It's Official...guy Morris Is Out At Baylor

[OldTimer]

Guy Morriss out as Baylor football coach

08:01 PM CST on Sunday, November 18, 2007

By BRIAN DAVIS / The Dallas Morning News

brdavis@dallasnews.com

WACO – Guy Morriss had two final words for Baylor after being fired Sunday as the head football coach.

"Peace out."

The straight-shootin' coach who rides Harleys, raises horses and always "coached 'em up" held up two fingers in a hippie-style peace sign just before leaving the Galloway Executive Suite at Floyd Casey Stadium.

Baylor athletic director Ian McCaw met with Morriss and then informed the players at 1:15 p.m. Sunday the school would be changing coaches after a disappointing 3-9 season, which included going 0-8 in Big 12 play.

The Bears were 18-40 over Morriss' five seasons and 7-33 in Big 12 play.

Oklahoma St. 45, Baylor 14

More: OSU | Baylor | Colleges

"Regrettably, we've not realized the success that we expect, and therefore a national search will begin immediately to recruit the very best person to Baylor to lead its football program forward," McCaw said.

"I ask for the support and the prayers of the Baylor family as we enter into this vitally important process."

The school has endured 12 straight losing seasons. The next coach will inherit a 12-game losing streak in league play. What will it take to lift Baylor out of the doldrums? Who is up to the task?

Baylor will enlist Eastman & Beaudine, a search firm based in Plano, to help find the right man for a difficult job. Baylor icon Mike Singletary and Arkansas coach Houston Nutt are considered leading candidates.

"I'd like to thank Baylor University for giving me this opportunity to be the head football coach for the last five years," Morriss, 56, said Sunday, as he read from prepared text. "[Wife] Jackie and I have a great many friends, not only at Baylor but here in the community of Waco, and we're going to miss them.

"I spoke to the players and the coaches earlier, but I want to thank them publicly for their hard work and efforts on the field, as well as in the classroom."

Morriss thanked the fans who have been supportive and called them "some of the best fans in the country." He wished Baylor good luck.

"Thank you and God bless," Morriss added. "That's all I have to say publicly, and peace out."

Neither Morriss nor McCaw took questions at the news conference. It was written into Morriss' original contract that should he be fired, he and the school would only release public statements that had been approved by both parties, a university source said.

Morriss had only one year remaining on a six-year deal that paid him $1.2 million annually. No details of a settlement were released. Baylor University, a private institution, does not have to reveal any salary information.

Baylor players said the last two weeks they heard speculation that Morriss may not be back. Sophomore linebacker Joe Pawelek said it was tough to hear bad things about a coaching staff that spent countless hours preparing the team.

When asked what the mood in the locker room was like, Pawelek said, "Kind of shocked a little bit that a guy who has been in this program for the last five years is gone."

Pawelek, a team captain and one of the Big 12's best tacklers, said it's ultimately the players' responsibility to improve next season, no matter who the coach may be.

"We have to come together and really decide if we're going to be that team that's going to finally take that next step and be successful," Pawelek said.

Expectations were subdued in August, because many Baylor fans knew this year's team was young. The Bears had no proven starting quarterback, and they were still learning the intricacies of the spread offense, one similar to Texas Tech's.

But the Bears made 37 turnovers this season. Morriss sometimes made puzzling quarterback choices, using. And the defense, under first-year coordinator Larry Hoefer, ranked 109th nationally in points allowed (37.0).

"It's been disappointing that our execution just hasn't been there this year like we need it to be," Morriss said after the OSU game. "You keep thinking any week now it's going to click, and it just never did. We just couldn't get 'er going."

Now, somebody else gets a chance to try.

BELOW PAR

Baylor finished below .500 in each of its five seasons under coach Guy Morriss, including just 7-33 in Big 12 play.

Year Record Big 12

2003 3-9 1-7

2004 3-8 1-7

2005 5-6 2-6

2006 4-8 3-5

2007 3-9 0-8

Totals 18-40 7-33

STATEMENTS ON SUNDAY

Guy Morriss

“Good afternoon, fellas.

“I’d like to thank Baylor University for giving me this opportunity to be the head football coach for the last five years. Jackie and I have a great many friends, not only at Baylor but here in the community of Waco and we’re going to miss them.

“I spoke to the players and the coaches earlier, but I want to thank them publicly for their hard work and efforts on the field, as well as in the classroom.

“I’d also like to thank the fans that have been supportive. I believe they’re some of the best fans in the country, and I think they really care about this football program. I feel that the football program is in better condition than when I inherited it, and I’d like to wish Baylor good luck in all their future endeavors.

