"For Love Of The Game": An Abilene Native's Career As A College Baseball Umpire
By: Alyssa Orange
Updated: June 15, 2012
Baseball is America's Pastime...And for one Abilene native, this pastime has become a profession.
"I did play baseball. Ive loved baseball and summertime stuff from the day I was a little boy"
Now in his 13th season as a collegiate umpire with the Big 12, Cooper alum, Mike Morris shares the stage with some of college baseball's best. Selected as one of the 96 officials picked to umpire in the post season, Morris is now at the top of his game.
"I was with three guys from the Michigan area, and then myself to umpire Stamford and Florida State. The week before I was at Florida and again with guys from every conference except the teams that were represented."
And even as an official, the college world series is just as grand a stage for them as it is for the athletes.
"Omaha lives and breathes the College World Series. Some of my best friends are working this year and it's just talked about where you go work the game and then you go out and get something for dinner, and you are on every tv screen. You know its an environment that you'll never see again."
So Mike Morris might not be making spectacular plays, but he sure is calling them.
'To be able to still compete, but to do it on the stage and respected when you walk on the field and some of the players and coaches say 'Im glad he's here' or 'we're glad whichever official is here' that's something very good."
"I did play baseball. Ive loved baseball and summertime stuff from the day I was a little boy"
Now in his 13th season as a collegiate umpire with the Big 12, Cooper alum, Mike Morris shares the stage with some of college baseball's best. Selected as one of the 96 officials picked to umpire in the post season, Morris is now at the top of his game.
"I was with three guys from the Michigan area, and then myself to umpire Stamford and Florida State. The week before I was at Florida and again with guys from every conference except the teams that were represented."
And even as an official, the college world series is just as grand a stage for them as it is for the athletes.
"Omaha lives and breathes the College World Series. Some of my best friends are working this year and it's just talked about where you go work the game and then you go out and get something for dinner, and you are on every tv screen. You know its an environment that you'll never see again."
So Mike Morris might not be making spectacular plays, but he sure is calling them.
'To be able to still compete, but to do it on the stage and respected when you walk on the field and some of the players and coaches say 'Im glad he's here' or 'we're glad whichever official is here' that's something very good."
