Leach: Potts will start against Michigan State

Psst. Psst.

Texas Tech coach Mike Leach surprised us all on Monday when he stepped out of his element and revealed a closely-guarded secret.

Leach let the proverbial cat out of the bag when he told the Star-Telegram that Taylor Potts will be his starting quarterback when the Red Raiders meet Michigan State in the Jan. 2 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio.

During the regular season, Leach kept everyone guessing as to whether Steven Sheffield, Seth Doege or Potts would be his starting quarterback. It always came down to a "game-time decision.''

Of course, that whole course of action got started when Potts suffered a concussion in Game No. 5 against New Mexico.

That forced Sheffield into the starting lineup, and he immediately took command of the offense and had a stronger presence and awareness of the game than anyone knew. An even stronger presence than Potts.

But in his second start, Sheffield fractured his left foot while leading Tech to a 31-10 win at Nebraska, who was one second away from upsetting Texas in last Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game.

After Sheffield's injury, Potts was back in the starting lineup during that defining home game against Texas A&M. That's the game where Potts tossed an ill-advised interception into the end zone just before halftime, prompting the Raider fans to start chanting: "No More Potts, No More Potts.''

That embarrassing 52-30 loss to the Aggies _ which ultimately helped A&M get an Independence Bowl invitation _ was enough to convince Leach that Potts had to sit and learn some more. So Leach started Doege the next game against Kansas, although Potts played the second half and was very effective in a 42-21 victory.

Potts then started the next game at Oklahoma State. But with the Raiders trailing 7-3 midway through the second quarter, Leach surprised even himself when he pulled Potts in favor of a limping Sheffield.

But when Sheffield faltered and tossed a costly game-turning interception that Patrick Levine returned for a 21-yard touchdown for a 24-10 OSU lead in the fourth quarter, Leach brought Potts back into the game. Potts immediately fired a 24-yard TD to Edward Britton to get the Raiders within 24-17.

But the Raiders ended up losing 24-17, and afterwards Leach admitted he made a huge mistake, saying he should have stuck with Potts.

After the loss to OSU, Potts led Tech to victories over Oklahoma and Baylor. That was more than enough to convince Leach who should get the nod against Michigan State.

"I'm going to start Potts (against Michigan State),'' Leach said. "He's steady and I need to settle on one (quarterback) and quit pulling them in and out, and then in the spring they'll battle it out.''

Leach's decision to publicly announce Potts as his Alamo Bowl starter means his players won't have to tap-dance around a probing question when reporters come poking around asking about who they believe should be the starting quarterback against Michigan State

It also means everyone should be on the same page way before the Raiders leave Lubbock for San Antonio. And that should be a good sign for the Raiders.

-- Dwain Price

  

Comments

[ttu]

Tech is doomed with that kid starting