If the changes at linebacker so many fans are eager for is going to happen this week, the coaches sure aren't ready to talk about it. As reporters begin to hone in on the obvious need for change, the coaches have started in on the Coach Dance.
Try, if you can, to make sense of this quote from Duane Akina ($), which was a response to a question about whether it was time to switch to the clearly superior young talent at linebacker.
Thanks, Coach. That definitely clears it up.
Akina is not alone in this, of course - Mack Brown's doing the dance himself. From his Wednesday presser:
That's at least a coherent response, but it's well short of a commitment to the young guys.
I will say that I don't necessarily think the Texas coaches should act differently. I don't expect, or even want, Brown and Akina to come out and tell the media, "Killebrew has been lousy. Bobino looks lost. Derry is too limited to hold off the younger guys for much longer."
I can say that from my little soap box, but the coaches can't. And shouldn't. And won't.
But as clear a difference as there's been between the two groups of players, I hope the press keeps the heat on the coaches. More than that, though - I hope that if, in truth, these coaches think this change is inevitable, they don't stubbornly refuse to do so until we lose. Texas fans want wins. We especially want wins over Oklahoma. And the team? If those veterans are as good a leaders as the coaches say they are, the goal of winning conference championships will be more important to them than the minutes they're on the field.
Right? Right.
--PB--