FootballSaturday, September 24, 2016
6

happened.

Instead of letting the frustration 

ruin him, Morris let the burden 
that he had carried on his back 
since he was 16 years old slowly slip 
away. His world didn’t crumble — if 
anything, he learned that his world 
and football were not always one 
and the same.

Part of that realization came 

from having a strong foundation of 
loved ones to back him up. Morris 
still calls or texts his parents 
every day, and he mentioned that 
his girlfriend of two years, Irene, 
a recent Michigan graduate, is 
always there after games. (“She’s a 
keeper,” he said with a smile.)

“As college has gone on, you 

kind of learn to put things in front 
of yourself and not 
make yourself the 
most 
important,” 

Morris said. “Kind 
of 
realize 
you’ve 

got 
other 
things 

that are way more 
important, 
like 

other people. … I 
feel like I’ve done 
that. I’ve become 
a 
much 
happier 

person, 
enjoying 

life and really taking in all it has to 
offer.”

It’s not clear when, exactly, 

Morris’ mindset shifted. Bruce 
Morris isn’t sure it ever did, but 
thinks rather that Shane simply 
decided to “(wear) it a little more 
on (his) sleeve.”

In 
any 
case, 
the 
constant 

competition has helped Morris’ 
game on the field just as much as it 
maintained his confidence off of it. 
No longer does he cringe when he 
throws an interception in practice 
or dwell on the fact that he’s not 
the first player taking snaps on 
Saturdays.

He’s also managed to solve 

the one problem that a number 
of 
players 
probably 
couldn’t: 

separating his love for Michigan 
from his love for football.

“He 
approaches 
things 

differently, I think,” Bruce Morris 
said. “His team is very important to 
him. He loves them guys, he truly 
loves his teammates and the guys. 
That’s one of the things, I think, 
that keeps a lot of those guys going 
when they feel like they should 
be the starter, if you will, because 
every one of them do.”

His teammates have noticed, 

too. 
Wilton 
Speight 
was 
an 

early enrollee during the second 
semester of Morris’ freshman year, 
and Morris took him under his wing 
as soon as he got on campus. Now, 
over two years later, Speight holds 

the starting quarterback job that 
Morris coveted, but he still finds 
ways he can learn from Morris.

“That kid’s been through a lot,” 

Speight said. “With the whole 
Minnesota debacle, how much 
hype he came in with, the coaching 
changes and stuff — he’s stayed 
very level-headed through it all. 
He’s never gotten too down, he’s 
never gotten too high. He’s just a 
really chill dude. And I see that if 
he can maintain that roller coaster 
that he’s been through and been 
just the same dude, then no matter 
what I go through this season as 
the starter or not, hopefully I can 
remain a chill dude, too.”

* * *

It’s unclear what the future 

holds for Shane Morris, but he has 
no regrets about his last four years, 

no matter how it 
played out.

“When I was 17, 

18 years old, you 
can kind of let (the 
hype) get to you and 
start to think you’re 
expected 
to 
do 

these things, when 
in 
reality 
you’re 

not expected to do 
anything,” 
Morris 

said. “The fact that 

I’m here playing football at the 
University of Michigan and getting 
a degree from here is amazing 
enough in itself. You’ve gotta kind 
of realize that as you get older.

“I just turned 22 (on August 4). 

You grow up and you kinda realize 
how life works. All you can do 
is go through life, and I believe 
everything happens for a reason. 
Just keep fighting and work as hard 
as you can.”

There was a time when Morris 

probably couldn’t have imagined 
life after football. But in April, he 
will graduate with a degree in sport 
management and may leave it behind 
forever. There is no set alternative in 
mind, but his father speculates that 
his love for getting to know people 
might lead him into something like 
business or coaching.

Still, the fact that Morris took 

a redshirt year last season leaves 
him with an opportunity to play 
his final year of eligibility next 
season either at Michigan or as a 
graduate transfer somewhere else, 
a la Rudock. Even Morris’ own 
parents have heard rumors from 
strangers that their son might be 
transferring.

But for the Morrises, it’s easy 

to laugh that off. As of now, they 
say there has never even been a 
discussion.

“He’s blue, let me tell you,” Bruce 

said. “He would have left a long 
time ago, would he not have?”

MORRIS
From Page 5B

“It’s the past of 

my life. I don’t 

really think about 

it anymore.”

