Guy Morriss: No News is Good News.

by srr50 on Mar 3, 2010 10:00 PM CST in Texas Longhorns and Other Football

Guy Morris has coached in the SEC (Kentucky) and the Big 12 (Baylor).

Lately he has taken a step down from those days -- he is the head coach of the Div. II Texas A&M-Commerce Lions. While the spotlight isn't as bright in Commerce as it was in Lexington, or even Waco, Morris has at least found an effective method to deal with the press when they have a negative story about his team -- steal all the copies of the campus newspaper.

Two of Morriss' players were caught in a drug sting after a visiting recruit became sick while smoking marijuana in a campus apartment. Lions players Dionte Garrett and Deandre’ Bowers were arrested Feb. 19 after several bags of marijuana, pills and other drug paraphernalia were found in an apartment on campus. The arrests were duly noted in the University newpaper.

Early the next morning several Lions players went through campus and took every edition they could find in the newspaper racks. A couple of the players were even caught on tape taking the papers in front of the campus police station.

When confronted by the police about his players actions, Morriss said, "I’m proud of my players for doing that. This was the best team building exercise we have ever done."

Morriss remained unrepentant, even in a meeting with University President Dan Jones. Morriss said he would not make any apologies for the team, and they would suffer the consequences as a team, since the team committed the action.

Morriss' immediate boss, Athletics Director (and form UT basketball star) Carleton Cooper had little doubt as to who the ringleader was.

"I don’t think they (the players) are smart enough to do this on their own," said Cooper.

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Apparently Morris doesn’t subscribe to the philosophy that, “any press is good press”.

by Patrick Bateman on Mar 3, 2010 10:21 PM CST reply actions

…he is the head coach of the Div. II Texas A&M-Commerce Lions.

They key phrase is A&M. When their coaches aren’t illegally selling information, they’re hiding evidence of illegality.

by Blueshorn on Mar 3, 2010 10:23 PM CST reply actions

How do you steal free newspapers?

by Beast on Mar 3, 2010 10:31 PM CST reply actions

“How do you steal free newspapers?”

Lt. Jason Bone said he told Morriss inside the paper there is a statement explaining that the first issue is free, but every issue after that costs 25 cents. Morriss said he was not in agreement with the policy stated in The East Texan.

"I guess I will be the first one out of the door in handcuffs then," Morriss said.

by srr50 on Mar 3, 2010 10:47 PM CST reply actions

From the linked article:

Morriss then asked for clarification on how taking a free paper was considered theft.

Attorney Advocate for the Student Press Law Center Adam Goldstein said the actions taken by members of the football team are illegal. He said he did not think it would be a legal violation if they had a legitimate purpose for taking more than one.

"I think the problem comes when they try to take so many that it interferes with the basic purpose for why a newspaper exists," he said. "Publications can limit it to one. Certainly one is a rational number."

Bone said he told Morriss inside the paper there is a statement explaining that the first issue is free, but every issue after that costs 25 cents. Morriss said he was not in agreement with the policy stated in The East Texan.

by Blueshorn on Mar 3, 2010 10:51 PM CST reply actions

I’ve got it! We have to buy every single newspaper in San Francisco. We’ll need about $10,000 worth of change. The first thing I want you to do is get a truck. A biiiiiig truck. Then you go around to all the newspaper, all the stands. You put the paper … perhaps it’s not a good idea.

by Woody Bombay on Mar 3, 2010 11:52 PM CST reply actions