The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Family, Football and Funny Cars
09.02.2011 | Football
Sept. 2, 2011
John Bianco, Texas Media Relations
Like most young boys, Bryan Harsin watched with envy as his father guided the family car. Engine purring, hubcaps gleaming, the dream of driving the meticulously maintained, sparkling roadster taunted him for years.
Harsin waxed and polished it. He dusted it, changed the oil and helped maintain the engine - anything he could do to help prove his passion to his father, Dale, to one day take the wheel.
Dale took great pride in his shiny, sporty, scratch and dent-free automobile. Summer after summer while other kids lounged around playing video games and watching television, Bryan put in his time learning the rules of the road. He diligently studied everything about the car, seeking wisdom in all of the safety precautions, getting an education on the techniques and strategies his father used to manage it, and dreaming of one day taking that seat and pressing the gas pedal.
The years passed, summers turned to fall and winter; school and sports enveloped him in his hometown of Boise, Idaho. Finally, as his senior year at Captial High School approached, Bryan's father, Dale, succumbed.
"My deal with him was when he graduated high school, I'd let him get his license, so we started the process right after he got that diploma," Dale Harsin said. "We took it slowly because I wanted to be sure he had all of the training required. He needed to know exactly what he was getting into, and be a good, safe driver."
To understand the father's apprehension, it needs to be clear that this wasn't your average trip to the local department of motor vehicles for the customary road test. Bryan had taken drivers education at the age of 14, received his permit six months later and passed the skills and knowledge tests to earn his Idaho driver's license at 15.
But he sought a more advanced license. His quest was to be elevated from crewmember to the status of driver in the family business, to join Dale (one of the pioneers of funny car racing, having started in the mid-1960s) behind the wheel of his "Team Harsin" funny car - a 1957 Chevy replica dragster, which at the time Dale tagged "Wild Thing." Far from the Toyota pickup Bryan drove to school each day, this was a flashy, fiberglass-framed missile on over-sized wheels that packed 2000 horsepower and blazed just inches above the ground at well over 200 miles per hour.
"The first time he got behind the wheel he was so excited," Dale recalled. "His eyes lit up when he got to the end of the track as if he'd been going 300 miles per hour, but I had to break it to him that he only got up to 59."
Dad is relaxed now, but Greg Borgens, the long-time crew chief for "Team Harsin" and now a driver himself, recalled Dale's reaction that day.
"I've never seen a guy's eyes as wide as Dale's were that first time Bryan was in the car," Borgens recalled. "He was as white as a ghost."
Bryan thought he knew a lot from watching over the years, but that first run taught him a lot about the power and speed the funny car packed. Over the coming months, as he went through a battery of tests under the scrutiny of the licensors, made up of a group of licensed drivers and track owners, he began to adjust and adapt.
"I had been around the cars and at the track for years but being inside there, by yourself, with the engine screaming, heat blasting, the wheel vibrating ... it's indescribable." Bryan said. "I knew being in this car you had to have a lot of respect for that. After that first run, it was good. I got it going pretty fast and got more and more comfortable handling the car."
Bryan proceeded to successfully complete the six runs required. He mastered the burn and launch, cleared the half-track and three-quarter-track pass and scorched through two full passes. Finally, the collection of expert judges approved him for his Funny Car License.
"My graduation present was getting licensed to drive the car," Bryan said with a huge grin. "Getting that funny car license was a great day in my life."
PUTTING IN HIS TIME
Like his playing and coaching career, Bryan Harsin didn't inherit the opportunity to carry on the family drag racing tradition. He earned it. From the time he was in elementary school, he watched, learned, studied and trained to prepare for that chance to take on the drag strip.
"Bryan started out doing anything he could to be involved with the team," Dale said. "He would clean and store the tools, carry fuel, keep the car spotless, straighten the parachutes, help us run through all of our check lists. He was meticulous in handling all of that. He'd take charge of whatever assignment he had, do it and take notes on the race for us.
"Bryan had a great sense of how important every little detail was. He wanted to be sure we had all of the information we needed to continue to have successful runs."
For Bryan, whom Dale said was riding a bike without training wheels at three years old and competing in mini-bikes races at five, racing was in his blood.
"I grew up in drag racing," Bryan said. "My whole life, every weekend I can remember in the summer time, we were at the track. That interest got pretty serious when I was nine or 10. That's when I really started dreaming about one day driving and getting to know more about the car and what made it tick.
"My dad started getting me more involved so I took my roles seriously. I was always very concerned about the car and making sure it was safe to run. I knew what everybody's job was."
Bryan quickly became Dale's trusted sidekick and with a keen eye beyond his young years, took pride in that role.
