College football | Texas Tech suspends coach Mike Leach

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech suspended Mike Leach on Monday while school officials investigated complaints from receiver Adam James and his family about how the coach treated the player after a concussion.

James is the son of Craig James, a former NFL player who is an analyst for ESPN.

A school release said defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be the interim coach and guide the team in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday against Michigan State.

Texas Tech officials declined to identify the player, but James' family released a statement to The Associated Press identifying Adam as the player involved.

"Mr. and Mrs. James took the step with great regret and after consideration and prayer to convey to the Texas Tech Administration that their son had been subjected to actions and treatment not consistent with common sense rules for safety and health," the statement said.

A person familiar with Adam James' case said the player got a concussion during a Dec. 16 practice. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said James was sequestered at two consecutive practices.

On Dec. 17, James said Leach told trainers to put him in "the darkest place you can find." James was sent to an equipment shed near the practice field and said Leach told him he would be kicked off the team if he came out.

At practice Dec. 19, James said Leach told trainers to "find the tightest, darkest place" for the player, who was in street clothes. James said he was put in an electrical closet inside the stadium for hours, monitored by a member of the athletic staff.

Leach's attorney, Ted Liggett, disputed the account and said, "I believe that (Adam James) was a disgruntled student-athlete that like many were not happy with their playing time."

Craig James was to announce the Alamo Bowl. ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz said James no longer will work the game.

McNeill, who will remain in charge of the team until the investigation is complete, declined to answer questions about the complaints after Monday night's practice in San Antonio. "Mike's my friend," McNeill said.

Leach chastised Texas Tech players after a loss to Texas A&M in October for listening to "their fat little girlfriends" and thinking the Aggies were a pushover.

Notes

• Reggie Bush, a former USC standout who is a running back for the NFL New Orleans Saints, has lost his bid to go to confidential arbitration to settle a lawsuit filed by a fledgling sports marketer.

California's Court of Appeal upheld a lower court's order denying Bush's motion to compel arbitration with Lloyd Lake, meaning the case will proceed in court.

Lake is suing Bush and Bush's parents to recoup nearly $300,000 in cash and gifts they allegedly accepted during Bush's sophomore and junior seasons at USC.

• Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor said he has a partially torn knee ligament, an older ankle injury and various other ailments entering Friday's Rose Bowl game against Oregon in Pasadena, Calif.

Pryor, a sophomore, said, "From my standpoint, we must win. We have to get a win for the seniors, for the program in general, for the Big Ten, everything."

• Three Boise State freshmen — receiver Preston Minter, tailback Malcolm Johnson and cornerback Raphiel Lambert — did not accompany the Broncos to the Fiesta Bowl for disciplinary reasons. No. 6 Boise State (13-0) plays No. 3 Texas Christian (12-0) on Monday in Glendale, Ariz.