STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) — For years, Eric Morris admired what Mike Gundy built at Oklahoma State from afar.
As a former assistant coach at Big 12 rival Texas Tech, he learned about the high-scoring Cowboy offenses, high-level quarterback play and the long list of athletes who weren’t highly recruited but turned out to be great players.
Though this is a new and different era, Morris believes the things that made Gundy one of the winningest coaches in college football can carry over. The former North Texas coach looked to the future while respecting the past when he was introduced as Oklahoma State’s coach on Monday.
He also knew about the rowdy crowd at Boone Pickens Stadium. He looks forward to being on the right side of that homefield advantage.
“I have ringing memories of my ear and those paddles hitting … people are screaming all kinds of things at you,” he said.
Though Oklahoma State finished with a 1-11 record, the Cowboys fans remained enthusiastic throughout the season. That continued with an overflow crowd of 1,100 at the Click Family Alumni Hall Room at the school’s alumni center.
His desire to revive the rivalry with Oklahoma that largely ended when the Sooners moved to the Southeastern Conference resonated with the crowd.
Morris likes the challenge of rebuilding a program. He took North Texas from 5-7 in his first season four years ago to the American Conference title game this season.
He also likes to develop quarterbacks. He has coached, developed or recruited Patrick Mahomes, Baker Mayfield, John Mateer, Cam Ward, Chandler Morris and Drew Mestemaker.
He credits his scrappy approach to being from small Littlefield, Texas, and being an undersized receiver at Texas Tech. He thinks those qualities will help make him a fit in Stillwater.
“You’re so much more proud of the things that I think that we do the hard way,” he said. “And so I believe in doing things the hard way in a tough and gritty way.”
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