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A touching tribute to The Pirate: Mike Leach honored on "Dancing with the Stars"

The former Bulldogs head coach and football legend was honored by a former player on the hit TV series.

By Andrew Miller

Nov 24, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach walks onto the field after the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images
Nov 24, 2022; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs head coach Mike Leach walks onto the field after the game against the Ole Miss Rebels at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images / Matt Bush-Imagn Images
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Since former Mississippi State football coach Mike Leach's unfortunate passing, there have been countless dedications honoring him for being the brilliant, caring, and unique figure that he was. His unmatched impact will be remembered forever. This week, one of the best players The Pirate coached paid tribute to him on a hit TV show.

Former Mike Leach wide receiver Danny Amendola honored The Pirate on Dancing with the Stars

Former Texas Tech and NFL wide receiver Danny Amendola is one of the celebrity contestants on Dancing with the Stars this year. For the most recent episode, contestants were asked to perform a dance routine that honored a significant person in their life, and Amendola chose to honor his late college coach, Mike Leach.

Danny Amendola was one of the best WRs Mike Leach coached. In four years at Texas Tech from 2004-2007, he amassed 2,246 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns. As a senior he would catch 109 passes for 1,245 yards and six scores playing in Leach's Air Raid attack.

Though he would go undrafted, Amendola would work his way into the NFL. One of the better undrafted success stories, he would play for 14 seasons and win a pair of Super Bowls with the New England Patriots before his retirement in 2022.

Amendola owes a lot of his success to Mike Leach. When asked what made Leach such a special person to him, Amendola said, "He sold us a dream that we could pay through hard work and dedication. Being a coach is a very selfless job. I miss him dearly, and this one's for him."

Amendola's tribute was heart-warming, but how did the judges think he did? Wonderfully. Each of the four judges gave Amendola and his dance partner a 9/10 score. That total score of 36 was more than enough to move on safely to the next round.

That should come as no surprise, of course. When you've got The Pirate on your side, you're destined for success.

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