The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Aaron Harris gets a day of his own
08.11.2005 | Football
It might be appropriate that it took place on the vacant grounds and future home of the New Hope Baptist Church.
Aaron Harris stood in front of family, friends, teammates and coaches and received a proclamation that validated traits that are a part of his makeup -- continual new hope and an appreciation of where his life has taken him.
It is those traits that have carried him to a position where he enters his senior year at Texas as one of the top linebackers in the nation and to where his community holds him in such high esteem, they gave him his own day in his hometown of Mesquite, the place where he held a football for the first time in the sixth grade.
Starting with songs from members of the New Hope Church Choir, the presentation ceremony featured an assembly line of supporters singing Harris' praises.
"I was really emotional," said his mother, Tina Harris, of the presentation ceremony. "It shows Aaron is a good person. He cares about people. He loves his family and friends. He's sensitive and has empathy for other people. He feels for them, as we feel for him. Tears started coming down my eyes, and he was crying. It was a touching moment."
The moment came when he received his proclamation on a small stage with over 100 people looking on, each one holding a different meaning for him, and he could not hide his emotion.
"I didn't think I was going to be so emotional," Aaron said. "I saw all of my family and friends and just people who were here that love me, and I just felt how much people care about me and care about what I do every day. It's overwhelming and took me by surprise. I kind of choked up a little bit, but I got through it. I'm just thankful."
Among those on hand were his pastor, his youth soccer coach, the North Mesquite High School coaching staff, and the personal trainer who he affectionately calls Coach D -- Damon Patterson.
Patterson stepped to the stage and told a story of attending a North Mesquite football game. At the time, the two had not even met, but something about Harris caught his attention.
"The one thing I noticed was this big old kid with blond hair," Patterson joked. "And I'm wondering, 'Why does this big old kid have blond hair?' About five minutes later, I saw him go hit somebody, and I thought, 'He can have his hair any color he wants it.'"
Harris, who has totaled 191 tackles in 38 career games and was second on the team with 118 in 2004, recounts his days with blond hair as a phase, but it serves as an example of his individuality that has sometimes been misunderstood by others. Patterson remembered being apprehensive at first when approached to train Aaron by his father, Anthony Harris, but then used words such as "gentle giant" and "big teddy bear" for the person whom he also refers to as another son.
"He's a kid that from day one, with things I had heard about him, I expected him to be the type of kid who wouldn't listen, who knew everything, and he was going to do what he wanted. He was the total opposite. He was a very humble kid, and I have to thank his parents for that."
Patterson continued by describing Aaron as someone who has never hesitated to come to his aide to help the community and the children of Mesquite.
"Coach D, whatever you need," has always been the response.
"When they see big Aaron come in and he's acting like everybody else, it means a lot to them," Patterson said. "He's not somebody that won't go out in the community because he doesn't want people to ask for an autograph or talk to him. He's a very giving young man. This tribute is for the wonderful person he is."
UT teammate Tarell Brown, who played Pee Wee sports with Harris in Mesquite, attended the ceremony along with fellow Longhorns Justin Blalock, Marcus Myers and Marco Martin less than 24 hours before they all were to report for preseason practice in Austin.
"He's been through a lot as far as people misunderstanding him," Brown said. "He's really a kind person. I've known Aaron since I was young, and we've always hung out together, and we've always been close."
"There aren't enough words for me to describe Aaron," followed Myers. "He's a great guy. He's more than capable on the field, and off the field, as well. He's been through so much. There really isn't anything I can't go to him with that he can give me some kind of advice on. To be honest, sometimes it's not what I want to hear, but he's always been honest with me."
And so, on a small stage where ground is to be broken for a new church, Harris, in a sense, also broke new ground. Giving so much credit to his parents and the faith in God they have instilled in him, Harris is ready to move forward.
"He's a good citizen," said Anthony Harris. "He treats people the way he wants to be treated, and I've seen that progression in him from a little boy who didn't say much, to now, when people have microphones and cameras in his face, he's learned how to present himself and be appreciative. He's learned how to be a man of his word. We've always taught him to be appreciative of everything he has."
And it is those in the crowd, whom Aaron thanked repeatedly for sitting in the hot Mesquite sun on a Saturday morning,he appreciates most.
"They know in my heart what I feel, and they love me for me," Aaron said. "That's what it is. That's the main thing I felt today. They see me for me, and they love me for me. That feels good."
