 | | Head football coach Guy Morriss stopped by for a live chat Wednesday, Aug. 24, at 11 a.m. |
Guy Morriss led the Baylor football to a 3-8 record in his second season as head coach, including a thrilling 35-34 overtime victory over No. 16 Texas A&M. Under Morriss' guidance, five players were named to both the 2004 AP and Coaches' All-Big 12 Conference teams and nine players earned all-academic honors. Sophomore Daniel Sepulveda also earned the Ray Guy Award as the nation's top punter. Morriss came to Baylor with 14 years of experience as a coach at the high school, collegiate and professional levels. He spent 18 years in the National Football League, where he was an All-Pro player, played in two Super Bowls and coached for three seasons. Morriss arrived in Waco from Lexington, Ky., where he spent six seasons helping to turn around the Wildcat football program - the last two as head coach. In 2002, Kentucky turned some heads with a 7-5 record, including wins over Mississippi State, eventual SEC West Division champion Arkansas and 17th-ranked Louisville. The seven-win season in 2002 was only the fifth since 1955 for Kentucky, which received votes in the AP Top 25 poll. UK's defeats included a four-point setback vs. South Carolina, a seven-point loss at then-No. 7 Florida and an unbelievable three-point defeat on the final play vs. then-No. 17 LSU. In Morriss' two seasons as head coach at Kentucky, 10 Wildcat players earned All-SEC recognition and two were named All-American. In his six seasons, four UK offensive linemen were selected first-team All-SEC and three earned freshman All-America honors. |
 |
 |  | Guy Morriss: Good morning everyone. Let's get started. |
|
|
| Jim (Dallas): It seems that we had some trouble with our pass coverage schemes throughout the season last year. For example, A&M scored a couple of easy TDs because of blown coverages. You said at one point that you and Coach Bradley needed to sit down and get the problems cleared up. Do you feel confident that those problems have been addressed and corrected? |
| | Guy Morriss: I think we've got them cleared up. The back end has looked good in training camp. We've seen more pass rush than we have since we've been here, so our pass defense should be improved. |
|
|
| Ken (Dallas): 1 - "Closed" practices abound this pre-season. Why did you decide to keep your practices open? 2 - Besides the win, what would you and your staff like to see our team accomplish this first game? 3 - Practice facility: It is vital to get this done now. Could you give an update on this? |
| | Guy Morriss: We don't any secrets. If there's something we don't want to show, we usually work on it behind closed doors inside. There's not a lot of paranoia around with this staff. Consistent execution is what we would like to see in the first game. We're treading water on the practice facility. |
|
|
cbbaylor/tx: You have said in the past that if you could redshirt a majority of the incoming freshman, you would. Which freshman will likely not be redshirted, thus allowing them to see the field this year? Thanks for the time and good luck this season.
(Similar question received by David Kaye in Kuwait.) |
| | Guy Morriss: Queito Teasley, Carl Sims and Mikail Baker have a chance to play this fall. Along with LeQuantum McDonald. Blake Szymanski will be suited up and travel, but we would like to redshirt him. |
|
|
| Joe Campbell Longview: Coach: Do you ever see the day that Baylor doesn't schedule the likes of Samford and Sam Houston and if so how many more years before this occurs? I am excited about scheduling Wake Forest, Army, WSU and such and would prefer to watch my old team play these kind of games versus the forementioned. |
| | Guy Morriss: With a 12-game schedule and the conference we're in, we don't need to face other schools in BCS conferences. Why put ourselves at a scheduling disadvantage when everyone else is doing it as well? |
|
|
| JJ (Fort Worth): Can you shed some light on the eligibility status of David Gettis? All we keep hearing is that it is in the "clearinghouse" and that the NCAA has requested "more information". What's the holdup, and when do you expect a decision? Also, since he has now missed all of training camp, and classes have already started, how do you envision using Gettis this season? Looking forward to a great season! |
