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The Honolulu Advertiser

Updated at 3:31 p.m., Monday, November 12, 2007

CFB: Texas Tech coach stands by comments

By Betsy Blaney
Associated Press

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech coach Mike Leach was unapologetic today for comments he made about officiating in the Red Raiders' 59-43 loss to No. 12 Texas.

After watching film of Saturday's game, he held his ground on his postgame comments about bad calls that went the Longhorns' way.

"There's a certain amount being taken out of context but the full context of what I said, yeah," Leach said. "I think it speaks for itself."

On Saturday, Leach condemned the officiating crew and called their work during the game "a complete travesty."

Leach was upset officials disallowed two Tech touchdowns in the third quarter. The first was overruled when video replay clearly showed the receiver let the ball hit the ground. On the next play, a touchdown pass was negated by a holding penalty. Leach also wanted, but didn't get, a flag for roughing the quarterback.

Without naming him, Leach also mentioned that referee Randy Christal lives in Austin.

"I think it's disturbing that Austin residents are involved in this. People work too hard, too long, there's too much money invested in these games to allow that," Leach had said.

Bob Burda of the Big 12 Conference said today that league officials were continuing to review the incident. Leach said he hadn't talked to anyone in the conference office.

He qualified some of his responses today, emphasizing he wasn't commenting again on officiating. One reporter asked if he would prefer there be no replay.

"I'd almost need an attorney to figure out whether I'm supposed to answer that or not," Leach said. "Suffice it to say, referring to nothing even remotely related to officiating, I think as far as how we do instant replay maybe ought to be looked at, maybe other systems looked at."

Leach declined to say if other conference coaches had called him about his comments since the game.

"I can't tell you that," Leach said.