Joe Morris

[Orangeyes]

 

[upperdeck]

he was a dome design related injury from the first guy in NCAA history to run for 1000 his 4 years of college.. underrated as a college and a pro runner.

i wish we could run that sprint draw now like he did back in the day.

 

[OrangeViking]

I never got to see Brown, Davis, or Little. I did get to enjoy Morris run, and boy could he run. Fun to watch! Love Joe.

 

[Moontan]

I never got to see Brown, Davis, or Little. I did get to enjoy Morris run, and boy could he run. Fun to watch! Love Joe.

A nice guy too.

 

[Orangeyes]

There just isn't enough video on Joe

 

[orangezen]

Our 2 record holders Joe Morris and Laurence Moten get far too little recognition . dont know why?

 

[OrangeXtreme]

I saw Little Joe at Giants Training Camp in Albany a few years ago ...

Joe isn't so little anymore.

 

[DoubleDee]

I saw Little Joe at Giants Training Camp in Albany a few years ago ... Joe isn't so little anymore.

Indeed.
I saw him signing in the Quad with Scoop before a football game two seasons ago. I had on a nike throwback Marvin Harrison jersey. Joe said " why are you wearing an Auburn jersey"?. I said, " bite your tongue" and showed him the S on it.

 

[SWC75]

he was a dome design related injury from the first guy in NCAA history to run for 1000 his 4 years of college.. underrated as a college and a pro runner.

i wish we could run that sprint draw now like he did back in the day.

Joe rushed for 1001 yards as a freshman, a record 1372 as a sophomore, 732 as a junior because he was injured and 1194 as a senior.

That injury was interesting. When I first entered the Dome for the 9/20/80 Miami of Ohio game the firs thing I noticed was how little room there was along the sidelines. Against Northwestern the enxt week he was shoved out of bounds and the waves parted for Northwestern as they let him run into the wall along the sidelines. I think his injury was to a shoulder. We'd scored 99 points in the first three games that year. We scored 108 in the last 8.

Tony Dorsett was the first NCAA runner to rush for 1000 yards in all four years (1973-76) and Amos Lawrence of UNC had also done it in 1977-80.

 

[OrangeViking]

Without question, his jersey should be hanging from the rafters in the Dome. I wish someone with connections would push it.

 

[OrangeViking]

Is there some type of online petition we can start here? Post on Twitter and Facebook to spread the word, and then present it to the University? I'd really like to make this happen, and see this board do it.

 

[85SUAlum]

A nice guy too.

I was a freshman when Joe was a senior.
Actually got to meet him when he joined the track team after the football season was over - occasionally ate dinner with him a few times after practice at Shaw hall.
He was a nice guy. Didn't give off a prima donna attitude at all. Actually was fairly soft-spoken and quiet.
Met him again about 15 years later at a signing - asked if he remembered me and he said he did, but I think he was just trying to be nice.
Meeting him and seeing him play in person is definitely something I'll never forget though. I agree his jersey should should be hanging in the Dome.

 

[RF2044]

In addition to being a highly productive NFL starting RB, wasn't Little Joe also the strongest guy on the Giants one year in the bench press?

Or is that an urban myth?

 

[Orangeyes]

In addition to being a highly productive NFL starting RB, wasn't Little Joe also the strongest guy on the Giants one year in the bench press?

Or is that an urban myth?

I had heard that too. Shame that there isn't more footage of him on youtube.

I recall my son & I saying, "Go, Joe, go Joe, go, go, go. Whenever he'd rip a long gainer. Those were my favorite years as a Giants fan.

 

[85SUAlum]

I had heard that too. Shame that there isn't more footage of him on youtube.

I recall my son & I saying, "Go, Joe, go Joe, go, go, go. Whenever he'd rip a long gainer. Those were my favorite years as a Giants fan.

Joe is the reason I became a diehard Giants fan.