| | Guy Morriss: It's a complicated situation and all of the paperwork from David's high school has to be in the hands of the clearinghouse before they can make a determination. That paperwork is there along with thousands of other athletes and they'll act on it as soon as they get to it. They know school has started at Baylor and the first game is next week. We have until the 12th day of class, which is Sept. 6, to get him here. Depending on when he gets here, we'll have to see at that point how we would use him. |
|
|
| Trent (Waco): Coach, can you talk about the impact that the 4 transfers are going to have on our program this season. Adams, Blalock, Moore, and Widemon all seem to be high caliber players(especially Blalock and Widemon). |
| | Guy Morriss: Three of the four will start and the other will see significant playing time. When we look for transfers we look at kids who we believe can step in and contribute immediately. All four of these guys will. |
|
|
| David (Houston): How has Freshman Jordan Lake looked? |
| | Guy Morriss: We really like what we see from Jordan. He has a bright future here. |
|
|
| Trent (waco): When will there be an updated depth chart on the website? |
| | Guy Morriss: We're working on the updated depth chart right now and hope to have it posted by the end of the day. |
|
|
| Aaron (Addison): Coach, I really enjoyed the Dallas luncheon. Are there any scenarios, other than injury, that would see Szymanski on the field this season? |
| | Guy Morriss: No, he will redshirt unless something happens. Thanks for coming to the luncheon. |
|
|
| Aaron (Tulsa): How is the defensive line progressing? Is this still a main point of concern? |
| | Guy Morriss: There's a good story in today's Waco Tribune-Herald about the d-line. I think M.T. and Michael are playing at their highest level since they've been here. All the guys have really connected with Coach Wnek. I'm feeling better about the line as each day passes. |
|
|
| Mike Fallon, Pflugerville, TX: Hello Coach. Do you feel the football program is where you feel it should be in your third year, and do you feel the team will take it up a notch? IE, win on the road and win a few big 12 games? Thank you. |
| | Guy Morriss: I think we're about on schedule. I do think the team will take it up a notch. Winning on the road is a huge priority for us. With our schedule the way it is, we have a huge opportunity to win a few more on the road and get enough wins to go to a bowl game. |
|
|
| Jim (Dallas): Coach: Last week there was disappointing news that two redshirt freshmen had been declared academically ineligible and would not be part of the team this year. Will they remain at Baylor and try to reestablish eligibility or are they gone for good? |
| | Guy Morriss: They are both going elsewhere to reestablish their eligibility, but we have not shut the door on them to return to the program if they take care of business in the classroom. |
|
|
| Clark Meador (Fort Worth): Coach Morriss, I was wondering how you think this year's team compares to last year's team at this point in the season? Also, If you could give us some insight on what you are expecting from the QB position. Have you decided on a 2 QB system with Bell and Parks or did one of the young men really stand out during Fall camp and will end up taking the majority or all of the snaps. Thanks, and keep up the great work. Looking forward to the season. Sic 'em Bears Clark Meador Alumni '04 |
| | Guy Morriss: I think we're a much better football team at every position. If we started tomorrow, Shawn Bell would get the nod. Chances are we are not going to platoon them, but if Bell goes down, we're confident Terrance can do the job. Terrance is at a disadvantage because he missed time in the spring and at the beginning of fall camp. |
|
|
| Todd(Fort Worth): Do you think it will be a disappointing season if you dont make it to a bowl game this year. |
| | Guy Morriss: Yes, very disappointing. We want to be playing in December. |
|
|
| Matt (Dallas): Coach..I am very concerned about the indoor practice facility and its impact on your future at Baylor. |
| | Guy Morriss: Matt, you and me both. This project is for the long-term health and improvement of our football program. I am pleased with some of the improvements made to the stadium for this fall, but we do need to be on campus with a practice facility. |
|
|
| John (Missouri City): What's your biggest challenge this year? In the past you had said it was changing the mind set. Thanks |
| | Guy Morriss: I think to some degree it's still changing the mindset, but to me it's more about consitent effort and consistent execution and handling negative situations on the field through the course of the game. We've got to fight through those and find a way to get the job done. |
|
|
