Missouri football coach Eliah Drinkwitz: Mike Leach should be in College Football Hall of Fame

In his opening remarks Tuesday at SEC Media Day in Dallas, Missouri coach Eliah Drinkwitz called for former Mississippi State coach Mike Leach to be elected to the College Football Hall of Fame.

“Next summer, we will be moving media days to Atlanta,” Drinkwitz said. “And so it reminded me to call on 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."

Leach, who spent 10 seasons at Texas Tech, eight at Washington State and three at Mississippi State, died on Dec. 12, 2022, following complications from a heart condition. He finished his career with a 158-107 record (59.6%). However, to be inducted into the College Football of Fame, a coach has to win at least 60% of his games.

Drinkwitz has been a staunch supporter of Leach. At the 2022 Gasparilla Bowl, Drinkwitz wore a T-shirt that had Leach's picture on the front and the quote "Swing Your Sword" — the title of Leach's book — on the back.

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"I understand that his career winning percentage is .596, one win short of the 60% threshold," Drinkwitz said. "And I understand that standards are there for people to make decisions. But I also understand that Coach Leach would be a great value to the Hall of Fame because of the legacy that he has, because of the impact that he made, because of the innovator that he was, because of the legacy of coaches that he left.”