"As the years went by, my Dad would trust my instincts. If I thought there was something we needed to take care of or a concern I had with the car before we ran, he'd look into it," Bryan added. "That felt great because I knew I was a part of the team."
It was those moments and that teamwork that Dale believes were ingrained in Bryan. They were the principles that are essential in the makeup of a good driver and the success of any team.
"He learned what it takes to make it all work," Dale said. "It's not just having fun, it's work, preparation. Bryan was different than a lot of kids in that way, he took things very seriously at a young age and when it came to our team, he was very focused and aware."
TEAMWORK AND RACING
Race day is quite a sight as the team rolls toward the track in a 64-foot black, personally designed and enhanced 18-wheeler truck built by Dale himself. "Team Harsin" is proudly displayed on each side, as well as a sticker commemorating Boise State's memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma. The 31-foot cab pulls a trailer housing the dragster's tow car and the precious parcel, the famously named for decades Harsin Funny Car tabbed the "Outlaw" - a spectacular black speed machine with green flames, glistening, exaggerated tailpipes and a powerful engine.
On this day, Dale is taking a break from the track, and he and Bryan are here for the 9th Annual Northwest Mortorfest in Boise. The event is run by their good family friend - "Big Jack" Armstrong, a local radio DJ and one of the West's great drag racing supporters. Hundreds of hot rods, muscle cars, classics and antiques cover the fairgrounds as thousands of visitors gather to get a glimpse of them. "Outlaw" is by far among the most popular as crowds huddle closely to get a look, hear the engine blast and to get a taste of the power and speed it generates.
The members of the Harsin family are celebrities on this sunny and hot Boise day with admirers flocking to meet them. They pose for photos, shake hundreds of hands, laugh and share stories of their years on the circuit.
But as Bryan's performance nears, you get a glimpse into the mind and emotions of a driver. His eyes gleam and jaw stiffens as he straps on the fire suit, gloves and boots. By the time "Outlaw" is towed to the starting line and the fans begin cheering, Bryan forces a smile and a wave as he pulls on his helmet and the top to the car descends. Sweat streams down his face with heat inside the car that can radiate at more than double that of the 90-degree day outside.
"I knew I wasn't actually racing, but it took me back to race day," Bryan said. "I was running through my check list one final time and looking to my side for my opponent. I saw my dad, the crew and Kes out there on the track and then I tilted my head to peak through that narrow window to watch the `Christmas tree' flash yellow then green. I was in racing mode.
"Wow, when you fire up that engine, it's deafening. The jolt of power you feel when it takes off is amazing. I had visions of those days speeding down the track, clutch dust spraying in my face, the wheel violently vibrating and just trying to stay between those orange cones. You hope you see the finish line and smack the parachutes then wait to hear them snap, hit the breaks and shut down the motor while you breathe a sigh of relief. It all happens so fast and you have to be prepared to react so quickly to anything that could happen that when you finish safely, it's an exhilarating feeling."
When the engine shut down, Dale and the crew were right there to give Bryan a show of approval. His wife, Kes, had taken on her customary role of backing him up to the starting line.
"The window is so small in those cars that they can't see behind them," Kes said. "I'd be right out there on the track to direct him when he backed the car into place. I remember the first time I did it I was shaking like crazy, but I was helping my husband get on a straight line and happy to be a part of it. I'd always try to stay calm when he took off and then breathe a sigh of relief when I saw the `chutes.'"
It wasn't a race. Bryan simply performed what the drag racing circuit calls a "burnout and launch," firing up the engine, spinning the tires and taking off for just a few yards. But still, a race day plan was in place, the crew was on hand and no safety precaution was left unchecked - the same as when Bryan was first licensed and prepared to take his place behind the wheel. He knew the actual race was just a part of it. The preparation, race strategy, safety checks and plans put together by the crew to get the car on the track were critical.
"When you're racing, you learn how to be coachable and to listen to your crew," Bryan said. "You need to understand and respect the power of the funny car. I've seen guys crash and have seen bad things happen. You need to listen, be prepared, understand what you're being told leading up to the race.
"You feel proud when you finish safe. It's a great feeling for you and everybody involved because it is a total team effort. Watching everybody do their part and having everything just perfect before you get in car, teamwork is critical for the guy in car."
Dale also had the opportunity to reinforce how to handle success and failure. As a star on the Boise's Capital High football team, Bryan celebrated a lot of victories and handled defeat. But in the funny car, Dale wanted him to understand you're representing the team, and how you carry yourself once you cross the line is about more than just you.