“Thank you and God bless. That’s all I have to say publicly, and peace out.”

Ian McCaw

“Today I informed coach Morriss that we’re making a change in the leadership of our football program and he will not be returning as our head football coach.

“I want to publicly express my appreciation to Coach Morriss for his contributions to Baylor football the past five years. The football program is on a more solid foundation than it was when he arrived five years ago. And we’re grateful to him and his coaching staff for all their efforts.

“Regrettably, we’ve not realized the success that we expect and therefore a national search will begin immediately to recruit the very best person to Baylor to lead its football program forward.

“I ask for the support and the prayers of the Baylor family as we enter into this vitally important process.”

[greenminer]

next

[KingDL1]

When will Fran fall? I maybe after the Texas game.

[UNTFan23]

Irony at Baylor would be hiring Houston Nutt.

[I Miss Booger Kennedy]

Baylor's football program will be in an even worse state if Singletary is hired as the next head coach.

[NT80]

[UNTFan23]

Irony at Baylor would be hiring Houston Nutt.

The media up here in NW Arkansas isn't buying the Nutt to Wacko hype.

[FirefightnRick]

If Baylor, and for that matter SMU were smart they won't pass up on THIS GUY.

Rick

[GoMeanGreen1999]

Irony at Baylor would be hiring Houston Nutt.

I am not buying it, but it would be nice. I really don't care where he goes, as long as he is not the head of the Hogs next season.

[VideoEagle]

If Baylor, and for that matter SMU were smart they won't pass up on THIS GUY.

Rick

I’m not sure Don would trade a completely safe job in Canyon and the part of the state he loves for Waco and a near certainly of being fired in five or six year. Major rebuilding in the Big 12 is possible, but it takes a lot of time. Look at Kansas. I don’t think the Baylor alumni are that patient.

SMU the other hand does have something to offer as I think the right guy can turn them around fairly quickly.

[BIG DAWG]

Baylor's football program will be in an even worse state if Singletary is hired as the next head coach.

Singletary is a hot comodity in the pros, why would he not be a GREAT choice for Baylor. I think that if they could convince him, which would be a tough sell, this move could be the best one to make.

It could possibly have the same effect the Dodge hire for us had, as far as alumni support and renewed interest, plus like I said he is a hot comdity.

I personally think it would be a great hire.

[PlummMeanGreen]

Wonder how many Baylor fans wanted Morris back for just one more year?

Seriously, a D1-A football program (like Baylors and ours for that matter) have to ask the question of: "How the heck do we market this coach next Fall?"

Baylor really had no choice and it will be interesting to see who wants that job. They do have a new Athletic complex (they had promised Coach Morris) but will have its grand opening for its new coach. Might make some wonder now if the construction delay on that $33 million facility was on purpose?

[Green to the Bone]

“I ask for the support and the prayers of the Baylor family as we enter into this vitally important process.”

I'm sure Heaven is working overtime assembling lists of football coaches and discussing shoe contracts and radio show fees.

[UNTflyer]

I'm sure Heaven is working overtime assembling lists of football coaches and discussing shoe contracts and radio show fees.

To steal a line from Benjamin Franklin....

"Beer (and football) is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

Edited November 19, 2007 by UNTflyer

[NT80]

I’m not sure Don would trade a completely safe job in Canyon and the part of the state he loves for Waco and a near certainly of being fired in five or six year. Major rebuilding in the Big 12 is possible, but it takes a lot of time. Look at Kansas. I don’t think the Baylor alumni are that patient.

I do not think Kansas is as strong as some people do. They played four pitiful OOC teams at home to open, had many schedule breaks this year....played a weak TxA$M and Nebraska, no OU or UT or Tech, and Mizzou will be neutral site game.

[Quoner]

I do not think Kansas is as strong as some people do. They played four pitiful OOC teams at home to open, had many schedule breaks this year....played a weak TxA$M and Nebraska, no OU or UT or Tech, and Mizzou will be neutral site game.

The best part of this year is that everyone sucks - arguably from top to bottom the top 25 has so many major flaws that you can make a case against anyone.

The teams in the top 5 have played no one save LSU and odds are with an upset by Georgia or Tennessee in the SEC title game you could see Kansas, Mizzou, Ohio St. or West Virginia richly rewarded for scheduling nothing but crap this year.

Who's up for a potential Ohio State v. West Virginia slop fest?

[UNTflyer]

Who's up for a potential Ohio State v. West Virginia slop fest?

I'll do you one better. LSU loses against Arkansas and the SEC titile game and slips from the top of the heap.

Kansas vs. West Virginia for the BCS title?

You could almost hear the collective groans.