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Never Forget 31-0
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4/28/06
4/28/06
Harris lived the dream at Ohio State and NFL
It's not often an athlete like Raymont Harris comes out of Lorain.
Harris, a running back, parlayed a standout high school football career at Admiral King to a successful college career at Ohio State and a decent career with four teams in the NFL.
He was known as the ''Quiet Storm'' and as the ''Ultraback.'' And now, he'll be known as a Lorain Sports Hall of Famer.
''Making the Hall of Fame wasn't something that crossed my mind too often,'' said Harris, who resides in the Columbus area with his wife of 11 years, Leslie, and their two children, Elijah (8) and Olivia (6). ''I was kind of shocked, but I guess when you judge my body of work in relation to my hometown, I would hope that I would be considered for it one day. It's a dream come true, but it wasn't something I put a lot of thought into for a lot of years.''
Harris' body of work is one that is definitely Hall of Fame worthy. And it all started as a running back for Admiral King his junior and senior years in 1987 and '88.
He was named All-Erie Shore Conference as a junior, and injuries shortened his senior year. But he'll go down in Lorain lore for what he did one Saturday afternoon vs. cross-town rival Lorain High.
Harris gained 332 yards on 36 carries and scored five touchdowns, leading a victory over the Steelmen. He set new Lorain County records for yards rushing, total yards from scrimmage (357), carries and touchdowns in a game.
''That's probably one of my fondest memories from high school,'' Harris said. ''There were severe bragging rights on the line because they had beaten us the last few years, and I was just getting back to 100 percent. I wanted to perform well so badly in that game because of who it was against.''
Harvey Herrmann, an assistant coach for Admiral King from 1986-91 under Bill Provident and Tom Ilcisko, recalls that game fondly.
''He got his knee banged up in our last scrimmage and missed our first three games,'' Herrmann said. ''He played in the fourth game vs. Midview at 90 percent, then was at full strength against Sandusky and Lorain.
''That was an outstanding game. The more yards Raymont gained, the better the line blocked. It was almost like he ran that whole game downhill. He just kept picking up speed and momentum as the game wore on.''
Harris' season and high school career ended the following week when he broke his clavicle vs. Elyria, but the best was yet to come.
Harris chose Ohio State over Michigan, UCLA, Miami and several other schools. According to Herrmann, few schools backed off despite Harris' injury-plagued senior season.
''Having my dad with me, along with Coach Ilcisko and Mr. Herrmann when I signed my letter of intent to Ohio State was probably my fondest memory from high school,'' he said. ''All three of those guys were the greatest influences in my life, and for them to be there with me when I made my decision is something I'll always remember.''
At Ohio State Harris began his collegiate career as a fullback, but emerged from a crowded backfield to become the starting tailback. Like at King, he saved his best performance for last.
As a senior playing for John Cooper, Harris gained 1,344 yards. It still ranks ninth on OSU's single-season rushing list. At the Holiday Bowl vs. Brigham Young, Harris set a bowl record with 235 yards in OSU's 28-21 victory. That single-game performance ranks fifth in school history.
''You see him play and you know he's good, but when you see all of his accomplishments on paper, that's when you realize he was something special,'' Herrmann said. ''He was a tremendous competitor and he had a tremendous desire to succeed. And, as proud as I am of his on the field accomplishments, I'm just as proud that he has that diploma from OSU.''
He graduated from OSU in 1994 and was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round. Harris' 2,649 career yards rank eighth in school history.
''I had some really wonderful times at Ohio State,'' Harris said. ''I got a chance to meet my wife and play for a very prestigious university. I had the chance to compete on national TV against the finest competition and play with some great players that I still keep in touch with to this day. It's a very, very special place.''
From 1994-97, Harris spilt time between tailback and fullback with the Bears. He led the Bears in rushing in 1996, but it was the 1997 season that proved he belonged in the NFL.
Despite missing three games with an injury, Harris rushed for 1,033 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He was among the NFL leaders in scoring and rushing throughout that season, which turned out to be his last in Chicago.
Harris was a restricted free agent going into '96, and he was signed to a one-year contract. The Bears' backfield was also starting to get crowded with the drafting of Heisman Trophy winner Rashaan Salaam, but Harris got off to a hot start and never let up.
''Being amongst the league leaders in touchdowns and rushing yards and getting regarded for my abilities throughout the league was great,'' Harris said. ''It was something I always thought I could be, but unfortunately, I had a lot of untimely injuries and that cost me.''
Harris signed as a free agent with the Green Bay Packers the following season, but, with the injuries building up, was released after that season. He sat out the 1999 season, and split the 2000 season between the Denver Broncos and the New England Patriots before retiring.
''I can't help but think about what would have happened had I stayed healthy and continued my career in Chicago,'' he said. ''It would have been nice to have a chance to play for the Browns, since I grew up rooting for them. But, I am extremely proud of the places I had a chance to play in.
''I had great coaches in (Dave) Wannstedt, (Mike) Holmgren, (Mike) Shanahan and (Bill) Belichick. The story of my life was I was always a year away. I played for both Green Bay and Denver the year after they won Super Bowls, and I played for New England the year before they won the Super Bowl..''
After football, Harris worked for a Columbus radio station as a sports-talk host for four years. Now, he's a home mortgage consultant with Chase bank in Columbus. He also helps coach his son's youth baseball team.
''When I look back and ponder it, I've been very fortunate to have the things happen that have happened to me,'' Harris said. ''Hard work, preparation, listening and wanting to be best are values I still carry with me and pass along to my kids.
