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Morris clears the air with players

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by David Hood - Senior Writer - Thursday, December 13, 2012 7:54 PM

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CLEMSON – Offensive coordinator Chad MorrisChad Morris
Offensive Coordinator / QBs
View Full Profile spoke to the Clemson team before Thursday’s practice to clear the air about his flirtation with Texas Tech and to get the offense focused on this month’s bowl date with LSU.

Wide receiver Sammy WatkinsSammy Watkins
So. Wide Receiver
#2 6-1, 205
Fort Myers, FL
View Full Profile said he is glad the drama is behind the team.

“It should be every coach’s dream to be a head coach,” Watkins said. “He talked to the guys about his leaving, and he said it was a big old story. He said someone caught him in the airport and things like that. But he is here and he is fine. I didn’t really feel like he was leaving or anything like that. I get to play in this offense and we feel like we are going to have a good season next year.”

Quarterback Tajh BoydTajh Boyd
RS Jr. Quarterback
#10 6-1, 225
Hampton, VA
View Full Profile said he stayed in constant contact with Morris, but other players had concerns, which prompted Morris talking to the team.

“There were guys who were kind of wavering and he wanted to clear the air with all of that, and it was great for the players to know what kind of commitment he has with this team,” Boyd said. “He just told us let’s get ready for LSU. He said his commitment was to go out there and give everything he has for us. It is going to be like this every year. This is how it is going to be. This offense is going to get better and better. He felt like there were too many distractions as well.”

Boyd said it will be good to concentrate on LSU.

“I think it is a good day for Clemson. He will do what is best for him and his team, so I guess he thought his best decision was to stay here,” Boyd said. “I guess we have time with him now, and we concentrate on the bowl game. For me, it wasn’t really a distraction. I had a chance to talk to him through the process a lot. Throughout the process, he said a lot of things had to be in place before he became a head coach for anyone. There was a lot of speculation.

“People said he was already in Lubbock when he was still here watching film of LSU. Yesterday, there were people saying he was already gone and I talked to him all day. I think a lot of people were just speculating. I guess it is hard not to in that situation. You have one of the best coaches in America, and it would be disappointing if people didn’t want him. It is like a recruit, coming out of high school you want all of these schools to come and offer you. If you are getting all of these coaches and AD’s calling, then you know you are doing your job. There will be an opportunity for him to be a head coach. Right now I guess he feels like his main obligation is staying with us.”

Boyd did admit that if Morris had left, it might have changed his decision making process in deciding whether to leave for the NFL or return for his final season.

“He has been the most beneficial to my growth as a player. It raises concerns about the future,” Boyd said. “But this is a business and things happen. He gave me the reasons – just wanting to finish strong with his players. I was happy to hear him say that. But I think so [would have impacted him}. Just the way it works Great coach. He has been here with the whole way, and it could have impacted that.”

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