The Lubbock Avalanche-Journal and the Dallas Morning News have used the state's public information law to shine some much-needed light on a subject that strikes at the very core of Texas Tech fans: The contract negotiations between their school and Red Raiders head football coach Mike Leach.

This past season, Leach's ninth with the team, was huge for Texas Tech: 11-1 in the regular season (including the Nov. 1 game in in Lubbock in which the No. 5-ranked Red Raiders upset No. 1-ranked Texas) and an invite to the Cotton Bowl (losing to Ole Miss), finishing the year ranked No. 7 in the BCS and No. 12 by the AP. Leach has two years left on his contract.

The two newspapers went through gobs of e-mails and letter -- 92 pages of them, the Dallas paper reports -- to tell fans what's going on behind the scenes.

From the Avalanche-Journal's Don Williams:

Monthslong communication between Texas Tech and agents for football coach Mike Leach show a growing frustration on both sides - including a rebuke to the agents from the chairman of Tech's Board of Regents.

The university has given Leach a Feb. 17 deadline to sign a contract extension of $12.7 million over five years, but Leach's agents say he won't sign because of four added elements they say make the proposal unacceptable.

From the DMN's Brandon George:

The sticking points involve termination compensation, a buyout offer, a penalty for interviewing without permission and personal property rights.

Seth C at Double T Nation has kudos for both Williams and George. His take on the situation:

As much as we'd like to think it's not about the money, it is about the money.

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