I posted that the Star Wars Mississippi will never be the same without Mike Leach here.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, he left a lasting impression everywhere he's gone, especially Starble.
• 22:42
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's just it's it's it's hard to even say him as former coach or the late Mike Leach.
• 22:49
  SPEAKER_01: I just can't even wrap my mind around saying that.
• 22:51
  SPEAKER_01: It's just it's very difficult.
• 22:53
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but he has made an impact in in only three years here, uh, made an impact on this community that we'll always remember and cherish forever.
• 23:02
  SPEAKER_01: He's uh a bulldog forever.
• 23:04
  SPEAKER_01: And and um like I said, we just I feel like a lot of people didn't appreciate what we had at the time.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_01: He was a legendary, iconic football coach.
• 23:12
  SPEAKER_01: All you had to do was look to look to see all the people and the tributes and everyone coming in uh to honor this man and and for what he did, not just on the football field, but off the football field, just shows the type of character he was and the man that he was.
• 23:26
  SPEAKER_01: And and I just respect that so much.
• 23:28
  SPEAKER_01: And uh ball, like I said, I've always been a fan of his.
• 23:31
  SPEAKER_01: And um, it's just it's just awful to see us lose a man like this.
• 23:36
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh just please just offer up prayers for for his family, for Sharon, his wife, and and his kids during this difficult time.
• 23:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but you know, there's a lot of ways we can honor Coach Leach's legacy, I believe.
• 23:50
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I believe you in paying paying things forward.
• 23:54
  SPEAKER_01: That's what he was all about.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_01: Not wanting the limelight, just doing things behind the scenes and make the world a better place.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: And that's what Mike Leach did.
• 24:01
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, whether it was, you know, writing a check for a restaurant, well, we might not be able to be in that situation to do that, or we might not have the funds to travel the world like he did.
• 24:10
  SPEAKER_01: But you know what?
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_01: We can we can always learn, we can always put our minds to good use, and we can always be curious about things, whether we pick up a book and read a book, learn about something, go watch a Netflix documentary series.
• 24:24
  SPEAKER_01: He I don't know how this man watched and read and was up to date on every TV show, all sorts of stuff, and be a college football coach.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_01: I uh the man never slept.
• 24:33
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, ever I'll never watch Yellowstone again.
• 24:36
  SPEAKER_01: I think Coach Leach, he loved Yellowstone.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_01: Matter of fact, I remember him saying they wish he could hire Beth Dutton as his as his um as his one of his assistant coaches.
• 24:46
  SPEAKER_01: And and you know, we got Cole Hauser's son uh coming up to play football.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_01: And I was um I hate that coaching can be around with Cole Hauser coming up here, and maybe he would have brought Beth up here, who knows?
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_01: But I'll never think of Yellowstone without thinking of Coach Leach again, and and uh so, or just going outside, going for a walk, exploring nature, just doing things to put your mind to learn.
• 25:09
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Coach Leach was all about, not just the X's and O's in football, but the X's and O's in life, and just um helping others out, exploring the world, traveling somewhere, doing something, seizing the day, swinging your sword, living life to the fullest.
• 25:24
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Coach Mike Leach was about.
• 25:26
  SPEAKER_01: And that's what um that's what we can do to honor him in in life.
• 25:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, the last time I got to speak with Coach Leach, I was at the quarterback club this past year, and we just had our house uh uh uh pressure washed by Bulldog pressure washing.
• 25:43
  SPEAKER_01: Shout out to Chris, they do an amazing job there.
• 25:46
  SPEAKER_01: And I I I told him, I said, Coach, I just had our house pressure washing.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_01: Chris told me that uh from Bulldog Pressure Washington, Chris told me he did yours, and Coach Leach's eyes just lit up.
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_01: He was like, Really?
• 25:55
  SPEAKER_01: He was like, I love Chris, Bulldog pressure, they do such a great job, you know.
• 25:59
  SPEAKER_01: And then he started talking about the history of the process of pressure washing.
• 26:02
  SPEAKER_01: And then, of course, he was rushed and had to go, but he could have talked to me for an hour about pressure washing.
