Is a quarterback controversy a bad thing?

In recent weeks, Texas coach Mack Brown has maintained his stance that a starting quarterback will not be decided until shortly before the Rice game on September 3rd. This has led many people to question Brown's decision, and leaves some believing this is a signal that the Longhorns still have no clear leader going into this season.

It is fair to assume that having a strong leader at the QB slot is a strong benefit during the offseason. A player like Oklahoma Sooners' Landry Jones is the unquestioned leader of his team, and does not need to senselessly worry about the safety of his starting position going into the 2011 season.

On the other hand, Texas has four QB candidates who are all vying for the starting spot. Despite his rocky season last year, Garrett Gilbert might be the assumed front-runner this season. However, Case McCoy - Colt McCoy's younger brother - only made the decision tougher when he displayed poise and athleticism in his appearance in the spring game. While one of Gilbert's first passes in the spring game was an interception (with an all-too-familiar moan from the students in attendance), McCoy finished 9-for-11 through the air with 124 yards and a score, putting up numbers that would even look admirable to his older brother.

This is all without mentioning freshmen David Ash and Connor Wood, both highly recruited quarterbacks that could likely start at 90% of Division 1-A schools. It would not be surprising for at least one of these men to transfer schools if Texas commits to Garrett Gilbert as the starter for 2011. But alas, this brings us back to the original question. Is a quarterback controversy really that detrimental to the Longhorns? The answer is no. This is certainly not to say there are not benefits to knowing who your quarterback will be going into the offseason each year. Landry Jones can walk with confidence knowing his job in Oklahoma is not in jeopardy. He does not have to worry about splitting reps in practice with three other guys fighting for his position, and he can spend more time focusing on improving his game and mastering new offensive schemes.

However, there are also some benefits to the competition in Austin. Texas has four quarterbacks fighting for equal time in practice. Gilbert, McCoy, Ash, and Wood will each be expected to prove to Mack Brown and new co-offensive coordinator Bryan Harsin that they deserve one of the most coveted positions in all of college football. They will have to fully master the offense, demonstrate great athleticism and exhibit strong leadership to their fellow teammates. The competition will make each of them work tirelessly to make this happen.

As a result of this competition for the starting spot, the Longhorns will have four QBs with a strong grasp on the offense. This will strengthen the player that lands the back-up role for Texas. Think back to the BCS National Championship Game of 2009, when Texas fell short against Alabama after Colt McCoy was injured and taken out in the first offensive drive. Everyone must congratulate Garrett Gilbert for his valiant effort. While he made some blunders in the first half and finished the game with four picks, he calmed his nerves after half-time and put the Horns back in contention. But one must wonder, if he had been more prepared, could he have saved the game? Will this 4-man quarterback competition truly create better-prepared backup QBs that can enter a game with more poise when called upon?

And even if Brown and Harsin are already leaning toward Gilbert starting this year, the competition at quarterback leaves Gilbert understanding that he can not take anything for granted. If he faulters, or makes many of the same mistakes from last season, the Texas coaches won't hesitate; their QB bench will be locked and loaded.