Lifelong Ole Miss Rebel here. Mike Leach was my favorite coach. I enjoyed "hating" MSU for all those decades. But when Leach got to Starkville all that changed. I could barely even root against this guy. What a loss. College football is much less fun today.

You can tell Lane loved him. Prayers to Coach Leach’s friends and family.

So much respect for Coach Kiffin here. I mean, he is not selling anything, not recruiting. He's honestly going to miss his rival and friend. I know college football won't be the same without coach Leach. But I hope others have learned from him.

The sports world lost a truly authentic human being.

Leach was one of a kind. Obviously super intelligent... and hilarious! ...he approached life with genuine curiosity. I'm a Bama fan, but I found myself seeking out Leach press conferences (wherever he was coaching) just to listen to him talk about any random subject. The world just got a lot less interesting without him in it. Rest in peace, Pirate.

I saw earlier somewhere “in a world full of Urban Meyers, be a Mike Leach”.

im an alabama fan but Mike Leach was my favorite coach ever. among all the coach speak and monotony , he stood out

From a Mississippi State graduate, very classy and eloquently stated words from Lane Kiffin. Mike leach was one of a kind.

Well said Lane. He will be missed!

This is a very sad day. Mike Leach will sorely be missed. I loved watching his press conferences and halftime interviews.

Always loved that he was so much more than "coach speak". He is a person that you could tell.. loved what he did. College Football lost a great human

Lane freaking Kiffin. Made the audience feel he cares about Mike Leach. True growth from when Raiders nation & Tennessee tried to cancel him. Salute to you sir. Classy move, without intention or concern for outside feelings, making it that much more impressive.

From a life-long State fan I can say this was very classy by Lane.

For those that haven’t seen it, look up The Cotton Bowl Caper from 1999. It’s a glimpse of Coach Leach’s creativity and humor when he was at Oklahoma. Coach will be missed!

As a Texas fan, I have chuckled for years about him dropping the play sheet he :made up" and got 17 fast points in the Texas 0U game. CJK5H.

Fun fact: No Texas A&M coach beat Mike Leach more than once. R.C. Slocum was 1-2 against him (1-3 if you include 1999), Dennis Franchione was 1-4, Mike Sherman was 1-1, and Jimbo Fisher was 1-2.

I've been an Alabama fan since birth and I've been a Mike Leach fan since the first time I heard him speak. He was so unique and someone that any time he said anything I couldn't wait to hear what it was. The world has lost a bright light. I was/am heartbroken that he's gone and I'll never get to hear him again. I pray for his family, players, friends, and all his many many fans. The world is a darker without him in it.

Not many head football coaches at such a high level seem so relatable. Leach was a good dude. Just hilarious and down to earth. He was successful at three big programs in three big conferences. That’s almost impossible. One of this century’s greatest personalities in all of coaching, man, will he be missed!!

I love Lane Kiffin, and I love Mike Leach. Hopefully he knew how big of an impact he had on so many people. 😔

I'm really gonna miss looking for new Mike Leach interviews and press conferences.. Such a great personality and spirit will be missed dearly. Vol fan.

I'm a Bama a fan, and when Leach and Kiffin were hired in Mississippi I felt like the SEC got something special. Very sad it was only 3 years, but at least Leach went out with a win, absolutely loved that as a "weird" personality he kinda carried the torch for the rest of us weirdos succeeding in such a high pressure job that mostly demands you to not have a personality. Will def miss him.

Wow. Lane got one last hug with Coach Leach. Life is so precious. Key West will never be the same. 😢

Lane, thanks for the very best tribute to the Great Mike Leach. Hands down the most sincere. My condolences to all who know and love him.

I’m so sad. I can’t believe it. I miss the head ball coach already. I loved the dynamic these two guys brought to the rivalry.

Kiffin sounds very Sincere with his thoughts on Mike Leach..

I met Coach Leach in a Coffee shop in Key West Florida and he was just a down to earth guy. At the time he wasn't Coaching and I told him I wished he would be the Miami Hurricane Head Coach , I told him with his Offense and all that speed in South Florida he could do miracles. We talked for about 5 minutes and went on our separate ways. I felt I had made a friend that day and I know why he had so much success in a tough profession . God Bless you Coach Leach and thanks for the memories......

Rest in peace coach. You were a real good one brotha rest in paradise

Vol fan here. Coach Leach has always been my favorite coach. An amazing football mind and a great sense of humor. I often times find myself watching videos of his goofy interviews and I always laugh each time. Gone from Earth too soon. Prayers for his family and friends. Godspeed Coach.

