Mike Leach situation ‘critical’ after being flown to hospital
Mike Leach has been flown to hospital following a ‘personal health issue’, and is said to be serious.
247’s Steve Robertson – one of the best-connected in ‘Cowbell World’ – wrote to subscribers: “I understand Coach has undergone some tests in Jackson and that the situation appears to be dire. Yes, this is a life threatening situation. There is only so much people are going to share due to privacy laws and good decency. I can tell you that it appears Coach needs a miracle. Yes, I have received some of the text messages that are making the rounds, but I am told Coach is still fighting”.
Reporter Ross Dellenger added that ‘The Pirate’s’ situation is critical.
DC Zach Arnett has been put in charge of the team until Leach’s return, retirement or the other thing, Mississippi State – who is without an AD at the moment – said. The school added that practices for the New Year’s Day Reliaquest Bowl clash between Mississippi State and Illinois will continue.
One EMT posted on Messageboard SEC Rants to explain what might have been the cause of the flight: “You can’t make a read about patient condition either way based on transport type between facilities. A lot goes into that decision. Patient condition, weather, aircraft availability, etc.
As far as Leach, everyone is guessing but IF he was transported to a local facility and then to a higher level facility for a higher level of care it again could be something fairly simple or very, very serious.
On the simple side, he starts having chest pain, gets transported to the local ER who diagnoses a heart attack (blocked coronary artery). Local hospital doesn’t have a cath lab so he’s transferred to a more capable facility. It’s Mike Leach, so you put him on the helo simply because, well, it’s Mike Leach and nobody wants to bounce him down the road with a blocked artery.
On the very bad side, it’s SCA (sudden cardiac arrest) which can be triggered by a lot of things but far and away most common in adults is coronary artery disease. EMS crew arrives and gets ROSC (return of spontaneous circulation) on scene or does a grab and go to the nearest facility and gets ROSC in route or at the local ER. He’s unresponsive or medically induced (RSI) so they can control his airway, put on a vent, and flown out with fingers and toes crossed that he doesn’t arrest again in the air”.
He added that there were two very difficult long-term prognosis. “In the first one he might coach the bowl game. In the second one his odds of survival are incredibly poor”, adding: “Hope like hell it’s the first one.”
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Obviously move to put Zach Arnett in charge of Mississippi State is an attempt to normalize what must be an utterly putrid situation down in Starkville. There are recruiting visits and visitors. There is the transfer portal and the identification of talent from it (which Leach has used handily over his years). And practice for the Reliaquest Bowl in that too.
But don’t think that Mississippi State – without an AD after John Cohen jumped ship to Auburn – hasn’t thought of other situations.
- If Leach doesn’t come back, does the school keep Arnett for the year ‘as a trial’? The recruitment cycle and transfer portal are already closing rapidly, and the team needs to get transfers and continue getting and keeping talent (don’t think that there aren’t unscrupulous coaches already out there sending out texts to Mississippi State-confirmed recruits saying: “Did you hear about Coach Leach? We’re praying!!”, trying to get some mileage out of the possibility he might not make it through.
- The Reliaquest Bowl. If Arnett stays and Leach does not pass away but stays in hospital and has become responsive again, then Mississippi State’s presence in the bowl will go ahead. But if Leach does go through the pearly gates, it would not be a surprise if Mississippi State cancels its presence at Raymond James Stadium on New Year’s Day.