Callers on Paul Finebaum Show voice support for Mississippi State football's Mike Leach
The tone among callers on SEC Network’s Paul Finebaum Show was different on Monday. The crazed calls from across the SEC footprint were limited.
Instead, it was a somber show as the news of Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach hit a standstill. Leach was taken to University of Mississippi Medical Center on Sunday after suffering a heart attack in Starkville, sources told the Clarion Ledger. He is in critical condition, according to a statement from Mississippi State on Monday.
The nerves of what the next announcement holds were evident in the voices of those calling into the show.
“I hope he makes it through,” a caller identified as Darrell from Columbus, Georgia, said. “If he doesn’t, there will never, ever, ever be another Mike Leach. He (is) absolutely legendary. The day Mississippi State hired him, I knew they had a winner.”
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The show frequently aired montages of previous interviews from Leach, which exemplified what the coach is best known for. Though his Air Raid offense has been innovative, and his coaching tree is among the most renowned in the sport, Leach’s personality has stuck with fans.
His rants about Bigfoot, dinosaurs and pirates are just as popular as his spread offense. It’s clear social media is doing it’s job to highlight Leach in a positive way.
“Twitter is so full of Mike Leach stories that it had me in tears,” Randa from Alabama said.
“He’s a hoot, and the world needs more hoots,” Nick from Louisiana later added.
The sentiment was shared among fans from across the SEC, and it put rivalries aside. Multiple callers admitted to being Ole Miss fans. However, their admiration for Leach and their desire for him to fight on persisted.
“I hope and pray that by some miracle coach Leach will get through this,” Paul from Mississippi, who is an Ole Miss graduate, said. “He is a person that’s impossible to dislike. He’s got that great persona. So intelligent. So fun to listen to. He’s a very good person and one that we all love even if we don’t like Mississippi State. Hotty Toddy, but God bless Coach Leach and his family.”
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Paul Finebaum Show callers share love of Mississippi State's Mike Leach
