FineWining

How welcoming, how kind was Mike Leach?
Jeff Tyler of Wetumpka, AL contacted me to tell me a great story.
It’s a story that reminds us of Coach Leach’s patience, his keen memory and his interest in others.
I think you will enjoy this tale!

“Three years ago, I took my 11-year-old son to a Mississippi State game.
Jackson wanted to see pre-game warm-ups, so we were practically the first fans in the stadium.
We took our upper level seats, and my son asked if he could walk down to the field level seats to watch warm-ups, and I let him.
Well, this kid somehow managed to convince a security guard that he was supposed to be on the field.
The next thing I saw was my son walking up to Coach Leach and fist bumping him.

“The two started talking, and a few minutes later Coach Leach was calling over a couple of his players.
Now, my son was a center on his YMCA team- Coach Leach had his centers showing my son how to snap the ball!
I was in the upper deck, totally dumbfounded that an SEC coach just spent time in pre-game showing some kid he’d never met how to snap a football.
My kid comes back to our upper deck seats beaming with pride- I saw it as a memory of a lifetime.

“Two years later we went to another game- my son was again in the front row watching warm-ups.
A graduate assistant ran over and yelled, Are you Jackson?’ and my son said, ‘Yes!’
The graduate assistant said, ‘Coach Leach wants to see you,’ and he took my son out on the field.

“Coach Leach asked my son if he’d been practicing, and then made him do several snaps.
Coach told him to keep working on it, gave him a football and sent him on his way.
I was in the stands dumbfounded that a coach remembered my son’s name, remembered that day, and knew what spending five minutes of his time with a kid could mean.”

Thanks, Jeff, for this wonderful story.

I’m asking myself as I write this, “What other college football coach would do such a thing?”, and the answer is, “Pretty much none.”

If anyone wonders why Mike Leach was and is so loved, they need only listen to the story of the coach and 11-year-old Jackson Tyler.

Then we will all understand…

In a snap.

*Picture courtesy Justin Ford/Getty Images
Mississippi State Athletics

Anthony Bourdain’s Les Halles cookbook HIGHLY recommended. A nostalgic purchase as I was fortunate enough to dine here several times when the kitchen was under his purview. The introductory chapters make for great reading, the recipes pragmatic and easy to interpret. Feels like he’s talking to you - NO BS,simplistic precision, anticipating your screw-up in the kitchen with critique and encouragement. Sensitive with an air of bombast. Poulet Basquaise, a simple Tomato & Shallot salad accompanied with a beautifully drinking 2008 Rioja Reserva from Amaren. Speaking to us from the grave.... So sad he’s gone....

Excited to begin teaching the WSET Level 1 & 2 classes in San Antonio next month. Level 1 will be held on October 6th and Level 2 on November 30th / December 1st. Classes will be held at the CIA campus in The Pearl. To find out more click the link on the Fine Wining FB page. Come join us and expand your wine knowledge - the classes are fun, educational and we pour some great wine!