Fun Facts

[bphi11ips]

About Chad Morris:

*  Turned 49 on Monday

*  High school head coaching record:  169-38

*  Clemson record year before Morris became OC:  6-7

*  Clemson record while Morris was OC:  42-11

*  SMU record year before Morris became HC:  1-11

*  SMU record under Morris:  14-22 (7-5 in 2017)

*  High school QB

*  One of four FBS head coaches who did not play college football; the other four are Paul Johnson, David Cutcliffe and Mike Leach

Chad Morris grew up just east of Dallas during a time when Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and Houston were often ranked in the Top 10.  He knows that Arkansas is a program with a high ceiling.  Clemson's run began when Morris became OC.  Nothing in Clemson's history would indicate it could sustain the success it has sustained since 2011.  Dabo Swinney credits Morris for helping get it started.  Malzahn decided to stay at Auburn but said if you want the closest thing to me go get Chad Morris.

A lot of folks here have said they want a coach who can do more with less.  Morris proved he can do that in large Texas public high schools, where you can't recruit your way to success.  The only way to sustain the kind of success Morris sustained in Texas high school football is to out-develop, out-prepare, and out-coach your opponents.  Morris has proven that he knows how to build and he knows how to win.

At 49, Morris is the right age to step up to a program like Arkansas. Norvel at 36 needs some seasoning.

Recruiting is where Morris can take Arkansas to the next level.  You can't judge him by his rankings at SMU, where football has been suppressed since the NCAA embarrassed an elite academic school with the death penalty.  SMU has been apologizing for fielding a football team ever since.  Morris recruited Deshaun Watson.  In the four years before Morris joined the Clemson staff, the Tigers' average recruiting ranking was 21.  They averaged 12 during Morris' four years at OC.

Morris coached high school teams near Houston, Austin and Dallas.  Houston and DFW is where Arkansas's best teams, some of whom Morris grew up watching, were built.  DFW, especially, is in the Arkansas footprint for football and for students in general.  As for Arkansas, Morris should have no problem establishing relationships with high school coaches.  He is one of them.  His offense is what most of them run.

With the salary Morris will require, Arkansas can afford an elite DC and will get one.  Will it be Venables?  Who knows?  But money talks.  The notion that there are no good defensive players in Arkansas's footprint is bunk.  An elite DC will find them and sign them for an opportunity to play in the SEC in the finest facilities.  If Jeff Long did anything right, it was upgrading the players' facilities.  The locker room, etc., will beat many NFL locker rooms.

Hogville posters will continue to gnash teeth because the BOT didn't bring them the shiniest new media darling, the one who tweets the best or the one who just won the most.  But the BOT is filled with some of the best minds in the country.  Those guys are all badasses with badass friends who know football in general and Arkansas football in particular.  They had good reasons for their decisions.  Decisions having nothing to do with access.  If they want access they do what they have done for decades - pick up the phone.  They want to do what is best for Arkansas, and that means winning.  The news on this head coach will be gone by Christmas.  Winning will put butts in seats and keep them there.  Hell, maybe it will even keep students in the stands after halftime.

[FANONTHEHILL]

This is a solid hire.  The excitement level in the building will go up and it should in the fan base as well.

https://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2014/6/10/5782566/clemson-offense-chad-morris

[bphi11ips]

Great link from FOTH and must reading for everyone here.

[DeltaBoy]

He going to be great!

[farmhawg]

Great hire.

[RME]

Good post.

Would also like to add:

* Tulsa total offense in 2009: 54
* Tulsa total offense in 2010 (Morris): 8

*Clemson total offense in 2010: 82
*Clemson total offense in 2011 (Morris): 16
*Clemson total offense in 2012 (Morris): 8
*Clemson total offense in 2013 (Morris): 12
*Clemson total offense in 2014 (Morris): 55 (DeShaun Watson's first year)

[transplant]

About Chad Morris:

Recruiting is where Morris can take Arkansas to the next level.  You can't judge him by his rankings at SMU, where football has been suppressed since the NCAA embarrassed an elite academic school with the death penalty. 