 

[Orangeyes]

Joe Morris of Syracuse is only 67 inches high, with A Ball He Is 10 Feet Tall
Sports Illustrated Oct 6, 1980
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1123822/index.htm

Morris brothers left a legacy in Ayer and beyond
By David Pevear, 08/23/2010
http://www.lowellsun.com/sports/ci_15858360#ixzz30vvpFQwq

Can you recall the unusual job Joe had with the New York Football Giants in 2007? Do you know his career numbers?
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ex-giant-joe-morris-fine-new-job-article-1.302140

Looks like he still on that job in 2013
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap10...-to-enforce-safety-rules-as-uniform-inspector

Joe talks about the Giants drafting him
http://www.giants.com/videos/videos/Draft-Memories-Joe-Morris/20cf441e-0786-49b3-aa05-7788abf9897b

Do you know where Joe was born? How many years he played & who he finished his career with?
http://www.nfl.com/player/joemorris/2502205/profile

Joe talks about Orange football, Giants and NFL's Play 60 campaign to Nolan in 2012
http://blog.syracuse.com/orangefootball/2012/02/former_syracuse_running_back_j.html

Joe Morris: The ‘quiet’ SU football legend
By Scott Pitoniak (2010)
http://www.facebook.com/notes/syrac...ris-the-quiet-su-football-legend/493051048408

Retired New York Giants Running Back Joe Morris Credits Tom Coughlin for His Football Smarts
By Dan Benton (2012)
http://www.sportsmedia101.com/newyo...credits-tom-coughlin-for-his-football-smarts/

Morris Runs Giants Into Playoffs Earn Home-field Advantage For Next Week With 28-10 Rout Of Steelers
http://articles.mcall.com/1985-12-22/sports/2493094_1_oj-simpson-bigger-game

Then there were the short jokes
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/08/09/sports/football-giants-greet-morris-with-friendly-insults.html

Joe's awards and accomplishments
http://insidetheloudhouse.com/2013/10/16/syracuse-orange-top-10-football-players-time-10-joe-morris/

BR ranks Joe 4th best NYG RB
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...top-5-giants-running-backs-of-all-time/page/3

and now we all know Joe a little bit better.

 

[SWC75]

What will Orangeyes be like when he's feeling better?

 

[sutomcat]

What will Orangeyes be like when he's feeling better?

Orangeyes IS ON FIRE!!!! (Cue birthday card soundtrack)...

 

[KaiserUEO]

lot of fond memories of Lil Joe.

when he was still active, he came to my HS to speak...he was chubby then, either 86 or 87.

always felt comfortable with him near the goal line, he usually got in.

remember him losing a shoe in 85 and running for a long TD, i think it put them in the playoffs or something. its likely in the articles above, havnt read them all yet.

the school should DEFINETLY honor him, his jersey should be up there.

 

[85SUAlum]

Those articles bring back some great memories.
I remember being there for the first game played in the Carrier Dome and Joe returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

 

[SWC75]

Those articles bring back some great memories.
I remember being there for the first game played in the Carrier Dome and Joe returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown.

Miami had just scored on an 88 yard run. Joe took the kickoff back 95 and we had the momentum back. Those are the longest two consecutive plays I've ever seen, (not counting the conversion play, of course).

 

[Moontan]

I was a freshman when Joe was a senior.
Actually got to meet him when he joined the track team after the football season was over - occasionally ate dinner with him a few times after practice at Shaw hall.
He was a nice guy. Didn't give off a prima donna attitude at all. Actually was fairly soft-spoken and quiet.
Met him again about 15 years later at a signing - asked if he remembered me and he said he did, but I think he was just trying to be nice.
Meeting him and seeing him play in person is definitely something I'll never forget though. I agree his jersey should should be hanging in the Dome.

I met Joe before my first-ever class at SU (Astronomy with Dr. Wessel). It was a gorgeous morning outside the Physics Bldg. Joe and an attractive coed were hanging outside. It was still a bit early for class so I joined them, not knowing who he was. I remember one player ribbing him as he passed us. Apparently Joe was the intended receiver on a play 2 days earlier at tO$U and the other player (presumably a receiver) was ragging on his technique.

During his remaining time at SU he would always acknowledge me whenever we ran into each other on campus. One still has to wonder what might've been if the Dome walls were padded from the get go.