Can't Wait For Saturday Adding Leach to College Football Hall of Fame an easy decision

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Jun. 2—***

The 2027 College Football Hall of Fame ballot was released on Monday and two of the players under consideration — Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks Robert Griffin III (Baylor) and Cam Newton (Auburn) will receive plenty of attention. Both deserve spots in the Hall sooner rather than later.

Of course, my focus is on a pair of Illinois greats, Kevin Hardy and Simeon Rice, who are again on the ballot. In a perfect world, they will go in together in the same class, mirroring their college careers. They were the second and third picks in the 1996 NFL draft.

More on Hardy and Rice from me later in the week.

But for today, the spotlight is on ballot newcomer Mike Leach. The late coach gained a place thanks to a rules change that made the criteria more friendly for a program builder like Leach.

The innovative, fun and funny Leach refubished football at Texas Tech, Washington State and Mississippi State, all while popularizing the Air Raid offense.

His impact was immense. Leach might not have cared about being included — he definitely had his own way to do things — but the recognition will mean so much to his family and many fans. Put me down on the latter list. I only got to talk to him once, but it was memorable and life-affirming. After a 15-minute conversation about why he loved college football, I felt like I had just talked to my new best friend.

Sadly, Leach passed away shortly before his Mississippi State team was scheduled to play Illinois in the ReliaQuest Bowl. The Bulldogs honored their fallen leader with a victory.

The next win for Leach will hopefully come in January, when he is announced as part of the new Hall class.

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