Chad Morris was a little taken aback during his first game back in Clemson as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator.

Some might assume it was because of the lack of production from his offense, and while that certainly is one of the things at the top of his mind, there was something else he thought was lacking in the lackluster 22-7 win over Georgia Southern on Saturday night.

What was really surprising for Morris was the lack of fire the team showed, and that is one thing the offensive coordinator finds inexcusable.

“I was just caught off-guard,” Morris said. “I just thought this past week when we stepped onto the field — I don’t know if it was… whatever it was, there is no excuse. Lightning delay, whatever. I don’t know. But I was a little bit shocked because that wasn’t what I was used to when I was stepping in the Valley and the teams that we had.

“Was that surprising to me? Yeah, a little bit. We got to have a fire about us. This is a brand that we got to ride high for. We have worked too hard not to come out and take advantage of the seven opportunities that we have to play in the Valley.”

And it wasn’t just the players. Morris was disappointed with the lack of fire he witnessed from some of the other coaches on the staff. With North Carolina coming to town this weekend, that is something Morris wants addressed quickly.

“It is everybody. All of us. We got to have more juice with our staff,” he said. “There is no excuse. We all have to bring it. This isn’t just the role of the players. This is us, and we have all got to bring the juice. We all have to bring the honor and the passion that we get to wear this brand.”

While some might point to a more than two-hour lightning delay playing a role, it was pretty evident during Tiger Walk there was a lack of energy generally associated with the tradition. And that took place before the lengthy delay.

Morris, along with offensive line coach Matt Luke, two of the more fiery coaches on the staff, are making that a point of emphasis moving forward.

“We all got to have a little bit of fire about us. A freaking juice when we get out there to play,” Morris said. “And to be honest with you, I did not feel the juice that I felt that needed to happen. And in all areas. And I know coach Luke has addressed it too.

“There has got to be a passion there. We talked about riding for the brand. That is a way of life. It is just a drive. A fresking want to. And that is from everybody. All of us. That is everyone of us. And that is my job. To make sure that we get that, and we are going to get it.”

During Morris’ first tenure with Clemson, from 2011-14, that was one thing he rarely concerned himself with. Those teams were littered with players who you just knew were going to bring the energy.

Two games into his second stint with the program, and that kind of juice just hasn’t been there. However, Morris is bound and determined to find a way to inject some energy into this team, particularly his offense, which has scored just two touchdowns through the first two contests.

“There is no magic sauce to sprinkle on this thing,” Morris said. “You just got to go back and get to work. Get a fire in your gut, and you got to be built for this. You got to be built for this. These are hard times. Football is hard. Bottom line. And you got to be built for it. And we are going to get it out of them.”