The Washington State Cougars handful of recent arrests has head coach Mike Leach fired up. The 55-year-old believes the Pullman Police Department are targeting his players.
Speaking with The Spokesman-Review, Leach stated recent arrests such as linebacker Logan Tago being apprehended for second-degree assault are being unfairly targeted. Tago was the only party arrested after a group of men allegedly assaulted a 23-year-old over a case of beer. Leach said it was a double standard only football players are dragged through the mud.
“If the other guilty parties are not accused or charged, there needs to be an extensive investigation as to why,” Leach said to a group of reporters, according to The Spokesman-Review. “How in the world can only football parties be guilty in events depicted like this? It is irresponsible to this town, this community and everybody to have some kind of a double standard where we only focus on one demographic, one group of people, and then drag their name through the newspaper with a bunch of irresponsible comments.”
Leach made his case that multiple arrests were made in unfair circumstances. You can read those arguments here.
It’s certainly possible Cougars players were more likely to be approached due to their stardom, but that celebrity doesn’t mean they’re unable to commit crimes. In each individual case, Leach is biased. He’s blind in protecting his roster. Washington State doesn’t just have a couple of suspicious arrests over the past few years, but 30+ players have been arrested since 2010 – many of which under Leach’s guidance.
Perhaps, Leach should be focused on making sure his players are being responsible instead of defending them on a case-by-case basis. Leach doesn’t realize it, but he’s a big part of the problem.
