It’s now all but a¬†done deal that Roger Harriott will become the next running backs coach at Syracuse.
He was most recently the head football coach and athletic director at University High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Harriott:¬†“Talk about a quick decision. They offered and it was something I simply could not pass up. A great move for the entire family.”
We’re flattered that you too enjoy the meals in the Manley football cafeteria and lots of snow.
However¬†The Fizz is more concerned with what’s going to happen on the field – so lets take a look at the past to get a gauge for the future.
Harriott has a history that is perfect for the Doug Marrone “plan.”
Friend of The Fizz Larry Bluestein wrote back in August,¬†“University School is the most unique situation around. From the day Harriott and the program started, this has been a winning situation — all the way around.”
He’s a culture changer – helping kids who excelled in the arts not only paint pictures, but drawing up great plays on the field together too!
Harriott’s quoted in¬†the high school’s brochure:
“Once I’m able to impress respect upon my kids, I penetrate them with love and the ability to take ownership of the opportunity presented to them.”
Umm, probably a poor choice of words when discussing kids, but we’ll just Astroglide over that one.
Kids who obviously respect him just happen to include highly toutedOrange recruits Max Beaulieu and Brice Hawkes. Both are already enrolled in classes on The Hill according to the University Directory.
Reruiting is all about pipelines – and this potential hire would keep the tap running on a major one right into the heart of the Florida prep scene.
In his college days, Harriott was a player at Boston University when the school decided to shut the football program down back in 1997.
He organized a protest with his teammates¬†calling themselves University X. “They stripped us of our identity. They took the university away from us, so we formed our own identity.”
Re-establishing an identity is exactly what Syracuse football is trying to do. Ridding the Dome of the Groobers stench and installing a winning culture is what’s happening right now.
Harriott seems to be the next perfect piece to the puzzle.
