Eric Morris has spent most of his life around football.

But being the head coach at Oklahoma State has introduced him to something different: trying to make a quick trip to Walmart and getting recognized along the way.

Four games into his first season leading the Cowboys, Morris is learning what comes with being the face of one of the universities biggest athletic programs.

During an appearance on Big 12 Today this week, Morris discussed the increased attention he has received since arriving in Stillwater — from signing autographs to hearing "Go Pokes" while simply going about his day.

Sometimes, Morris joked, keeping a low profile requires pulling his hat down and even wearing sunglasses inside. For his two sons, Jack and George, the adjustment might be even stranger.

Morris said his kids are still getting used to the idea that seemingly everywhere the family goes, people want to stop and talk to their dad.

That's part of the job Morris signed up for when Oklahoma State hired him as its 25th head coach last November. OSU's administration introduced Morris alongside his wife, Maggie, and their two sons, beginning a transition that moved the family from Denton, Texas, to Stillwater.

Less than a year later, the spotlight has only grown. Oklahoma State enters its first bye week 3-1 after three consecutive victories, including an upset of then-No. 6 Oregon and a road win over West Virginia.

Yet Morris isn't planning to spend the entire weekend hidden away at home. Instead, the bye has provided something that can be difficult for a college football coach to find during the season: time to be a dad.

Morris said he made the trip to Enid to watch his 11-year-old son's tackle football game. Rather than drawing attention to himself, Morris found a spot on the top row, away from everyone else, and watched.

For someone whose Saturdays are normally spent making decisions in front of tens of thousands of fans, Morris described the experience as one of the most relaxing things he could do.

There were no Big 12 standings to worry about. No play sheet. No fourth-down decisions. Just kids learning how to play football. It was the game in its purest form.

Those moments have become increasingly valuable for Morris as his profile has grown. When he first arrived at Oklahoma State, Morris spoke about how difficult the initial transition was. He spent several weeks alone in Stillwater while his family remained in Texas, describing the early period as lonely despite his excitement about taking over the program.

Now his family is in Oklahoma with him — and they're experiencing everything that comes with the job together.

The wins have certainly accelerated the attention. Oklahoma State's season began with a disappointing loss at Tulsa, but the Cowboys responded with three consecutive victories and quickly changed the conversation surrounding Morris' first season.

He has become increasingly recognizable in the process. That's why even a normal trip to the store can now involve autographs, conversations and a few "Go Pokes."

And why Morris' kids are learning that when your dad is the head football coach at Oklahoma State, everyone suddenly seems to know him.

But during a rare fall weekend without an Oklahoma State game, Morris gets an opportunity to temporarily trade one sideline for another.

Not as the Cowboys' head coach. Just as Dad.

Source: Yahoo Sports