Morris balances college, international soccer competition
Published 1:05 pm Monday, November 24, 2014
Last week was a busy week for Stanford sophomore and former Mercer Island soccer standout Jordan Morris. Days after watching his Cardinal soccer team clinch a Pac-12 title in a 3-2 double-overtime victory over Cal, Morris made his international competition debut with the U.S. Men’s National Team, substituting in the 77th minute of the U.S.’s 4-1 loss to Ireland. Morris then hopped a plane to prepare for NCAA tournament competition.
Recently, Morris spoke with the Reporter about seeing international competition while also pursuing a national championship with the Stanford Cardinal.
Mercer Island Reporter: You’re a very busy man right now. Can you weigh in on what life has been like for you recently, between the college soccer postseason and your time with the USMNT?
Jordan Morris: It’s definitely a little busy and hectic. Sometimes it can be stressful, but that’s the life of a student-athlete. Everyone here is busy in their own ways, but it’s a super, super exciting time. The team did well and won Pac-12 which was exciting, and then the excitement in Ireland. It’s been a little overwhelming but exciting.
MIR: In your international debut, what was that experience like coming into the 77th minute of the U.S.’s Nov. 18 game against Ireland?
JM: It was truly an unbelievable experience. I was waiting on the sidelines a bit and waiting for the ball to go out of bounds, and it was that moment, standing there and the fourth official holds the sub sign, I’ve been waiting for that moment since I was a little kid. It kind of gives me chills to think about, it was something I dreamed about playing with my brother in the backyard. It’s such an honor. To step on the field and represent my country is such an amazing experience.
MIR: What was your mindset toward your performance on the field? How did you feel in the flow of the game?
JM: I felt good. My first touch, I just wanted to get that first touch and wanted to play a simple ball. I didn’t want to lose that and got a simple pass off. The coaches said, ‘just go out and show what you can do.’ After the first couple of touches, I tried to be really dangerous because that’s what I believe I can do.
MIR: Your USMNT call-up was viewed by many as a surprise. What was your reaction when you were first called up in September?
JM: It definitely was a surprise to me, but a very exciting one. I actually met with [U.S. coach] Jurgen [Klinsmann] before the call-up came out, but when he told me at the meeting, it was a big surprise. My heart dropped. It was something I don’t think I’ll ever forget, but I was ready to take on that challenge. I thought that trip went well and then I got called up again.
MIR: You’ve spent some time coming up through the Sounders Academy. How did that prepare you for the transition to the USMNT?
JM: When you go into the USMNT environment, obviously there are very good professionals. Coming up through the Sounders kind of helped me learn how to become the best, in a professional sense, that I can be and try to learn those skills that all the guys on the national team have that made them such good players. Coming up in an environment like that through the Sounders really helped me.
MIR: You’ll be with Stanford in the postseason. How were you mentally balancing going from the national team to college competition?
JM: When I was down there, I was watching the Pac-12 final. I tried to make that my main focus this year, helping my college team. People wonder what I’m doing afterward, and I’m just focusing on this season. I was honored to be in Ireland and took advantage of the opportunity, but we want to win a national championship and we’ve made strides to be there. It’s time to keep moving and working hard. I’m excited for the postseason games to happen.
MIR: How have your Cardinal teammates received you as a member of the USMNT?
JM: I can’t say enough about how unbelievable they’ve been, they’ve been so supportive. I’m lucky to have these group of guys around me, we call ourselves brothers. After the game when I got my first U.S. cap, one of the first things I got was a video of the team watching me enter the game, and they cheered me on as I stepped on the field. It was very cool and made me tear up a bit. It’s a testament of how supportive these guys are and how close we are as a team.
MIR: You’ve helped the Cardinal to a Pac-12 title. What will Stanford have to do to be successful in the NCAA tournament?*
JM: We know that now it’s a loser-out game, so there’s no way we can take any team lightly. We know this could be our last game and to take advantage of every minute. Coming in with the right mentality is key, as well as sticking to to watch we do best. We’re an organized team defensively and it’s tough to play against us, it’s definitely a team. I think that’s what made us successful throughout the year. If we continue to do that in the postseason, we’ll be successful.
MIR: There are a few impending career decisions before you, between staying in college, going pro and playing overseas, all leaving fans with much to speculate about. What frame of mind are you trying to keep as your approach these decisions and the speculation?
JM: They’re all amazing decisions to have and I’m thankful, but I made a commitment to my team. I really want to focus on this season, be the best teammate I can be and push out all the distractions until after the season. I’ll make my decision after the season when that time comes.
*Editor’s note: This interview was conducted before Stanford was eliminated by UC Irvine, losing 1-0, in the NCAA tournament.
