Mids quarterback Morris bounces back
Dalen Morris worked hard for three years to become the starting quarterback for the Navy football team. He lost the coveted job after just one half of the season opener.
Morris was shaky against BYU, appearing indecisive as both a runner and a passer. However, Navy’s offensive woes in that embarrassing 55-3 loss were not entirely due to poor play by the quarterback.
A total inability to block the Cougars was the main culprit as the Navy skill position players had no chance.
However, it was Morris who got pulled at halftime and replaced by backup Perry Olsen. He didn’t understand being singled out and questioned coach Ken Niumatalolo and offensive coordinator Ivin Jasper.
“I felt like we needed a spark in that game,” Niumatalolo said. “I’m not saying (Morris) was the sole purpose why we got crushed by BYU because we got beat everywhere. I just didn’t like the way he responded in that first game.”
One week later, Morris was benched in favor of freshman Xavier Arline. Olsen, a sophomore, transferred after being told he was dropping on the depth chart.
Morris, a senior, instead chose to argue his case to Niumatalolo.
“I told Dalen none of it’s personal. I wish he’d played better (against BYU) because he’s such a great kid,” Niumatalolo said. “The truth was, he didn’t play well. I thought he was a little rattled.”
When Niumatalolo relayed those thoughts to Morris, the response was straight-forward and honest: “Coach, it was my first start on national television. I was a little nervous. Give me another chance.”
Morris did not need to tor and sharing his experipoint out the obvious of ence.
Navy’s entire offense being “I’m a team player. After a disaster during that beatI had my little sulking epidown. Niumatalolo admits sode, I pulled myself up and he could not argue any of got back to work. I supthose points. ported X in any way pos
“I told Dalen there might sible,” Morris said Monday. be some validity to what Niumatalolo would have you’re saying. If we were in been disappointed if Morthe court of law in front of a ris wasn’t unhappy about judge, the verdict might the sudden turn of events. have been for you,” Niu“You want a quarterback matalolo said Monday durthat’s a fighter,” the 13thing a virtual news conferyear head coach said. “I ence. told him to stay ready be
Morris said he didn’t cause it’s going to be a long handle losing the starting season. I told him to hang in spot well initially. there and keep fighting,
“At the end of the day, and he did just that.” you have to learn from it Morris pulled off a reand move on,” he said. markable rally on both a “That really shows you personal and team level who a person is — how they Saturday at Tulane. After respond to adversity. I Arline failed to jump-start think I responded pretty the struggling offense, well.” Morris came off the bench
Of course, Morris origiand led Navy to the greatest nally figured he would get a comeback in program hisdo-over considering to ry. he’ d earned the starting job Morris directed an atbased off a solid performtack that awoke in the secance throughout August ond half to amass almost training camp. It was a bit 300 total yards as the Midof a shock to find out a shipmen rallied from a 24freshman was being elevatpoint halftime deficit. The ed to the top of the depth 6-foot-1, 206-pound senior chart. completed six of 11 passes
Jasper mentioned last for 139 yards and adeptly week that Morris had willexecuted the triple-option ingly helped Arline during running game as Navy practice, serving as a men---- pulled out a miraculous
27-24 victory at Yulman Stadium in New Orleans.
“Dalen came in and gave us some life offensively. He brought us back with his passing and running the offense,” Niumatalolo said.
After returning to Annapolis and watching the tape, Niumatalolo was even more impressed by the performance of Morris. It was what the coaching staff had expected to see in the opener based off preseason practice.
“Dalen played with such great composure in that game. He was making checks, directing traffic out there, running the offense smoothly,” Niumatalolo said. “I thought he improved tremendously. He didn’t play nervous in this game. He played lights out.”
Niumatalolo made it clear Monday that Morris has regained the starting job and was pleased by that turn of events.
“Just so happy for him. Here’s a senior who has been through so much,” Niumatalolo said. “That was very hard for Dalen to get pulled and not be the starter in the next game. He could have gone into the tank. Instead, he continued to do the best he could in practice.”