Mercury Morris RIP

[MooseLodge]

One of the best backs to ever play at WT, died today at the age of 77. He was a two-time Super Bowl Champion with the Miami Dolphins, and a part of the only undefeated team in history.


Mercury Morris, speedy back who won two Super Bowls with Miami, dies at 77 (msn.com)

[oldbuff]

I was at WT when he was. Saw him & Duane Thomas in the same backfield. He was a good guy too.

[tsull]

One of the NFL's best, didn't realize he went to West Texas, wow.

[KamolaCat]

Good God what a backfield.

[cwfenn]

Some teams were lucky enough to have 1 or 2 good backs back then, the Dolphins had 3. Somehow that team gets lost a bit even though they were the first to make the SB three straight years.

[Buffalo/Islander Alum]

I was at WT when he was. Saw him & Duane Thomas in the same backfield. He was a good guy too.

Yeah my Dad is really having a tough time with these guys passing away.

He was at WT and had both of these guys in classes.

Dad would tell me that Mercury Morris would come out to even play flag football sometimes during the week or Sunday's after a home game.

Loved watching Morris on TV as long as they werent playing the Oilers or Cowboys.

[MooseLodge]

A small point of trivia...Joe Kerbel of WT was one of the first college coaches in Texas to recruit black athletes, many of them from the east. So he stockpiled a pretty nice roster for several years. "Pistol" Pete Pedro was another one of them. Didn't have the pro career of Thomas and Morris, but was sensational in college.

In only his second game in a WT uniform, Pedro scored six touchdowns against UTEP, and was named Associated Press national back of the week.

WT has had some legit talent over the years, even in recent times. A lot of players who did very well in the NFL, many with Super Bowl rings.

[BuffaloChip]

I was a Canyon HS kid back when Morris played. I worked at a burger joint (Mr. Burger-I eventually owned 7 of them) and Morris would drop by several times a week. He'd pull up in his silver Corvette (often with a nice looking blonde girl riding shotgun) and order burgers and fries. Usually about 8-9 pm. I often worked the cash register and had the pleasure of serving him. Or I'd be cooking his order on the grill and fryers. He was a nice guy. Affable and easy going.

I remember the first game I saw him play at Buffalo Stadium. I was HS Jr. I think it was against San Diego State. During the game he took a pitch right. Was hit low at the LOS and did a 360 before going 60 yds or so for a TD. I believe he had over 300 yds rushing that game. Remarkable athlete.

[Buffan78]

A small point of trivia...Joe Kerbel of WT was one of the first college coaches in Texas to recruit black athletes, many of them from the east. So he stockpiled a pretty nice roster for several years. "Pistol" Pete Pedro was another one of them. Didn't have the pro career of Thomas and Morris, but was sensational in college.

In only his second game in a WT uniform, Pedro scored six touchdowns against UTEP, and was named Associated Press national back of the week.

WT has had some legit talent over the years, even in recent times. A lot of players who did very well in the NFL, many with Super Bowl rings.

Your right about this. Dad took me as a kid to many of Kerbel games. In 65 or 66 WT beat Arizona State in Tempe, and the ASU coach was fuming mad. I remember Mercury on the cover of sports illustrated the year he ran over 300 yards against Montana. Pisto Pete had a decent career. You forget that Kerbel had a black QB in I believe 65 or 66. last name was Washington, he was drafted by the Giants but Giants moved him to receiver they were afraid to start a black QB. Unfortunately he died of Cancer the next year. Lot of good stories of Buffs of the 60s. There is a biography of Kerbel you can buy on Amazon, I have it. Best Coach they ever had as D1 and school stupidily fired him in 1970. I went to WT with Mo Cheeks, another nice guy sat in my history class, very quiet was nice guy. Chicago to Canyon had to be quite a change for him. The 70s had several Buffs get drafted to nfl as well. 1977 home game WT tied a very good Colo State U team. at Buffalo Bowl, which is like better then the new stadium. CSU came out cocky talking trash to WT players about the small crowd of 8000 on a day game on Saturday. I was there was great game. The Buffs RB was drafted by Detroit. Makes me sad to see these old players passing away.