Not many people are aware of this, but in another life, I was a legendary football coach. In fact, I won so many EA Sports NCAA Football championships at so many different schools, I lost count.
One reason I was so successful is because of my devotion to younger players. If a position battle was even semi-close, the younger player is getting the nod. That younger player, after all, is on a much higher trajectory.
Looks like Charlie Strong learned a thing or two from my legendary reign.
From Chip Brown of Scout.com:
Linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary explains:
"We told the older guys, 'If we're at the midpoint of camp and you're in a dead-heat with freshman, we're going to play the freshman.
"So you have to be head-and-shoulders above them to justify us keeping you in there along with the freshman. Because if you play the freshman, it's an investment. You're building for the future."
A lot of coaches aren't this radical, preferring to take older players due to things like familiarity and leadership. But those coaches aren't under the pressure to win like Charlie Strong is at Texas. Sometimes, you just gotta mix things up.