• 26:07
  SPEAKER_01: This guy could have talked about anything to anyone.
• 26:11
  SPEAKER_01: It's just amazing, this man, about what he can what he could talk about.
• 26:15
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I wish I had been able to talk to him about CF.
• 26:20
  SPEAKER_01: I think he would have been amazed about what this drug, miracle drug is Tricafta, and the company Vertex that made it.
• 26:26
  SPEAKER_01: I can only imagine what he would have thought about that and and talked about how does this work?
• 26:31
  SPEAKER_01: You know, how does it go in?
• 26:32
  SPEAKER_01: How does it do this?
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_01: And um, I just hate I'll never get the opportunity to talk to him about that and tell him about it because I know he would have been so curious about it.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, that's why I think that's why I love Coach Leach so much and respect him so much.
• 26:46
  SPEAKER_01: He reminds me so much of Coach Cheryl and the way he took me under.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_01: And I remember a story about Coach Cheryl.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, this our friend Strat, who was on our podcast last year, talked about they were going to oh they were at a bowl game, and Coach Cheryl was dressed up as clowns.
• 27:00
  SPEAKER_01: Clowns was Coach Cheryl's things, pirates, Coach Leach's things.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_01: And Coach Cheryl was dressed up as the clown, went in the hospital, visited the kids, came back on the bus, and Strat was trying to talk to Coach about the schedule coming up.
• 27:11
  SPEAKER_01: And Coach Cheryl was not saying a word to him.
• 27:13
  SPEAKER_01: They get back to the hotel.
• 27:14
  SPEAKER_01: Strat calls Coach Sherrill's room.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_01: He's like, Hey Strat, what think what's going on?
• 27:18
  SPEAKER_01: And he goes, Coach, why did you not talk to me?
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_01: I was trying to go all this over all this stuff on the bus with you.
• 27:24
  SPEAKER_01: And he was like, I was in costume, Strat.
• 27:26
  SPEAKER_01: Clowns don't talk.
• 27:28
  SPEAKER_01: So so uh I can only imagine Mike Leach dressing up as a pirate or doing something of that nature.
• 27:34
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I always wonder, I wonder if he would have I wonder if he met Johnny Depp and with Jack Spear, or I wonder if that was someone he wanted to meet or something.
• 27:42
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I can only imagine that.
• 27:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but uh of coach leach being dressed up as a pirate because he was the ultimate pirate.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_01: You won't think of about pirates without thinking of Mike Leach.
• 27:52
  SPEAKER_01: And um it's just all the good things that he did.
• 27:56
  SPEAKER_01: And I remember uh saw him last spring.
• 27:58
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he was on I went to that class that he taught about uh football strategy and and how to relate it to the world and stuff.
• 28:07
  SPEAKER_01: And so I went and sat in on it because I heard he did it at Washington State.
• 28:10
  SPEAKER_01: I wanted to go to it at the state, and his friend uh Michael Bumgarner, who he's traveled the world with, um, he came in for it and I talked to him afterwards, and he had told me that they had they were going to the to uh restaurant Tyler and Leach's, it was like, oh, it's outstanding.
• 28:26
  SPEAKER_01: That was Coach Leach's word, outstanding.
• 28:28
  SPEAKER_01: Everything's outstanding.
• 28:29
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh I went to the guest room at Restaurant Tyler after the basketball game the other day and thought about Coach Leach and I put a post up about it and and uh they they appreciated they they loved it.
• 28:40
  SPEAKER_01: So just like Border Pressure Washington.
• 28:42
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if they had ever heard the story about Coach Leach being so excited about Border Pressure Washingt and what a great job they did in the guest room about how it was outstanding, restaurant Tyler.
• 28:52
  SPEAKER_01: So if you if you have those stories with Coach Leach where he did something, share it, share it, let people know because I know that made them proud to know that uh that coach leach thought so much of their businesses.
• 29:01
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh I feel like that's that's one uh another way we can honor Coach and is just sharing these stories and memories we have of him and keeping his legacy alive because uh because he'll always be remembered in Starbucks, Mississippi forever and ever.
