Doeren: 'MJ (Morris) has chosen to redshirt'
As you guys know uh MJ has chosen to Red
Shirt and Brennan Armstrong is our starter and I didn't
announce that on Monday
Um I was hoping we could maintain a competitive advantage
in our preparation with Wake Forest having to prepare as
you've seen with two quarterbacks on the field
At the same time that plan didn't work ok
Somebody found out put it out there on Tuesday is
what it is
But as I told you guys previously in in one
of my press conferences earlier in the season I think
it was after our uh VM I game our plan
was beginning of the year uh to try and Red
Shirt MJ and that was the plan and to give
him a chance behind an experienced quarterback to develop and
grow and uh as the season unfolded and we struggled
offensively I felt it was time to reassess that plan
That's part of my job and the team needed a
spark you know
So I met with MJ coach Roper and I and
asked him if he wanted to play and and uh
because I thought he could help our offense and our
team and he agreed and we pushed forward with that
plan in place and him playing and as games progressed
and time went on MJ came to me and let
me know that he was still thinking about preserving his
red shirt
Uh I was surprised you know by that because he
was our starter and and really didn't expect that you
know for a starting player to to wanna sit back
down
Um He said he wasn't sure which way to go
but he wanted me to know that that was something
that he was thinking about and talking with his family
about after the fourth game
Um He was very decisive and telling me it was
important to him and his family to preserve his red
shirt
And so we're honoring that decision and uh with that
Brennan is our starter
Um Our team has embraced him in this role and
we're rallying around him and super excited to see what
he does and this opportunity uh with his finish he's
handled this uh as Aidan said yesterday like a grown
ass man couldn't have been said any better
Um A guy with his storied adventure I guess you'd
say journey through college football and what he did at
at Virginia and then what he suffered there and then
when he came in the good and the bad and
just the way he handled everything um excited for him
very excited you know and there's always you know I
just ask there's a lot of opinions there's a lot
of storylines there's a lot of hate you know just
be a good person you know cheer on these guys
that are playing get behind them be excited
This team has a lot to play for uh MJ
was on our scout team this week
He gave us a great look Brennan has prepared and
the guys are playing hard for him and he's earned
a ton of respect in our program
And so it's his team now
And so we're excited to see him finish the season
and uh you know like everything it's an opportunity and
and I look at all of these moments for me
as a leader
Um adversity brings out the best you can fight or
you can run and I love to fight and so
does Brennan and this team has proven that that they
are fighters