Report: Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach suffered heart attack
Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach suffered a massive heart attack and possible brain damage as a result of seizures which led to the Bulldogs’ skipper taking an ambulance to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson on Sunday, according to the Clarion Ledger. Leach collapsed in his home and did not receive medical treatment for 10-15 minutes, per the report.
Upon arrival to the home, EMTs used a defibrillator machine and delivered multiple shocks to restore normal heart rhythm, per the report. Leach was transported by helicopter to UMMC after being stabilized, per the report.
The Clarion Ledger reports that two of Leach’s four children are already in Jackson with the other two en route. Sources said the situation is dire, according to the report.
Following the latest reporting, Mississippi State released a new statement that shares that Leach is still in critical condition without divulging more details.
The president and athletics director named defensive coordinator Zach Arnett as the team’s leader as they continue preparation for the ReliaQuest Bowl versus Illinois on Jan. 2.
Leach, at 61 years of age, is in his third year coaching the Bulldogs. They went 8-4 this season to finish third in the SEC West.
The Pirate has been at the helm of some of the most explosive offenses in college football in the last two decades. Leach’s passing attack led the FBS six times at Texas Tech and four at Washington State.
Illinois, Mississippi State slated to meet in Reliaquest Bowl
Illinois will take on Mississippi State in the first edition of the Reliaquest Bowl, which was previously the Outback Bowl, as the 8-4 Fighting Illini will take on the 9-4 Bulldogs in Tampa, Florida on Monday, January 2 in Raymond James Stadium, home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
This will be the second time in school history for both programs that they’ve faced off, with the last being in 1980 when Mississippi State bested Illinois 28-21.
This year’s matchup will feature two contrasting teams regarding styles of play, as the Illinois offense features running back Chase Brown, who finished the regular season with 1,643 rushing yards, which ranked first in the Big Ten and second in the entire country. The Fighting Illini also boasts one of the nation’s top-ranked defenses, holding opponents to just 12.3 points per game ranking No. 1 across the entire FBS and 263.8 total yards per game ranking second in the country.
On the flip side, Mississippi State’s air raid offense led by head coach Mike Leach features one of the most lethal passing attacks in college football. Bulldogs quarterback Will Rodgers led the SEC in passing yards this regular season with 3,713, as well as passing touchdowns with 34, both top ten in the nation as well.
Rodgers has been a master distributor this year, completing pass attempts to nearly 20 different targets this season, led by receivers Rara Thomas and Caleb Ducking, who each has over 40 receptions and seven or more touchdowns catches this season.