Former BU Coach Guy Morriss Dies at 71
9/6/2022 8:52:00 PM | Football, General
By Jerry Hill
Baylor Bear Insider
Former Baylor head football coach Guy Morriss, who led the Bears to memorable wins over Texas A&M, Colorado and Kansas in his five-year run (2003-07), died Monday at the age of 71 at his home in Danville, Ky., after battling Alzheimer's for the last six years.
"The Baylor Family mourns the loss of Guy Morriss. Guy had a tremendous impact on our campus, our fans and our football program," said Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades.
"He will be remembered for his tireless work and commitment to doing things the right way. He left Baylor football better than he found it, and we are forever grateful for his contributions during his five years leading our program. We mourn his loss and lift up (his wife) Jackie, his daughters, Colleen, Kerry, Savannah and Austin, and five grandchildren in prayer."
A Texas native, Morriss played at Sam Houston High School in Arlington and earned All-Southwest Conference honors at TCU, graduating in 1973 with a degree in secondary education.
Drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Morriss had a 15-year career in the NFL that included Super Bowl appearances with the Eagles in 1980 and New England Patriots in 1985 and All-NFL honors in 1981 at center.
After retiring from the NFL, Morriss started his coaching career as the offensive line coach with the Patriots under Raymond Berry. His first college position was at Valdosta State, where he coached the offensive line in a new "Air Raid" offense led by Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.
That same trio went to Kentucky in 1997, with Morriss serving as the assistant head coach and still working with the offensive line. Following Mumme's resignation, Morriss was named the interim head coach in 2001.
With the Wildcats on probation and ineligible for a bowl game, Morriss led them to a 7-5 record in his second season in Lexington that included wins over Louisville, Arkansas and Mississippi State and a near-win versus 16th-ranked LSU.
Kentucky's players dumped the "victory" Gatorade on Morriss right before the final play in the "Bluegrass Miracle," when LSU quarterback Marcus Randall hit receiver Devery Henderson for a 74-yard "Hail Mary" touchdown pass on the last play of the game to lead the Tigers and then-head coach Nick Saban to a stunning 33-30 victory.
"How much heartbreak," Kentucky radio play-by-play announcer Tom Leach said. "(Kentucky) fans are up on the goal posts. I don't know why."
On Dec. 11, 2002, Morriss was introduced as Baylor's head coach at a press conference on campus at the Umphrey Law Center.
Berry, the former Patriots' head coach and an NFL Hall of Famer, said "Baylor got itself a real jewel when it got Guy Morriss. He's the kind of guy I'd like my son to play for."
NFL Hall of Fame coach Dick Vermeil called Morriss one of the Philadelphia Eagles' "Dirty Dozen . . . that went in five years from the bottom of the NFL to the Super Bowl because of their character, their work commitment, their unselfishness and their caring about the program."
"It's not surprising to me that he's coaching football. He's one that should be coaching," Vermeil said. "He cared about the game and everything about it. I have no doubt that he will have any problem transferring those feelings to those who play for him or work with him."
Following Kevin Steele, who was 9-36 overall and won one conference game in four years, Morriss led a turnaround that saw the Bears come within one victory of a bowl game in 2005 (5-6). The 2003 Baylor football media guide had a picture of Morriss on his motorcycle, and there were posters made that said, "There's a New Guy in Town."
Before his debut season, Morriss kept the players "encamped" during the fall training camp, staying in one of the school dorms, taking away their cell phones and car keys and transporting them to and from practice on yellow school buses.
Highlighted by a 42-30 win over Colorado, Baylor got off to a 3-2 start that first year, then pulled off the dramatic 35-34 overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M on Oct. 30, 2004. Shawn Bell, the Bears' current quarterbacks coach, connected with Dominique Zeigler on a 12-yard TD pass and then again on the two-point conversion to win it.
In the sideline huddle before the conversion attempt, Bell said Morriss told the players, "Guys, we're going to go for it. Is that what you want?"
"Everybody said, 'Yes, sir!''' said Bell, who threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns.
The following season, the Bears got off to a 3-0 start and beat Iowa State and Oklahoma State in conference play, but overtime losses at A&M and Oklahoma cost them their first bowl bid in 11 years.
