Thread by @dcharbonnet10

Where do I even start? I owe so much to this man and the program he orchestrated. He was absolutely nuts, but in the best way. He had his failings, as we all do, but he never tried to hide them. (1/19)

He was unapologetically himself in a world where "self" is buried under mountains of pretense, insecurity, and posturing.

There will be many things said about Leach and his impact over the next few days, (2/19)

but I wanted to add to the chorus with some of my personal experiences.

He gave me opportunities no other coach would have. He saw things in me I didn't see myself. I'm only now realizing some of those things as I step into them over time. (3/19)

but I wanted to add to the chorus with some of my personal experiences.

He gave me opportunities no other coach would have. He saw things in me I didn't see myself. I'm only now realizing some of those things as I step into them over time. (3/19)

He taught me what a winning mentality was and how crucially essential it is for success. The moment I stepped into the TTU football building after transferring from Duke, it struck me. It hung in the air and was the oxygen of the program. The toughness, (4/19)

chip on the shoulder, underdog, never quit, "we are going to beat their ass" confidence that persisted through the place.

After a few workouts, I noticed that this new bowl champion team I joined APPEARED to be smaller, physically weaker, in many ways less talented, (5/19)

and more rag-tag than the 2-9 team I had just left. But they didn't care; they knew they had an edge. They had something you didn't have. They didn't talk about it or care what anyone else thought. They just wanted to go out and light up the freaking scoreboard. (6/19)

One illustration of this came before the UT game in 2008; we wrapped up our final practice with the ESPN college gameday crew watching. As I ran back through the tunnel afterward, I happened to pass Kirk Herbstreit telling his partners, (7/19)

"Crabtree is the only one who looks like a real football player!"

Needless to say...

Wins like that UT game, OSU the next week, the Cal/Aaron Rodgers Holiday Bowl, the Insight Bowl comeback, hanging 70 on Nebraska (when they were STILL Nebraska), (8/19)

The Virginia Gator Bowl, and the list could go on--all attest to what Leach had been building and this mentality he and his staff instilled. It was intoxicating. It's nearly impossible to explain, (9/19)

but anyone who has been a part of something like this knows exactly what I'm talking about.

I've tried to carry this quiet confidence into the rest of my left. (10/19)

I have no doubt the sewing of this mentality into my psyche has contributed to any success I am blessed to reap now. This was a gift I'll never be able to quantify.

He wasn't the most personable guy in the traditional sense. He was tough, (11/19)

had no tolerance for BS or politics, and was never afraid to tell you EXACTLY how he felt about you OR the job you were doing. (12/19)

This unfiltered (usually profane-ridden) honesty was a tough pill to swallow at times but was instrumental in developing that mental toughness that marked his program. Even in his toughness and sometimes nonsensical wrath, (13/19)

it was always obvious he cared about me as a person. From my playing days until just a few weeks ago, he always responded to every single text (sometimes at the most random times of the night), autograph requests, making videos for friends, (14/19)

or would reach out with a random thought, memory, or question. He would always encourage and reminisce about the old days.

Most of all, what illustrated his heart and care came when Lisa and I walked through impossible circumstances and devastating grief. (15/19)

He reached out unprompted to offer love and support. To share fears of his own regrading some of the things his family was going through. I didn't think that act could ever mean more to me than it did then, but it does today.

Why am I writing all this? To process? Yes.. 16/19

but also to illuminate the impact Coach Leach had. Coach Leach CHANGED football--Changed it schematically on every level, across the entire country. He changed numerous other programs through his spider-webbed coaching tree. But he also changed me. (17/19)

He changed my life and the lives of many other players who went through his program. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who had any lengthy tenure under Leach and wasn't better for it. We will all carry a piece of him with us.

He was truly legendary in every way. (18/19)

I'll be able to hear him say, "Do YOUR job" and "swing your sword" for the rest of my life.

RIP, Coach; I hope we make you proud! (19/19)

I also have no idea how to do a thread so You'll just have to follow the numbers if you want to read 🤦‍♂️