So sad. Life is tremendously precious. We all must live our lives- full of love, kindness and forgiveness. Mike Leach is a national treasure and will be missed for all those who love the game of football❤

Hail-state!! 🏴‍☠️Never thought the death of a famous person would make me cry but this one got me.

Mike Leach was so easy to love he’s the only Opposition coach that everybody loved! That’s hard to do in college football but it wasn’t for him! Lovable guy will be missed ! Godspeed coach!

Yes, I loved Mike Leach. And Lane Kiffin.

Well said. Fly high coach. 💔

I remember Coach Leach when he was an Offensive coordinator at UK. I had always hoped we would have gotten him as a head coach somewhere along the way. I watched his post games, and podcasts just to listen to him. Truly an amazing coach and person. Really going to miss him. Ive become a fan of Lane Kiffen also. I hated him when he was at UT , but he has truly grown to a wonderful coach and also seems like a really good man.

Beautiful tribute. Honest and respectful. Lane Kiffin has come a long way (but I think he was always this way).

What an awesome tribute!! God bless Leach’s family and the entire college football community! Some things are just bigger than football!

You know you lost a wonderful person when the rival coach can't help but honestly speak well of him. Much respect, Coach Kiffin! And it IS true: we lost a great coach and person. EVERYBODY from all over the country, not just the SEC, loved Coach Leach as a person/coach. I pray for the well-being and recovery of all who knew Coach Leach, especially the Leach family and the Mississippi State University football community. Rest in peace, Coach Leach, and I KNOW you'll lead Heaven State University to many many championships up there!

The Entire SEC Mourns For Coach Leach And His Family(BAMA Fan) !

College Football lost a legend and an incredible person. May Coach Leach Rest In Peace. I am sending my prayers to his entire family. God bless 🙏🏻🙏🏻❤️❤️

My love & thoughts go out to Mississippi State, Mike’s Family & friends. I can’t imagine going through this. 💔💔

What a legend. One of a kind. May Coach Leach Rest in Peace 🙏🏻

Just an absolutely amazing human being. I mean, folks use the word AMAZING far too often in today’s world, however Mike Leach was an absolute gem and an AMAZING individual. As I am an Ole Miss fan and supporter through and through, we are an entire state that gets constantly shat upon. The fact that we can truly come together to appreciate such a wonderful mind in not only the game of football, but the mind of an AMAZING individual and a one of a kind personality that certainly will never be replicated again. Rest easy Pirate 🏴‍☠️ You’ll always have a fan in me

Leach is an American Treasure. I think of him in the same vain as Mark Twain, will be someone that people will talk about still in 100+ years. Truly will miss him!

I Met Coach Leach. He was a type of individual, you just enjoy listening to.A type of person you would want as a good friend!

Sometimes we forget some things are bigger than sports and rivalries. There's no doubt Lane loved coach Leach like a big brother.

The greatest College Football Head Coach of all time. Glad to see Lane back in the spotlight again.

What a great culture Mike helped to grow. May God bless his family and players and coaches. We will all see him in Heaven some day.

OU grad who moved to Columbus, Ohio in summer 2008, and I knew it was a short term assignment. A few months later in November 2008, Boss Man offered me free tickets to “The Game” hosted in Columbus that year, or flight and tix to go back to OKC and watch OU vs. TX Tech, after that Crabtree v. TX catch a few weeks earlier. To this day, I can’t believe I turned down once in a lifetime tOSU vs. Mich TIX at the Horseshoe to watch TX Tech vs. OU. That was the street cred Leach had built TX Tech into. I knew that was my only chance at watching “The Game” ever in my life and I PROUDLY passed it up and still DO NOT REGRET my decision to this day. Thanks Coach Leach for the impact to OU (1999 - my freshman year at OU) and for making the story of a lifetime to turn down tOSU/Michigan in favor of OU/Texas Tech! Would not trade it for the world!

Thank you for the kind words!

I’m Miami fan since 1982 and it’s hard to imagine College Football without Mike Leach. His face was all too familiar with the Game. My prayers & blessings & sympathies 😢to his family, his friends, his team & Mississippi State.He will be sorely missed.

Great words from Coach Kiffen♥️

A real character. Did things his own way, marched to his own drummer, and just one of the smartest dudes to ever walk a sideline.

