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Life support

OU defensive back Nic Harris says he aged 15 years after the contentious 2006 OU-Oregon game. Jerry laizurE/Associated Press

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 9/10/2008  2:04 AM
Last Modified: 9/10/2008  2:21 AM

Does a trip back to Pac-10 country remind OU coach Bob Stoops of the Sooners’ last trip — a controversial loss at Oregon two years ago? Listen to what he thinks about that game now. The Sooners struggled on the road last year. What does quarterback Sam Bradford think about the first road game this year? Listen to his answer.



After rough start, OU's Nic Harris found himself in good hands



NORMAN — ANYONE WHO saw Nic Harris give up the game-winning touchdown pass at Oregon in 2006, then field question after question from reporters during postgame interviews, wondered if Harris would ever be OK.

Those who wondered obviously didn't know Harris.

"I'd definitely say his character is unique," says Kelli Welch, Harris' high school guidance counselor. "He taught me a lot. He taught me that kids are stronger than we give 'em credit for a lot of the time."

Harris, then a sophomore defensive back at the University of Oklahoma, had two interceptions that cool, sunny day at Autzen Stadium. The second one seemed to clinch the game. But the Ducks rallied, were awarded possession of an onside kick after a botched instant replay review, and found Harris flat-footed in the secondary.

"I remember that game," Harris said with a smile. "I had the highest of the high and the lowest of the low. I matured, I feel, about 15 years in 15 minutes."

But Nic Harris wasn't broken. Not even close.

This is a man who was born to teenage parents who at first did not want him, then later fought to control him; who was shuffled between the households of both sets of grandparents and did not have a bed; whose family was too poor to afford school supplies or football equipment; who was subjected to a childhood of near neglect and frequent abandonment.

"Growing up, it was hard," Harris said. "Being bounced from home to home, not knowing where I was going to stay.

"I was just a kid, you know? I was just a kid. A little boy."



A shoulder to cry on



Nic Harris has the firmest of handshakes, the brightest of smiles, the most engaging gaze. He talks fast, sometimes an uninterrupted stream of consciousness. He seldom speaks without reciting a famous inspirational quote. He drips with positive energy.

"Appearances, the way he carried himself, the kind of student he was and everything, you never knew any different," Welch said. "You thought everything in his world was perfect."

During an office visit his sophomore year at Alexandria (La.) Senior High School, Welch learned otherwise.

"I sat down and just pretty much poured my heart out to her," Harris said. "Told her everything that was going on, everything that had happened to me. And she just sat there and cried. I was out of class about two hours."

Welch, now a high school principal in Alexandria, does not last five minutes talking about Harris before she begins to cry. As much as she impacted Harris, he probably impacted her even more.

"He wasn't one to really talk about the difficult aspects of his life," she said. "He was more on the positive, you know, 'I'm in this situation but I'm gonna make it, I'm gonna be a better person for it.'



Family matters



Nic Harris' childhood was hard. The odds of enduring what he did and being where he is today — an OU senior on course to graduate, a three-year starting free safety on the No. 3-ranked team in the nation, a team captain, a community-minded citizen — are too high to calculate.

"I had every opportunity, trust me, every reason not to be where I am," he said. "But for the grace of God, I'm here."

Harris' mother was 16 when he was born. His father was 17. Both parents left him to their families and pursued their own interests on the West Coast.

Harris attended nine different schools. He didn't have birthday parties or sleepovers, no team pizza parties by the pool. But he wasn't unloved. His grandparents, Shirley and Emanuel Hayes and Charlie and Hattie Harris, provided for him as best they could. So did LaQuanda Harrell, who moved in with Nic's father when Nic was 8 and eventually became his surrogate mom.

"My grandmother (Hattie Harris, who died in June 2007) was the strongest person I knew," he said. "My grandmother was Superman to me. Superman, Superwoman, Wonder Woman, Storm off of X-Men — whatever you want to call it, that's what my grandmother was to me. She made me the man that I am.

