The lawyer for Mike Leach says the suspended Texas Tech coach did nothing wrong in how he treated a player with a "mild" concussion, and Leach wants a court's help to allow him to coach the Alamo Bowl on Jan. 2.

The motion for a temporary restraining order was filed yesterday in Lubbock, Texas. An in-chambers hearing was set for this morning in the 99th District Court.

University officials suspended Leach on Monday while the school investigates a complaint from receiver Adam James and his family. James is the son of former NFL player Craig James, now a television sports analyst for ESPN.

A person close to James with direct knowledge of the situation alleges the player was twice — on Dec. 17 and 19 —forced to stand in a small, dark place while the team practiced. He had been diagnosed with a concussion by team doctors Dec. 17.

Leach was "begged to work something out to avoid a confrontation," said a person familiar with the inquiry.

That person also said Leach late last week postponed a meeting related to the inquiry and refused to sign a letter saying "no one injured would be returned to work out without doctors' permission."

The school's attorney left a voice mail message with Leach's attorney that the university needed a letter of apology by noon Monday, the person said.

It did not arrive.

"That's when they made the decision to suspend (Leach), thinking that would bring him to his senses," the person said.

The NCAA is letting Texas Tech conduct its investigation and has not gotten involved, NCAA spokesman Cameron Schuh said. The Big 12 has no authority to investigate what the conference labeled an "institutional matter," Big 12 spokesman Bob Burda said.

James was with the team in San Antonio as it prepares for Saturday's bowl game against Michigan State. Defensive coordinator Ruffin McNeill will be the interim coach.

FAN POLL

PLAYOFF FAVORED

A majority of college football fans want to scrap the current Bowl Championship Series and replace it with a playoff system that's similar to college basketball, according to a new national poll released yesterday.

The Quinnipiac University survey shows 63 percent favor getting rid of the current system, while 26 percent want to keep it.

While more fans may favor a playoff system, they don't necessarily want Congress to get involved. The poll shows 48 percent believe it is a bad idea if federal lawmakers force college football to start a playoff system; 45 percent say it's a good idea.

The survey of 1,849 adults, 948 of whom consider themselves to be very interested or somewhat interested in college football, was conducted Dec. 15 to 20.

ELSEWHERE

Tennessee: Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin believes Eric Berry will play in the NFL next year.

Berry, a junior safety with 15 career interceptions, could play his last game for Tennessee tomorrow in the Chick-fil-A Bowl against Virginia Tech.

"I told him from my perspective he's done everything he can do," Kiffin said.