SK grad Morrison basking out of the limelight

Clark McDowell Morrison might be preparing for his 10th NFL training camp under different circumstances.

Better known as Mac Morrison, the 1996 South Kitsap High School graduate signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2000 after twice earning all-second team Big Ten honors as a linebacker.

Morrison injured his neck making a third-quarter tackle during Penn State’s 24-0 win in the Alamo Bowl against Texas A&M. He went down with what he described as a “burning” sensation, but later was back in the game.

That feeling returned when he was with the Seahawks during training camp in Cheney. The team’s medical staff discovered fractures to his C-5 and C-6 vertebrae.

“The Seahawks are one of the most conservative teams in the NFL and they felt it was a safety hazard,” said Morrison, who returned to the West Sound for the annual Benji Olson/Ed Fisher Scholarships Golf Classic on Saturday at Trophy Lake Golf & Casting. “As a young kid wanting to play, I felt I was doing well and I just wanted to play football. But it probably was for the best not to mess around with a neck fracture.”

Morrison, 31, is single and works in medical sales for Stryker Orthopedics. The Seattle resident uses his kinesiology degree to sell trauma implants — items such as plates, rods and screws — to orthopedic surgeons.

That’s the present, but after playing alongside former South teammate Casey Fisher at Trophy Lake, Morrison was excited to reflect on the past.

Fifteen years ago, he took handoffs from Willie Bloomquist, now an infielder with the Kansas City Royals, as a fullback in addition to linebacker. They among 20 teammates to get tattoos together to commemorate the 13-0 season that culminated with the Wolves’ only football state championship.

“Winning any type of championship is one of an athlete’s greatest experiences,” Morrison said. “It was a group that meshed together really well. There were no egos — we just wanted to win games.”

Despite graduating more than a decade ago, Morrison is one of the last national-level recruits from the area. He grew up rooting for the University of Washington, which signed South graduates including David Rill, Andrew Peterson, Tony Coats and Benji Olson, but Morrison never really considered playing for the Huskies.

He was visited by two legendary coaches — Nebraska’s Tom Osborne and Penn State’s Joe Paterno — during the same week. He committed to the Nittany Lions shortly afterward.

“Penn State just felt like home,” he said. “I wanted to get away and really experience a different part of the country. I also wanted to play for Joe Paterno at Linebacker U and be a part of the Big Ten lore. I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

Some fans and media members have called for the 82-year-old Paterno, who has compiled a 383-127-3 record at Penn State since 1966, to be forced out. From 2000-04, the Nittany Lions posted losing records in four out of five seasons, but haven’t won less than nine games since. Penn State was co-Big Ten champion last year with a 11-2 record.

“You tell me what’s wrong with that picture?” Morrison said. “He can coach as long as he wants. He’s earned that.”

Morrison similarly is protective of South’s program under coach D.J. Sigurdson. The Wolves only have advanced to state once since 2002 after making a state-record 23 consecutive appearances.

“I think D.J. has done a great job,” said Morrison, who had Sigurdson as his linebackers coach at South. “I’m pulling for him all the time. There’s not a better guy there than Coach Sigurdson. He knows he has my full support.”

Contact Port Orchard Independent Staff writer Chris Chancellor at cchancellor@portorchardindependent.com or (360) 876-4414.

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