| Irving: When can we view a list of all in coming freshman that will be redshirted. |
| | Guy Morriss: Final decisions haven't been made, but one will be able to draw their own conclusions as the games and the season unfolds. |
|
|
| Larry/Houston: Coach: Would you consider having the team stay on the field after the games to sing the "GOOD OLE BAYLOR LINE" which is a tradition that has been at Baylor for years?If TU can do their tradition after the game why can't we? |
| | Guy Morriss: At this time, we plan on singing "That Good Ol' Baylor Line" before we leave the field after warmups. We did it that way last year and it's what I'm most comfortable with. I understand your point, but I want to make it a pregame tradition rather than a postgame tradition. I'm very concerned about the safety issue for our players and don't need any postgame incidents involving fans like that which have happened at other schools. |
|
|
| Tim Watkins Arlington, TX: Coach, when recruiting young men to Baylor, what are the characteristis do you look for? Does their drive and desire to be at Baylor help them over a kid who wants to go somewhere else, but just uses Baylor as insurance? |
| | Guy Morriss: We're looking for people who want to be at Baylor. I don't want to have to re-recruit a player every year. |
|
|
| Jhoward (dallas): Will there be any uniform changes this year? |
| | Guy Morriss: The players requested the "throwback" look of the Homecoming uniforms last year. That's our look this year and, yes, the names will be on the back of the jerseys. |
|
|
| chris/lubbock: Coach, There has been marked improvement since you have taken over the program. And as a fan, I am grateful for that. However, there seems to be a problem in season openers. What is the coaching staff going to do to ensure that our boys are ready to play when the whistle blows for the opening kickoff of the season. Thanks, and here's to a great season. |
| | Guy Morriss: We've intensified summer workouts and strong participation in our off-season programs. Those are the things that get you ready for the first game. We've had a good camp, the kids are more comfortable in the system, but nothing is automatic. |
|
|
| Chris (Plano): What has been the surprise of the fall camp so far? |
| | Guy Morriss: No question the play of the d-line. They are playing at the highest level since I've been here. |
|
|
| Jim (Dallas): Last season it seemed like our D gave up a TD nearly every game on the last drive before halftime. What was the cause of that? Lack of depth, lack of focus? What things has the team been working on to eliminate that problem? |
| | Guy Morriss: You can attribute that to a lack of focus and the inability to get a stop. We would give up a big play on third and long or commit a penalty. It all boils down to execution and staying focused on every play. We have to play hard every down. |
|
|
| Jim (Dallas): With the President spending a lot of time in Crawford, have you tried to invite him to watch a practice or attend a game? |
| | Guy Morriss: He has an open invitation to attend any time he wants to. |
|
|
| Robert (Longview): Coach, it seems like you have been hoping that Terrance Parks will step it up and take the quarterback postion, but from what I have heard, he doesn't really have the desire it takes to be a Big XII quarterback. What is it about Terrance that makes you want him to step it up and become the quarterback? |
| | Guy Morriss: I just want someone to step up and take hold of the job. I want the individual who can handle the huddle and lead the team on and off the field, whether it's Terrance or Shawn, Blake or Mark. They all have the desire to be good players. |
|
|
| Larry (Waco): Coach, I just wanted to congratulate you on the team's successes thus far, and let you know I support you and your staff all the way. One question: How much better do you think we can expect to be at O-Line this year? |
| | Guy Morriss: We should be a lot better, especially get everyone healthy. We believe as a staff that we have good depth at most every position on the line. The key is staying healthy. Having Nick Pace back and Will Blalock makes us a lot better. |
|
|
| David in Grapeland: Are you satisfied with where we are conditioning wise? These players look a lot better than they did before you took over. Thanks for the great job you are doing for Baylor. |
| | Guy Morriss: We're in pretty good shape. They had a good summer and they're in the best physical shape I've ever seen them in. |
|
| | Guy Morriss: Thanks for stopping by, I'll be back before the Big 12 opener. We will see you in Dallas next week. |
|
|
|
