Finally, We Have A Stand-Up Guy...

Texas A&M-Commerce head football coach Guy Morriss has apologized for backing his players when they lifted campus newspapers from their racks because of a story about the program.

Remember, Morriss told campus police the actions by his players was "the best team-building exercise we have ever done." He apologized for a "lapse in judgment" and said the comment was made facetiously.

((The HQ seriously doubts it, but we'll proceed anyway...))

A&M-Commerce athletic director Carlton Cooper said the Division II program would pay for the reprint of the missing edition, and that coaches and players would distribute it.

That seems like better team building to the HQ, actually, than anything Morriss has immediately planned.

And, as a reminder, the East Texan newspaper's Youtube channel was around for the SGA's discussion on whether or not to come out with a public statement...


Here's Adam Troxtell's piece on the lack of discussion above...

And the James Rose piece on the thefts in the first place...
((HT: MyFoxDFW))

Guy Morriss still hasn't said he's sorry....

Leave it to resident genius/alleged Texas A&M Commerce Football Coach Guy Morriss to keep people busy this Friday morning. Earlier this week, we were one of the first blogs to report on his prideful comments about his players stealing things because of a news report from the student paper...The East Texan that they didn't like.

Read the original story RIGHT HERE

((Guy Morriss again//Courtesy: Getty Images/Fanhouse))

The schools Student Government Association was less than thrilled about the whole thing as well. They discussed it in a meeting on Thursday. They had a lot of debate as to whether or not they should make a statement about what happened and the athletic department as a whole. It is an interesting read.

The story from TheEastTexan.com RIGHT HERE

Well, it appears that Mr. Morriss stands behind his words. The publisher of the student paper that was stolen was expecting Morriss to apologize to him for what happened and he should expect it. However, according to multiple reports, he's still waiting for it.

Kevin Sherrington of the Dallas Morning News has a very good blog about the whole thing. You can read it RIGHT HERE

Thankfully the wonderful athletic director who originally had said that he thought the players "Weren't smart enough to do something like that" has offered an apology which is a good start. He at least is smart enough to realize that this is and was wrong. Morriss however hasn't.

With all of the negative publicity that this story has drawn, it is amazing that more hasn't been done. Yet there it sits. Is part of the anger the fact that the criminal act was perpetrated against Journalists...yeah...a little. But it is more about the message...and in Morriss' case the messenger. Really, he doesn't have the track record or credibility to bring in such bad publicity and get away with it. We hope that he won't.

Take a look at a clip from the Texas A&M Commerce SGA Meeting yesterday where they discussed Coach Morriss. Thanks East Texan/You Tube:

Guy Morriss Likes Players Who Steal...

This is a "Strange but apparently true story". Football players at Texas A&M-Commerce stole student newspapers on campus...because they didn't like a story in it.

Yes, the East Texan, the student newspaper, had printed a story about 2 of the teams players being arrested in a drug bust in their dorm room.

Here is the original story the East Texan ran RIGHT HERE

((Empty Newspaper rack on Campus//Courtesy: Theeasttexan.com))

For whatever reason, the players...and Head Coach Guy Morriss didn't like the story. The players then apparently took it upon themselves to round up as many copies of the free paper that they could. According to the University Police...they have video of several players taking as many copies as they could.

The theft follow up story is RIGHT HERE
Also, enjoy the Campus Police report RIGHT HERE

The worst part of the whole story; Morriss, a coaching failure at Baylor and Kentucky actually endorsed his teams behavior. Morriss apparently told the University's Crime Information Officer "I'm proud of my players for doing that" and "This was the best team building excercise we have ever done".

It gets better. The schools athletic director Carlton Cooper said the players couldn't have done it. He added "I don't think they are smart enough to do this on their own".

Okay. There are problems here on a ton of levels. First off. It's not up to Guy Morriss or any of his "Players" to decide what is NEWS and what isn't. Second, who is Guy Freakin' Morriss to advocate stealing? Or questioning anything like this? He should be just damn happy someone will allow him to be a head football coach someplace. Third, the Athletic Director...are you a freakin' moron? Come on dude? You just slammed your players as being stupid!

((Guy Morriss Head Shot//Courtesy: Texas A&M Commerce))

It sounds an awful lot like there is a "Different" set of rules going on in good 'ol Commerce. One for the general public and one for the football team. No, sorry...Guy....You nor your team are good enough or warrant that kind of treatment. For that matter...nobody does. You don't get to decide what is NEWS. You don't get to advocate stealing and though you apparently aren't going to get fired for this...you probably should be arrested....MORON! (Sorry I opined...this just kind of pisses me off)

Here's a report from MyFoxDFW on the shenanigans, complete with the surveillance video... James Rose is on patrol...