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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

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