Texas Tech's Mike Leach fined record $10,000 for criticizing officials after loss

11/13/2007 6:42 PM

By BETSY BLANEY
Associated Press Writer

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) -Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was fined a record $10,000 by the Big 12 Conference on Tuesday for his harsh criticism of game officials following last week's loss to Texas.

The fine doubled the previous high by the league, levied twice before, against Kansas coach Mark Mangino three years ago and former Kansas State basketball coach Jim Wooldridge during the 2005-06 season.

``Made my feelings known already, so I don't have a reaction,'' Leach told The Associated Press after practice Tuesday afternoon. ``We've broke records around here before. We're used to breaking records.''

Leach was reprimanded and put on notice that ``any future such behavior will result in a more serious penalty, including a possible suspension,'' the conference said in a news release.

Other Tech athletic officials weren't commenting.

After No. 12 Texas beat Texas Tech 59-43 on Saturday, Leach condemned the officiating crew in Austin, calling their work ``a complete travesty.''

The eighth-year coach was upset officials disallowed two Tech touchdowns in the third quarter, the first on an overrule after reviewing video that clearly showed the receiver let the ball hit the ground. A TD pass on the next play was negated by a holding penalty. Leach also wanted, but didn't get, a flag for roughing the quarterback.

``Coach Leach's public statements called into question the integrity and competence of game officials and the conference's officiating program,'' Big 12 commissioner Dan Beebe said.

At his weekly news conference Monday, Leach did not retreat from his comments but avoided repeating them.

On Saturday, Leach noted without naming him that referee Randy Christly lives in Austin.

``I think it's disturbing that Austin residents are involved in this. People work too hard, too long, there's too much money invested in these games to allow that,'' Leach said after the game.

``Am I condemning the crew? Hell yeah, I'm condemning the crew.''

Leach said the conference needs ``to take a serious look'' at having officials from other conferences call the Tech-Texas games as well as others involving matchups where he claimed there is proven to be a bias by officials.

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, whose team travels to Texas Tech this weekend, recalled a game two years ago in Lubbock the Red Raiders won on a controversial touchdown as time expired.

An official from Lubbock, Kelly Deterding, was involved in that OU loss at Texas Tech in 2005.

``I think that's something probably everybody's sensitive to, and I'm sure even the officials are as well,'' Stoops said. ``So that's something that maybe will be addressed. I think just human nature, in all ways you look at that, it's probably worth discussing.''

Mangino was fined $5,000 for suggesting after a last-second loss to Texas that officials wanted the Longhorns to win because it kept alive their hopes for a lucrative Bowl Championship Series bid.

During the 2005-06 basketball season, Wooldridge was docked $5,000 for criticizing officials after a 71-70 loss at Oklahoma.

AP Sport Writer Jeff Latzke contributed to this report from Norman, Okla.