Texas Tech's Mike Leach marches to the beat of a different drummer. This you know. When he started as the Red Raiders head coach in 2000, his heavily pass-oriented offense defied convention in college football. Now many teams follow in his anti-Woody Hayes approach. Leach isn't afraid to try anything if it can potentially help his team and his latest endeavor might be his most bizarre, ever.
You've already heard about how Washington State's QB situation has become so pathetic, they had open tryouts on campus to fill a roster spot. Nearly as desperate, Texas Tech found their new kicker during a halftime field goal contest.
During the Red Raiders tour of D-1AA opponents earlier this season, a random student was selected to attempt a 30-yard field goal and win free rent for one month. Matt Williams, the student selected, not only drilled the field goal and college his prize, but may also be on the verge of winning free tuition for the rest of college.
“(Red Raiders coach Mike Leach) happened to see it, and he sent one of our staff members running up the tunnel after the kid,” said Texas Tech assistant athletic director Chris Cook, who described the kick as “smooth and beautiful.”
Leach and Williams stayed in touch after that game, and now he's on the roster and will likely be kicking extra points this weekend vs Kansas.
Jayhawks coach Mark Mangino was all about the try anything approach:
“Hey, in this profession, this business, you do what you gotta do,” Mangino said. “If there’s a couple of guys running around our stadium here that could cover (Texas Tech all-American receiver Michael) Crabtree, we would invite them to come down.”
Great story and hopefully he gets another chance to drill a 30-yard-field goal, this time a game winner against a ranked opponent.
Contest winner now TTU’s kicker [KUSports]
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