• 29:15
  SPEAKER_01: And uh just like he just like at Washington State and Texas Tech, everywhere this man's been, he's been a winner, but not only on the field, but off the field by his actions and and what he did for other people and paying it forward.
• 29:28
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, that's just uh that's the way we're supposed to live our life.
• 29:31
  SPEAKER_01: And he was a prime example of it.
• 29:33
  SPEAKER_01: So I know no doubt in my mind that he's in heaven, and one day we're gonna be with that with him again.
• 29:38
  SPEAKER_01: And I look forward to that day where we can.
• 29:41
  SPEAKER_01: I'm sure he's up there right now teaching everyone in heaven swing.
• 29:44
  SPEAKER_01: This is how you swing your sword right here.
• 29:46
  SPEAKER_01: And uh man, what a guy, what a guy.
• 29:48
  SPEAKER_01: But he lives at least behind a huge hole to fill in Mississippi State football.
• 29:53
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, like I said, I it's been Mississippi State football has been dear to my heart for for over 30 years now, and and it's just uh it's tough.
• 30:01
  SPEAKER_01: I've never seen a struggle in in the in anything like this before.
• 30:06
  SPEAKER_01: It's just been been real difficult.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_01: And uh so if you're out there listening to this podcast, please just shoot everybody up some prayers.
• 30:14
  SPEAKER_01: Bulldog Nation, man, all the state fans and players and coaches and everyone involved, but most importantly, please pray for Sharon Leach and his family.
• 30:23
  SPEAKER_01: They need your prayers.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_01: It's this Christmas season, you know, the worst time possible for something like this to happen is the holiday season, and it's right here.
• 30:32
  SPEAKER_01: And just I know it's gonna be so difficult for them.
• 30:34
  SPEAKER_01: Um, but uh I can only imagine.
• 30:37
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if Coach is buried or cremated, but I can uh I can if I had to guess, I would think he was cremated and sprinkled out to sea like a true power in Key West.
• 30:46
  SPEAKER_01: But I don't know, uh I don't know about any of that.
• 30:49
  SPEAKER_01: That's just what I think.
• 30:50
  SPEAKER_01: But I know Coach Leach would want us to live our life to the fullest.
• 30:54
  SPEAKER_01: I said that earlier and I'll say it again.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_01: What can you do?
• 30:58
  SPEAKER_01: I said, what can you do to honor Coach Leach?
• 31:00
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, I I said all these things, live your life, pay it for it, keep doing all that stuff.
• 31:05
  SPEAKER_01: And but what can you do for us?
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_01: You know, we we started this podcast up on almost gosh over two years now during the pandemic, and just a way to let people know about my fight with CF and and uh and Brandon has have created these glasses, and and if you still want some, you can get them in his office.
• 31:24
  SPEAKER_01: But we stopped selling them online because you kind of want to fit them on your face, you know, and not order them.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_01: I can understand that.
• 31:30
  SPEAKER_01: Uh so but then we started selling the coffee, which are more much more affordable, 20 bucks.
• 31:35
  SPEAKER_01: So if you're listening to this, please just log on to jonypacker.com and just and just buy um buy a bag of coffee, buy one for your family or friends, or anyone, and just that's that could be your way to give back.
• 31:47
  SPEAKER_01: That could be your way of honoring Coach Leach's legacy.
• 31:49
  SPEAKER_01: I know he would want you to do that.
• 31:51
  SPEAKER_01: Um, because the way it works is this this drug miracle drug that I'm on with and other people with CF, the only reason why we were able to be on it is because of money being raised.
• 32:01
  SPEAKER_01: And man, it is so expensive.
• 32:03
  SPEAKER_01: But there's 10, still 10% of the CF population out there that do not have a miracle drug.
• 32:09
  SPEAKER_01: That they are, and I know firsthand what they're feeling like because I had to wait while I saw other people with CF get a drug that that was their miracle drug, and I had to wait on mine and my my while my health was declining, and it was just the worst thing I've ever dealt with.
