South Carolina women's basketball honors Mike Leach ahead of game vs. Mississippi State
The college football world did its part in honoring Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach, who died on Dec. 12 after complications from a heart condition.
From helmet stickers to coaches wearing custom shirts, Leach's impact on the sport was felt across bowl season. It was capped by Mississippi State wearing helmets with a pirate flag on them during the team's ReliaQuest Bowl win against Illinois on Jan. 2.
However, the tributes to Leach weren't contained to the gridiron. On Sunday, ahead of a matchup against Mississippi State, No. 1 South Carolina women's basketball wore Leach shirts during warm-ups.
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The front read, "Mike Leach Legend," while Leach's iconic phrase and title of his book, "Swing Your Sword," was written on the back.
Really cool tribute by South Carolina women’s basketball. Warming up in Mike Leach swing your sword T-shirts. pic.twitter.com/UnuXZ0v6Bo
— Grace Ybarra (@gnybarra) January 8, 2023
Mississippi State coach Sam Purcell was among the first to honor Leach at Humphrey Coliseum. In MSU's first game after his death, a 72-47 win against Florida A&M, Purcell wore a Hawaiian shirt on the sideline and had a pirate logo on his play sheet.
Dawn Staley now joins the list of coaches who have ensured the icon and innovator is properly remembered.
Stefan Krajisnik is the Mississippi State beat writer for the Clarion Ledger. Contact him at skrajisnik@gannett.com or follow him on Twitter @skrajisnik3.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: South Carolina women's basketball honors Mississippi State's Mike Leach
