Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris hoping to avoid 'distractions' vs West Virginia
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STILLWATER — Speakers at the Sherman E. Smith Training Center blared John Denver’s’ “Take Me Home, Country Roads” during the conclusion of Oklahoma State's practice.
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The song, the unofficial West Virginia football anthem, repeated in a loop, although OSU coach Eric Morris promised there were other songs on the playlist earlier Tuesday. The choice signals OSU is moving on from a 59-0 win vs Murray State and onto Big 12 play that begins 6 p.m. Saturday at West Virginia.
After a road trip to Tulsa to open the season and two home games, this will be the first out-of-state game for the Cowboys. Morris is hoping to avoid the distractions that come with it.
“But I think going on the road and just handling the distractions will be big for us,” Morris said. “First time we’ve gotten on a plane together across the country. You don’t stay close to the stadium there, stay outside of West Virginia, you’ve got to travel in there. So, there’s so many things that I think can be distractions, and hopefully we’ll do a nice job of eliminating those.”
OSU is 5-2 in games in Morgantown and the Cowboys haven’t lost there since 2013. Coincidentally, that same season Texas Tech won a game at WVU 37-27 with Morris as offensive coordinator. Morris said later in the week, usually Thursday, he watches film from old games and will revisit that one.
“But what a great opportunity for our team to go on the road … it’s just so many things you dream about,” Morris said. “National TV, football weather, under the lights, undefeated team, first Big 12 game. There are so many cool storylines for our teams to get excited for. They’re a really well-coached team, and we're going to have to play really, really well.”
Here are three takeaways from Morris' news conference:
Eric Morris respects Rich Rodriguez
Morris is known as a quarterback whisperer. West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez has a reputation as an offensive guru.
Morris, 40 and Rodriguez, 63, haven’t crossed paths very often. West Virginia wasn’t in the Big 12 when Rodriguez coached there from 2001-2007 and Morris’ playing career at Texas Tech ended in 2008.
The two coaches met for the first time this summer at Big 12 meetings. Morris went into the meetings familiar with Rodriguez’ teams and players at West Virginia.
“He was in charge of leading our meetings, and so just kind of watched him from afar, like for so many years,” Morris said. “I remember back in the day when I was young and remembering how good Pat White and those guys were, and Tavon Austin and even our kids today, like the Tavon Austin highlights reel they still talk about that today and just how dynamic those teams were, and so that's really kind of where it popped into my head and started noticing kind of what he what he was doing, and, obviously, was able to watch him at Arizona there for a couple years, and then you know Jacksonville State did a phenomenal job back here.”
WR Chris Barnes will be back vs West Virginia
After missing last week with a shoulder injury, sophomore OSU receiver Chris Barnes is back for the Big 12 opener.
“Excited to get Chris Barnes back this week,” Morris said. “I think he just adds some explosiveness out there.”
Through two games, Barnes ranked third among Cowboy receivers with 87 receiving yards on seven receptions.
Morris said three injured Cowboys offensive lineman Joseph Hanson, offensive lineman Braydon Nelson and tight end Oscar Hammonds are practicing.
“So, hopefully be able to get some guys back going into conference,” Morris said.
OSU is on a bye week after the West Virginia game.
All four backup RB s will play this season
Behind sophomore Caleb Hawkins, OSU hasn’t established a clear backup running back through the first three games. It may remain like that.
Against Murray State, fifth-year Ayo Adeyi carried the ball seven times for 67 yards. Morris called him a “seasoned vet, a guy we can count on in a lot of different ways.”
Sophomore Tre Page III, freshman KD Jones and UCO transfer William Mason all mixed into the game as well.
“Mason, like I said, did a nice job,” Morris said. “And Tre kind of as a switch up in pace, his speed and electricity, he’s got to stay on his feet a little bit better through contact. He’s been really good outside the tackles, not as good as those other guys in between the tackles. I would assume you’ll see all four of them at some point and William has done such a great job as a four-quarter special teams. He might be the only guy on our team that’s starting on every special teams right now so tough, dependable, reliable. Been a great asset to our team.”
Ben Hutchens covers OSU athletics for The Oklahoman. Have a story idea for Ben? He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @ben_hutchens_. Sign up for OSU Sports Minute newsletter to access more coverage of the Cowboys and Cowgirls. Support Ben's work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma State football coach Eric Morris hoping to avoid 'distractions' vs West Virginia