Writer Mike Leach jumped at the first good job that came his way. Bob Stoops didn't. After the 1996 season, Stoops turned down the Minnesota coaching job that eventually went to Glen Mason. Stoops' offensive coordinator, Mike Leach, resigned this week to become the coach at Texas Tech. But there are two big differences between Stoops '96 and Leach '99.
Tech is a better job than Minnesota.
Tech has been in five bowl games since 1993 alone, including the Cotton. Tech is in West Texas, which produces football players and tumbleweeds. Minnesota is in Minneapolis, which produces snowstorms and hockey players. Stoops was dealing from a position of strength. Before coming to Oklahoma, he was the nation's hottest assistant coach.