Update: Pete Roussel strongly denies the report. FootballScoop has strongly retorted to said denial.
Update 2: Mike Leach denies.
N.C. State fired Tom O'Brien on Sunday, with Vanderbilt coach James Franklin, Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris and Stanford offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton appearing as the first three names widely mentioned. But the Wolfpack would be aiming even higher if one report is accurate:
Have confirmed that representatives from NC State have spoken with Mike Leach about their opening FootballScoop.com/the-scoop
— FootballScoop Staff (@footballscoop) November 25, 2012
There's no specific reason to believe Leach would ditch Washington State one year after it gave him his return to coaching (Coug Center says a move would feel "premature"). Since his hiatus after his very successful run at Texas Tech, Leach's Cougars endured a troubled season and emerged with an Apple Cup victory -- would he really want to go through the whole program-setup phase all over again?
Also:
Debbie Yow as Mike Leach's boss. What could go wrong?
— Mark Ennis (@Mengus22) November 25, 2012
I can certainly imagine N.C. State could be interested in Leach. He'd also fit, sort of, with the other three candidates being named. But it's not easy to envision him leaving Wazzu after one season for a middling ACC job, right?
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