Email to Tubs, Brown & Cumbie re: Potts & Sticks

by Austin, Tx on Oct 25, 2010 2:55 PM CDT

I sent the following email to Tubs and Brown this morning:

Dear Coach Tuberville and Coach Brown,

Understandably this has been a difficult transitional year for coaches, players and fans. I don't pretend to have same level of football knowledge as the coaching staff but I do not understand your resistance to giving Steven Sheffield a shot at QB. Taylor Potts had a couple of good games and seemed to be coming around but lately he has been flat. What is the harm in putting Sheffield in for even a quarter or a few series? Honestly, from the fan perspective it seems as though you said at the beginning of the season that you were committed to Potts and that regardless of his performance in games you are sticking with him - it seems like stubborness on the part of the coaching staff - as in "we're sticking with our decision come hell or high water". I recognize I could be completely off base. But when you have two talented QBs and one is flat, why not give the other one a shot? What do you have to lose? If Sheffield can't perform either, put Potts back in. LSU rotates QBs, Nebraska has rotated QBs, A&M made a QB switch this past weekend. It is not unheard of. Please, please, please consider this option.

I know you all are under tremendous pressure and are doing your best. The last thing you probably want are unsolicited suggestions from fans. But this is our university. We love Texas Tech and our football program. I've been supporting Tech and our football program since 1984. It is painful to watch what our team is going through this year. But I, like most if not all Tech fans, will continue to support our team through thick and thin. We love our Red Raiders.

I hope you will take my comments in the spirit they are intended, which is from a fan's perspective, when something isn't working, and you have a good alternative, give it a try. You've done it with the defense, and with receivers this past weekend, why not with the QB position.

Thank you for your time and best of luck for the rest of the season!

Guns up!

And forwarded it to Cumbie with the following message:

Dear Coach Cumbie,

I wanted to share my email to Coaches Tuberville and Brown. As a former Tech QB and current coach I thought you may have a more personal and in-depth connection to our beloved football program.

I don't expect a reply from either Coach Tuberville or Brown. But if you are willing to share your perspective on any level I would be grateful.

Many thanks and all the best,

I'm not expecting a reply from any of them but I don't think it hurts to continue to let them know we're paying attention

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Double-T Nation's writers or editors.

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Comments

Thanks.....

I feel extactly the same way…I do want to support Potts but not at the expense of opportunities to win more games….If Potts was our only experienced QB then I would go the “hell or high water” route but it was very obvious to all who would look that Sticks saved our bacon last year and could be some help this year if given a chance….I fee I have realistic expectations for Potts and that is to play consistantly like a 5th yr Sr QB……He is just too inconsistant and allowing Sticks to come in and get things going could really help against atm and mizzou….Thanks again, I hope they consider this suggestion!!!!!!!! Wreck’Em Tech

by techgolf44 on Oct 25, 2010 3:22 PM CDT reply actions

this was really well written, and i hope you get a response. exactly reflects my feelings. bravo.

by freethepirate on Oct 25, 2010 3:28 PM CDT reply actions

Fair assessment. Good email.

by logan5555 on Oct 25, 2010 3:31 PM CDT reply actions

TP was a featured player at today's press conference...

When Butterfield said Potts would not be on a short leash, he really, really, really meant it.

Throw first and ask questions later.

by RonnieB on Oct 25, 2010 3:50 PM CDT reply actions

Good luck

I think your right on with your message but I doubt it even gets to Tuberville. I think we are stuck with Potts for the remainder of the season and I doubt these coaches would take a chance on Sheffield this late. If Sheffield started to perform and blow open this offense Mike Leach style I think these coaches would all have egg on their faces and I doubt they risk that. It’s probably more of a fear factor at this point.

"You've got to find your inner pirate" - Mike Leach
"We started too late" - Neal Brown

by Raider1992 on Oct 25, 2010 4:52 PM CDT reply actions

A reasoned, rational approach

Given all the over-the-top, emotional hyperbole that’s been flying around lately, I thought your email was pretty good. Thanks for taking the time. I’d like to believe that someone on the inside will read it and take it to heart, but….

Want some advice from an old pro? Walk in, plant your feet, look the other person in the eye, and tell the truth. James Cagney

by vin61 on Oct 25, 2010 5:25 PM CDT reply actions

Although...

… perhaps it’s not as easy a decision as we think.

LAJ, 16 Nov 09

"I probably should have kept (Taylor) Potts in the whole game,’’ Leach said during his weekly Monday news conference. "I should have played him the whole game.’’

Asked if that thought was based on what he saw from Potts or what he didn’t see from Steven Sheffield, Leach said, "I base it more just on the shuffling around. I don’t need to mess with a bunch of shuffling around.’’