"He lost his first race and got mad," Dale remembered. "I explained to him that's not how we handle things. If someone is better than you that day, you handle it with class, be respectful and work to get better. He learned a lot about sportsmanship from being a part of our racing team."
Bryan experienced much more success than failure, and in his 11 years on the circuit, he continued to grow as a driver. Eventually, he posted his fastest time of 6.33 seconds for a quarter of a mile or 233 miles per hour.
"When I had my best race, that was an unbelievable feeling, at that point in the car, everything went right," Bryan said. "The car ran straight as a string, it felt like a perfect run.
"When you're going that fast, you learn a lot about yourself alone in that car. To be able to climb in there, go through that process that my dad taught me for all of those years and cross the finish line with a great run, that was something."
Dale may have looked calm as he watched his son race, but he recalls the challenges of those days.
"When he got behind the car to race, those were the proudest and scariest moments of my life," Dale said. "It went well though. He was a natural at it. He was a good driver and actually went faster than I ever went. The best part was that father and son relationship - the time we got to spend together enjoying something we both loved so much."
FAMILY AFFAIR
For the Harsins, a great deal of importance is placed on family. It's a central part of the "Team Harsin" racing experience and one of the primary factors that drew Bryan to the track.
On that day in Boise, Bryan, Kes and their three children (daughters, Devyn and Dayn, and son, Davis) were on hand along with his father and his wife (Jan), Bryan's mother (Becky) and her husband (Barry). That doesn't include the large contingent of long-time drag racing friends gathered at the Fair Grounds for the event.
"I love drag racing, the speed, excitement, atmosphere and teamwork involved," Bryan said. "But that's on the track. There's a lot of time off the track and around the events and you meet some great people. Growing up in this sport and the way it brought my family together were big factors in how much we all enjoyed it. It was a family business for us. I got to spend time with my dad, my family and friends. That was a great draw."
"The fun part for all of us always was being together as a family," Dale said. "Once we we're on the track, that was all business, but there was a lot of time where we were just enjoying being around each other, spending time with friends and family."
Bryan and Kes have been dating since middle school. Their time at the track and summers together only enhanced that bond.
"It was exciting, something I'd never been around before I met Bryan," Kes said. "It was really cool - the crowd, the thrill - it was fun. It didn't take me long to fall in love with it, but most importantly, I knew Bryan loved it, and I was there to support him. It was just another opportunity for us to spend time together."
"We always say it's football, faith and family," Bryan added. "Drag racing is the same way. This sport, it's a big part of my family. Seeing my kids out here with my mom and dad, smiling, having fun. We all have fun with it."
FUNNY CARS AND FOOTBALL
When you're traveling well over 200 miles per hour and in a competition that is decided by hundredths of a second, adjusting to sudden changes and making fast decisions are critical to your success. Plans are made and tweaked, but facing the unexpected is the norm. Winning drivers have common traits; they're quick thinkers and swift decision makers.
Dale had that characteristic and Bryan inherited and developed it in years of working on the crew and eventually guiding the family funny car. During that time, he was also developing into a leader and prep football standout at quarterback. He took the planning, precision and quick decision making skills he honed growing up in drag racing to the field, twice earning second-team All-State honors and passing for 4,608 yards and 52 TDs in his final two seasons at Boise's Capital High School.
"Bryan was very intense as a player," said his high school coach Steve Vogel. "He was a workaholic who studied film, really prepared and knew the game plan inside and out. But the thing that made him so good was he could make adjustments during the game. He's always had a knack for picking up on things and handling change."
Bryan eventually walked on at Boise State and earned three letters as a backup quarterback. With the Broncos, he was a part of the rise of a program that is now annually among the nation's elite. As a senior, Boise State's high-powered passing attack averaged more than 250 yards per game, and it ranked 26th nationally in total offense (413.2 ypg). The Broncos won a thrilling 34-31 Humanitarian Bowl over Louisville and finished 10-3. That offensive shootout, which featured 10 lead changes, was BSU's first-ever bowl victory and a glimpse into the future of Broncos football.
In those meeting rooms and on the practice field in 1999 is where Harsin's fate as a future coach was decided. He watched and studied head coach Dirk Koetter and offensive coordinator Dan Hawkins, soaking up every bit of knowledge he could glean. After graduating from Boise State that spring, he entered the coaching profession at Eastern Oregon, coaching running backs and receivers for a year. He returned to Boise State as a graduate assistant in 2001, joining Hawkins' first staff as head coach.
"When he started coaching, I was just as proud as a dad," Dale said. "I can tell you he didn't get that football knowledge from me, I knew nothing about it. When I coached his Little League baseball team I had to get a book on coaching just to learn what to do.
