Leach also advocated for a merit-based pay system for players, warning against upfront payments.
"If you back end that deal, and have most of that money waiting for him at the end of every season based on performance, you've got a better chance of it not going off the rails," he said in 2022.
His foresight seems prescient as the sport grapples with financial and ethical crises.
A No-Brainer for the Hall
The Hall of Fame selection process begins with a preliminary ballot from National Football Foundation members and living Hall of Famers, then moves to the Honor's Court for a final decision.
Critics may point to Leach's . 597 winning percentage, but his transformative impact on football makes him a lock.
He elevated every program he coached and changed the game for the better.
When the 2027 Hall of Fame class is announced during College Football Playoff preparation, Leach's enshrinement should be a certainty.
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It's a reward for doing the work no one else would, and a reminder of what makes the sport great.
