New OSU Coach Eric Morris Blasts Armadillo in His Yard
Oklahoma State Coach Eric Morris Takes Late-Night Aim at Yard-Destroying Armadillo
The Story in a Nutshell
Imagine you’re a college football coach with a million things on your mind. You can’t sleep. It’s 2:30 in the morning. You look outside and see a weird armored animal tearing up your flower beds. What do you do?
If you’re Eric Morris, the new head coach at Oklahoma State University, you grab a gun and handle the problem yourself.
Important Point: This isn’t a made-up story—it really happened! Coach Morris shared this tale with reporters during a press conference on Tuesday.
Who Is Eric Morris?
Before we get to the armadillo showdown, let’s meet the main character:
- New Job: Head football coach at Oklahoma State University (hired to turn around a struggling team)
- Previous Job: Head coach at North Texas for three seasons (record: 22 wins, 16 losses)
- Replaced: Mike Gundy, who coached the Cowboys for many years before being fired in September 2025
- Sleep Habits: Self-described bad sleeper with a "brain that’s going constantly"
The Armadillo Incident: Step by Step
Here’s how the whole thing went down, in order:
- The Problem: Armadillos kept showing up in Coach Morris’s yard, digging holes and destroying his lawn and flower beds
- The Sleepless Night: At 2:30 a.m., Coach Morris couldn’t sleep (again) and decided to get up
- The Opportunity: He thought, "Hey, I’m awake anyway—might as well see if that armadillo is out there"
- The Encounter: He went outside and—lucky him—found the culprit right away
- The Action: He shot and killed the armadillo ("made quick work of the animal," as the article says)
- The Aftermath: He texted his neighbors to apologize for the gunshot noise
- The Legal Note: He lives in the country, so discharging a firearm was legal
What’s an Armadillo Anyway?
ELI5 Explanation: Think of a small tank covered in armor plates that waddles around at night digging for bugs. They’re about the size of a large cat, have long claws for digging, and their name means "little armored one" in Spanish. They’re mostly harmless to people but terrible for lawns because they dig lots of holes looking for worms and grubs.
Fun Fact: This was Coach Morris’s first-ever encounter with an armadillo!
The "Pistols Firing" Connection
Oklahoma State fans have a famous tradition called "Pistols Firing"—it’s both a slogan and a hand gesture where fans mimic shooting pistols into the air.
Coach Morris accidentally gave it a whole new meaning by literally firing a pistol… at an armadillo… at 2:30 a.m.
What’s Next for Oklahoma State Football?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Last Season’s Record | 1 win, 11 losses (pretty rough!) |
| Season Opener | September 5, 2026 vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane |
| Coach Morris’s Mission | Revive the program and get the Cowboys winning again |
| Current Mood | Hopefully well-rested after solving his armadillo problem! |
Summary
Oklahoma State’s new football coach Eric Morris couldn’t sleep one night, spotted an armadillo destroying his yard at 2:30 a.m., legally shot it (he lives in the country), texted his neighbors to apologize for the noise, and jokingly gave new meaning to the school’s "Pistols Firing" slogan. The Cowboys open their 2026 season against Tulsa on September 5th, and everyone hopes Coach Morris gets some better sleep now that his yard is armadillo-free!
FAQ: Your Burning Questions Answered
Was it legal for him to shoot the armadillo?
Yes! Coach Morris specifically mentioned he lives "in the country, so it was legal." Rural areas often have different rules about discharging firearms than cities do.
Are armadillos dangerous?
Not really. They’re shy, nocturnal animals that mostly eat insects. They don’t attack people. Their main "crime" is digging up lawns and gardens while hunting for food.
Why was Coach Morris awake at 2:30 a.m.?
He said his "brain’s going constantly" and he "doesn’t sleep very well." Coaches have high-stress jobs with lots of responsibilities—game planning, recruiting, managing staff, etc.
What does "Pistols Firing" mean for Oklahoma State?
It’s a fan tradition where people make a finger-gun gesture and say "Pistols Firing!" as a rallying cry. Coach Morris literally fired a pistol, giving the slogan an unexpected real-life moment.
How did Oklahoma State do last season?
Not great. They finished 1-11 (one win, eleven losses), which is why they hired a new coach to turn things around.
Go Cowboys!