STARKVILLE — Joe Morrow is dedicating the Mississippi State University football team’s season opener Saturday against Jackson State University to the people near his hometown dealing with Hurricane Isaac.
“I’m from Ocean Springs, and we’re about to get that hurricane, so on behalf of my teammates we’re going to dedicate this game Saturday to everybody that is affected by the hurricane,” said Morrow, a freshman wide receiver. “I know I got family down there and some teammates got family down there, so this game is going to be for them.”
Reports Tuesday afternoon had the hurricane making landfall in Louisiana, unleashing damaging 80 mph winds and leaving 18-24 inches of rain in the New Orleans area.
On Tuesday, Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran and the Board of Aldermen declared a state of emergency in anticipation of Hurricane Isaac. They said evacuation isn’t mandatory, but citizens in low-lying areas and other waterfront properties are urged to seek higher ground or report to a shelter.
Morrow is expected to make his college football debut at 6 p.m. Saturday (Fox Sports South) when MSU plays host to JSU at Davis Wade Stadium. He spoke to his mother before practice Tuesday and that she said his family was still in Ocean Spring and wouldn’t travel to Starkville earlier than expected.
“Everybody is doing well,” Morrow said. “My mom said they’d come up for the game and stay, but now they’re going to stay down there and ride it out. They’re going to be all right. She says depending on how everything is going, they’ll be up here Saturday.”
MSU coach Dan Mullen said Tuesday he’d spoken to many family members of players on the team, and that he would monitor the situations of the families that the hurricane could affect. MSU has seven players from the state of Louisiana and several others from the Gulf Region, like incoming freshman Richie Brown and Nick James from Long Beach.
“We’re in the safe place and a lot of their families are coming in this direction instead of our guys going,” Mullen said. “They don’t need to go down there to check on their families. I think some of the families that maybe were planning on coming up for the game Saturday are already up here.”
Morrow said he’s trying not to allow the hurricane to become a distraction from one of the biggest moments of his football career.
“Off-the-field (things), you can’t worry about that,” Morrow said. “You have to learn how to block that out. After the game, you make phone calls to make sure everything is OK.”
The 6-foot-5 Morrow, who isn’t listed at the receiver positions on MSU’s pregame depth chart, is expected to make an impact in the vertical passing game. The former four-star prospect has impressed his new position coach with his physical tools.
After signing with MSU as a part of the 2011 recruiting class, Morrow became the only scholarship wide receiver taller than 6-3.
“Joe Morrow is an extremely gifted and talented wide receiver,” MSU wide receivers coach Tim Brewster said. “He’s been blessed with physical tools that most guys just don’t have. I’m anticipating Joe playing well and quality reps on Saturday night.”
Brewster said Morrow has been dealing with a knee bruise that’s made him “a little gimpy,” but he said Morrow will be healthy for Saturday.
Morrow joked Tuesday he told by MSU football spokesperson Joe Galbraith not being listed on the depth chart was a clerical error on his part.
“Mr. Joe came up to me and said, ‘All right, I forgot to put you on the depth chart and if people ask tell them it’s a mistake’, and I’m fine with it,” Morrow said.
Even if Morrow isn’t listed on the depth chart, he is expected to play a key role in part because he has connected with the quarterbacks.
“The one thing about Joe is all the quarterbacks love throwing to him in camp because he’s open even when he’s covered because of his ability to go up and get a ball at 6-foot-4 and over 200 pounds,” MSU offensive coordinator Les Koenning said. “He makes your life so much easier as a target when that’s the case.”
Morrow showed signs of what he could do in the 2012 Maroon-White spring game at Davis Wade Stadium by making six catches for 97 yards and a touchdown.
“I think I’m ready for it, (but) I can’t explain how I feel,” Morrow said. “I waited a whole year and I’m ready to ball out. The spring game is a little taste.”
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