Chad Morris compliments Arkansas offense on winning practice belt, believes belt competition has made Razorbacks better
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Following last season’s disaster of a debut, Chad Morris decided to mix things up this offseason. The Razorback coach started by stripping the program, not just the players but everyone associated with Arkansas football, of entitlement and team equipment. To take things up a notch on the practice field this spring, Morris then introduced the practice belt.
With spring camp nearing its conclusion, it’s clear the introduction of the belt has been a big hit in Fayetteville.
The only problem with the competition? The defense keeps winning the belt at the end of every practice. Aside from one draw, the defense won the belt following the conclusion of every spring practice. That is until now.
Following the unit’s achievement, Morris took the time to acknowledge the group’s win on the practice field.
“I thought it was a really good day offensively, one of the best days they’ve had this spring — they won the belt today, which was good,” Morris said during his latest media availability. “They’ve been close but turnovers have prevented that. Today they did much better with the turnovers, while they still had two turnovers, they were able to execute on first down and some big plays and won the opportunity to get the belt.”
In addition to bringing more competition to the practices this offseason, Morris desperately wanted to add the toughness he felt was missing from his program last season. So far, so good according to the Razorback coach.
“Well, it’s a mindset is what it is. It’s a mental and physical toughness that we’ve got to have and we’ve got to be better at as a staff, as a team, from a strength staff. I mean everybody. The whole program. And that’s been an emphasis that we’ve had,” Morris continued. “I don’t want to hear excuses. Excuses take away from that mental and physical toughness that we’re about.”
Once again, Morris’ introduction of the practice belt is paying off for the program. The motivational tactic has added some extra juice to practice that was missing this time last year.
“We’ve tried to incorporate drill work and obviously competing for the belt has helped. I think that’s been a huge thing for us,” he said. “And again, you’ve seen some of the drills we’re doing and we’re going to continue to do that. We’ll do some more of those on Thursday. But I think it’s helped this football team, but again we’re not where we need to be, but we’re getting a lot better.”
While it’s just a belt, if it gets his players to work and compete that much harder, the belt will prove to be worth its weight in gold come the fall.
A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Michael Wayne Bratton oversees the news coverage for Saturday Down South. Michael previously worked for FOX Sports and NFL.com
