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He Has Big Shoes To Fill, But Morris Is Prepared

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By MARTIN FENNELLY

mfennelly@tampatrib.com

Published: January 18, 2009

Updated: 01/18/2009 12:14 am

TAMPA - He has never been a head coach. He has never even been 33 years old. But what was the big deal about standing before cameras Saturday? Make a hole, the new guy's here.

"I never feel unprepared," said 32-year-old Raheem Morris, the eighth head coach in Bucs history. "This is the first time I've ever had a news conference. I walked in there and 'Let's dance.' That's just my mentality."

Let's dance.

How young is the new coach? When he shows up at the Senior Bowl, he's going to get carded.

He's not Tony Dungy. Dungy wasn't nearly as much of a lunge when the Bucs hired him in 1996. People had been saying for years that Tony D should have been a head coach.

That seems like a long time ago. Lots of things do. We'll see Barack Obama get sworn in Tuesday, history every step of the way. With much smaller steps, Raheem Morris steps to the head of the Bucs. Change is change.

"I'm fired up," Morris said. "I'm young. He's young. We're black. No secret."

Saturday felt so new, so fresh, so vibrant as Morris was introduced, along with AARP member and new Bucs GM Mark Dominik, 37.

"Both of these men have Tampa Bay Buccaneers in their DNA," Bucs co-chairman Joel Glazer said.

Now that's an interview process.

It was a bright, sunny day when the new coach stepped on the stage. Bucs in attendance smiled. Ronde Barber couldn't stop being happy for his now former backfield coach, his guy, Rah.

Rah is rah-rah. He is open book, high energy, chatty, uplifting. He might have the same tunes on his iPod as his players. He connects with them, though some of them are, well, older.

"We all walk to the same beat," Morris said.

Embracing The Risk

He is out to rebuild this team. He is out to rebuild for players and fans. He is out to reshape this franchise in this community. He is out to make the Bucs likable again.

OK, so Morris wasn't exactly forthcoming with details Saturday. Asked what style of offense he preferred, his eyes widened.

"We're going to score ... touchdowns. That's what we're going to do."

I knew the Glazers should have checked Jon Gruden's DNA for touchdowns.

Note to the new man: Have you considered starting a quarterback younger than you are?

It will take more than wide smiles, wide appeal and wide respect.

Did we mention that the last guy won a Super Bowl? No secret.

Don't think the Glazers aren't taking a chance here. Tony Dungy was a proven talent when he arrived. So was Gruden. But if Morris' hiring is more of a reach, a reach is what the Bucs need. They need something fresh. And they have to give this time. All conspiracy theorists who think Morris is just keeping the seat warm for someone else, well, they better turn out to be crazy.

Back to the Glazers taking a chance ...

"They took a great risk trading away two draft picks to hire Jon Gruden," Morris said. "Risk is involved in everything. We went out and won a Super Bowl that year, and I'm proud of it. The Glazers are not afraid of risks, and neither am I."

That's his mentality.

He Learned From Gruden

He began with the Bucs in the Super season of 2002 as a quality control guy, doing everything but warming up the sleepover office couch for Monte Kiffin. He was also a sponge. He learned from great coaches every day, including current Steelers coach Mike Tomlin. Yeah, old man Tomlin, 36. And, yes, Morris learned from Gruden.

"There is nobody in the NFL who can deliver a message better than Jon Gruden," Morris said. "... There is nobody that prepares like a Jon Gruden. He is prepared for everything. Maybe sometimes overprepared. But, whatever, we all have our faults. That is what it is. I was proud to work for him and proud of the things I learned from him."

For the record, he won't be rising at 3:17 a.m.

"The problem is the time I go to sleep," Morris said. "I don't sleep well. I'm kind of a two-hour spurt guy. I just kind of get little naps."

The alarm clock has sounded.

Meet the new man.

Let's dance.

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