My Take on Wake - Harris at the Crossroads

Harris at the Crossroads

Jim Grobe entered the 2011 season wondering if he could rely on Josh Harris to be an every game, every play back.

He ended the season Friday night still wondering.

Harris, a sophomore with the combination of power and speed few possess, twice pulled himself out of games this season because of a sore hamstring. In each instance he had been cleared by the training staff to play, and both times he gave it a go and said he didn’t feel right enough to play.

So Grobe, who like most coaches is not thrilled with players who take themselves out of games, did what he didn’t want to have to do. He pulled the redshirt off freshman Orville Reynolds in the 10th game of the season, only because he felt like he had to. There were three regular-season games to play and the Deacons were down to one running back they could count on, senior Brandon Pendergrass.

Grobe had said time and again that once a veteran gives up a spot to a freshman he goes to the end of the line. Now I know Grobe would have preferred to have given Reynolds more than the 28 carries he got to show for a season of eligibility. But once a game starts, the decision about who plays and who doesn’t is dictated by game situations like run-pass ratio and how the other backs are performing. Pendergrass, over the final eight games performed rather well, amassing 675 yards (84 a game).

Meanwhile there were others on the team playing through the pain Harris could not.

I know Harris wasn’t happy these past few games, and from a conversation I had with his father Darrelll Harris, I know he wasn’t happy either. Being a father myself, I wouldn’t expect them to be.

So one of the duties I had to do last night was find out from Harris if he planned to return next season. He said he wasn’t sure, that he had to weigh his options. We talked about it briefly and agreed they weren’t good.

I’ve gotten to know Harris pretty well these past two seasons and like and admire him. I admire the way he overcame academic difficulties early in his career that caused him to be out of school for a semester and how he battled his way back onto the team. I admire the way he doesn’t let an impediment that occasionally causes his words to catch in his throat to bother him in any way I can see. Good for him.

But I’ve also picked up he has his share of pride, and his family is proud of him. They have a right to be. And I’ve also picked up that there are those on the Wake coaching staff who remain convinced that if he returns healthy next season he could gain 1,500 yards. He’s that good, too good to be sitting out next season. He should be playing.

If he does transfer to another Division I school, he’ll have only one season of eligibility remaining. An athlete gets only five years to complete four years of eligibility and given he’s been at Wake for three and would have to sit out another as a transfer, that would leave him with but one.

And if he does transfer, he’ll have to find a school short on running backs that could certainly use one capable of rushing for 1,500 yards. He’ll be looking for a school like Wake Forest.

So if he could somehow manage to overcome his pride in this instance, go back to work this spring, finally prove to his coach that he’s an every game, every play back, then he could still do things at Wake we’ll be talking about for years to come.

My own suggestion, such as it is, would be that he repeats a name so often between now and next season that it becomes his mantra. He should wake up in the morning and go to bed at night repeating the same two words.

Kenny Moore. Kenny Moore, Kenny Moore.

Back to the main page.

By Dan Collins on 12/31/2011 (1:21 pm)

Comments

WF causes 4 turnovers, and we have none, yet we score 17 points! We were 2 for 12 or 13 on 3rd down conversions, and could not protect the QB- We allowed Tanner to be sacked 6 times (a Music City bowl record). The problem is not playing Harris or going with Pendergrass, it is no Offensive creativity and a lack of fundamentals from the O-line (with 4 senior starters!) What happened to the Co-Offensive Coordinator Grobe hired from West Virginia? Did he call any plays? Probably not!

Bobby on 01/02/2012 (2:59 pm)

A fan has a right to criticize. However, sometimes we don’t keep things in perspective. I hope Josh comes back, because he is obviously talented. Should he have been pulled after that long run? How many times do you see a receiver run a deep route and then come back on the next play with another…many times. No one was at fault for Josh’s hamstring being injured on the next play. Stuff happens. As far as criticism of Grobe and his staff…does anyone really want to go back to the Caldwell era and before? Grobe has raised expectations because he has brought us success. We now can play with almost anyone. If you really think with another coach, we would be contending every year for the ACC or NC, you’re kidding yourself. Unless we are willing to expand BB&T to 50,000 seats or so, and lower our academic standards somewhat, we’re not going to attract the 4 and 5 star kid who thinks he should be playing in “showtime.” Let’s be real, it’s a certain type of kid who is attracted to WF. He may come because of it’s academics or the beautiful, but small facilities or because he didn’t have that many D1 offers.

