What's going on in Lubbock?

Some of this information is duplicative but I wanted to tie it together in one post to see if the fog clears a bit. I don't want to get in the potential Webb/Brewer controversy that Seth WAS ALL OVER this morning. We'll focus solely on Brewer and the strange events that have unfolded in Lubbock over the past few days.

Here's what we know:

After practice on August 9th Jakeem Grant mentioned that Brewer was out with a back injury:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Jakeem Grant mentions that Michael Brewer was out of practice with a back injury.</p>&mdash; Zach Long (@AJ_ZachLong) <a href="https://twitter.com/AJ_ZachLong/statuses/366007894254170113">August 10, 2013</a></blockquote>

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On August 10th, Chris Level (sideline reporter during the season and a man with lots of access) had this exchange:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/Folg12">@Folg12</a> I think Webb has surprised everyone from the time he&#39;s been on campus. He can handle it. Hate it for Brewer. Hope he gets right soon</p>&mdash; Chris Level (@ChrisLevel) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChrisLevel/statuses/366375605194866688">August 11, 2013</a></blockquote>

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On Sunday the 11th, Coach Kingsbury announced he was signing out of Twitter:

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Signing off of Twitter for a while. Time to grind. Red Raider Nation get your mind right. <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23WreckEm&amp;src=hash">#WreckEm</a></p>&mdash; Kliff Kingsbury (@TTUKingsbury) <a href="https://twitter.com/TTUKingsbury/statuses/366686688799506435">August 11, 2013</a></blockquote>

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Seems innocent enough but this tweet struck me as odd. Kliff is a serious man. He's been built up as the Uber-Bro with a million dollar smile and V-necks, but he's more than that. You can't have such a rapid ascent in coaching because you have a great smile.

His signing out was pretty significant. I don't think he was happy. In fact, I think he was pissed.

And then on Monday Texas Tech announced a media blackout for the entire week.

I suppose this could all be a coincidence.

I suppose.

Then this morning 1340 The Fan reported that Brewer has been out of practice all week, and he was held out of the scrimmage on Saturday (the same day Level sent his tweet):

Texas Tech Football could start its first true freshman at Quarterback to start the season in decades.

Sophomore Michael Brewer has been held out of practice the past few days and missed last Saturday's team scrimmage due to a back injury that Tech officials are mum on.

And this tidbit suggests that it's time to hunker down and circle the wagons:

The severity of the injury to Brewer is unknown, but closing media sessions after every practice this week until Friday show how concerned the coaching staff is.

Then there's this from the Amarillo Globe News:

With rare exceptions, practices in spring training and in preseason workouts that began Aug. 3 are closed to the public and media. But as has been custom, Kingsbury and most assistants, as well as selected players, are available after workouts.

Not this week.

And if you don't think this is somehow tied to the white-hot rumors of expected starting QB Michael Brewer's back injury, then think again.

And finally, this:

Brewer, a redshirt sophomore, held a slight lead over true freshman Davis Webb after spring training to succeed Seth Doege at quarterback. But the competition wasn't to be decided until sometime in preseason camp.

Then, last week, in a post-practice interview, receiver Jakeem Grant, who make still be running laps, let slip what had been strongly rumored online the previous week -- that Brewer had injured his back in the summer, possibly a disk. Grant's few words have been the only confirmation within the Tech program that Brewer may have been injured.

Of course, this could all be guys competing for readers. Maybe Brewer is fine. Maybe he'll be ready for the season opener against SMU, but nobody in Lubbock is talking and that has me concerned.

I guess we'll find out Friday.

But right now the silence coming from Lubbock is deafening.