Behind Enemy Lines: Brandon Bell

Last season, then-No. 13 Michigan 

quieted a raucous Happy Valley when 
it defeated the Nittany Lions, 28-16. 
Though the Wolverines controlled 
Penn State throughout all four 
quarters, the Nittany Lions did hold 
them to just 87 rushing yards for an 
average of 2.9 yards per run. 

Senior linebacker Brandon Bell led 

his unit’s attack on the running game, 
recording five total tackles, one for a 
loss of seven yards. More memorably, 
he 
recorded 
his 
second 
career 

interception in the first quarter, 
returning it 25 yards into Michigan 
territory. But Penn State failed to take 
advantage, going three-and-out on 
the following drive.

Later in the game, Bell gave 

his 
teammates 
favorable 
field 

position 
once 
more 
when 
he 

stripped quarterback Jake Rudock 
and recovered the fumble on the 
Wolverines’ 42-yard line. Bell’s 
recovery resulted in a field goal, 
putting his team within eight 
points of Michigan, but it ultimately 
wasn’t enough.

This Saturday, when the Nittany 

Lions 
(2-1) 
travel 
to 
Michigan 

Stadium, Bell may not get to see 
the field, posing a large problem for 
Penn State. In his first two games of 
the season, he posted eight and nine 
tackles, respectively, before being 
sidelined with an injury last week. 

In July, the Daily spoke with Bell 

at Big Ten Media Days in Chicago to 
discuss his valuable role last season, 
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh and 
rivalries. 

The Michigan Daily: I know you 

had a big game against Michigan 
last season, but it didn’t end in Penn 
State’s favor. What was that game 
like, and what are you going to do 
differently this time around?

Brandon Bell: That game was 

fun. I mean, I was looking forward 
to playing Michigan again for the 
second time in my career — third 
time, but not really (playing much) 
the first time. I think we definitely 
have to be more consistent. I think 
Michigan was more consistent than 
we were. When it came down to the 
end of the game, they made the plays 
that were presented to them. If we 
(are) more consistent, we have a 
chance of making those plays.

TMD: What will it be like to play in 

the Big House this time around?

BB: I think it will be great. I’m 

looking forward to it. It’s my last 
chance to play there. I have a few 
friends on the team, so I’m looking 
forward to it.

TMD: Who are your friends on the 

team?

BB: Freshman Ahmir Mitchell. 

He’s like a little brother to me back 
home, same (home) town. I know 
his older brother. He’s been talking a 
little trash to me, so I’m excited.

(Note: Mitchell left Michigan prior 

to the start of the season in early 
September. He transferred to another 
Big Ten East team, Rutgers, but will sit 
out this season due to transfer rules.)

TMD: He’s talking trash already?
BB: Yeah, just a little bit.
TMD: Do you think you’ll be 

seeing him play as a freshman?

BB: I hope I do! I mean I’m not sure 

how he’s been doing, but if he gets a 

chance to get on the field, I hope I see 
him.

TMD: What do you think of all of 

this Harbaugh mania and everything? 
Do you like playing against all of that?

BB: Yeah, I kinda like it. I mean, 

I don’t — he’s kinda funny. Just 
watching him today, some of the 
things — I think it’s real, which is a 
big thing, for the people that might be 
skeptical. I think that’s really who he 
is, so I love it. At the end of the day, 
we’re just playing football. 

Question: A lot of your success, of 

course, is going to be judged by games 
against Michigan, Michigan State, 
Ohio State, and even Pitt, an in-state 
rival. Do you sense that, that in order 
to get to that next level that fans want 
to be at, do you feel that this is kind 
of a big year for you to make a bigger 
step against those teams?

BB: I mean definitely. Every year 

and every game is a big step. We 
don’t wanna go out there — we’re not 
playing to lose. So I mean, definitely 
with Pitt, it’s kind of a fan game. A 
lot of Pennsylvania people go to each 
school, so it kind of has become a 
rivalry. In terms of Michigan and 
Ohio State, those are the top-tier 
teams, and those guys have the 
target on their back that everyone is 
shooting for.

Q: Coach Franklin says you guys 

have expectations this year. What do 
you think they are?

BB: I say, Big Ten — get to 

Indianapolis. I mean, when you’re 
playing against Ohio State, Michigan, 
Michigan State, that’s what they’re 
shooting for. That’s the top tier. 
There’s no reason we shouldn’t be 
right there with them.

FILE PHOTO/Daily

Penn State linebacker Brandon Bell (11) played a key role in last year’s game against Michigan, but he’ll miss Saturday’s matchup.

KELLY HALL

Daily Sports Editor