In a 4-4 start in 2006, Bell threw for a school-record 394 yards and five touchdowns to help Baylor rally from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat Kansas, 36-35, on Homecoming. But, he suffered a season-ending knee injury the next week against A&M, and the Bears lost their last four games.
Morriss was 18-40 in his five seasons at Baylor, losing his last eight games after a 3-1 start in 2007. Although Morriss was dismissed the day after the season ended, then-athletic director Ian McCaw said, "I believe the football program is on a more solid foundation than it was when he arrived at Baylor."
In the Nov. 18 press conference, Morriss said, "I would also like to thank the fans that have been so supportive. I believe they are some of the best fans in the country and care about the Bears. I believe the football program is in better condition now than when I inherited it. I wish Baylor well in all future endeavors."
John Morris, "Voice of the Bears" and Baylor radio's play-by-play announcer, said "GuyMo was a man's man and a coach's coach. He gave his life to football."
"There is no question he elevated the Baylor program during his five years here and won huge games," Morris said. "Our heartfelt prayers are with Jackie and their family."
After one season as the offensive line coach at Division II Kentucky State, Morriss returned to the Lone Star State in 2009 and had a four-year stint at Texas A&M-Commerce. He finished with 37 career wins as a head coach.
Morriss stayed on for one more year at A&M-Commerce, serving as special assistant to the athletic director, and then returned to Kentucky to coach the offensive line for two seasons in the high school ranks. All told, he spent 26 years as a coach on the NFL, college and high school levels, retiring in 2015.
"Guy Morriss provided steady leadership for our football program at a time of significant uncertainty," Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnett said Tuesday in a prepared statement. "He was both liked and respected by the players, who responded to his fair, no-nonsense approach with their best efforts. His six years at UK feature some of the best players and most exciting moments in our history. He will be deeply missed, and our condolences are with (his wife) Jackie, their children, family and friends."
Morriss is survived by his wife, Jackie (also known as "Coach B"), their daughters, Colleen, Kerry, Savannah and Austin, and five grandchildren. Funeral services are pending.
Baylor Bear Insider
Former Baylor head football coach Guy Morriss, who led the Bears to memorable wins over Texas A&M, Colorado and Kansas in his five-year run (2003-07), died Monday at the age of 71 at his home in Danville, Ky., after battling Alzheimer's for the last six years.
"The Baylor Family mourns the loss of Guy Morriss. Guy had a tremendous impact on our campus, our fans and our football program," said Baylor Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mack Rhoades.
"He will be remembered for his tireless work and commitment to doing things the right way. He left Baylor football better than he found it, and we are forever grateful for his contributions during his five years leading our program. We mourn his loss and lift up (his wife) Jackie, his daughters, Colleen, Kerry, Savannah and Austin, and five grandchildren in prayer."
A Texas native, Morriss played at Sam Houston High School in Arlington and earned All-Southwest Conference honors at TCU, graduating in 1973 with a degree in secondary education.
Drafted in the second round by the Philadelphia Eagles, Morriss had a 15-year career in the NFL that included Super Bowl appearances with the Eagles in 1980 and New England Patriots in 1985 and All-NFL honors in 1981 at center.
After retiring from the NFL, Morriss started his coaching career as the offensive line coach with the Patriots under Raymond Berry. His first college position was at Valdosta State, where he coached the offensive line in a new "Air Raid" offense led by Hal Mumme and Mike Leach.
That same trio went to Kentucky in 1997, with Morriss serving as the assistant head coach and still working with the offensive line. Following Mumme's resignation, Morriss was named the interim head coach in 2001.
With the Wildcats on probation and ineligible for a bowl game, Morriss led them to a 7-5 record in his second season in Lexington that included wins over Louisville, Arkansas and Mississippi State and a near-win versus 16th-ranked LSU.
Kentucky's players dumped the "victory" Gatorade on Morriss right before the final play in the "Bluegrass Miracle," when LSU quarterback Marcus Randall hit receiver Devery Henderson for a 74-yard "Hail Mary" touchdown pass on the last play of the game to lead the Tigers and then-head coach Nick Saban to a stunning 33-30 victory.