"I had people who were paramount in my life, but you never can replace the void that you have from a mother's or father's love. I never had that."

Harrell took it upon herself to raise him.

"I stayed with his father a little extra length of time because I was worried about what was going to happen to him," Harrell said. "When me and his father split up, I wasn't really sure what the family was going to do. I wasn't sure if they were going to take him or if he would be homeless.

"We did the single-parent thing for a while, and we battled different elements with his family. He's been strong ever since. He's been a fighter."



Mommy dearest



When Harris was a high school sophomore, his mother returned to Alexandria and tried to step back into his life. That did not go over well.

"My mom had this come-to-Jesus with me," he said. "She wanted me to stay with her. She laid down the rules. I was like, 'How can you lay down rules and want me to do all these things when I don't even know who you actually are?'

Harris had been living with Harrell and his half-sister Sakena when his biological mother returned. Harris tried to stay with Harrell, but his mother called the police, accused Harrell of kidnapping Harris and tried to file a restraining order, even though Harrell was the one providing for Harris.

"I don't care what anybody says, that's my mom," he said. "Somebody else DNA-wise is my mom, but spiritually, LaQuanda Harrell is my mother."

Harris said there were times when he didn't know if his real mother was going to let him in the house.

"I didn't have a key in high school. I had to sit outside in the rain. She would leave and go wherever and wouldn't give me clothes, and I would have to spend the weekend with my grandparents and they would have to get me clothes," he said. "At one point, I had a bag and I just put clothes in the bag because I didn't know what she was doing."

Harrell applied for legal guardianship of Harris, but, she said, his parents "refused to give it to me. I begged, and they refused to give it to me."

Harris said he became emancipated from his parents, became a legally independent youth and moved in with Harrell. He finished high school in a loving home.



A helping hand



Harris was in good hands once Welch became involved in his life.

"She was a very big help," Harrell said. "Even though she knew I wasn't supposed to see him, she let me into the school to see him, give him lunch money or whatever."

When Harris became one of the top recruits in the country, college football coaches came calling. Welch hosted their in-home visits.

"I just knew Nic had a difficult home circumstances," OU coach Bob Stoops said, "but these people had been wonderful with him and for him, and he fit into their family in a great way. All their children really were close with him. That tells you what kind of guy Nic is."

Harris still needed an assist. He got a big one from Welch when she and a team of lawyers drew up paperwork that allowed him to sign with OU without the signature of a parent or legal guardian. Harrell was there to sign with him.

And when Harris turned 18, Welch threw him a birthday party for the ages. She said more than 120 people came, and she and a dozen or so teachers and administrators chipped in to buy Harris his class ring.

"I was very overwhelmed. It was the first time somebody just came into my life and did something for me," Harris said. "She showed me what it's like to be a mother, second to LaQuanda."

Harris said he didn't cry that day, but Welch said he did. This time, for a change, they were tears of joy.

"He's an inspiration," Welch said, "that's for sure."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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4 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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purple rain, (9/10/2008 9:36:56 AM)
Way to rise above your circimstances, Nic!! Life is all about choices and you have made some outstanding ones and are reaping the rewards. Sounds like some very special ladies were put into your path and props to them for showing you what unconditional love is all about. Press on, Nic and pay it forward. Best wishes in everything you do.
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Dash Riprock, Edmond (9/10/2008 10:41:01 AM)
John, a wonderful look into the life of a guy who has already started 'paying it forward'. Too many times we hear the stories of players who get into trouble because they haven't matured through personal crisis. Nic Harris has done the opposite, and there are many , many people in the central Oklahoma area who have seen how this guy has spent his time doing good and positive work. We should expect Nic to be very successful in life, because he' already learned how to overcome adversity. Thanks again for sharing his journey to Stoopsville.
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soonerbeach, Wichita (9/10/2008 12:27:40 PM)
With stories like Josh Jarboe, what a breath of fresh air.
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Sooner Trav, Tulsa (9/10/2008 3:51:32 PM)
Great story. Good job Nic!
 

 
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