CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) – The last time Miami fans saw quarterback Jacory Harris play, all seven of the passes he attempted were being caught in the Sun Bowl against Notre Dame.
Sounds good, until remembering that three of those catches were actually made by Notre Dame players.
Now 261 days, one jolting scandal, a one-game suspension and a $140 NCAA-mandated contribution to charity later, Harris is set to play again. His senior season with the Hurricanes starts Saturday night, when Miami (0-1) plays host to No. 17 Ohio State (2-0) in a matchup of major programs reeling from major problems.
“I might shed a tear,” Harris said. “I’m so happy to be back on the field. I’m really, like, ready to run out of that tunnel and just run out with my team. They’re the ones that have been by our sides throughout everything that’s occurred these past couple of months. … We just want to go out there and have a great game together.”
Let the latest – and final – Harris restoration project begin.
When he arrived in 2008, he was the skinny kid with so much promise and so many expectations after going 30-0 as Miami Northwestern High’s starter. He’s filled out a little bit since, but those expectations are still dogging him, and there’s a clear sense of urgency now in that this will be his final chance to help the Hurricanes win a title.
His career has had wild swings, from the highs of throwing for 386 yards to win at Florida State in the first game of 2009, to the lows of getting pulled early in last year’s Sun Bowl loss – and throwing four interceptions in last year’s 36-24 loss at Ohio State. Randy Shannon, Miami’s coach last season, said afterward that three of those four picks were not his quarterback’s fault.
“It’s on me,” Harris said. “I’m supposed to be the leader.”
Here’s Harris’ chance to lead again. Named the starter over Stephen Morris, who played in the Week 1 loss to Maryland while Harris stayed home as part of his punishment for taking extra benefits from a former booster three years ago, the senior knows it’s truly a now-or-never scenario for him to reach the goals he set when he decided to become a Hurricane.
Harris enters the weekend as one of 10 active major-college quarterbacks with at least 50 touchdowns in his career. He’s also one of only three with 39 or more interceptions, 15 of them coming last season, when he had a 0-to-5 touchdown-to-pickoff ratio in his last three games.
Teammates say he’s changed since, almost seizing the notion that his future may in many ways hinge on what he does this season.
“Jacory has always had that composed attitude,” said Miami linebacker Sean Spence, Harris’ teammate in high school as well. “He knows he had a bad season last year. He knows that wasn’t him. I think he’s just ready to get back and prove everybody wrong. Maybe he trusted receivers a little too much and needed to trust himself a little bit more. I see that from him now. I’ve seen that all offseason. He knows what he’s got to do.”
And, specifically, what he can’t do.
It’s more than a little ironic that the first game of Harris’ senior year comes against Ohio State, for the matchup with the Buckeyes last season was in many respects a low point both on and off the field. Even though Miami lost by 12, the game didn’t really seem that close, and two of the Hurricanes’ three touchdowns came on special teams.
Afterward came another mildly embarrassing mess, when photos of what Harris wore to the game got as much attention as his play that afternoon. Harris wore a gray sweater vest and red tie that day, perceived as him mocking the typical game-day attire of former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. It was one of many examples of how Harris’ penchant for having fun tended to get him in hot water, especially with the Hurricanes struggling.
“The Jacory we’ve gotten to know here, I think he’s grown up a lot and is really doing what we ask,” Miami coach Al Golden said.
So far, that is.
Starting Saturday, they’ll be asking Harris to win – and beating Ohio State, even with the Buckeyes dealing with injuries and suspensions, won’t be an easy task.
“I think he can do it all,” Ohio State interim coach Luke Fickell said. “He can definitely spin the football. He throws it very good down the field as well. … Any time you have a fourth year guy starting or playing a lot, there’s a lot of positives that he brings to the tables.”
Harris said he plans on savoring every remaining moment of his senior season, and after six years – going back to the two at one of the city’s most prominent high school programs – of being a fairly regular part of Miami’s football spotlight, he’s desperate to end this chapter by getting the Hurricanes back to a title-contending level.
“The moment’s not going to get to me,” Harris said. “It’s something I’m really going to be paying attention to. I’m going to feel it. At the same time, I understand we’ve got a game to win and I want to execute on all phases of my game … and get this job done.”
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