PULLMAN, Wash. -- Two weeks into this season Mike Leach was ripping his Washington State team for being soft, decrying participation-trophy culture and suggesting local law enforcement and media were unfairly treating his players after several arrests and run-ins with police.Eight straight victories later and the curmudgeonly, complaining Cougars coach has been replaced by the quirky, entertaining one who muses about picking a team captain based on ability to win the coin toss and weighs in on how soon is too soon to display Christmas decorations.The reality is that Leach is the same but the circumstances have changed. Getting fined and reprimanded by the Pac-12 for publicly accusing Arizona State of stealing signs -- as happened to Leach last month -- is a whole lot easier to laugh off as Leach being Leach when the 20th-ranked Cougars (8-2, 7-0, No. 22 CFP) are leading the Pac-12 North.And all the stuff that makes Leach a unique character in college football -- his public endorsement of old friend Donald Trump, his offseason trip to Cuba -- tends to obscure a more mundane but relevant fact: Leach has been one of the best program-builders in coaching over the past two decades.Washington State had gone eight seasons without a winning record and won a total of nine games in the four seasons before Leachs arrival in 2012. A program that traditionally had struggled to sustain success had tumbled to new depths.We had a deep hole to dig out of, Washington State athletic director Bill Moos said. We needed somebody who could provide the stability and build it the right way.The Cougars won 12 games in Leachs first three seasons, causing some Wazzu fans to fret that Leachs once innovative Air Raid offense was now behind the curve in college football.Turns out Leach just needed a little more time to do at Washington State what he once did at Texas Tech. The Cougars went 9-4 last season and came into this season as a Pac-12 North contender. They then lost their first two games, including their opener to FCS Eastern Washington.Leach went off on his team and got back to the basics.We literally simplified, he said Sunday in his office before settling in for about five hours of film study on Colorado. Just emphasized little techniques. Became obsessive about blocking and tackling. That gets your focus. `Youre not going to do it next time youre going to do it now. Get your foot there NOW. Get your eyes there NOW. Then it became kind of contagious team-wise.The Cougars responded to the tough love.Instead of wilting like guys will do sometimes, they get kind of fired up and determined, Leach said.The Cougars play at No. 12 Colorado (8-2, 6-1, No. 10 CFP) on Saturday, trying for the first nine-game winning streak at Washington State since 1930.Leach is one of the godfathers of the spread offense. The brilliance of his system is simplicity and repetition to the point of mastery.I think the fact that its not super complex and teams know really what were going to do and theyve had film on us for the last 15, 20 years I think that makes it even more amazing when it still works, fifth-year senior receiver Gabe Marks said.Luke Falk is the latest Leach quarterback thriving. The junior is completing 74 percent of his passes for 361 yards per game.Marks said Leach runs his program the way he runs his offense. Give every player and coach a clear and relatively simple task, and create an environment conducive to reaching a goal. Leachs plan is really no different from Nick Sabans or Urban Meyers.Hes the best Ive been around in regards to his demands on academics and discipline, Moos said. You know when you come to play for him what is expected of you. It hasnt changed in all his years as a head coach.Leach spent 10 years at Texas Tech, becoming the winningest coach in the history of the program and famous for his inquisitiveness beyond football. Most notably, he went through a serious pirate phase.On the field, the Red Raiders won at least eight games in each of Leachs last eight seasons. The 20 years preceding his time in Lubbock, Texas Tech reached eight wins in a season twice.The end at Texas Tech was messy. He was fired after allegations from a player that Leach mistreated him while the player was being treated for a concussion. Lawsuits followed and Leach spent two years away from coaching.He returned at Washington State and found a perfect fit in Pullman, another off-the-beaten path college town, where -- for better or worse -- Leach can be Leach.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP---FBC:More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . Louis Blues. Shane Hnidy joins Brian Munz for the broadcast on TSN 1290 Radio at 7pm ct. Fake Shoes Black Friday . The No. 1-ranked Nadal tweaked his back warming up for the Australian Open final, which he lost almost four weeks ago in a major upset against Stanislas Wawrinka. His first stop after the layoff is the clay in Rio as he tests the back and tries to stay healthy for the French Open in three months. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/ . 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Buy Shoes Black Friday . -- San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks was fined $15,570 by the NFL on Wednesday for his hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees last Sunday.Co-captain Phil Davis is back, but coach Leon Cameron longs for more defensive continuity as Greater Western Sydney aim to stamp their authority on Collingwood.The third-placed Giants return from the bye on Saturday for the first of an eight-game home run towards an expected maiden AFL finals berth.To maintain their status as genuine flag contenders they must make a statement against the below-par Pies at their Spotless Stadium fortress.The Giants have claimed far bigger scalps at the venue this season in Hawthorn, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs.And despite being hot favourites to go 11-4 with their first win against the Pies, they must do so amid ongoing injury issues.Key backman Davis is a welcome return from a calf strain.However fellow defenders Matt Buntine (hamstring) and Nathan Wilson (groin), and midfielder Ryan Griffen (hamstring), are the latest faces sidelined in an injury-tested tested season thats seen Cameron field 34 players.It can be a positive because it exposes players to AFL footy throughout the year, Cameron said.But theres no doubt that down in our back end the continuity, youd like it a llittle bit better.ddddddddddddDavis has been in and out, (but) its good hes got up for this weekends game.But having Matty Buntine and Nathan Wilson out it doesnt help that continuity.We think weve had a lot of unlucky injuries, hopefully that luck can turn in the back half of the year.Returning Adam Kennedy (shoulder) and Adam Tomlinson will come in as replacements to face Pies talls Darcy Moore, Jesse White and Travis Cloke along with returning forward Alex Fasolo.Collingwoods five changes aside, Cameron expected them to set up much the same as they did in last weekends morale-boosting win against Carlton.I expect theyd probably do similar stuff to what theyve done in the last two weeks because its worked for them, he said.Nathan Buckleys 11th-placed side are coming off back-to-back victories over the Blues and Fremantle.Lesser opposition they may be, but Cameron refused to downplay the challenge.Defensively theyre probably the best in the competition the last few weeks, he said. 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