Much respect for Lane right here! A game is suppose to be fun, but hate is not the way. Our Mississippi coaches have displayed the path of how life should be! I'm a State fan, but support Lane and his team in his bowl game! God Bless you Lane, and Mike Leach!

I love this. Thanks Lane Kiffin. I’m a lifelong VOL but you are more than that year, and you did what anyone would do in such a situation. This is the best and I look forward to watching your teams no matter. Thanks for spreading the love. We need it.

Really special tribute, and a special look at your heart. ❤

I love Mike leach man he kept us on the edge of our seats. Losing him is a big hit to the sec college football and Saturdays man. Mike was so laid back and straight up forward at the same time part of the real old school. He was Normally the smartest down to earth 🌎 guy in the room. May the lord bless him for all the peoples he's helped and impacted. 🙏

One of the greatest personalities in ALL of sport. Not just football. Coach Leach will be greatly missed. The world was a better place with him in it.

So well said Coach Kiffin

Coach Leach gave classic interviews.

Thank you coach kiffin

Lane Kiffin thank you!

He was a pioneer of football. Very heartbreaking

Classy remarks but more importantly honest remarks from lane kiffin. Sad day for the state of Mississippi but good to see that respect will rise above the rivalry

I loved Mike’s press conference. ❤

well said lane well said

Team Leach has lived in Lubbock, Tx since 2009, WSU and MSS you got to see what we always knew and have cherished.

It's true. Dan Mullen loved to stoke the flames of hate between Ole Miss and MSU. Mike Leach and Lane have reframed the rivalry with less hate and more love for our fellow Mississippians. That doesn't have to reduce the intensity of this great rivalry. It does make this state a better place.

LSU fan and I was happy when MSU hired Coach Leach. It was great to see him in the SEC and to a team that could use a guy like him running that program. Coach Leach will be missed and prayers to his family. Hail State.

I’m a Utah guy, and I loved Leachs whole career

Well said coach,

We'll all miss the Pirate!

Thank you coach for all you did for the game

Leach wasn’t just a great football mind but has a great coaching tree. He was also very smart off the field and just as quirky. College football will truly miss him as will I. He never coached at a blue blood but always had success everywhere he went. Rest in peace to the pirate and gone too soon.

Prayers to Mike Leach and his family. It’s going to be hard watching future Miss St games without him on the sidelines. To add a little humor, I bet Coach Primetime is wishing he didn’t accept the Colorado job so soon haha

Mike Leach was kind of like Mark Twain, rare and a little peculiar. I hope he'll be received by Jesus into Heaven and Mike can teach Moses and Adam about the Air Raid offense and they can astonish him with their stories as well. And God will tell him what a character he was.

They were different yet had so many similarities that each could relate to. Kiffin will miss him.

CLASS ACT.

LSU fan here. Definitely sad. He was a great coach and person

Nicely spoken, Coach Kiffin.

Live life to the fullest enjoy it ever day for it is a blessing. Condolences to his family and friends💕

The first I heard of Mike was in the book The Perfect Pass: American Genius and the Reinvention of Football. I've followed him ever since. My favorite coach.

Prayers for Bike Leach and his family

Cougar fan here😢 , he was special

He will be missed, prayers for his loved ones

Football period lost a legend sad day

Rest in peace mike leach . Prayers to tje family

Lord Rest His Soul. Rest In Peace.

My condolences 🙏

We’re supposed to be rivals why’d this kinda hurt

Nicely done!! 👍

I’m a gamecock fan and I’m heartbroken over this

I’m gonna miss his fat little girlfriend jokes, and fish sandwiches under the shade tree. What a funny guy. Coming from a Ole Miss fan. College football just lost one of the best.

Rest in Peace Coach Leach

Based on how many tributes he is getting shows how big this guy was.

Watchung the L. Faulk /C. Holliday Leach coached games was fun. Almost no running at all, pass all night long. Breack all passing records possible. 4th and 1. On wazzu 35. No question go long!! Watching those wazzu games late at night was fun football night cause Mike Leach was lighting up the skies. Pac12 after dark with the pirate at wazzu was fun to watch.

Rest Well Coach.. you are one of a kind and brought joy to many people. Praying for your family 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Good comments.

6:47 idk why, but this really hit me

You can tell Lane is really hurting trying to get through this interview.

Bama fan here I hated hearing this 🙏 for his family ..and lane your welcome back at bama in my book