Mike Leach compliments the people of Iowa

SAN ANTONIO -- Former Iowa Wesleyan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Mike Leach, who is currently the head coach at Washington State, was questioned about his thoughts on the people of Iowa during the pregame press conference between Alamo Bowl foes Washington State and Iowa State. Leach's response, which was released in a video by WHO TV in Des Moines, captured state-wide attention.

'Outstanding people in Iowa,” Leach went on to say before mentioning his time in Mt. Pleasant coaching IW. 'Iowa is kind of a fascinating place. It was kind of funny. Iowans love Iowa.”

Leach went on to tell a hypothetical story about ‘folks from Iowa' going to Disneyland and then coming back to their home state.

'They'll say, ‘Yeah we went down there to that Orlando area, went to Disneyland, a little of that,” Leach joked. '‘It was nice, ain't nothing like Iowa. Ain't nothing like Iowa.' Peoplar eare enthusiastic about the place. It was a captivating place.”

Leach, who has grown to be a national media darling during his tenure in NCAA Division 1 football and is well respected in the state of Iowa, will lead his 13th-ranked Cougars against the 24th-ranked Cyclones tonight (Friday) at 8 p.m. That game will be broadcast on ESPN.