"How much heartbreak," Kentucky radio play-by-play announcer Tom Leach said. "(Kentucky) fans are up on the goal posts. I don't know why."
On Dec. 11, 2002, Morriss was introduced as Baylor's head coach at a press conference on campus at the Umphrey Law Center.
Berry, the former Patriots' head coach and an NFL Hall of Famer, said "Baylor got itself a real jewel when it got Guy Morriss. He's the kind of guy I'd like my son to play for."
NFL Hall of Fame coach Dick Vermeil called Morriss one of the Philadelphia Eagles' "Dirty Dozen . . . that went in five years from the bottom of the NFL to the Super Bowl because of their character, their work commitment, their unselfishness and their caring about the program."
"It's not surprising to me that he's coaching football. He's one that should be coaching," Vermeil said. "He cared about the game and everything about it. I have no doubt that he will have any problem transferring those feelings to those who play for him or work with him."
Following Kevin Steele, who was 9-36 overall and won one conference game in four years, Morriss led a turnaround that saw the Bears come within one victory of a bowl game in 2005 (5-6). The 2003 Baylor football media guide had a picture of Morriss on his motorcycle, and there were posters made that said, "There's a New Guy in Town."
Before his debut season, Morriss kept the players "encamped" during the fall training camp, staying in one of the school dorms, taking away their cell phones and car keys and transporting them to and from practice on yellow school buses.
Highlighted by a 42-30 win over Colorado, Baylor got off to a 3-2 start that first year, then pulled off the dramatic 35-34 overtime win over No. 16 Texas A&M on Oct. 30, 2004. Shawn Bell, the Bears' current quarterbacks coach, connected with Dominique Zeigler on a 12-yard TD pass and then again on the two-point conversion to win it.
In the sideline huddle before the conversion attempt, Bell said Morriss told the players, "Guys, we're going to go for it. Is that what you want?"
"Everybody said, 'Yes, sir!''' said Bell, who threw for 262 yards and four touchdowns.
The following season, the Bears got off to a 3-0 start and beat Iowa State and Oklahoma State in conference play, but overtime losses at A&M and Oklahoma cost them their first bowl bid in 11 years.
In a 4-4 start in 2006, Bell threw for a school-record 394 yards and five touchdowns to help Baylor rally from an 18-point halftime deficit to beat Kansas, 36-35, on Homecoming. But, he suffered a season-ending knee injury the next week against A&M, and the Bears lost their last four games.
Morriss was 18-40 in his five seasons at Baylor, losing his last eight games after a 3-1 start in 2007. Although Morriss was dismissed the day after the season ended, then-athletic director Ian McCaw said, "I believe the football program is on a more solid foundation than it was when he arrived at Baylor."
In the Nov. 18 press conference, Morriss said, "I would also like to thank the fans that have been so supportive. I believe they are some of the best fans in the country and care about the Bears. I believe the football program is in better condition now than when I inherited it. I wish Baylor well in all future endeavors."
John Morris, "Voice of the Bears" and Baylor radio's play-by-play announcer, said "GuyMo was a man's man and a coach's coach. He gave his life to football."
"There is no question he elevated the Baylor program during his five years here and won huge games," Morris said. "Our heartfelt prayers are with Jackie and their family."
After one season as the offensive line coach at Division II Kentucky State, Morriss returned to the Lone Star State in 2009 and had a four-year stint at Texas A&M-Commerce. He finished with 37 career wins as a head coach.
Morriss stayed on for one more year at A&M-Commerce, serving as special assistant to the athletic director, and then returned to Kentucky to coach the offensive line for two seasons in the high school ranks. All told, he spent 26 years as a coach on the NFL, college and high school levels, retiring in 2015.
"Guy Morriss provided steady leadership for our football program at a time of significant uncertainty," Kentucky Director of Athletics Mitch Barnett said Tuesday in a prepared statement. "He was both liked and respected by the players, who responded to his fair, no-nonsense approach with their best efforts. His six years at UK feature some of the best players and most exciting moments in our history. He will be deeply missed, and our condolences are with (his wife) Jackie, their children, family and friends."
Morriss is survived by his wife, Jackie (also known as "Coach B"), their daughters, Colleen, Kerry, Savannah and Austin, and five grandchildren. Funeral services are pending.
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