CHRISTIAN MORRIS By Kevin Eckleberry
Christian Morris knew his future wasn’t on the field, rather it was on the sidelines, and he embraced that. Morris became an invaluable member of the Troup High football team not as a player, but as an equipment manager, a role he held from his sophomore to senior year. As his time in high school was ending, Morris realized he wanted to keep doing something that brought him so much fulfillment, so he explored the possibility of being an equipment manager in college. Reinhardt University, which is located about an hour north of Atlanta in Waleska, gave Morris an opportunity to achieve his goal. Morris received a scholarship offer from Reinhardt to be an equipment manager on the football team, and he happily accepted, and he has been with the team throughout the season. One of Morris’ number one supporters is Troup High head football coach Tanner Glisson, who was thrilled to see things come together. “We talk about it all the time that there’s a place for every single person in our program here at Troup,” Glisson said. “Now, you put your money where your mouth is, and it shows what the really looks like. It looks like Christian Morris.”
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It’s amazing. I couldn’t be happier.”
Morris, in turn, appreciates the support he received from Glisson and everyone at the school who helped him make a dream become reality. Photo: Kevin Eckleberry
“His support meant the most,” Morris said of Glisson. “He’s treated me just like one of his top recruits. That’s what I’m going to miss most about Troup, everybody is so welcoming and supportive. They were always high-fiving me, treating me with respect. It’s amazing. I couldn’t be happier.” Morris joined the Troup football team as a freshman, and by his sophomore year, he was the equipment manager, a role he held until he graduated. While he never put on shoulder pads, there was never any question that Morris was a member of the team. Royce White, a former all-state offensive lineman at Troup who is now a freshman at Memphis, saw how much effort Morris put into his job. “He’s really worked hard,” White said. “At every single practice, he’s working just as hard as us, just in a different way. I never see him just being lazy. He’s always busy and working hard.” Morris was given a lot of responsibility by Glisson, and he’s grateful for that.
he’s let me have whatever guys I want. He’s given me free rein to handle my staff. It’s been amazing to have that freedom.” For Morris, the idea of becoming an equipment manager in college really began to blossom during a trip to Georgia Tech in March of 2019. Morris and some other members of the support staff at Troup went to Georgia Tech and were given a tour while spending time with people with similar responsibilities on the college level. “I got a chance to tour, and just see how they do things, and I thought, is there a realistic chance I can do this in college,” Morris said. From there, Morris began exploring his options, and it was Reinhardt who came through with an offer. Reinhardt, Glisson noted, “is getting a good one. I called and talked to their coaches and say hey, I highly recommend this guy, and they said we’re going to offer him. That’s just great.”
“I’ve been blessed,” Morris said. “Ever since I took over my sophomore year,
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