Steven Morris Starting...

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  Morris will start Saturday, Harris not happy

by: Steve Gorten November 24th, 2010 | 3:37 PM

CORAL GABLES — Miami Hurricanes quarterback Jacory Harris has known all week that he won’t start against South Florida this Saturday and privately “is not taking it well,†a source close to the situation said Wednesday.

The source said that the coaching staff told Harris Sunday night that Stephen Morris would make his fourth consecutive start in the final regular season game.

Coach Randy Shannon said after Wednesday’s practice he had not yet made a decision and wouldn’t until at least after Thursday morning’s practice.

As was the case Tuesday, Morris took the snaps with the first team during drills Wednesday and Harris worked with the second team.

Shannon was vague when asked about how Harris has looked this week, specifically with his timing and rhythm.

“Both quarterbacks did a good job in practice today. You keep getting those guys going,†Shannon said. “They’re flying around, doing a good job with the offense. The more those guys keep getting better, the [better] we’ll be. We’ll work [Thursday] on them and then we’ll make a decision.â€

Asked again about Harris’ performances in practice, Shannon said, “Like I said earlier, both quarterbacks are getting better. He’s better, but he’s still the same. I’m not going to sit up here and say, ‘OK, this guy is doing this, this guy is doing that.’ 

“The thing we have to make sure is that whoever’s practicing the best gets the best opportunity. I hate to say it this way. You want to get a definite answer, but it ain’t a definite.â€

Shannon said Sunday during his weekly day-after-game session with the media that Harris, who hasn’t played since sustaining a concussion Oct. 30 at Virginia, had been cleared medically. He said Harris “should be ready to go†against USF and “if he’s ready, he’s the starter as always.†Harris was in full uniform Saturday against Virginia Tech for the first time since the concussion.

“He probably could have [played], but we weren’t going to do it because he was not used to the timing and all those stuff,†Shannon said Sunday. “Look for him probably to play this week because his timing [will be] back…just getting used to all the little things, nuances and stuff.â€

A few hours later, Shannon contacted media to clarify his remarks. He said Harris would start only if everything went well in practice this week. The junior only started practicing again last week. Offensive coordinator Mark Whipple has simplified the offense and relied on the run more than earlier this season and it has helped Morris’ success.

While the true freshman threw three interceptions on UM’s final three drives against Virginia Tech and was just 3-for-16 for 34 yards in the second half, he has mostly played well while showing unexpected poise.

In 14 quarters of action in Harris’ absence, Morris is 52-for-103 for 880 yards, 5 TD and 7 INT. He has a passer efficiency rating of 124.68. He also has rushed for 64 yards and a TD.

“Stephen has done a good job. It shows you have a guy that can come in and win games for you if some circumstance happened again,†Shannon said Sunday. “It was good to give him all those reps, good for him to get in some tough situations and crucial situations.â€

Morris’ success has set up a quarterback competition in the spring. Departing senior tailback Damien Berry is curious how it’ll unfold.

“That will be very interesting,†Berry said. “I’m waiting to see what’s going to happen with that one. It’ll be very interesting to see both of them compete because they’re two different styles of quarterbacks. I want to see what happens.â€

Added Berry, “That’s the goal, to put you into that fire and see how you come out. Some people break, some people fall. But most of the time, if you’re here, you’re going to step up to the plate.â€

Shannon noted on the weekly ACC conference call Tuesday that “this is the first time since Robert Marve was here [Harris’ freshman year] that he’s had somebody to push him where he needs to go.

“Stephen and him talk a lot, communicate a lot,†Shannon said. “It’s a competition factor of him staying on top of his game…not feeling the heat, just knowing you have somebody by you that’s just as good as you that wants to work just as hard as you. It’s been a great cohesive deal between those guys that should really work out well.â€

During the one time Morris has been allowed to speak to the media, he expressed admiration of Harris and said he tries to emulate Harris’ poise on the field. He said before his first career start against Maryland that he hoped Harris would be on the sideline for support. Harris was there, and traveled with the team to Georgia Tech the next week.

Teammates and Shannon have repeatedly lauded Harris for actively supporting Morris.

“Even though he wasn’t playing, he played a valuable role,†Berry said Tuesday. “Jacory was coaching on the sideline. He was telling Stephen what he did wrong, his reads and what he saw, critiquing him from the sideline. Jacory is a big part of our team. Stephen is also, whether on the field or off the field. Both of those guys are great.

“I love the way Jacory hasn’t been selfish or anything. He stepped up and he was a real leader, showed how much he cared about this team being on the sideline coaching.â€

— In injury news Wednesday, Shannon said injured DE Marcus Robinson won’t play against USF and there’s only “a 25 percent chance†that DB Cory Nelms will play. Neither has practiced this week. Shannon said LB Kelvin Cain has been ill for about a week and his status is undetermined. The official injury report will be released Thursday.

http://blogs.sun-sentinel.com/sports_college_hurricanes/2010/11/morris-with-the-1s-again.html

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This is great news.