• 32:25
  SPEAKER_01: It was so awful because you're so happy to see it, but you're you're you're mad, you're just it sucks, you know.
• 32:31
  SPEAKER_01: This come on, why can't I get this drug?
• 32:34
  SPEAKER_01: And I know that's what these people feel in my heart, goes out to them.
• 32:37
  SPEAKER_01: So this could be your way to help out.
• 32:39
  SPEAKER_01: It's just buy a bag of coffee, 20 bucks, they'll send it to you.
• 32:43
  SPEAKER_01: And from what I'm not a big coffee drinker, but um, I hear it's great.
• 32:47
  SPEAKER_01: I hear people are enjoying it.
• 32:49
  SPEAKER_01: We had fun with it doing the pickums this past year.
• 32:51
  SPEAKER_01: Shout out to all the people who won and got got their bag of coffee and shout out to our guests this past year that we had on.
• 32:57
  SPEAKER_01: If anybody wants a bag of coffee that were on the guest that didn't get one, shoot us an email and we'll we'll send you one.
• 33:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um and then um, you know, that so anyway, um that that could be a way to uh to do to honor coach by doing that.
• 33:23
  SPEAKER_01: But you know, it's just uh just giving back.
• 33:26
  SPEAKER_01: That's what it's all about, and uh, and that can be your way to give back in just a simple way, um, by bagging buying a bag of coffee.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_01: But um, we'll probably be back next next year, first of the year, on um talking about the bowl game and uh and our basketball team.
• 33:43
  SPEAKER_01: Our basketball team started off high.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_01: You know, they were they were um could have gone 12 and 0 going in non-conference season.
• 33:50
  SPEAKER_01: That's what I was hoping for, but you know, we dropped a game last night and before Alabama rolls in town, which might be a good thing because the players are young and they need to learn from a loss, but um, I'm sure it's gonna be tough sledding from now on.
• 34:02
  SPEAKER_01: But but uh Coach Jans is Jans Handy's going on to start one.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_01: I really feel like really feel like it's gonna be uh be a good thing.
• 34:10
  SPEAKER_01: And uh funny story about Coach Jans is uh we did a uh I was at the quarterback club.
• 34:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he came and spoke in October, and uh he talked about how when he got hired, he he he and Mike Leach swapped numbers and he texted Coach Leach and Coach Leach text him back and and he told uh he told his friends, look at this.
• 34:30
  SPEAKER_01: I'm I'm texting with Coach Leach, he's my friend.
• 34:33
  SPEAKER_01: And that just shows, you know, how Coach Leach was man, a legendary figure, legendary figure of people respected and loved, and and uh and people are just uh just just a blessing to be around.
• 34:45
  SPEAKER_01: And he blessed our life.
• 34:47
  SPEAKER_01: He chose us at Mississippi State.
• 34:48
  SPEAKER_01: So that should be something we should be honored with and knowing that that he will always be a part of the Bulldog family.
• 34:54
  SPEAKER_01: And uh like I said earlier in the podcast, you know, heroes are remembered legends never die, and his legend will never die in Starbucks, Mississippi forever.
• 35:03
  SPEAKER_01: So he is forever our pirate.
• 35:05
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, but uh, but yeah, just do that.
• 35:08
  SPEAKER_01: Keep your mate, keep, keep if you want to keep the legacy of Kyle Coach Leaks alive by honoring him somewhere, just pay it for or do do something um for someone else and don't don't don't do it just to get notarized, no like, hey, look at me, look what I'm doing.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_01: Do it behind the scenes without anyone knowing.
• 35:25
  SPEAKER_01: That's what he would want.
• 35:26
  SPEAKER_01: So I encourage you to buy a bag of coffee, jonypacker.com, um, and help help those with CF.
• 35:32
  SPEAKER_01: Um, you know, with my fight with CF, it just it's one of those things like, yeah, I was mad, you know, why do I have CF?
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_01: Why why can't all these other people I'm growing up with don't have to do all these bills and treatments?