But is it not fair to expect that with his great recruiting accumen he would have improved SMU recruiting from the levels enjoyed by his predecessor?  Did this happen?  What I've looked at indicates that he recruited at basically the same level as June Jones and his staff.

[devildog]

I'm in the Taurus, lets ride!

[jst01]

Great link from FOTH and must reading for everyone here.

Yep

[hogfansince79]

Fun facts about Chad Morris... then why take a little shot at Norvell?

[bphi11ips]

But is it not fair to expect that with his great recruiting accumen he would have improved SMU recruiting from the levels enjoyed by his predecessor?  Did this happen?  What I've looked at indicates that he recruited at basically the same level as June Jones and his staff.

Good question and I certainly don't have an explanation. But look at the link FOTH provided and it may be part of the answer. Basically, SMU was not just a dumpster fire, no one cared before Morris showed up.

[transplant]

Good question and I certainly don't have an explanation. But look at the link FOTH provided and it may be part of the answer. Basically, SMU was not just a dumpster fire, no one cared before Morris showed up.

See, that's my real issue.

No one cared before he got there...and he didn't improve recruiting.
I'm sure he can coach, but I'm not sure he can get the player we need to be competitive with the top 4 schools in the SEC West.

[The Boar War]

At 49, Morris is the right age to step up to a program like Arkansas. Norvel at 36 needs some seasoning.

Fun facts about Chad Morris... then why take a little shot at Norvell?

Because when Memphis was beating SMU by 44 it was clear that Norvell wasn't ready.

[247Hog]

About Chad Morris:

*  Turned 49 on Monday

*  High school head coaching record:  169-38

*  Clemson record year before Morris became OC:  6-7

*  Clemson record while Morris was OC:  42-11

*  SMU record year before Morris became HC:  1-11

*  SMU record under Morris:  14-22 (7-5 in 2017)

*  High school QB

*  One of four FBS head coaches who did not play college football; the other four are Paul Johnson, David Cutcliffe and Mike Leach

Chad Morris grew up just east of Dallas during a time when Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and Houston were often ranked in the Top 10.  He knows that Arkansas is a program with a high ceiling.  Clemson's run began when Morris became OC.  Nothing in Clemson's history would indicate it could sustain the success it has sustained since 2011.  Dabo Swinney credits Morris for helping get it started.  Malzahn decided to stay at Auburn but said if you want the closest thing to me go get Chad Morris.

A lot of folks here have said they want a coach who can do more with less.  Morris proved he can do that in large Texas public high schools, where you can't recruit your way to success.  The only way to sustain the kind of success Morris sustained in Texas high school football is to out-develop, out-prepare, and out-coach your opponents.  Morris has proven that he knows how to build and he knows how to win.

At 49, Morris is the right age to step up to a program like Arkansas. Norvel at 36 needs some seasoning.

Recruiting is where Morris can take Arkansas to the next level.  You can't judge him by his rankings at SMU, where football has been suppressed since the NCAA embarrassed an elite academic school with the death penalty.  SMU has been apologizing for fielding a football team ever since.  Morris recruited Deshaun Watson.  In the four years before Morris joined the Clemson staff, the Tigers' average recruiting ranking was 21.  They averaged 12 during Morris' four years at OC.

Morris coached high school teams near Houston, Austin and Dallas.  Houston and DFW is where Arkansas's best teams, some of whom Morris grew up watching, were built.  DFW, especially, is in the Arkansas footprint for football and for students in general.  As for Arkansas, Morris should have no problem establishing relationships with high school coaches.  He is one of them.  His offense is what most of them run.

With the salary Morris will require, Arkansas can afford an elite DC and will get one.  Will it be Venables?  Who knows?  But money talks.  The notion that there are no good defensive players in Arkansas's footprint is bunk.  An elite DC will find them and sign them for an opportunity to play in the SEC in the finest facilities.  If Jeff Long did anything right, it was upgrading the players' facilities.  The locker room, etc., will beat many NFL locker rooms.

