The Beard Is Back!

Potts named Tech's starting QB
By Don Williams/AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Texas Tech will start the 2010 football season just as it opened in 2009, with Taylor Potts at quarterback.

Tech coach Tommy Tuberville named Potts the starter on Sunday after a training camp competition with fellow senior Steven Sheffield.

“We have a very talented group of quarterbacks and are excited about every one of them,” Tuberville said in a prepared statement. “The competition during camp between Taylor and Steven has been outstanding, but at the end of the day we can only have one starter. Taylor has done a tremendous job, and we feel like he has gotten better each and every day.

Potts threw for 3,440 yards and 22 touchdowns last season, when he started 10 games. He also had 13 interceptions, some resulting from mechanical lapses.

After Saturday’s scrimmage, Potts said he’s “made a lot of progress on mechanics” and how he plays and gave credit to new offensive coordinator Neal Brown.

So the young man once dubbed "Nick" by his former coach will be taking back over the reigns of the Red Raiders this season. I wasn't really surprised by the decision. While Sheffield's mobility brings another dimension to the offense and he performed better against some of Tech's better opponents in 2009, Potts is the most experienced candidate and the most prototypical quarterback. I'm not really sure why we can't see both. It seemed to work pretty well in the Alamo Bowl. But I guess you have to name a starter. Unless you're Nebraska. Then I guess you can wait until five minutes before the first kickoff.

P.S. - Do a Google search for photos of Potts. This isn't even close to being the gayest one.