• 35:44
  SPEAKER_01: And uh and I realized, you know, yeah, it's it sucks that all these people have to do all that.
• 35:50
  SPEAKER_01: And then I was having to do all that when they were, but then I realized, you know what, God gave me CF for a reason.
• 35:57
  SPEAKER_01: I believe that.
• 35:58
  SPEAKER_01: I believe we go nowhere by accident, wherever we go, God is sending us like that bowl game, Tampa Power Chip, the only one that has a power chip, that's you can't tell me that's a coincidence.
• 36:08
  SPEAKER_01: That's a God thing right there.
• 36:09
  SPEAKER_01: And uh just like with CF, God chose me to have CF.
• 36:14
  SPEAKER_01: And I feel like it's my mission in life is to help inspire others by the way I live, by the way I live every day to the fullest.
• 36:22
  SPEAKER_01: You know, I have that the mindset when I got when I growing up with CF, you know, you face your own mortality every day, like, you know, I might not live that long.
• 36:33
  SPEAKER_01: But then you have something like Coach Leach, where you're here enjoying a party with friends, and the next day you're dead.
• 36:38
  SPEAKER_01: And it just makes you realize that you need to celebrate every breath we have.
• 36:44
  SPEAKER_01: Every breath, every day we've given are is a gift.
• 36:47
  SPEAKER_01: It is is something that that we should not ever, ever um take advantage of or uh not appreciate.
• 36:56
  SPEAKER_01: Every day we wake up, we should thank God for that day because nothing is guaranteed, no promises.
• 37:02
  SPEAKER_01: So love those, love everyone.
• 37:04
  SPEAKER_01: That's what Coach Leach will want you to do.
• 37:06
  SPEAKER_01: He wants you to love anybody that you're having a difficult with or problems with someone, please just forgive them.
• 37:13
  SPEAKER_01: Just just just love, have love, man.
• 37:15
  SPEAKER_01: Love for everyone, love life.
• 37:17
  SPEAKER_01: Coach Leach loved life, man.
• 37:19
  SPEAKER_01: He loved living and he lived life to the fullest.
• 37:22
  SPEAKER_01: And and and that's what I try to do with this, just keep living.
• 37:25
  SPEAKER_01: I try to live every day the fullest.
• 37:27
  SPEAKER_01: And and uh I think he would want you out there to do that.
• 37:30
  SPEAKER_01: So as I said earlier, go outside, do something out of the ordinary, out of out of think out of the box.
• 37:36
  SPEAKER_01: Coach Leach was an out-of-the-box thinker, you know.
• 37:39
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and I I feel like that that could be our way to to honor him and and all that we do.
• 37:45
  SPEAKER_01: So uh with that, I'm I'm probably rambling on right now.
• 37:48
  SPEAKER_01: So I'm gonna end this, but I just wanted to end it by by saying that to live every day, swing your sword, seize the day, and uh, and we'll always love you, Coach Leach, forever.
• 38:00
  SPEAKER_01: You always have a home here in Starville, Mississippi.
• 38:02
  SPEAKER_01: I know I'd heard that you were gonna retire, and when you retired, you're gonna live in Starville and Key West in between it because you love Starville.
• 38:09
  SPEAKER_01: And Starville, Mississippi loved you, man.
• 38:11
  SPEAKER_01: It was a perfect match, perfect fit.
• 38:14
  SPEAKER_01: And uh can never thank you enough for what you did for for Bulldogs in only three years.
• 38:19
  SPEAKER_01: I wish it was more.
• 38:20
  SPEAKER_01: And uh I really feel like you had it going, had it going, and I know you'd be proud of Coach Arnett, Zach Carnett, and taking over the Bulldog program.
• 38:28
  SPEAKER_01: And once he gets a uh because our defense was amazing, and that's funny.
• 38:32
  SPEAKER_01: I know why you coach Leach and Zach Arnett clicked so well because Coach Leach did the offense and and uh and he left Zach Arnett to the defense.
• 38:41
  SPEAKER_01: So now, Zach, if he can get an offensive guy in and get it rolling, I'm glad we're we got him on staff and promoted him because I feel like the players that we got is the air raid, we didn't need to start from scratch.
