Former Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach was announced as a candidate for the latest class of College Football Hall of Fame honorees. Will "The Pirate" make his way into the elite group?
Longtime head coach Mike Leach is nearing immortality after landing on the College Football Hall of Fame's Class of 2027 ballot. It is a move that has been long awaited following the tragic death of the iconic figure in 2022.
Leach is arguably most well-known for his stint with Texas Tech, where he turned the Red Raiders into a household name throughout the 2000s. While a spat between university administration and Leach led to a bitter separation, Texas Tech faithful have continued to admire him for all he did for the program.
Affectionately dubbed "The Pirate", Leach is credited with pioneering the "Air Raid" style of offense that revolutionized the sport and spread across the nation from its roots in Lubbock. This high-flying scheme earned Leach 9 bowl game appearances--every season he was in Lubbock--and a bounty of wins.
Although he won a plethora of matchups during his 21-year tenure with three different programs, Leach boosted his reputation as one of college football's most entertaining and off-the-wall characters. He provided some of the most hilarious press conference moments and on-field interviews that touched on topics far beyond football.
For all that he did for not only Texas Tech but also Washington State and Mississippi State, Leach remained ineligible for entry into the Hall of Fame due to requirements involving winning percentage. Leach ended his career winning 59.6 percent of his games, which was below the .600 threshold mandated by the HOF.
However, that bar was lowered to 59.5 percent last May, in a move that many speculated was to allow Leach to be honored for his contributions to the sport. Now, he is officially up for consideration four years after his passing.
According to reports, Mississippi State was the program that nominated Leach for selection. He ended his career with the Bulldogs and helped turn the program around like he did with his previous two stops.
Despite the Bulldogs leading the charge in getting Leach into the illustrious group, there is support for the campaign from those at with Texas Tech.
Former Red Raider under Leach and current Board of Regents President Cody Campbell shared support for his head coach.
"Well deserved, and it's about time!!," wrote Campbell on X while reposting the news.
While the votes have yet to be cast, all signs point to Leach being recognized amongst the rest of the greats college football has seen and will be able to inspire generations to swing their sword for generations to come in the sport's most hallowed hall.
