The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Harrison Smith: A family reunion
03.19.2009 | Men's Basketball
March 19, 2009
Thomas Stepp, Texas Media Relations
GREENSBORO, N.C. -- As the Longhorns gathered at Cooley Pavilion in Austin to watch the NCAA Tournament selection show on Sunday, junior guard Harrison Smith knew one of the cities hosting the opening two rounds had extra significance.
As the brackets were announced, the Midwest and West Regions came and went, which meant the odds were increasing Texas could end up in Greensboro, N.C., one of seven cities hosting teams from the East and South Regions.
When the East Region came up, there it was -- the Longhorns had in fact been placed in Greensboro, less than three hours from Greenville, N.C., where his father, Doug Smith, lives.
Harrison called his father and both knew it would allow Doug to see his son play in person for the first time in his collegiate career.
"It's a dream come true," Doug said. "After we were in Houston all those years, and now I live here, I don't get the opportunity to see him as much since he's in Austin. He told me he was coming to Greensboro, and I was at the hotel when he stepped off the bus."
The two were able to catch up, but much like many of their conversations, basketball was not one of the main topics.
"We just talk, just father and son talk," Harrison said. "He lets me know what's on his mind, I let him know what's on my mind."
However, that does not mean basketball never comes up. Doug watches Harrison play on television as much as he can and talks to him after the games. Although it is rarely about Xs and Os, Doug gives Harrison advice on his approach to not only the game, but also life in general.
"The things I tell him are first, everything is based on his hard work and his character," Doug said. "There are a lot of great players that don't have good character, but I was raised with it, and he was raised with it, and it will go a long way in the future -- just work hard and have the discipline and do what your coaches tell you to do."
Which is exactly what Harrison has done in his career at Texas, leading to recent opportunities for more playing time. During this season's games at Oklahoma State on Feb. 28 and at home against Baylor on March 2, he set career highs with 12 points against the Cowboys and six rebounds against the Bears, games his father was watching from North Carolina.
"I always knew he could play, but I kept telling him to work hard in practice and to help the guy in front of him," Doug said. "When your opportunity comes, be ready. There's nothing worse than having your number called, and you're not ready. When he hit the floor, it wasn't the points I saw. I saw his attitude."
"He always told me it's never an option to quit," Harrison followed. "It's never an option to give up. He's a hard worker. When I was a kid, I used to try to work hard with him. He would have me working out with him. Not doing too much, but just being with him. I watched how hard he went every play. I guess that's just in my genes, but I try to do the same thing and go hard every time out."
Football fans in Texas and the southeast might recognize Doug's name. He played eight seasons as a defensive tackle with the Houston Oilers following a stellar college career at Auburn University. It was at Auburn where he met Harrison's mother, Rebecca, who is still the school's career leader in points and rebounds for the women's basketball team. Harrison has used both of them as role models.
"I just really try to go the same way they went," Harrison said. "My mom and dad both had good careers in college and were All-Americans in their sports and they both went pro. I just try to follow in their footsteps and see what they did and do like them the best way I can."
As Harrison prepared to enter college, his father, who had previously moved to North Carolina to run a fishing boat business, gave his son another example of not quitting. He completed his own degree at Auburn.
"After I finished my football career, I was basically out on the ocean for the next five or six years," Doug said. "I figured out that I needed to go back to school. I ended up going back to Auburn, and I needed four years, but I went from 2001-04, and I graduated, and I was teaching school."
He now mentors children in eastern North Carolina, covering an area of approximately 10 schools.
"That was really a great thing for me to see," Harrison said. "He didn't have to do that, and he chose to go back himself. He played in the NFL year for eight years, so his pension was kicking in. He just wanted to finish."
Despite Harrison joking his father might be a little disappointed in him for choosing basketball over his own sport of football, both are grateful for his opportunities as a Longhorns basketball player, especially in the NCAA Tournament.
"In high school, he was at some of my best games," Harrison smiled. "Hopefully I can keep that going."