Hogville posters will continue to gnash teeth because the BOT didn't bring them the shiniest new media darling, the one who tweets the best or the one who just won the most.  But the BOT is filled with some of the best minds in the country.  Those guys are all badasses with badass friends who know football in general and Arkansas football in particular.  They had good reasons for their decisions.  Decisions having nothing to do with access.  If they want access they do what they have done for decades - pick up the phone.  They want to do what is best for Arkansas, and that means winning.  The news on this head coach will be gone by Christmas.  Winning will put butts in seats and keep them there.  Hell, maybe it will even keep students in the stands after halftime.

I'm sure 99% of fans will support him and have to understand the frustration yesterday. He's our coach and i will do nothing but hope he succeeds here.

With that said, i agree he had to rebuild an SMU program that basically put players on the field. However, the death penalty excuse from 30 years ago needs to stop today. That's a loser mentality to use a 30 year old excuse and we've heard enough of those the past several years. He had a tough job at SMU...agreed. It is on the upswing...agreed...just please don't keep the 1980's death penalty angle going. I'm afraid that'll turn people away from him before giving him a chance.

[Oklahawg]

But is it not fair to expect that with his great recruiting accumen he would have improved SMU recruiting from the levels enjoyed by his predecessor?  Did this happen?  What I've looked at indicates that he recruited at basically the same level as June Jones and his staff.

You know what happens when a coach bails on the program but doesn't physically leave. Smile happens. We went 8 months without a "coach" and it took two years to repair. June Jones checked out for a season and a half before finally just calling it quits halfway through a season. He left nothing in the cupboard at a place that is going to have fewer pieces to work with in triage than Arkansas has.

The rebuild resume at SMU is pretty solid in my eyes.

[bphi11ips]

I'm sure 99% of fans will support him and have to understand the frustration yesterday. He's our coach and i will do nothing but hope he succeeds here.

With that said, i agree he had to rebuild an SMU program that basically put players on the field. However, the death penalty excuse from 30 years ago needs to stop today. That's a loser mentality to use a 30 year old excuse and we've heard enough of those the past several years. He had a tough job at SMU...agreed. It is on the upswing...agreed...just please don't keep the 1980's death penalty angle going. I'm afraid that'll turn people away from him before giving him a chance.

The Death Penalty is not the excuse. Had SMU committed to football afterwards it had a history of good football to fall back on. It didn't.  I concluded long ago it was because the administration and alumni wanted to distance SMU from football. There are some here who could add to that.

[Hogsfan1981]

Never played college ball.

Die hard aggie that Texas A&M didn't want.

Would have gone anywhere so he didn't get stuck at SMU for life.

Had one winning season at SMU. Was a few plays away from having another  losing season.

Not a strong recruiter.

One of the last coaches on TN list. If they were not being blasted by the media he would have went there. But as desperate as they are their fans still didn't want him.

Has talked $@$& about Arkansas as a job destination.

Recommended by Gus for the job. Flew a plane to see Gus coach high school ball so he could copy his offense #Diet Gus

But the national media loves a nice guy and other teams love we got a weak hire so yay.

[HF#1]

Great post.

[Uncommon]

Has already been labeled on Hogville as:
Nutt 2.0
Bielema 2.0
JLS 2.0

within the first 24 hours of his hiring.

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

See, that's my real issue.

No one cared before he got there...and he didn't improve recruiting.
I'm sure he can coach, but I'm not sure he can get the player we need to be competitive with the top 4 schools in the SEC West.

IF you took everything you were not sure about, and then took everything you were sure about, and separated them by success after the fact you would find many "Can't misses'" in the darn pile and many "Not Sure's" in the HOF...

[OneTuskOverTheLine™]

Never played college ball.

Die hard aggie that Texas A&M didn't want.

Would have gone anywhere so he didn't get stuck at SMU for life.

Had one winning season at SMU. Was a few plays away from having another  losing season.

Not a strong recruiter.

One of the last coaches on TN list. If they were not being blasted by the media he would have went there. But as desperate as they are their fans still didn't want him.

Has talked $@$& about Arkansas as a job destination.

