When the SEC returns to the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta for SEC Media Days in July 2025, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz hopes he can celebrate the induction of late coach Mike Leach.Drinkwitz said on the second day of conference media days in Dallas that it’s time for college football to “do the right thing” and enshrine Leach despite not meeting the established criteria. Leach, who coached at Texas Tech, Washington State and was at Mississippi State when he died unexpectedly from heart complications in 2022, is one win short of the .600 win percentage prerequisite for Hall of Fame nomination.”It reminded me to call on (National Football Foundation) CEO Steve Hatchell to do the right thing and to nominate Mike Leach for the College Football Hall of Fame. We need to put his name on the ballot,” Drinkwitz said of the Atlanta destination triggering his thoughts about Leach, who helped revolutionize offense with the “Air Raid” spread system.The NFF and College Football Hall of Fame operate the Hall of Fame in downtown Atlanta.Leach was 158-107 as a head coach and with one more victory, he would qualify with a .600 career winning percentage.He was 84-43 in 10 seasons at Texas Tech before they parted acrimoniously in 2009 with Leach under investigation for alleged mistreatment of a player. But the Red Raiders inducted Leach in the Texas Tech Hall of Honor posthumously in 2023.At Mississippi State, Leach was 19-17, and he was 55-47 in eight seasons at Washington State.In total, his win percentage is 59.6.Drinkwitz had much more to say on the topic.
Mizzou’s Eliah Drinkwitz: Hall of Fame incomplete without Mike Leach
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