Jim on 01/02/2012 (10:13 am)

Josh: no matter where you go, in football or in the rest of life, sometimes you just have to suck it up and do it. Coach Grobe will give you as good a chance as any other D1 coach will give you. Stay here, finish a good education and help us win for the next two years. You will go far in life no matter what you do, but going elsewhere when a little adversity strikes will probably retard rather than advance your career.

DannyB on 01/02/2012 (8:36 am)

Maybe Grobe and company should take a hard look at what it takes to be a winner. Harris mght not be the great player some people think but why doesn’t have enough good runners to fill his spot? No really good coachinf staff doesn’t put itself in this type os situation. Look at the prospects for next year-very few good sized runners. I ask the question-why not? This is a very weak area inWake football-no really great talented players. That is the responsibility of the coaching staff period.

sam on 01/02/2012 (12:56 am)

Earlier post is correct that you don’t let Harris run the ball after that long run vs. FSU. If he waves off the replacement, you change the play call. Lobo did the same clueless playcalling last year at Va Tech when Harris was obviously winded a few times, only to get the ball on the very next play. Lobo has no idea how to call a game. We had a +4 in turnovers and good field position most of the game and managed 17 points. Reminded me of our pitiful offense at the end of the 2006 Orange Bowl season - offense was bad that year and that is the norm. If the OC and O Line are bad, and it is the same guy, what do you do with that guy?

givens not so great in bowls on 01/01/2012 (10:33 pm)

Here’s an idea….Keep Josh Harris and fire the offensive coordinator. Lobo must GO!

AV8R on 01/01/2012 (9:23 pm)

Some bizarre finger-pointing here. The coaching staff sends in a replacement for Josh and makes a play-call. Josh waves the replacement off. Should the staff burn a timeout to get him out or to change the play? To suggest the coaches were not protecting Josh when they tried to sub him out is just absurd. There are times to criticize coaches - but this isn’t one of them.

Rhenish on 01/01/2012 (6:47 pm)

I don’t understand how he was good to go for practice and then would pull himself after a couple of carries.

gary on 01/01/2012 (4:42 pm)

Chip Holden is correct. They either should have taken Josh out of the game after that long run (even though he waived off the player trying to come in for him) or should have called something other than a running play for him. That decision may have altered not only the rest of Josh’s season but the Deacs’ season as well. The staff did what they could to protect Tanner Price…why not Josh?

Matt on 01/01/2012 (3:49 pm)

As the old adage goes, there’s a difference between being hurt and being injured. From the sounds of it the training staff told Josh he was OK to play but because Josh was hurting he didn’t believe he could play. The one thing nobody can determine other than the player himself is how he handles pain. Some can deal with it while others can’t. It appears Josh’s body is as sensitive as his feelings and that’s unfortunate because I agree with “The Truth” in that Josh may be the best pure running back in the ACC.

As for Coach Grobe drawing the line name me a football coach who doesn’t demand toughness from his players, especially his go-to tailback. Josh had to know that by pulling himself out of games he was putting himself in the coach’s proverbial doghouse.

There are defining moments in every player’s career and Josh has his rising up before him. Here’s to hoping he makes the right decision and stays at Wake. He and Orville could be a great one-two punch next season and our offense is really going to need him.

Finally, I’d also like to concur with “The Original PC”; the biggest collective shortcoming of this coaching staff appears to be in evaluating talent. And, yes, Jordan Williams is a perfect example. Playing him as a freshman made no sense and caused serious dissension among a veteran and talented receiving corps. Only after proving himself flawed both on and off the field did Coach Grobe cut him loose.

Deac Fan on 01/01/2012 (3:04 pm)

Josh Harris got hurt on a the play after he made an extended,spectacular 60yr+ run against Fla. St. Before he could catch his breath, on the very next play the coaches called a sweep to the wide side of the field. That is when he pulled his hamstring.

chip holden on 01/01/2012 (11:00 am)

