Mike Leach on Pac-12 coaches call

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FROM PULLMAN — Mike Leach answered questions on the Pac-12 coaches call today. He had some interesting things to say, as usual. Read on.

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We already know what Leach thinks of the idea of a standardized injury report. But he was asked about it again on Tuesday, and here was his response:

“I think it’s a horrible idea. First of all I think it’s illegal, I think it violates the HIPAA law. Second of all it’s personal to the player for one … it weakens the mentality of the team.”

Then it got a little more interesting.

“The other thing, I think it’s journalism at its most pitiful level,” Leach said after noting he tried the whole journalism thing for two years. “There’s two types of journalists — there’s a guy that wants to write the great American novel, then there’s the type that wants to do a good, solid job, have some creativity, then the types that are just slackers. They’re the ones that are really interested in injuries. … They’re not creative enough to keep their stories interesting and not ambitious enough” to write about things happening on the field, Leach said. “Most important thing, I don’t like the notion, sitting here reading these sobby stories because this team, that team’s not doing well because this guy’s injured who’s a superstar. … That and the obvious fact I’m not a doctor and I’m not qualified to say.”

Asked if disclosing injuries puts his team at a competitive disadvantage, Leach said: “There can be.”

He was also asked about Ioane Gauta’s transition from junior college to the Pac-12.

“Really good job, ahead of schedule, adapted quickly,” Leach said. “Like anybody, took a little bit of camp to get used to things but been a very pleasant surprise. I think he’s playing really well now.”

Leach also talked more about consistency and explosives, things he’s said repeatedly since the season started.

Christian Caple can be reached at christianc@spokesman.com . Twitter: @ChristianCaple