Mike Leach had something to say about everything. Matrimony. Raccoon hunting. Area 51. Golf. You name it, the former Mississippi State ball coach had lengthy, pithy, slightly confusing, and completely hilarious thoughts about it. But according to those closest to him, Mike Leach loved one thing more than anything else: Pirates.
In fact, Leach loved the seafaring swashbucklers so much that he became affectionately known as The Pirate. Unfortunately, Leach sailed on to new waters on Tuesday, passing away following complications from a heart condition. Across the football world, the Jolly Rogers flew at half mast, including at Davis Wade Stadium, where an actual pirate flag appeared out of the fog, paying tribute to the late, great ball coach. Anchors away.
If that doesn’t give you goosebumps, you might be a sociopath. It wasn’t just the skull and crossbones flying high above Davis Wade Stadium that drove home Leach's love of pirate lore, however. One Mississippi State official was asked on Tuesday if the Bulldogs would still play in the upcoming ReliaQuest Bowl, set to be held at Raymond James Stadium on January 2nd. Here’s what they had to say.
Incredible. Go win one for The Pirate, boys.
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