Hat-tip to Disco Tech! who's caught this first. Per the LAJ:
Tech athletic director Gerald Myers stated that Setencich will be assigned to other duties.
"We appreciate Lyle and the work he did for our program," Leach said. "We wish him and his family the best."
McNeill will take over the defensive coordinator role on an interim basis and coach the linebacker group. McNeill previously served as defensive tackles coach and special teams coordinator, a position that now will be split amongst the staff. Defensive ends coach Charlie Sadler will take over coaching duties on the defensive line. Stay tuned for more details.
My initial reaction is that Leach did something that I never thought he would do, much less during the season. He fired his friend, Lyle Setencich. I always thought that Leach would allow Setencich to retire on his own and walk away, but Leach couldn't let what happened on Saturday happen again.
Leach had enough, he was done with that sort of pitiful performance. I would think that the guys at Bruins Nation are a little jealous that Leach had the cajones to fire someone in the middle of the season. If you know what the problem is, then you fix it right now.
I fully admit that I'm in shock. A little over two weeks ago we delved into the defensive issues and thought that if Lyle was released, he would be replaced by Ruffin McNeill, but I asked then if this would be enough:
Damn, that seems so prophetic now that I look at it. What, if anything, can we expect differently? I'm not sure, but if I'm McNeill I go out guns-a-blazing. He's got nothing to lose by letting these guys play, living on the edge a little more, he can afford to let these guys play.
Update [2007-9-23 20:18:56 by Seth C]:One more thing, Leach picked the right time to do this. McNeill has NW State up next. That's a good game to change some philosophy, schemes, etc. Up next will be Iowa State. McNeill should be able to do much of the same thing, still working in more of the same types of things. The big test comes against the Aggies, who, despite their recent downfalls, still have Lane, Goodson (who I think may be the most talented back in the Big 12) and McGee who can run much better than OSU's Robinson.
I'm not saying McNeill has plenty of time to make all of the necessary changes, but he's got a nice window of opportunity.
Thoughts appreciated.
Update [2007-9-23 22:48:46 by Seth C]:
Don Williams has updated his initial story and has this from Texas Tech AD, Gerald Myers:
"Mike told me early this morning that he was going to talk to Lyle today about this,’’ Myers said. "Mike did initiate it and felt he needed to talk to Lyle about it, and so that’s what transpired. … I think they just decided that a change needed to be made on defense."