"I was sad when he got into coaching because I lost my driver!" Borgens joked. "But we were all very proud of what he was becoming and the success he was having."
Harsin continued to climb the ranks, taking on the role of tight ends coach for the Broncos from 2002-05. During that time he was a part of an offensive staff, led by coordinator Chris Petersen, that was establishing a brand of explosive offense that was catching the attention of college football on Boise's famous blue turf. It was one that combined a fast paced, big-play passing game with a power running game, while mixing in a nice dose of trick plays.
In Harsin's four seasons coaching tight ends, the Broncos began showing they were more than a visitor on the national college football scene. They led the nation in scoring twice and finished among the top 10 in scoring all four years. BSU ranked among the nation's Top 15 three times during that stretch, posting a 53-11 record, including a 36-3 mark from 2002-04.
When Petersen took over for Dan Hawkins as head coach in 2006, Harsin was promoted to offensive coordinator. During that five-year stretch, the Broncos became a household name, posting a 61-5 record that included two undefeated seasons, both capped by Fiesta Bowl Championships over elite college football programs. In 2009, it was TCU and a 14-0 record, and in 2006, Oklahoma and a 13-0 mark. The Broncos reached at least 12 wins in four of Harsin's five seasons as coordinator and posted three Top 10 finishes, climbing as high as No. 4 in 2009.
During Harsin's time as offensive coordinator, BSU finished in the top five nationally in scoring four times, capped by ranking first in 2009 (42.2 ppg) and second in 2010 with 45.1 ppg. They also ranked second in 2006 (39.7 ppg), fourth in 2007 (42.4 ppg) and 12th in 2008 (37.6 ppg). In all, Boise State averaged 41.4 ppg during his time as coordinator.
The Broncos ranked in the Top 10 in total offense in three of Harsin's seasons, culminating in 2010 with a BSU school-record 521.3 yards per game last season, which ranked second nationally. In his five seasons as coordinator, the Broncos offense averaged 459.9 yards per game, including averaging more than 200 yards both rushing and passing twice.
As his success as a quarterback can be traced to his driving roots, you can connect those same attributes to what has made him one of the nation's top quarterback coaches and offensive coordinators.
"I do think the sports are very similar in their focus, preparation, details and teamwork," Bryan said. "Those are all similar characteristics you have to have to be successful in football and racing."
Dale agrees that ultimately, that precision and teamwork results in the success of a team, a play and offense.
"In racing, you work as a team. It's not just the driver," Dale added. "Everybody has a critical roll in building and taking care of the car, getting to the track and everything it takes to get to and win a race."
If you've had the opportunity to watch the Boise State offense that Bryan Harsin coordinated the past several years you know that its success is predicated on that teamwork, continuity and precision. The walls of his meeting room at Texas are decorated with hundreds of plays and formations. At his first Longhorns spring practice, his arm was in a constant winding motion, emphasizing the other key factor ... speed.
"There's no question the speed part of our offense comes from my background in drag racing," Bryan said. "I've liked to do things with a fast pace. That tempo. That speed translated from my family and spending so much time at the track."
"But, in racing and football, it's the same," Bryan said. "You need to move fast and think quickly. It's critical you stay ahead of the game and prepare for every possible scenario coming up. When you get behind the wheel or to the line (of scrimmage), you need to know what to expect, make sure you check everything quickly and have a plan. You need to be prepared for anything that could happen, be able to react immediately and have an answer for it."
As a quarterback coach, that's where he really draws the connection to football and drag racing, to driving and playing quarterback.
"When you talk about split second decisions, with a lot going on around you, that's something that drag racing and playing quarterback have in common," Bryan explained. "You're in the pocket or you're in that seat, at the snap of the ball or when that green light flashes things move unbelievably fast, get really violent and you have respond quickly."
The quarterback, coaches, play caller and team all have to trust one another. Precision is essential and every role crucial.
"It's like we tell our kids all the time, everybody needs to do their job and no one job is more important than another," Bryan added. "Everybody has a responsibility and has to do it right for us to have success. Dad's been racing for a long time, has a lot of good people around him and that's why he's one of the best in the business.
"The fun part of any team is having a plan, pulling together and achieving success."
That will be his goal for the Longhorns offense in 2011; teaching the new offense, setting goals and having fun. So, as you watch the Longhorns burst out of the huddle, move and shift as the play clock ticks down with the play signals moving rapidly from press box to sideline to the quarterback, picture 18-year-old Bryan intensely sitting at the wheel of a burnt orange funny car, revving the engine, spinning the wheels, fire blazing from the tailpipes, ready to launch. The plan is to pull those twin parachutes only at the end zone.