• 38:54
  SPEAKER_01: And uh we need to have we already have these guys in with air raid and we need to keep it going.
• 38:59
  SPEAKER_01: Um that's what Coach Leachard wants, and uh I'm glad we're we're carrying on with that and and um hopefully we can we can build off of it.
• 39:08
  SPEAKER_01: And I just hate he's not gonna be around for him because next year, eight home games, first time in school history to have that many home games.
• 39:15
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, and like I said, with eight wins this year.
• 39:18
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, I the future is bright for Bordock football.
• 39:20
  SPEAKER_01: It really is.
• 39:21
  SPEAKER_01: And this is all credit to Coach Leach uh for what he was doing with the program, building it up.
• 39:26
  SPEAKER_01: And like I said, he he he takes these schools, like Texas take Wash State and Mississippi State and builds them up.
• 39:31
  SPEAKER_01: They're not like Florida's or Alabama's or Georgia's, here's the middle of the road, blue collar, hard work in schools, and uh and he made them winners, and that's what he was doing at Mississippi State and it's and it's showing.
• 39:45
  SPEAKER_01: Um so uh so yeah, just uh just honor Coach Leach this week.
• 39:50
  SPEAKER_01: Watch Yellowstone.
• 39:51
  SPEAKER_01: Think of Coach Leach.
• 39:52
  SPEAKER_01: He would want you to do that.
• 39:53
  SPEAKER_01: Get involved with that show if you haven't watched it yet.
• 39:55
  SPEAKER_01: Um, watch TV, go outside and just read a book, expand your mind, do something out of the box, creative thinking, and uh and live every day to the fullest.
• 40:06
  SPEAKER_01: I can't say that enough.
• 40:07
  SPEAKER_01: Live every day and always swing your sword.
• 40:10
  SPEAKER_01: So we'll catch you next uh first of the year.
• 40:12
  SPEAKER_01: We'll be on talking about board all basketball.
• 40:15
  SPEAKER_01: Uh until then, swing your sword forever and L Estate forever.
• 40:18
  SPEAKER_01: Take care.
• 40:29
  SPEAKER_01: One more thing I forgot to mention about uh how you can honor Coach Leach here in town.
• 40:33
  SPEAKER_01: I noticed some of the stores are selling his uh the Leech uh black sweatshirts that says state on it that he would always wear sweatshirts and hoodies, pirate shirts, air raid shirts, all that sort of stuff.
• 40:47
  SPEAKER_01: And I don't know how long they'll be doing it, you know, um after Coach Leach is passing.
• 40:52
  SPEAKER_01: I don't know if they'll keep making these or not.
• 40:54
  SPEAKER_01: So um, but the cool thing about it is some stores, when you buy the Leach memorabilia um or donating part of their proceeds to start Will Strong.
• 41:03
  SPEAKER_01: So that's another way that I know Coach Leach would be happy, is um that's their way of giving back.
• 41:08
  SPEAKER_01: So um uh so go out there, uh all that other stuff I told you about, paying it forward and doing all that, do that, explore the world, uh open up your mind and stuff, but also go and and um buy some Coach Leach memorabilia.
• 41:23
  SPEAKER_01: Uh they have cowbells, uh, sword with a sword handle, pirate sword handle, um, black state sweatshirts and hoodies and all that sort of stuff, and and the pirates pirate shirts.
• 41:34
  SPEAKER_01: So um, and they go to a raid, uh, air raid shirts as well.
• 41:37
  SPEAKER_01: I even got some leech socks, so you can see them.
• 41:40
  SPEAKER_01: I have them on right now.
• 41:41
  SPEAKER_01: So all that stuff.
• 41:42
  SPEAKER_01: Um proceeds go to start with strong, and it's just another way the coach would be happy about getting back.
• 41:49
  SPEAKER_01: So don't forget to do that um while you're in town.
• 41:52
  SPEAKER_01: Thanks so much, and uh Merry Christmas in L State and swing your sore.