Auburn football: Former booster says he wished AU hired Mike Leach

One of the financial architects of the aesthetics of Auburn University’s campus, former AU booster Bobby Lowder, says he wished Auburn football would have hired recently deceased Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach when the Tigers had the chance to.

Leach died at the age of 61 on December 12 after suffering a massive heart attack the day before and being airlifted to UMMC in Jackson, Mississippi. He was surrounded by his family when he passed.

Lowder, who donated over $25 million to Auburn during his time overseeing the university’s board of directors, was quoted in Kevin Scarbinksy’s piece for AL.com titled ‘What might have been if Auburn had answered Mike Leach,’ saying simply: “I wish we had hired Mike Leach.”

Auburn University AD John Cohen’s statement on a great Auburn football adversary the past two years

Two of the most exciting games for Auburn football during the 2021 and 2022 seasons were against Mike Leach’s Mississippi State air raid offense. In 2021, Leach’s offense, led by Will Rogers, pulled off the greatest upset in Mississippi State football history, while in 2022, Carnell “Cadillac” Williams’ first game as interim head coach led to a 21-point comeback that was ultimately undone in overtime. It’s not a stretch to say that Leach’s death takes away what became one of the most entertaining pairings of SEC schools in recent seasons.

AU’s new AD, John Cohen, worked with Leach during their shared days in Mississippi State, and shared the following in a statement released on his Twitter account:

"“My friend Mike Leach…a pioneer, intellectual giant, provocateur and fearless warrior. A great man who impacted so many lives, including my own. Sharon, the entire Leach family, and MSU are in our hearts and prayers. Rest In Peace Mike. You made the world a better place.”"

Fly War Eagle gives our condolences to the Leach family and the Mississippi State community following the loss of an all-time great.