WACO – Coaching D-I football has a lot of perks, not the least of which is that you don't have to do laundry, too. A head coach at this level has enough to do just keeping media, alumni, players, staff and administration from getting together and plotting his overthrow. If he's got any free time after that, he can take up a hobby. Sleeping, for instance.

And that's what makes it so odd, Guy Morriss doubling up to coach Baylor's offensive line.

Quarterbacks, maybe. Even calling plays.

But the O-line? No one does that, right?

Will Blaylock has news for you.

"Dude's been in the Pro Bowl and the Super Bowl," he said of his new position coach, "so you know it's gonna work."

Dude's a little different, all right, and not just because he's pulling double duty.

Maybe it's the big sunglasses or big motorcycle or big Philadelphia Eagles tattoo on his big left calf.

Maybe it's his reading material: Shut Up, Stop Whining & Get a Life: A Kick Butt Approach to a Better Life.

Whining is definitely out at Baylor under Morriss. Winning? The Bears certainly talk like it.

Maybe you'd call it a bit of an overreaction when players coming off a 5-6 season talk about their new swagger. Morriss doesn't mind.

"As long as it's used in a positive way, it's good," he said. "You don't want 'em walking around amongst each other saying, 'Hope we can win two or three this year.' "

Morriss thinks this team is better, too. He'd be a little less nervous if it weren't a new offense, ripped off from Texas Tech with no apologies. "Right now," he said, "you don't know how they'll react when the lights come on."

Probably why he's taken a hands-on approach this year. Not because he was "gettin' itchy," as he claims.

Who better to coach the line? Besides playing and coaching it in the NFL, he knows this offense from his days at Kentucky under Hal Mumme.

"It doesn't matter what you've got at the skill positions," he said, "if you don't have time to get them the ball."

He says his opening came when Chris Lancaster asked to move from the O-line to running backs. Morris then consulted with his administration, staff, even the secretaries.

No one seemed bothered by the fact that head coaches at this level simply don't do this. All agreed to take up the slack. No one tried to talk him out of it.

Certainly not the players.

"I was ecstatic," said Travis Farst, a senior tackle. "The great thing is, you can believe it because he's done it."

High school recruits seem to believe, too. Baylor has commitments from three linemen rated in the state's top 100. In the Big 12, only Texas has more.

Morriss sells his NFL experience.

Hardly a day goes by, he said, that he doesn't bring up a point from his playing days, and he expects the same of his receivers coach, Harold Jackson, and defensive coordinator, Bill Bradley.

"All these kids coming out now think they're going to the NFL," he said.

Pause.

"And we think we can get them there."

His coaching style? He's not a screamer. Not big on emotional stuff, either.

FILE 2004/AP

Baylor coach Guy Morriss will have his hands full coaching offensive linemen in addition to his other respon- sibilities. His players are on board.

"You don't know if he's happy or sad sometimes," Blaylock said. "He's probably a great poker player."

He coaches like he was coached in the NFL: Treat a man like a man as soon as he acts like one.

The interaction as a position coach has probably been good. Some of the players used to be afraid of him. The smart ones, anyway.

"You don't know if you're going to wake up," said C.J. Wilson, the top-flight cornerback, suppressing a giggle, "and he's going to be looking at you."

Said Chad Smith, a junior guard: "If you don't know him, he might be scary. You should never be surprised by what he does."

Not with his job description. He probably hasn't started any trends, but he says coaching the line is not a short-term proposition.

Proof: Even sold his cows. Couldn't feed his two-dozen head if he wanted to make 7 a.m. position meetings.

"And I wasn't getting up any earlier to do it," he said. "I don't get enough sleep as it is."

Man's gotta put in a few hours as head coach, anyway.

E-mail ksherrington@dallasnews.com