Morris’ enthusiasm brings new clubhouse culture

Hudson Hollingsworth’s job at FanFest seemed relatively simple: Keep the line waiting to greet Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Raheem Morris and a few players moving.

The plan was to push as many fans as possible through the autograph station during the allotted two hours. But after about 30 minutes, the snaking line had slowed to a snail-like crawl.

The problem wasn’t the fans.

The problem was Morris.

No sooner had Hollingsworth asked fans to limit their autograph requests to a single item than Morris pulled someone’s hat off and signed it, along with a football or picture.

No sooner had Hollingsworth asked fans to refrain from posing for pictures with Morris, than Morris jumped out of his seat, threw his arm around someone and flashed a smile for a waiting camera.

Standing a few feet away, Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer smiled. Moments like those were part of what the Bucs were looking for when they made the 32-year-old Morris the youngest head coach in the National Football League.

Morris, a defensive assistant for the Bucs the previous two seasons, had only recently been promoted to replace defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin when he was again promoted in January to replace Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden.

More victories and an eye toward the future is what the Bucs ownership wanted first and foremost from their new coach; but someone who could connect with fans also was on their wish list.

“I don’t want to be some mythical figure that no one ever sees,” Morris said. “I’m a head coach now, but I still want to be the same person I’ve always been — a guy you can touch, a guy you can talk to, a guy you can get to know.”

The chance to get to know Morris could come just about any place and time in the Bay area. Though he says he doesn’t close the place the way he used to, he’s still a regular at the Blue Martini at International Plaza. And the man who sat with students at a Jesuit-Tampa Catholic boys basketball game just two weeks after being named Bucs coach has no plans to give up his habit of attending prep and college sporting events.

“I love being at those types of events,” Morris said. “It’s nice to be a fan; nice to see the people. And sometimes, in a setting like that, you can motivate people.”

Morris isn’t likely to motivate too many while shopping for groceries, but there’s a good chance fans will run into him while doing that, too.

“Oh yeah, you’ll see him at the supermarket,” said Wayne Weaver, a former college teammate who shared a suite with Morris while both attended Hofstra University. “He’ll be there pushing the cart, because that’s who he is.

“He’s just a normal guy. He’s very outgoing and charismatic, but he’s genuine and honest, too. And I promise you he won’t let this position go to his head. He won’t let it change who he is.”

Culture shift

But atmospheres around him are changing. At One Buc Place, for example, several employees say the workday atmosphere is more relaxed than in years past. Many credit Morris for that.

One day, Morris walked in on a business department staff meeting, introduced himself and signed autographs for and took pictures with every staff member.

“That’s never happened before,” said Hollingsworth, an accountant. “Even though I’m a numbers guy, he’s made me and everyone here feel like we belong.”

The culture at One Buc Place has changed. That’s great for the people who work at One Buc Place.

But what about the people the people at One Buc Place work for? What about the fans?

Their bottom line will always be reflected in the standings, so Morris’ goodwill and congenial personality won’t keep him in good standing for long if he can’t consistently win football games.

On that front, Morris has plenty of doubters. With a handful of seasons as a secondary coach under his belt, Morris is too young and inexperienced to win regularly in his first season, critics charge.

Baloney, the Bucs’ owners say. The trend throughout the league, they say, is to have a young head coach, and Morris’ personality is part of what can make him not only special but also highly successful.

“The game has changed a lot the last few years,” Glazer said. “The players have changed, and the way coaches relate to those players has changed. We believe Raheem can relate to today’s player.”

Morris explained how during his introductory news conference, saying players will “give me a dap [fist bump] instead of a, ‘How you doing, Coach?’” and that he’ll respond by giving them “a chest bump instead of a that-a-boy.”

Even before he was named head coach, Morris impressed players.

“Football-wise, he’s got a great understanding of fundamentals and situational play,” linebacker Barrett Ruud said. “I really think his ability to understand situational football is what’s exceptional about him.”

Morris also has an aura that makes players want to follow him and trust what he says.

“From the day I met him I could see he was a leader, not a follower,” said Lance Schulters, a former NFL defensive back who played with Morris at Hofstra. “From Day One [in college] he took me under his wing. Even then he thought he was a coach. He made all the calls and corrected me on everything. That’s why I’m not surprised he’s a head coach.”

‘No reason to change’

Pin him down, and Morris will admit to being a little surprised by his appointment. Sure, he had his career path mapped out, but never expected to reach this stage this early. Now that he has, though, he intends to treat the 53 players he will face every day during the season the same way he treated the eight or nine he worked with as the team’s defensive backs coach.

“Hey, that’s what got me here,” Morris said of his straight-talking style. “There’s no reason to change that.”

At FanFest, Hollingsworth could only shake his head and chuckle. A few minutes after he asked fans, yet again, to refrain from handing their babies to Morris, there was Morris, reaching across the table to grab a baby out of a willing mother’s arms as the proud father captured the moment on video.

“He’s just awesome,” autograph seeker Samantha Kroll, 24, said. “He’s like a cuddly bear.”

“Yeah, I’m a little different,” Morris said. “Not every coach in the league is like I am. But that’s how I am and that’s how I’m going to be. I think the fans are getting used to it.”

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