From my times at WFU, I remember Professor Jasper Memory aka as Bull Memory quoting someone famous as saying ” The truth lies somwhere between the two extremes.” Cannot there be some reconciliation between the coaching staff and Josh Harris? Did not this boy’s mama say sometime a few weeks ago in this blog that her son was dedicated and wanted to play so badly but that he was hurting. Did not this same Josh Harris miss spring practices due to soreness in his leg that raised questions to the coaching staff? In which Pendergrass showed up, practiced hard, and worked his butt off, which paid dividends during this football season. During the football season when Josh Harris went down after the Florida State Game didn’t our season start floundering also? Our coaching staff? Riley Skinner given the last scholarship before he enrolled? B. Hodges ahead of Skinner on the depth chart? Hodges banged up in practice, Ben M. injured in Syracuse Game, Skinner plays, the rest is history. Our coaching staff makes the decision to play one of the Williams’ as wide reciever as a true freshman,by the time he is a senior he has dropped so many passes that he is not on the depth chart. Another offensive linemen who played as a true freshman,who has been relegated as a back-up the last few years. Last season two defensive backs played as true freshmen, but Bud Noell was redshirted. I bet Noell was the better player last year, thank goodness he was redshirted. I believe in Josh Harris and I believe in Coach Grobe, both make mistakes,both are good people. The truth lies between the two extemes.

The Original PC on 01/01/2012 (12:38 am)

Dan….I stand with the coaches on this one.
If Harris cannot be counted on and pulls himself out of games, then he goes to the back of the line. Funny how when he gets to the end, he pronounces himself fit and healthy, ready to play….especially when he pulled himself out twice at the first ache. Athletes play through pain but obviously Harris cannot. That being said, I hope he does decide to stay at Wake. He and Reynolds would give us a great 1-2 punch next year. He may have his own decision to make but I think Grobe and his staff absolutely made the right call on him this season.

Ken Green on 12/31/2011 (10:17 pm)

This explains why wake has not had a good season since 2007… Why would you sit the best player on the team and maybe the best running back I the acc. I am shocked to see the wake forest coaching staff act in this level of pride. The only person that knows his body is the player and for people to question the toughness of Harris is totally obserd. Any other top ranked school would have took the time to get their star healthy and then played him. I do not understand the point the coaches were trying to make. I took it as if you get hurt then your worthless no matter what you have proven. If I were josh harris parents I would tell him to leave. Josh Harris has the tools to play at then next level…. Please don’t mess this up for this young man… If he wants to go sign his papers

The truth on 12/31/2011 (9:46 pm)

Dan- this post answered my question I had for you in the “Fair to Middling” comment-thanks for sharing your take on Josh Harris. I thought he was physically healthy now, and it sounds like he is, however Grobe has just used him for kickoff returns basically since he pulled his hamstring against FSU. So, you are alluding to maybe Harris is not ready to play emotionally right now, or is Grobe just proving a point by not playing him because he took himself out of the Notre Dame game?! It sounds like Grobe may have a “pride” issue himself playing out instead of Harris. How can you not play your BEST running back when he is healthy and wants to play?! Why would Harris want to play in Kickoff returns and not on offense-that makes zero sense! Obviously, there is some disconnect with this coaching staff and the players- Givens has decided to go Pro instead of finishing out his senior year, and Harris possibly wants to transfer after his soph. year. Do they not think the program is going in the “right direction” with Grobe allowing Lobo to run the offense, maybe? Food for thought!

Bobby on 12/31/2011 (8:33 pm)

Some players think they are all-world but don’t have the physical tools to back it up. Some players have the physical tools needed but don’t have the mindset to take advantage of their gifts. The real stars have what it takes both physically and mentally. Harris has to decided into which category he fits.

Rhenish on 12/31/2011 (5:12 pm)

Dan - I think Josh Harris is incredible. And as someone who bleeds Old Gold and Black I really, really hope he returns for his final two seasons at Wake Forest. But, as a Josh Harris fan, I wouldn’t blame hime one bit for leaving. I think it was foolhardy for Coach Grobe to move him to the end of the depth chart just because he had been injured for a time. You put your best athletes on the field. Period. Josh could have been a difference maker last night (if, in fact, he is fully health now). And I would be LIVID if I were Josh Harris or his family if he is fully health and only got to return kicks last night. Since Josh has been at Wake they have had nothing of an O-line to speak of. This year’s O-line was the biggest in Wake Forest history and had as much experience as any to play at Wake. But they were still mediocre at best. And now most of them are graduating. So there will be a smaller, less experienced line blocking for Josh and Orville Reynolds next year. Not a good situation for Josh, Orville, or Tanner Price. I feel terrible that Josh is in this predicament. I think he has NFL talent if he can get and stay healthy. But I’m not sure he’ll ever be able to display his talent in its fullness as a Demon Deacon because of the players around him. And that is a terrible shame.

Matt on 12/31/2011 (4:00 pm)