Kylin Hill departure a major leak in Mike Leach's Mississippi State ship
If Mike Leach’s program is, indeed, a ship, the biggest pirate this side of One-Eyed Willie just jumped ship and the mutiny might not even be close to over.
On Wednesday during the weekly SEC coaches’ teleconference, the Mississippi State coach acknowledged that he had heard that Kylin Hill, the preseason All-SEC running back, has opted out of the season and will prepare for the NFL. This comes on the heels that 3 other players — Tyrell Shavers, Jamari Stewart and Tre Lawson — are transferring.
Leach, as usual, put it bluntly that this shouldn’t come as a surprise. He was hired to run the program his way and, if players do not fit into his view of the system, he doesn’t mind them leaving.
Yet Hill’s situation is a mystery. It might be the fact that the running back, who missed the last game with an injury, doesn’t want to risk any more damage to his body. He didn’t have much to prove to scouts, rushing for 1,350 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2019 and then, in just 2 games this season when healthy, showed his versatility with 23 catches for 237 yards and a score.
Maybe he saw the writing on the wall. It’s no secret that a running back in Leach’s system isn’t going to get many carries. The 2 full games that Hill played saw him run it a combined 14 times.
The strangest part of this ordeal is that Leach said he hasn’t spoken to Hill about it. If that is the case, what was their relationship like to begin with? Hill, remember, said during the offseason that he was looking forward to playing in Leach’s system.
What changed? It should be noted that when Leach announced that he was leaving Washington State for the Bulldogs, one of the happiest players on Twitter was none other than Cougars running back Max Borghi.
Leach is famous for his relationship with his quarterbacks but it seems that sometimes that closeness can turn off other position groups. Quarterbacks are almost his entire focus and his approach has worked, turning walk-ons and graduate transfers into stars.
For all the love Leach received when he arrived in Starkville and then after the LSU game, that is now growing into complaints and negativity about whether Leach is the right fit or can win in the SEC.
Let me just tell Mississippi State fans this out of respect: Leach doesn’t care what you say. He was hired by John Cohen to build the program the way he wanted and if that means a mass exodus of players during the first year, so be it. Those players have that right and justifiably so. You do not want to be at a place where you aren’t wanted. Leach knows there might be more departures and he seems fine with it.
Yet losing Hill is a big knock on his short tenure. The ship’s core is buckling a bit in Starkville under Leach’s captaincy and possibly only he knows how it is going to remain upright.
Love that
Well at least Hill got Mississippi to change their flag.
They look very foolish now giving in to this thug.
Yep. As soon as this happened (not that I have a problem with the flag change, just how it happened), I knew Kylin was a problem and would not end his time with the program well. And that’s what happened.
STFU. You don’t know squat.
You just like to get your panties in a wad and play keyboard warrior.
uhh, no YOU STFU! Crying out loud, what’re you, 10? And an apologist for a problematic running back, to boot.
I think the main reason he left is he wasn’t getting carries. In the big LSU win he had 7 carries for 34 yards. I know he got a lot of receptions and yards.
Leach is gonna bring in his guys. Let the SEC caliber players walk.
Yeah, good one…
And where exactly did I defend Kylin? Didn’t happen. Not once. Again, lashing out and whining with no merit. Make no mistake, my entire comment was directed at you and your childish post. It could’ve been copied and pasted after almost every one of the comments you make on SDS and applied the same.
I merely pointed out the fact that you don’t actually know what you are talking about. Just speculation because your upset about something and like to whine about it making a fool of yourself. Carry on though. You’re so big and bad lulz.
You’re whining drivel on basically every MSU article pretending to have the diagnosis to every problem we have going on shows how incompetent you are.
Neh, dawg. I’ve read your comments. I actually offer praise and constructive comments, while all you do is offer criticism and negative energy. You accuse others of doing what you actually do. I mean big and bad…really? Didn’t know I was living in your head like that. People like you that insult and accuse without basis are nothing more than agitators. You’re a joke.
AH the ol “thug” comment. Least now we know the handle and can put a face to the user name.
It would be so much easier if they’d just use the word they really mean.
Thug is an inaccurate word to use, for sure. He’s no thug at all, just a high maintenance headache.
Thug? Really? smh
Thug? Wow. Bet I know what you wish you could really say there.
Sad!
So the guy who said he’d quit if Mississippi didn’t change their state flag…quit anyway.
I’m not against MS changing their flag, fine by me…
but this is why you don’t let children hold you hostage.
Exactly. I don’t disagree with people that thought the flag needed to be changed, but don’t do it because some college kid pitches a hissy fit over it.
Truth be told, it was really Sankey and the NCAA who held us hostage when they said Mississippi would not be eligible for post season events if the flag didn’t change.
