Mike Leach and Jackie Shipp rolled their eyes at each other. The other coaches on Bob Stoops’ new staff, back in the winter of 1998-99, had taken up cigar smoking. It was a virtual ritual in Mark Mangino’s hotel room.
Most of the coaches were living in the Residence Inn, between Highway 9 and the Canadian River. Their families had yet to hit town, so nights were spent in Mangino’s room, calling recruits and watching video; smoking cigars and drinking beer; building a program and building bonds.
Mike Leach, one of the nation’s best coaches and absolutely its most eccentric, told the story Sunday night as the special guest of the Sooners Helping Sooners banquet at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum.