It's worth noting the rich irony of Chad Morris' coaching st

[AfricanMustang]

Call me crazy, but I’m starting to have some serious doubts about Chad Morris being the guy at Arkansas.

Search the words “Bielema” on Twitter on Saturday night and well, let’s just say Arkansas fans are confident that the ex-Razorbacks coach could easily have had a few more wins than Morris so far.

Meanwhile, the program that Morris helped build up, SMU, is 4-0 coming off a win at No. 25 TCU. Despite the fact that SMU only won 5 games in the first year of the post-Morris era, it’s easy to wonder if the program is now better than it was at any point while Morris was there.

I can’t help but wonder if we’re going to be saying the same thing about Arkansas in a few years. And if so, what does that say about Morris?

To be clear, I’m not predicting that Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek is going to pull the plug on the Morris era after 2019. But even he admitted that Saturday’s loss was deflating after feeling like the program turned the corner against Colorado State the previous week.

Speaking of that, Morris was praised this offseason for signing the nation’s No. 23 recruiting class. As the coach of a 2-10 team who failed to win an SEC game, he signed a higher-rated class than:

In total, Morris signed a higher-rated class than 42 Power 5 programs in 2019. That’s wild. That’s the type of stuff that doesn’t just get local fans excited, but it makes national media turn around and go “wow, that guy can sell ice to an Eskimo.”

Nobody is denying that ability with Morris. You can bet that’ll be a sell to Yurachek as to why he needs time at Arkansas. He’s in position to sign another top 25 class. You know, assuming things don’t go horribly, horribly wrong in 2019.

Speaking of former programs, Morris obviously left Clemson in 2014. In the 4 years after that, they didn’t miss a Playoff, they went to 3 national championships and won 2 of them. No, I’m not suggesting that Clemson won because Morris left for SMU. I’m definitely not saying that.

But his career followed this strange, ironic path wherein he spends a few years at a school, leaves and they reach new heights.

Remember, SMU is coming off a win against TCU, which is significant because Morris never beat a Power 5 team during his 3 years there (or in his 9 opportunities at Arkansas so far).

There’s a world in which Yurachek’s patience runs out in the next couple of years and someone steps in only to reap the benefits of Morris’ recruiting success. Some will say Morris wasn’t given time. Others will say he was someone who could establish a foundation via recruiting and selling the program, though when push came to shove, he was never going to be the guy to get it done.

Call me crazy, but I’m starting to see the blueprint for the latter scenario clearer and clearer.

https://www.saturdaydownsouth.com/arkan ... wich-2019/

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

Call me crazy, but I’m starting to have some serious doubts about Chad Morris being the guy at Arkansas. To be clear, I’m not predicting that Arkansas athletic director Hunter Yurachek is going to pull the plug on the Morris era after 2019.

Agreed...The Hogs paid an $11.8 million buyout to former coach Bret Bielema,
if they fire Chad now it will cost them millions more...AD making hires might get scalped!

[sbsmith]

Jimmy Sexton is an amazing agent

[SMU_Alum11]

I think the AD knows he's stuck with Morris. The money is going to eventually break him so they might as well act like they have his back 100% until they get to a lower liability. I think Chad was way way too inexperienced for a P5 job. Hell he seem inexperienced at a G5 level. He should have known better to try to take a HC job until he built a solid network with a strong DC like Kane.

[Insane_Pony_Posse]

I think the AD knows he's stuck with Morris.

Looks like you are right again SMU Alum11

"Yurachek says Chad Morris has Hogs in right direction despite loss"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL4coxHApE8

read comments under video as well

[Water Pony]

I am not down on Chad and liked him, when he was working with Texas High School coaches and trying to recruit better players to SMU. He found some, but insufficient to make an immediate difference on the field. However, I never thought we should have expected him to stay. His interest in a Power 5 opportunity was apparent.

Conversely, I am much more excited about Sonny, He comes across as genuine and sincerely commitment to SMU and Dallas for a longer term. He was humbled by a Power 5 administration and perhaps feels loyalty is a virtue in his case. Without knowing him personally, I get the feeling he is enjoying himself and what he can create on the Hilltop. He also appears to understand how to recruit and finds excellent transfers.

No knock on Chad, but Sonny is an upgrade for us and we will continue to benefit due to his character and commitment to his players, recruits, our university and Dallas. Call me naive, but I am feeling as good as possible given our 30 years in the desert in exile.

Thanks, Sonny, and Pony Up!

[mustangxc]

Dare I say Chad Morris is the Buck Showalter of college football.

[Donnell88]

I am not down on Chad and liked him, when he was working with Texas High School coaches and trying to recruit better players to SMU. He found some, but insufficient to make an immediate difference on the field. However, I never thought we should have expected him to stay. His interest in a Power 5 opportunity was apparent.

Conversely, I am much more excited about Sonny, He comes across as genuine and sincerely commitment to SMU and Dallas for a longer term. He was humbled by a Power 5 administration and perhaps feels loyalty is a virtue in his case. Without knowing him personally, I get the feeling he is enjoying himself and what he can create on the Hilltop. He also appears to understand how to recruit and finds excellent transfers.

No knock on Chad, but Sonny is an upgrade for us and we will continue to benefit due to his character and commitment to his players, recruits, our university and Dallas. Call me naive, but I am feeling as good as possible given our 30 years in the desert in exile.

Thanks, Sonny, and Pony Up!

Very well said. I am also delighted that we were able to hire a coach of Sonny Dykes' caliber and commitment to SMU and Dallas.

[Lefty]

I think the AD knows he's stuck with Morris.

Looks like you are right again SMU Alum11

"Yurachek says Chad Morris has Hogs in right direction despite loss"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL4coxHApE8

read comments under video as well

A) There are some who see that kind of vote of confidence as a kiss of death.

B) Aren't alumni like Jerry Jones underwriting CM's salary? I thought the ridiculous salary was no strain at all on athletic budget. Am I wrong?

[Mustangsabu]

I think the AD knows he's stuck with Morris.

Looks like you are right again SMU Alum11

"Yurachek says Chad Morris has Hogs in right direction despite loss"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL4coxHApE8

read comments under video as well

I love the image of being “under the hot seat”

Ahhh Arkies...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[gohogs14]

I think the AD knows he's stuck with Morris.

Looks like you are right again SMU Alum11

"Yurachek says Chad Morris has Hogs in right direction despite loss"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL4coxHApE8

read comments under video as well

A) There are some who see that kind of vote of confidence as a kiss of death.

B) Aren't alumni like Jerry Jones underwriting CM's salary? I thought the ridiculous salary was no strain at all on athletic budget. Am I wrong?

Morris’ salary is only $3.5 million which is about middle of the pack in the SEC so it’s not that bad. Better than the $7 million Arkansas was prepared to give Malzahn. The Razorback Foundation is footing the bill for Bielema’s buyout but it is offset some by his new job with the Patriots and I believe we are trying to get out of it saying that he didn’t meet a clause which required him to actively seek employment sufficiently enough.

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

The natives have to enjoy #WPS being in the ESPN bottom 10!