**Chad Morris Delivers Emotional Farewell to Razorback Nation After Departure**
In a heartfelt message, former Arkansas Razorbacks head coach Chad Morris expressed deep gratitude to the fans, players, and university community following his departure from the program. Morris, who served as head coach from December 2017 until November 2019, reflected on his tenure with emotion and appreciation.
**A Tenure Marked by Challenges**
Morris was appointed as the 33rd head coach in Arkansas football history in December 2017, bringing with him a reputation for offensive innovation from his previous roles at SMU and Clemson. However, his time with the Razorbacks proved challenging. Over nearly two seasons, the team compiled a 4-18 record, including an 0-14 mark in Southeastern Conference (SEC) play citeturn0search1.
The struggles culminated in a 45-19 home loss to Western Kentucky, leading to Morris’s dismissal less than 24 hours later. Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek stated, “It is clear that we have not made the progress necessary to compete and win, especially within the Southeastern Conference” citeturn0search1.
**An Emotional Farewell**
In his farewell message, Morris addressed the Razorback faithful:
> “To the incredible fans of Razorback Nation, thank you,” Morris said, his voice thick with emotion. “From the bottom of my heart, thank you for embracing me and my family, for your unwavering passion, and for standing by us through it all.”
He acknowledged the challenges faced during his tenure but emphasized the relationships and memories formed:
> “This program means something special, and it always will. Though the journey didn’t end the way we wanted, the memories, the people, and the spirit of Razorback football will always stay with me.”
**Reflections on the Program’s Future**
Despite the setbacks, Morris expressed optimism for the team’s future, highlighting the young talent on the roster and the potential for growth:
> “We have a big youth movement on this team and a lot of young guys that are contributing and who will be tremendous football players. Where we are right now with these guys, we have some major deficiencies that we have to fix, we have to fill. This is not an overnight fix” citeturn0search6.
**Support from the Coaching Community**
Following Morris’s departure, Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, who previously worked with Morris, offered his support:
> “I think Chad is a great coach. I think he’s a winner. And I think if he had support and was just able to not have to come to work every day worrying about a job a year-and-a-half into a job, that would resonate and you’d look up five or six years from now and be really proud of what you had” citeturn0search3.
**Looking Ahead**
As Morris steps away from his role, the Razorbacks have appointed Barry Lunney Jr., a former Arkansas quarterback and the team’s tight ends coach, as interim head coach for the remainder of the season citeturn0search0.
Morris’s departure marks a period of transition for Arkansas football, but his emotional farewell underscores the deep connections formed during his tenure. His gratitude to the Razorback community reflects the enduring bonds between coaches, players, and fans, even amidst challenges.
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*Note: This article is based on events from November 2019.*