Recommended by Gus for the job. Flew a plane to see Gus coach high school ball so he could copy his offense #Diet Gus

But the national media loves a nice guy and other teams love we got a weak hire so yay.

Some how I believe this will be mounted on the all in 3 years... Either for good, or bad...

[Hogsfan1981]

Some how I believe this will be mounted on the all in 3 years... Either for good, or bad...

I don't have a 2nd account so you will be able to find me. Unlike most on here.

[bphi11ips]

Bump for jbigs77

[HognotinMemphis]

About Chad Morris:

*  Turned 49 on Monday

*  High school head coaching record:  169-38

*  Clemson record year before Morris became OC:  6-7

*  Clemson record while Morris was OC:  42-11

*  SMU record year before Morris became HC:  1-11

*  SMU record under Morris:  14-22 (7-5 in 2017)

*  High school QB

*  One of four FBS head coaches who did not play college football; the other four are Paul Johnson, David Cutcliffe and Mike Leach

Chad Morris grew up just east of Dallas during a time when Arkansas, Texas, Texas A&M, SMU and Houston were often ranked in the Top 10.  He knows that Arkansas is a program with a high ceiling.  Clemson's run began when Morris became OC.  Nothing in Clemson's history would indicate it could sustain the success it has sustained since 2011.  Dabo Swinney credits Morris for helping get it started.  Malzahn decided to stay at Auburn but said if you want the closest thing to me go get Chad Morris.

A lot of folks here have said they want a coach who can do more with less.  Morris proved he can do that in large Texas public high schools, where you can't recruit your way to success.  The only way to sustain the kind of success Morris sustained in Texas high school football is to out-develop, out-prepare, and out-coach your opponents.  Morris has proven that he knows how to build and he knows how to win.

At 49, Morris is the right age to step up to a program like Arkansas. Norvel at 36 needs some seasoning.

Recruiting is where Morris can take Arkansas to the next level.  You can't judge him by his rankings at SMU, where football has been suppressed since the NCAA embarrassed an elite academic school with the death penalty.  SMU has been apologizing for fielding a football team ever since.  Morris recruited Deshaun Watson.  In the four years before Morris joined the Clemson staff, the Tigers' average recruiting ranking was 21.  They averaged 12 during Morris' four years at OC.

Morris coached high school teams near Houston, Austin and Dallas.  Houston and DFW is where Arkansas's best teams, some of whom Morris grew up watching, were built.  DFW, especially, is in the Arkansas footprint for football and for students in general.  As for Arkansas, Morris should have no problem establishing relationships with high school coaches.  He is one of them.  His offense is what most of them run.

With the salary Morris will require, Arkansas can afford an elite DC and will get one.  Will it be Venables?  Who knows?  But money talks.  The notion that there are no good defensive players in Arkansas's footprint is bunk.  An elite DC will find them and sign them for an opportunity to play in the SEC in the finest facilities.  If Jeff Long did anything right, it was upgrading the players' facilities.  The locker room, etc., will beat many NFL locker rooms.

Hogville posters will continue to gnash teeth because the BOT didn't bring them the shiniest new media darling, the one who tweets the best or the one who just won the most.  But the BOT is filled with some of the best minds in the country.  Those guys are all badasses with badass friends who know football in general and Arkansas football in particular.  They had good reasons for their decisions.  Decisions having nothing to do with access.  If they want access they do what they have done for decades - pick up the phone.  They want to do what is best for Arkansas, and that means winning.  The news on this head coach will be gone by Christmas.  Winning will put butts in seats and keep them there.  Hell, maybe it will even keep students in the stands after halftime.

I've stated much of this in a combination of posts over the past week. It is all 100% accurate. As to opinion in this comment, it's rational, reasoned and common sensical. All of which 95% of the lemmings here are not capable of. Morris is light years better than Bielema and it will show in the first year. Whatever happens, Coach Morris will not field a 0-8 or 1-7 SEC record EVER while he is at Arkansas. And Bielema has left him with not much at QB, either line, and at RB and secondary. Yet, next year will be better than 1-7 in SEC. And that 1 win Bert had was by skin of teeth by 1 point.