Oklahoma State coach apologizes to neighbors after 2:30 a.m. armadillo showdown
Eric Morris, the Oklahoma State coach, revealed this week that he recently shot and killed an armadillo after it caused damage to his property.
Speaking to reporters, the former North Texas coach, hired to rebuild the struggling Stillwater football program, described his overnight encounter with the armored mammal.
“My brain’s going constantly and so … I don’t sleep very well,” he said Tuesday. “I’ve had a couple of armadillo problems tearing up my lawn. Finally, a couple of days ago I just popped up at 2:30 a.m. because I couldn’t sleep, and I thought it was a great opportunity for me to go outside, and luckily I found him.”
The incident marked the first time Morris had confronted an armadillo, which he noted “was crushing my yard, my flower beds, digging everything up.”
In dispatching the animal, Morris gave new meaning to “Pistols Firing,” the popular slogan and hand gesture used by Oklahoma State fans and teams.
“Had to send a text message to my neighbors,” he said. “I apologized for the gunshot. I am in the country, so it was legal. But I did get rid of him.”
Oklahoma State, coming off a 1-11 season, opens its 2026 season schedule on Sept. 5 against Tulsa. Morris, who went 22-16 in three seasons at North Texas, replaced Mike Gundy, the longtime Cowboys coach who was fired last September.
