Morris.... and the future (long, sorry - got carried away)

Jan 17, 2014, 9:24 AM

So, the latest craze is the impending doom of "The Chad" leaving Clemson for Vandy (or Texas or Louisville or SCSDB). Evidently, Jan-March every year, this consumes some of our noble readers, posters, fans and enemies, alike.

Folks, I have no crystal ball, but I have 17 years of coaching at 4 high schools to draw experience from about changing jobs, dealing with different athletic departments, fan bases and communitites... here's my opinion, even though you didn't ask.

If Coach Morris goes, it will be for his own personal reasons. Not because his "agent told him to strike while his name is hot." The man makes over a million dollars and has very little (if any) restrictions on him from Coach Swinney in terms of schemes and play calling. We're not talking about an over-bearing, breathe down your back, do-it-all coach like Slurrier. Coach Swinney lets his co-ordinators co-ordinate.

Coach Morris used the players that were in the cabinet when he arrived to help produce 3 straight terrific seasons these last few years with some incredible performances over some pretty stout competition. Along the way, he has brought in additional pieces, all in an effort to shape the "O" to his plans for the "future." With Watson on campus after 3 years of salivating, courting and praising, Coach Morris should feel like he has the pieces in place to run a true zone-read, spread-type offense.

That being said, many coaches dream of being the head man - the top dog. Many of us dream about the financial autonomy this would provide for our family, but for a large majority, it is a deeply personal thing to be called "Head Coach." Having met and chatted with Coach Morris on a dozen occasions, he has the charisma, drive and that little hint of ego that tells me his years of "co-ordinator" might be nearly over. However, his years of "co-ordinating" will last and last. He loves designing, manipulating, creating and experimenting with an offensive scheme WAY too much to stand beside another coach while they do it. When he leaves Clemson - and he will leave - he will add to his responsibilites expodentially. Just as Gus Malzahn did.

Now, as for Vandy.... the smallest SEC school with the toughest entrance requirements in a conference that seems to have to keep saying "S-E-C" every chance it gets, to remember how to spell it. James Franklin is called a messiah for his job at Vandy. Franklin is called the greatest coach Vandy has ever seen. Franklin won more games in 3 years there than it seems they've won in the last 30. Is this the environment that Coach Morris truly WANTS as his first college head coaching gig? Franklin used it to get the Penn State job. Face it, Vandy is no more than a diving board for up and coming coaches to show the "big boys" what they can do, then leap to the top level schools. Does he want to try to maintain the mommentum that Franklin created there? Perhaps for Morris, it would be a personal challenge to do what no one has ever done there before. Much like Slurrier said very publicly when he took the Gamecock program over. Unfortunately, in the eyes of many Clemson fans, he has succeeded in doing just that.... winning, and winning a LOT, for the first time in the history of that program. Maybe Coach Morris thinks this could establish himself a place in history. He seems to have the mentality that legacies matter a great deal to him.

All this being said, I would wish Coach Morris great success wherever and whenever he leaves Clemson University. What we have created here, is a return to the years where 10 (or more) wins is the NORM, not the unusual. What we have created here, is an expectation of winning the big games (even if we sometimes fall short, there are FAR fewer pesimistic fans in the Clemson community - excluded this website, of course.) What we created here, is an institution that sends athletes to the pros in above average numbers. A stat that GOOD high school players are VERY much aware of, because in their minds they are ALL going pro.

With Coach Morris, or without Coach Morris, we are STILL Clemson University. The winds of change have blown our way again. Our defense is returning to the national stage where opponents scoring more than 10-17 points is a anomally. Our offense - which has been Big Strike oriented the past 5-6 years - is moving towards over-bearing force that will exhaust you, with the occassional 40-yard bang for a TD. We are on terrific footing. We are sailing in the exact right direction. I, personally, would find it odd that Morris would jump ship just as the sails have completely unfurled.

But, I'm not Coach Morris.... it will be for him and him alone, to decide if and when to captain his own vessel. Regardless, We Are Clemson... and 2014 is already here.

Go Tigers.

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I have actually had more conversations with Coach Scott than I have with either Coach Morris OR Coach Swinney. What I can tell you - and any other reader - is that Coach Scott does not simply study WR drills, mechanics and coaching. He absolutely BREATHES offense. He is ALWAYS asking questions about formations and play-calling. He is known across South Carolina to call a head high school coach or high school offensive co-ordinator and ask questions about a PLAY he saw on a recruting video that was submitted, not always asking about the PLAYER you were sending to him.

I, unfortunately, have no idea how he would do if handed the head phones and told to call the plays. I can tell you that each and every time I watch the Tigers in person or on tv, I very often watch the sidelines more in the second half than I do the field. I want to see how much Morris is backing off and letting his position coaches input what plays are being called - especially in the blow-out wins over subpar competition. This is where your position coaches can grow the most. Let them suggest plays and even call a series to see for themselves what the rythm of a game is like, the effectiveness of a blocking scheme can be, or the effort of your players.

Coach Scott is young, enthusiastic, determined and absorbs things like a sponge. Is he ready for the ebb and flow of play-calling, personell adjustments, scheme busters and the like? Unfortunatley, I don't know.

But I wouldn't bet against him.

Just so the Clemson Nation knows this, Coach Scott is very often the man SC coaches deal with for recruiting, attending games, talking offense, and a whole list of other PR stuff for Clemson. He's an outstanding young man.

Morris.... and the future (long, sorry - got carried away)

Re: Morris.... and the future (long, sorry - got carried away)

Great read and spot on +1...interested in your take of

Re: Great read and spot on +1...interested in your take of

Thanks...I have only heard great things about Jeff from

If Morris must leave, I hope it's to Vandy

Re: If Morris must leave, I hope it's to Vandy

Doesn't mean it's a permanent condition***

Good post. Completely agree. If CM decides to leave

Re: Good post. Completely agree. If CM decides to leave

Good thoughts

woops "same"

woops "same"

uh, oh....

Who would TD this?***

Re: Who would TD this?***

Excellent post***

You get a point for "Slurrier" I like that***

Re: Morris.... and the GREAT POST! :-)

I love Morris, when he decides to leave I'll wish him the

Re: Morris.... and the future (long, sorry - got carried away)

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