Trouble on the Texas Tech Offensive Line?

[Stallion]

DMN reports that two of Tech's behemoth OLM Ofa Mohetu(the BYU transfer ranked among the Top National Recruits several years ago) and Louis Vasquez walked out of practice Thursday but are back with the team. Also Cody Baker left the team temporarily to deal with personal issues. It will be interesting to see if this is a festering problem or whether Vasquez or Mohetu will be disciplined for the opener.

[Corso]

Didn't they also suspend starting OT Glenn January?
Golly, it sure would be a shame if they couldn't keep Rogers and Muse and the fellas from mangling their QB, wouldn't it?
(I don't want to see him injured, of course .... just beaten around enough that he throws some key interceptions!)

[ALEX LIFESON]

In recent years, our pass-rush hasn't been in the same zip code as the Tech qb's. Mabey this is the year to change that!

[HFvictory]

Ofa has never been known to be a hard worker and wouldn't be surprised if the coaches were on his butt and he had enough that day.

[Silk]

The Leach should send a message to his team about never quitting by suspending those two for the first game.

[HFvictory]

The Leach should send a message to his team about never quitting by suspending those two for the first game.

You are talking about Tech here. Discipline is not an option else all would be riding the bench.

[RHS]

This is an interesting thread for a Red Raider lurker. I guess hope springs eternal.

Discipline is a huge issue for Gerald Myers and Mike Leach. It is much tougher than what seems to be the perception. If Tech was lax on grades, McKinner Dixon would be back at Tech this year. The AD who got both Tech and Alabama in trouble is long gone and Gerald Myers insists on good grades and winning on the field. Sorry to disappoint you guys.

Vasquez and Ofa had temporary flare ups from practice, which happens. It is disconcerting but it was blown out of proportion. Ofa was in Lubbock this summer working with the team. He was lifting weights at 5:30 with the team. He spent time running in the sand pit in the Texas sun pretty much daily this summer. So far, he shows a pretty good work ethic.

Cody Baker is from Rowlett and a reserve OL who left for family issues and hopefully returns.

[RedRiverPony]

Thanks for the report, RHS, and welcome to PonyFans.com.

What's the story on Glenn January?

Hope things work out for the best for Cody Baker and his family.

[RHS]

"What's the story on Glenn January?"

All the talent in the world but struggles with the mental aspect. He tends to get down on himself after he gets beat, which causes him to get beat again. Then the process repeats itself, so he sits on the bench a while and comes back in fine. He needs to be more consistent this year, but may share time with Louis Vasquez.

[PonyPride]

I've also heard January was suspended. True? What for?

[RedRiverPony]

I wonder if there's more trouble there than we know. RHS is right in that flare-ups happen every day. But there's a difference -- if an OL flares up and smacks a DL in the head, and a fight breaks out .... that's one thing. But walking out of practice? That's another thing altogether. To me that shows a guy who listens to himself before his coach, and thinks he's somehow different (or at least separate) fromn the rest of the team.

I wonder if The Leach is similarly concerned....

[RHS]

I've also heard January was suspended. True? What for?

I think someone is playing with you. Glenn January hasn't missed a practice yet, including yesterday.

RedRiverPony, they pretty much just didn't come back after a break. They didn't exactly walk off in a huff. I'm not making light of it, but I'm not running off half cocked either.

[jimmieho]

It was reported to me that a TT player got into fight at a local watering hole. Ended up being members of a local gang. Gang members later that night broke into the TT dorm to finish business with the football players. Several young players, said lineman, Taylor Potts, and others, became frightened and left Dodge (or Lubbock) for a couple of days. Things appeared to have been resolved and most have returned to practice. Still, it does sound like they have some distractions in Red Raiderville.
This information came from some of the TT players, visiting with my son.

[redraidersweetheart]

It was reported to me that a TT player got into fight at a local watering hole. Ended up being members of a local gang. Gang members later that night broke into the TT dorm to finish business with the football players. Several young players, said lineman, Taylor Potts, and others, became frightened and left Dodge (or Lubbock) for a couple of days. Things appeared to have been resolved and most have returned to practice. Still, it does sound like they have some distractions in Red Raiderville.
This information came from some of the TT players, visiting with my son.

I don't know about the dorms, word was that some of the guys in the fight showed up at the houses of some players and try to keep the brawl going...

[RHS]

It was reported to me that a TT player got into fight at a local watering hole. Ended up being members of a local gang. Gang members later that night broke into the TT dorm to finish business with the football players. Several young players, said lineman, Taylor Potts, and others, became frightened and left Dodge (or Lubbock) for a couple of days. Things appeared to have been resolved and most have returned to practice. Still, it does sound like they have some distractions in Red Raiderville.
This information came from some of the TT players, visiting with my son.

Sounds like the issue where Hines was stabbed at a frat party. If January left Lubbock for a couple of days, he made it back for each and every practice.

I think some of it grew in the retelling of the story.

The distractions are probably not that more than what we see every spring and summer. We always have people not making the grade and heading home. We always have someone acting a fool during the night life. We always have flare ups at practice. And I doubt we are too different than most schools in those regards. This off season isn't that different from most.

The difference is this year, people are counting on those things to be reasons to beat us whereas in the past, people felt they could beat us straight up if they played well. Now people are looking for this player or these groups of players are dealt with, or if distractions can break concentration, then maybe opponents can pull off the win.

It seems to go with the territory of improving the program.