Coach Facing a Role Model For His Program
When coach Jim Boylen looks down the sideline at counterpart Stew Morrill of Utah State tonight in the Huntsman Center, he knows exactly what he will be seeing:
The perfect role model.
The Aggies exemplify everything that Boylen wants out of his own program -- they win, they don't get in trouble, and they graduate. "I want us to win with class and lose with class," Boylen said, "and those guys do it."
The Aggies are 218-79 in nine seasons under Morrill, who has 436 wins in his 21-year career.
"And I've got four," Boylen said. "It's kind of funny. But I have so much respect for him. And the thing about him is, he has so much respect around the country. He's a national name in coaching. He's a respected national name in coaching, and it's an honor to play against him."
Boylen and Morrill did not know one another until Boylen became the Utes' coach last spring, but both said they already have forged a blossoming friendship. They had an easy place to start, having both worked closely with legendary coach Jud Heathcote -- Morrill at Montana and Boylen at Michigan State -- and visited during the offseason.
"He just seems like a really good guy," Morrill said. "He's easy to be around."
One thing Morrill said he counseled Boylen about was the chronic sense that coaches share that they're doing everything wrong.
"He's going to think he's losing his mind at times," Morrill said. "And he really won't be, it will just seem that way. He got a kick out of that, but that's coaching. ... You just kind of accept that that's a normal feeling."
Morrill also chuckled at the way Boylen gets so fired up on the sideline during games.
"I can't do that," Morrill said. "I'm too damn old. But I get a kick out of watching him on film. He's in a defensive stance, he looks like a linebacker, he's all charged up, and good for him. That's great. Now, if he can do that for 22 years, I really respect him, because I can't do that anymore. I used to have some of that going."
"He gets up, though," Boylen countered, with a laugh. "He gets up. I saw him on film against us last year, and watched a few other games, and he gets up and rips a little ass. Tucks his pants up and chews somebody's ass. And it's amazing, he's a big man. Just a big, impressive man."
Boylen said he feels honored that coaches like Morrill and Randy Rahe of Weber State -- a former Morrill assistant at Colorado State and Utah State -- have accepted him into the state's basketball community so warmly.
Morrill "has been great to me," Boylen said. "He has been honest to me. He's been up front. Him and Randy Rahe have been unbelievable. They don't have to be that way to me, but I think they genuinely want us to do well. Obviously not [tonight], but they want us to be successful and they have been very open."
"For a first-year head coach at a new school and a new part of the world," he added, "I couldn't ask for more."
The perfect role model.
The Aggies exemplify everything that Boylen wants out of his own program -- they win, they don't get in trouble, and they graduate. "I want us to win with class and lose with class," Boylen said, "and those guys do it."
The Aggies are 218-79 in nine seasons under Morrill, who has 436 wins in his 21-year career.
"And I've got four," Boylen said. "It's kind of funny. But I have so much respect for him. And the thing about him is, he has so much respect around the country. He's a national name in coaching. He's a respected national name in coaching, and it's an honor to play against him."
Boylen and Morrill did not know one another until Boylen became the Utes' coach last spring, but both said they already have forged a blossoming friendship. They had an easy place to start, having both worked closely with legendary coach Jud Heathcote -- Morrill at Montana and Boylen at Michigan State -- and visited during the offseason.
"He just seems like a really good guy," Morrill said. "He's easy to be around."
One thing Morrill said he counseled Boylen about was the chronic sense that coaches share that they're doing everything wrong.
"He's going to think he's losing his mind at times," Morrill said. "And he really won't be, it will just seem that way. He got a kick out of that, but that's coaching. ... You just kind of accept that that's a normal feeling."
Morrill also chuckled at the way Boylen gets so fired up on the sideline during games.
"I can't do that," Morrill said. "I'm too damn old. But I get a kick out of watching him on film. He's in a defensive stance, he looks like a linebacker, he's all charged up, and good for him. That's great. Now, if he can do that for 22 years, I really respect him, because I can't do that anymore. I used to have some of that going."
"He gets up, though," Boylen countered, with a laugh. "He gets up. I saw him on film against us last year, and watched a few other games, and he gets up and rips a little ass. Tucks his pants up and chews somebody's ass. And it's amazing, he's a big man. Just a big, impressive man."
Boylen said he feels honored that coaches like Morrill and Randy Rahe of Weber State -- a former Morrill assistant at Colorado State and Utah State -- have accepted him into the state's basketball community so warmly.
Morrill "has been great to me," Boylen said. "He has been honest to me. He's been up front. Him and Randy Rahe have been unbelievable. They don't have to be that way to me, but I think they genuinely want us to do well. Obviously not [tonight], but they want us to be successful and they have been very open."
"For a first-year head coach at a new school and a new part of the world," he added, "I couldn't ask for more."
posted by www.sltrib.com @ 9:59 AM |
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