…and the level of wisdom he exudes in his public speaking.
Naturally, like most Hog fans, I don’t know Coach Morris. I have watched his Clemson offenses quite alot living here in Charleston. He’s a great offensive mind, and we shall see how his style works for our Hogs.
But some of the things he has said, or the things he is demanding of his players has me really excited.
I love some of his statements. Such as “Coaching football is what I do. Its not who I am. I am a father, a husband, and a son. Thats who I am.” Also, “winning is a byproduct of doing the right things for the right reasons, and stacking good days on top of good days.”
He talks of changing lives, and that if you change lives, you will win. You get the impression that he wants to win, but changing lives is far more important to him (and it should be of course).
I also love “it’s a belief that drives a behavior that produces a result.” He also has had his players read “Chop Wood, Carry Water”, which is a great little book that extols the virtue and the need to live in the present, to “water your own garden” …to work hard every day focusing on the journey (or the “process” to move into “Saint Saban”-land). (The book is really Zen for the pop culture…but its a good little read. I am having my students read it this fall…thanks Coach Morris for that suggestion!)
From a religious standpoint, Morris definitely seems to be a spiritual person. Enlightened even. Or, in humanistic parlance, “self-actualized” as defined by Maslow.
In any case, I am really impressed. He has to win. I understand that. But, like Bielema, and perhaps even moreso, its clear Morris is a good person who will indeed impact lives and “do us proud” as a person. That’s very important to me. And I hope its is with many other fans as well.