Second-guessing himself on the handling of his quarterbacks was a rare admission for Leach. It was the first time he could remember feeling that way since the 2006 season.

"Well, the last time was when I felt like I messed with Chris Todd a little too much with regard to Graham Harrell that first year (Harrell started),’’ Leach said. "I should have just kept Graham in. There were several series I played with Chris Todd. Not to take anything away from Chris Todd, and part of it is you want to give a guy perspective. But part of it is there’s a disruption to it, too. I got a little fancy with that, I thought. That’d probably be the last time.’’

Want some advice from an old pro? Walk in, plant your feet, look the other person in the eye, and tell the truth. James Cagney

by vin61 on Oct 25, 2010 5:50 PM CDT reply actions

One must remember the circumstances

I believe that was after last year’s Oklahoma State game, where Sticks was visibly limping on to the field. Everyone could tell that Sheffield was NOT ready to play then after the injury by Ndamukong Suh.

by singleshoe on Oct 26, 2010 4:00 AM CDT up reply actions

Limping for his life

That was a very embarassing situation, and when the aligations surfaced about mistreating an injured player my thoughts went exactly to that moment in Stillwater.

by Gus Mitchem on Oct 26, 2010 8:32 AM CDT up reply actions

You're right about the context...

… but coach’s point was about the “shuffling around.” And his angst included how he had handled Harrell previously.

I think Coach Tuberville should play Sheffield— at quarterback, that is, and for more than a play or two; but I wanted to illustrate that even Coach Leach struggled with the decision on when to make the switch.

Want some advice from an old pro? Walk in, plant your feet, look the other person in the eye, and tell the truth. James Cagney

by vin61 on Oct 26, 2010 8:34 AM CDT up reply actions

I'm usually not one for what odd but

What if we had pulled Sheffield in the end when we were beating Nebraska and he hadn’t gotten hurt?

by Sawdawg12 on Oct 27, 2010 9:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions

Thanks a lot........

Now I’m really pissed. I was at that game, and that would have really made sense in hindsight.

"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian

by oldschoolraider on Oct 27, 2010 9:44 PM CDT up reply actions

Excellent

email. I would be interested to hear if they respond..

by air-raid on Oct 25, 2010 6:09 PM CDT reply actions

Waste of your time, but nicely done.

by Tech92 on Oct 25, 2010 8:09 PM CDT reply actions

Thanks, I did it for the therapeutic value.

I have zero expectation that my email will make it to any of the intended recipients. I’m sure their published email addresses aren’t the ones that really go to them. But, it made me feel better. :-)

That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks

by Austin, Tx on Oct 25, 2010 8:41 PM CDT up reply actions

Then consider it a success. I’d be shocked, as well, if those published emails are the one’s they actually use. Probably just bounces to an admin account.

by Tech92 on Oct 25, 2010 8:47 PM CDT up reply actions

I worked for a Congressman from TX on Capitol Hill in DC for 11 years

I suspect the system is similar. While they won’t read the emails themselves they probably are given an overall summary of how the emails are running.

That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks

by Austin, Tx on Oct 25, 2010 8:54 PM CDT up reply actions

I bet they do read DTN!

"grinnin with big ears, this could be my last year, someones future is starting to spoil" - The Lexington Brothers..

by raider realist on Oct 25, 2010 9:15 PM CDT up reply actions

I wish I had that system in my office.

by Tech92 on Oct 25, 2010 9:23 PM CDT up reply actions

I follow Coach Tuberville on Twitter and once asked him a question—surprisingly he responded. Neal Brown is on Twitter as well—I’m thinking that might be the best place you can call them out…uh I mean, ask questions.

by WreckerRaider on Oct 25, 2010 10:37 PM CDT reply actions

Nice letter. Well written.

I still have not received a reply on my letter, so you may not either. At any rate, I think it is important for most Red Raider fans to do something to let the coaches know we are concerned and understand the game well enough that we can see where a certain move could be of benefit to the team.

TTpilk Psalm 117:
1 ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

by TTpilk645 on Oct 25, 2010 11:32 PM CDT reply actions

What did you ask him Wrecker?

¡Viva los Matadores!

by jwhitettu on Oct 26, 2010 2:37 AM CDT reply actions

If Adam James would...

Sprinkle some of his leftover fairy dust on the rest of the offense so they could actually play a complete good game.

by TTU '04 on Oct 26, 2010 8:44 AM CDT up reply actions

I asked him the most basic of question: What is the difference with your offense and what Coach Leach ran? And got the old boring….run the ball….clock management….yadda, yadda, yadda. I figure an easy question and then zing him with the tough questions later. Of course, he did not answer my next question of “when are you going to dump Neal Brown?”

by WreckerRaider on Oct 26, 2010 11:25 AM CDT up reply actions