Ole Miss honors Mike Leach at Texas Bowl with helmet decal

OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Mike Leach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels talk before the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 24, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images)
OXFORD, MISSISSIPPI - NOVEMBER 24: Head coach Mike Leach of the Mississippi State Bulldogs and head coach Lane Kiffin of the Mississippi Rebels talk before the game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on November 24, 2022 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images) /
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The Ole Miss Rebels football team honored Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach at the Texas Bowl with a helmet decal.

Earlier this month, the college football world received the sad news that Mississippi State head coach Mike Leach had passed away at the age of 61 due to complications from a heart condition. Leach was in his 21st season as a head coach, his third with the Bulldogs football program. Tributes for the former Mississippi State, Texas Tech, and Washington State head coach poured in from current and former players, fellow coaches, and various football programs.

On Wednesday, the official Twitter account for the Ole Miss football team released a photo of the helmets they will be wearing at the Texas Bowl. Those helmets feature a decal that says “MIKE,” where the “I” is replaced with a cowbell to honor Leach.

Ole Miss is scheduled to take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders, Leach’s former team.

Ole Miss, Texas Tech honor Mike Leach at Texas Bowl

The Rebels and Bulldogs are one of the big rivalries in the SEC, as they participate in the season-end Egg Bowl for bragging rights. Mississippi State defeated Ole Miss this season by the score of 24-22, Leach’s first Egg Bowl victory since leading the Bulldogs program in 2020. The 2022 Egg Bowl was also Leach’s final coached game before his passing.

Texas Tech will also be wearing similar helmet decals to honor Leach.

Leach began his head coaching career in 2003 with the Red Raiders, a position he held for 10 seasons. In that span, Leach held a 84-43 record and led the team to five bowl victories in nine appearances.

Ole Miss and Texas Tech kickoff the Texas Bowl on Wednesday, Dec. 28 at 9:00 p.m. ET, and will air on ESPN.

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