Fast Break

NFL

Morris has finally arrived

For Maurice Morris, today has been a long time coming.

“Six years,” the Seattle Seahawks’ running back said. “That’s definitely been a long time.”

That’s how many years Morris had to sit behind Shaun Alexander without any chance of supplanting the superstar as Seattle’s starting running back.

Now that Alexander is gone, and Morris has done enough to prove himself as a legitimate starter, the Seahawks will open the 2008 regular season at Buffalo with a new starting halfback.

“It’s a good way to get the season rolling,” Morris said. “Of course, I’m going to go out there and play hard.”

Morris has not strayed from his typical stoicism, but it’s pretty obvious to teammates that the seventh-year player is eager to get his chance as opening-day starter.

“Mo’s a different dude,” said backup quarterback Seneca Wallace, one of Morris’ closest friends on the team. “He’s quiet, obviously. I don’t think he’s the kind of guy that shows emotions a lot. But I know deep down inside, he’s excited.”

College football

Top 25 scores

(2) Georgia 56

Central Michigan 17

(3) Ohio State 26

Ohio 14

(4) Oklahoma 52

Cincinnati 26

(5) Florida 26

Miami 3

(6) Missouri 52

Southeast Missouri 3

East Carolina 24

(8) West Virginia 3

(9) Auburn 27

Southern Miss. 13

(10) Texas 42

UTEP 13

(11) Wisconsin 51

Marshall. 14

(12) Texas Tech 35

Nevada 19

(13) Alabama 20

Tulane 6

(14) Kansas 29

Louisiana Tech 0

(15) Arizona State 41

Stanford 17

(15) BYU 28

Washington 27

(17) South Florida 31

UCF 24 (OT)

(18) Oregon 66

Utah State 24

(19) Penn State 45

Oregon State 14

(20) Wake Forest 30

Mississippi 28

(22) Utah 42

UNLV 21

(24) Illinois 47

Eastern Illinois 21