Big smile, bigger competitor

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This article was published 10/08/2009 (6206 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Don’t be fooled by Richard Harris’s gentle smile. Underneath it, the former NFL defensive end takes his job seriously and can be as ferocious with his players as he once was with opposing offensive lineman.

Harris was a first-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, the No. 5 overall selection in the 1971 draft. He played seven years with the Eagles, Chicago Bears and Seattle Seahawks before his career ended with a lawsuit over an unpaid bonus.

Harris came out of Grambling State University where he played under the great Eddie Robinson.

During his playing career, Harris went 6-foot-5 and 265 pounds.

"Back then, I was considered a big man in the NFL. And I was fast. I ran a 4.5 in the 40. The NFL was different then. We didn’t really get hurt. If something happened to you, they just shot you up with something and threw you back out there. They never told you what was wrong with you or what they were giving you," recalls Harris.

Most Winnipeg Blue Bomber fans will confirm the defensive line coach is friendly, easy-going and willing to stop and chat with the paying customers.

All true.

Most however, haven’t seen the big fella snap on the practice field like he can once in a while. Harris is kindly, that’s for certain, but he’s also an ultimate competitor and holds his players to a very high standard.

"Greg Marshall and I coached together in Ottawa and he likes to tell a story about me and how my smile can give you the wrong idea," said Harris. "My daughter married a football player and he tried to play for me when I was with the Renegades. I cut him because he wouldn’t do things the way I wanted them done. I caused some trouble between me and my daughter because she said I was taking food out of the mouths of her children.

"So Greg likes to say, ‘Richard cut his son-in-law, so don’t be fooled by the smile.’ I turned out to be the best thing that ever happened for my son-in-law. He got a six-figure job as a manager at a chicken processing plant. Now his children like to phone me and say, ‘Papa, we live in a two-storey house.’"

Harris came to the Blue Bombers in 2006 and is now in his fourth season with the club.

"When I used to come here as a coach with an opposing team, I used to think I could never live in Winnipeg," said Harris, who lives here year-round with his wife, Tami. "But I love it here. It’s got everything most big cities have and it has the best people. People here are real friendly. And I love the cold weather."

Harris says he’ll stay in coaching as long as it keeps that famous smile on his face.

"I love to smile but once in a while I get upset," said the 61-year-old grandfather. "I enjoy coaching. It hasn’t become a job yet. When it does, I’ll move on. Maybe to retirement at this point. But I’m still having fun."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Grambling greats

RICHARD Harris is part of the fine football tradition at Louisiana’s Grambling State University, an almost all black football progam coached by the legendary Eddie Robinson.

Playing for Grambling is a badge of honour in black America. Here are a few other notable football grads from Grambling.

Doug Williams — with the 1987-88 Washington Redskins, he became the first black quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Willie Brown (1963-1978) Hall of Famer

Buck Buchanan (1963-1975) Hall of Famer

Willie Davis (1958-1969) Hall of Famer

Charlie Joiner (1969-1986) Hall of Famer

Everson Walls (1981-1993) Pro Bowl great with Dallas and the New York Giants