Emails Provide Deliciously Candid Insight Into Mike Leach's Relationship with Texas Tech

Earlier this week, Spencer Hall alluded to the "contentious" nature of the negotiations surrounding the contract from which Mike Leach was recently relieved. Now, emails obtained by the Dallas Morning News illuminate just how contentious those negotiations really were.

The exchanges, primarily between Texas Tech Chancellor "We" Kent Hance "If We Want To" (pictured) and booster Jim Sowell, can be read here. And my, do they provide a wonderful first-hand look into the animosity that existed between the now ex-head coach and the school long before all the recent player imprisoning shenanigans.

Some choice quotes:

• From Sowell to Hance, on December 18th, 2008: "Maybe it's because Leach is a lawyer, maybe it's his agents, maybe it's just greed - I don't know, but I'm tired of the "Mike Leach Contract Soap Opera" every few years...He won 11 games this year - big deal - two other Tech coaches did it before him and it didn't take either one of them 9 years to do it...In spite of being named Big 12 Coach of the Year, he is NOT a hot commodity. If he was, he would already be gone."

• From Sowell to Hance, on December 30th, 2008: "...a buyout keeps you from getting blackmailed into giving Mike a raise when next year his 2 Jerry McGuire wannabes [Leach's agents at IMG] get him another phantom interview to put pressure on you to give Mike a raise...I promise you our prospects for getting a better coach are much higher than Mike's prospects of getting a better job."

• From Anonymous Leach Supporter to Hance, on February 8th, 2009: "Regardless of what you think [Mike] has feelings and is sensitive...Mike is doing it again, but, he is not a 'good ol' boy', he's a quirky intellect who is a football coach. Love him or hate him, you guys should not be bowing your necks and running him off because you can't get along with or relate to some city slicker Yankee agents."

• From Hance to Sowell and others, on December 30th, 2008: "Don't share any of these with anyone."

Oops. Damn the Dallas Morning News and their open-records requests! And to think that this disclosure would not have been possible if it weren't for the diligent filing efforts of Hance's assistant, Linda Steele. Oh, Linda - you're too pretty to be cooped up behind that big ol' desk all day. Tell you what, let's say you and I grab a cup of coffee and talk about turning it into dinner. You know I won't take no for an answer, girl!

EXCLUSIVE: E-mails show rocky relationship between Texas Tech and Leach [Dallas News]

The Brief: Mike Leach Fired At Texas Tech And What It Means [SB Nation]