Texas roots run deep for Arkansas’ Morris
ATLANTA — East Texan Chad Morris is typically proud of his Texas A&M roots, but he was careful to avoid them Tuesday, the second of four Southeastern Conference media days.
Morris, Arkansas’ first-year coach hired from SMU, was asked how special it was to compete against his alma mater in the SEC West starting this season.
Instead, Morris answered by claiming how proud he was to be a product of the state’s high school coaching ranks.
“There are a lot of high school coaches out there right now that are watching, and they’re saying, ‘If that guy can do it, I can do it,’ ” Morris said.
Morris, 49, cut his teeth at Eustace, Elysian Fields, Bay City, Stephenville and Lake Travis high schools, prior to becoming an offensive coordinator at Tulsa and then Clemson.
The Edgewood High graduate was 14-22 in three seasons at SMU, with improvement each season capped by last year’s 7-5 finish.
Arkansas plays A&M on Sept. 29 in AT&T Stadium in Arlington, and Morris was one of the Aggies’ top backup plans had their offseason agreement with Jimbo
Fisher fallen through. It didn’t, and Morris wound up at Arkansas.
Chavis gets shot to reboot career
Chad Morris hired former Texas A&M defensive coordinator John
Chavis, whose three seasons under thencoach Kevin Sumlin were largely considered failures.
Prior to his arrival to A&M, Chavis had earned a solid reputation in developing some of the nation’s top defenses at LSU and before that Tennessee.
Chavis, 61, has a reputation to rebuild following his A&M stint. For instance, the Aggies allowed 1,247 yards in his final two games last season, losses to LSU and Wake Forest.
“As I shared with him, I said, ‘Coach Chavis, I believe I can help you in your career because if you can defend me and defend our defense, you can defend a lot of people across the country,’ ” Morris said.
Georgia a haven for QBs now
Georgia hasn’t lacked for star-caliber quarterbacks under third-year coach Kirby Smart.
He hardly downplayed the addition of five-star prospect Justin Fields, who will push Jake
Fromm like Fromm pushed Jacob Eason last season. Eason has since transferred to Washington.
“I’m excited about the things (Fields has) done,” said Smart, who led the Bulldogs to the nationaltitle game in only his second season. “He gives us an element in our offense that we don’t have.”
Mullen won’t drain Swamp
New Florida coach
Dan Mullen got political with a handful of reporters at media days. Sort of.
“I’m the opposite of (President Donald)
Trump,” Mullen told the media. “I’m here to fill The Swamp, not drain the swamp.”
The Swamp is the nickname of Florida’s Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida hired Mullen from Mississippi State to bring the Gators back to a level of consistency they enjoyed a little more than a decade ago under then-coach Urban Meyer. Jim McElwain was fired after last season’s 4-7 finish.
“In the last four years, Florida has had two four-win seasons and played in two SEC championship games,” Mullen said. “That’s inconsistent.”
Mullen was 69-46 in nine seasons at Mississippi State, including 6-2 in bowls.