Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

SportsLink

Mike Leach after practice

After practice Mike Leach cooled off before speaking to reporters by taking part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. The video is below and the highlights of Leach's interview with reporters are transcribed after the jump.

 

(How was it?)

Not bad, wet feet. Had to put a new shirt on and yeah, a little wet for a good cause.

(With the Pac-12 Networks here there were plenty of distractions. Did the team respond well?)

I didn't think it was a very good practice. I thought we started out pretty good, didn't do a good job of finishing practice. Today was the first day we traded scouts so sometimes, a lot of times that has an impact. It shouldn't, it shouldn't but yeah I thought both sides were soft in the team period. Prior to that I thought we were doing some good things but we have to be better than that tomorrow.

(continued)

You're going to play against scouts more than you are the ones and I thought once we went to the scout teams, we coasted and so we've got to be better than that and it's part of the growth process. I would have to say the vast majority of years have gone like this, despite our best efforts to keep focus maintained. That's why we start doing it this week, though, so we can be a lot sharper next week.

(There have been many changes to Martin Stadium recently. What do you think?)

It's incredible. It's first class. In the end it's one of the most attractive stadiums in the country. It's the best football operations building in the conference. And then we're situated better than anybody. I mean the dorm's right there (points) academics is there (points), student union is there (points), library's right there (points) so you'd have to be pretty creative if you live in that dorm to walk more than a mile to get all of your work taken care of, and class and that sort of thing.

(Teondray Caldwell played with the defense today.)

Well we're looking at him there and just trying to get the best players we can on the field.

(Is it easier to get on the field early as a DB than most other positions?)

I think it is. Its' more athletic and physical and if you can get your athleticism and physical (players) on the field I think it is one you can adjust to pretty quickly.

(How are the young defensive backs coming along in the mental game?)

Getting better and better. Safety is a little tougher from the neck up but I think they're steadily improving.

 

 



Jacob Thorpe
Jacob Thorpe joined The Spokesman-Review in 2013. He currently is a reporter for the Sports Desk covering Washington State University athletics.

Follow Jacob online:






Looking for a Grip on Sports?

Vince Grippi's daily take on all things regional sports has been moved to our main sports section online. You can find a collection of these columns here.