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BREAKING: Allen Lands Long-Time College Coach Chad Morris
Just two weeks removed from Terry Gambill announcing that he would step away from the helm of the Allen Football Program, the district dropped a bomb. Today, Chad Morris was named the next head coach of the Allen Eagles.
Coming off of a decade-long run in College Football that saw him helm programs at SMU (2015-2017) and Arkansas (2018-2019), Morris will head to Allen to lead one of the country's premier High School Football Programs. If you're not quite up to speed on the Chad Morris saga, don't worry, we've got you covered.
🚨BREAKING🚨
Allen lands a HUGE name to lead the Eagles. Chad Morris comes to Allen off of a decade-long run in CFB, most recently as OC at Auburn. 🏈🏈🏈
The future looks BRIGHT in Allen, TX! #txhsfb https://t.co/0jwbt1Vaxb
— VYPE DFW (@VYPEDFW) March 31, 2021
Morris' tenure at the collegiate level started with a flash. After just one year of college experience, Morris was hired as the Offensive Coordinator at Clemson University. In his four years at Clemson, Morris led the Tigers' Offense to new heights, posting two Top 10 finishes in Total Offense. After his success at Clemson, SMU gave Morris his first opportunity to lead a college program. Over three years, Morris led the Mustangs to a 14-22 mark, which many considered to be a remarkable feat given SMU's recent struggles.
Perhaps his most notable tenure, though, was at the University of Arkansas. Morris was hired by the Razorbacks in 2018 as an up-and-coming young coach looking to prove his worth in the SEC. What followed was hard to watch. With Morris at the helm, the Razorbacks posted a 4-18 record, and won zero conference games in nearly two years. Morris was let go near the end of his second season.
Though, Morris isn't just known for all of that. In Texas, Chad Morris is best known as the man who led Lake Travis on an all-time run. In his final High School job, before bolting to the NCAA, Morris led the Cavaliers to Back-to-Back 4A DI State Championships and a 32-0 overall record. The Cavaliers haven't looked back.
Only time will tell if Allen has made the correct decision in Morris but with a pedigree like his, you'd be hard-pressed to blame them. Morris may not have been a hit on the college stage but, then again, few are. The hire of Morris certainly puts the Eagles in the spotlight, and with his proven experience and unparalleled success at the high school level you've got to be impressed with what Allen has done.
NATIONAL SIGNING DAY: Family ties to Alabama keep Davis solid with Auburn
HOUSTON – Growing up in Mobile, Alabama, which is roughly three and a half hours from both Auburn and Tuscaloosa – the homes to Auburn University and the University of Alabama – Dematrius Davis Sr. grew up a fan of really both teams.
His favorite player for the Crimson Tide was Bobby Humphrey. His favorite for the Tigers was Bo Jackson. But now, he has a new favorite player amongst his home state teams – his son, Dematrius Davis Jr.
The North Shore quarterback and two-time state champion made it official with Auburn on Wednesday morning signing with the Tigers.
"Our family is diehard War Eagle or Roll Tide fans," Davis Sr. said. "So, either school was good."
In a household that cheered "Roll Tide" and "War Eagle" for all these years, it is special that the Davis family will now have a player in the heralded Iron Bowl game.
"Iron Bowl is going to be big," Davis Sr. said.
Another member of the Davis family that was on-hand for his signing was Davis Jr's grandmother Josephine Simpson-Smith, who graduated from Williamson High School in Mobile, Alabama.
She is especially excited and is ready to make the road trip for all of his games.
"I've already planned my trips and my travels," Simpson-Smith said. "I'll be there when he doesn't play and I'll be there when he does play. I'm his biggest cheerleader. I'll be there."
#NationalSigningDay: @NSNationFB QB @Dematrius09 talks about signing with @AuburnFootball today. Big day for him and his family. #txhsfb @wareagleextra @SimoneEli_TV @AuburnVideo @KPRC2RandyMc @MaxPreps @Hudl @AjaniCarter3 @ShadrachBanks @KPRC2Ari pic.twitter.com/PpHY7VgGXZ
— vypehouston (@vypehouston) December 16, 2020
The family ties to the State of Alabama makes it no surprise that Davis Jr. stuck with his verbal commitment to the Tigers despite the school parting ways with coach Gus Malzahn on Sunday, just days prior to the first National Signing Day of the year.
"It meant a lot being that we have family out there," "We have family at the school. There was a little bit more of a reason that we were going. It wasn't all on Coach Malzahn, so it meant a little bit more to the family."
The idea of playing college football first came into Davis Jr's focus in the eighth grade when he received his first offer. Then, the success came.
Davis has started at quarterback for North Shore for four years now, leading the Mustangs to four-straight playoff appearances. The past two years, Davis has helped the program win its third and fourth state championships.
He was named the State Championship Game Offensive MVP both years.
"I did think he was going to win one state championship, now two that came out of nowhere," Tiffany Davis, Dematrius Davis Jr's mother said. "I definitely saw him winning one."
Welcome to The Plains, @Dematrius09!
Bringing in an electric playmaker and the winningest QB in Texas high school history. pic.twitter.com/ohdUKnz4al
— Auburn Football (@AuburnFootball) December 16, 2020
With the success came the national attention – having his top plays featured on MaxPreps and other national sites. The awards and the college offers followed.
All of it though, including inking his National Letter of Intent with Auburn on Wednesday didn't come without hard work.
"I think a lot of it is a manifestation of hard work," Davis Sr. said. "We didn't know we were going to win two titles and all this stuff but we put in a lot of work. I don't think people really understand how much work he has put in. How many weekdays, weekends and holidays.
"It's a lot of sacrifices that go along with this."
Tiffany added: "We've been on one vacation in 20 years, all our vacations have been to college camps or training. If you're not sacrificing nothing, they are not going to sacrifice for you."
Now that Davis Jr. is signed the senior signal-caller is excited about the next chapter, whenever he is officially done with his high school career, which he hopes won't be until mid-January.
"I feel like my parents really love this decision, they're rolling with me all the way," Davis Jr. said.
He's going to Auburn😍💙🧡💙 #NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/HwWCoNasUL
— Tiffany Davis (@outlaws_houston) December 16, 2020