Before games, Coach Leach had our teams go to the movie theater and watch the newest releases.

Why? Sure, he was a huge movie buff, religiously staying all the way through the credits and holding up our buses from leaving. He also loved his movie snacks and was very particular about his popcorn. Early on we used to stay at the Red Lion in Lewiston, Idaho the night before games and go to the theater there. Then we switched it up and started staying in Pullman the night before home games my junior year. But Leach loved the Lewiston theater popcorn so much that he had them prepare a bag and had a younger staff member drive over to pick it up. Haha.

But the real reason was to get our minds off the game, relax, and be at ease.

He wanted us to enjoy ourselves, have fun, and be loose. Not wound up and uptight about the game.

Then we’d come back to the team hotel for our nightly meetings and he’d say:

“Alright, it’s football time.”

That was our trigger to lock in and focus. The horsing around was over.

This back and forth was a constant for our team, ebbing and flowing between “relax time” and “football time.” I believe it was a big reason for our success, helping us recharge and come back more focused and fresh during football time. In fact, I think this same ebb and flow was a big reason for Leach’s long term success as well.

While most coaches were grinding in the office 365 days a year, burning themselves out with paranoia, Leach spent his off-seasons in Key West enjoying life outside of football. But when he got back to Pullman, Lubbock, or Starkville, he was back in the saddle during “football time.”

I think we could all use a little more “Leach time” in our lives. Stepping away from the grind and truly allowing our minds to relax, be present, and enjoy life outside our work, business, or whatever it is we do so we can recharge for our “football time.”

Easy Easy,

-Luke Falk

See you next Monday!