Cody Hodges takes over the system next Saturday against Florida International. He’ll become the third straight fifth-year senior to start at quarterback.

Kliff Kingsbury began Tech’s record-setting QB lineage under Leach, setting more than a dozen NCAA records from 2000-02. After Symons took over in ’03, Sonny Cumbie followed and led the nation in passing with 4,742 yards and 32 touchdowns last year. Waiting in the wings now is Graham Harrell, a redshirt freshman who is Texas’ career high-school passing leader.

Leach demands a lot from his quarterbacks, but he gives them leeway to improvise based on what the defense is doing.

“He expects perfection every play, whether it’s in a game or in practice,” Hodges said. “I could go out tomorrow and complete every pass, but he’s still going to be like, ’You know, you could have done this or done this better.’ “

The 44-year-old Leach grew up in Cody, Wyo., then played rugby while attending BYU. He got a law degree at Pepperdine and planned to be a lawyer after coaching for a few years. But he was hooked on football after his first job as an assistant at Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.

His ideas were influenced by several NFL schemes, the BYU teams of the 1970s and 1980s and his time as offensive coordinator for Hal Mumme at Valdosta State and Kentucky. He also ran Bob Stoops’ offense for one season at Oklahoma before taking over at Tech.

In Lubbock, he replaced popular coach Spike Dykes, Sonny’s father and a West Texas icon. The transition was rough at first — certainly for players and team supporters — but winning has cured everything.

In April, Leach received a contract extension through 2009. And Tech has sold more season tickets this year than ever before.

“I think as our alumni and fans have gotten to know Mike, they have come to appreciate him even more,” athletic director Gerald Myers said.

It all seems to support another of Leach’s philosophies, one that might even sound like something his folksy predecessor might’ve said:

“Different’s not always better, but if you want to go different, better make sure it’s better, not just different.”

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