Hill didn’t miss the A&M game due to injury. If a player can’t abide by Leach’s rules, Coach has no place for them on his team. Pure and simple.
And that Mississippi is why you never give in to the mob.
You don’t think it was time for a state that has a large African American population to ditch a flag that represents slavery and oppression to black people? It should have been changed a long time ago.
It never should have been the flag. We’ve got plenty around to use as kindling now though so I guess that’s useful.
I don’t disagree with you. But at this point, they shouldn’t have rushed to change it, because it makes it look as though Kylin Hill is the one that got them to change it, and a single player should never have that much power. Had I been the governor, I would have had it placed on the ballots during the election next week and have the people of Mississippi vote on whether or not to keep it. If they voted to keep it then Kylin Hill would have no longer had a leg to stand on.
Brian Stultz you’re a bonehead, and you don’t know wth you’re talking about. You look like Curly just a lot less funny. Seriously, this entire article is garbage.
I think it’s great what Leach is doing. It’s his way or the highway, and that’s the way it should be. SEC football will go on with or without any one player. I don’t remember who it was, but I’ve heard a story of one new coach meeting his team for the first time, and he starts the first meeting of with “Fellas, let’s get this straight. This will not be a democracy. This is a dictatorship. When I say, you do. You will give me your opinion only when I ask for it.” That’s how the player-coach relationship is supposed to be. When the players have more power than the coach, that’s when problems arise.
“When the players have more power than the coach, that’s when problems arise.” Enter Kylin Hill.
Well Hill only played hard on the plays that he got to be the spotlight on. I’ve never been a fan of him and his part-time effort. He talks a great game, but the effort isn’t there 100%. I take the “Don’t tell me… show me” position on how good a team player is.
The media said Hill was suspended. Now it might be because he was hurt or not enough carries. Would any MSU fan care to explain? This does show just how much a players coach he isn’t.
Not b/c he was injured. After the flag incident, I have a strong feeling it’s b/c of attitude. I mean I definitely would understand if he didnt want to pull a Waddle-thats 100% understandable; but he committed to the team at the beginning of the year and I still have a sneaking suspicion there’s quite a selfish attitude in the mix as well.
What ever the reason, this doesnt necessarily mean that rats are jumping ship. Sometimes you gotta clean up inside before the remodeling starts.
Bingo!
Yep, this is what I believe is happening. The issues with Moorhead weren’t talent, they were coaching and attitude.
Everyone other than Mike Leach is making Kylin Hill bigger than Mississippi state’s football program, and that shouldn’t happen.
Which is exactly why Leach seems to have shown Hill the door.
I think this says more about Hill than it does Leach. Not the best look for either though.
Nope. Its a great look for Leach. He’s a disciplinarian establishing a standard of conduct and attitude that has been absent for far too long.
Mike Leach as soon as the LSU victory shine wore off started threatening the running off of players. The problem isn’t his lack of attention to team communication, the running game, defense or special teams. It is always the players and once he loses the next 26 SEC games maybe then the Bulldogs will make a change.
The only problem with your theory is Mike Leach isn’t going to lose the next 26 conference games..this is Mississippi State, not Michigan.
AMEN!
Maybe I read the comment wrong but I thought Leach said he was told Hill was leaving the team but hasn’t talked to him….
If that’s so it seems strange to me that they wouldn’t discuss it… I’m sure some of the players just don’t like leaches style and he will get his own players into the system but the way it’s going down may raise some questions about the culture atm..
Is this unfortunate? Yes. Was it expected? Yes. Leach is a very smart man. An attorney and mad scientist. He’s also a strict system guy. No one play is bigger than the system. Bill Walsh was the first guy in modern day football that was strict like this. If Jerry Rice disagreed with the west coast offense, Walsh would not cater to him. He’d say, “head over to the sideline. When you decide you want to be part of this team and run within the system, you’re welcome to come back.” Leach is no Walsh but he has similar core values. Hill is a one man team. He wants all the spot light. There was an incident where he challenged Leach in front of part of the team. How do you think that would end for a guy who teaches a class on “the art of war”. Hill was suspended for a game and never really could come to terms with the fact that he wasn’t going to be catered to. He’s a phenomenal talent but his stock with the NFL just went in the dumpster. He’s got a lot of image repair to do. Possible? Yes. Probable? No. He doesn’t have TO talent. He’s a good fit for the CFL. Leach is rebuilding. This just frees up a scholarship.
I’ve said most everything you’ve said but only in bits and pieces; you’ve made the single best statement on the situation I’ve seen so far. Very well stated!
Hill was leaving after this season anyway, so it doesn’t free up a scholarship.