Juan Villa / The Collegian
The Bulldog football team is full of talented players, NFL prospects and memorable names.
But one Bulldog player is becoming known for more than just his skill on the field.
He has been noticed for the man he is off the field.
Safety Moses Harris stands out in a sea of red for more than just his exceptional play on the field.
Fans are starting to take notice of Harris̢۪ aggressive play and leadership on the field, but those close to him are not surprised by his success.
“Every day he’s practicing as hard as he can practice and in a manner to make himself better,â€Â defensive backs coach Randy Stewart said.
Football “an act of worship”
Stewart has been coaching Harris for the past four seasons and has seen Harris mature along the way.
Stewart said he has the utmost respect for Harris and knows that he is not afraid to stand out from the crowd.
“He’s got great standards for himself,â€Â Stewart said. “He lives his life the way we’d all like to live it.â€Â
Harris can be seen staying late following practice each and every day to run sprints with teammates. He leads the defense by example.
He attributes his success to his faith and strong religious background.
“Athletics is an act of worship for me,â€Â Harris said.
Harris̢۪ faith began at an early age. His father, Maurice, is a pastor and he grew up with strong religious values. Even his name has strong biblical connotations.
His first name is Martin, but his family began calling him by his middle name, Moses.
“When I was a little boy, my dad would always say, ‘You’re gonna lead somebody to the promised lands,’â€Â Harris said.
Harris lets his light shine
Harris, alongside teammate Ben Jacobs, was responsible for the critical goal-line stand in the first quarter that kept Wisconsin from reaching the end zone and taking an early lead.
“I thought we did a very good job shutting down that offense,â€Â coach Pat Hill said. “That goal-line stand at the start of the game was awesome.â€Â
Besides making that crucial goal-line play and a big hit against Toledo, Harris has recorded 20 tackles in the first three games and has been instrumental in the defensive success early on this season.
Harris said football is an outlet for him to reach others and he uses it to complement his faith, even though it is not easy.
“[Football] allows me to shine my light in an environment that is not conducive to faith,â€Â Harris said.
But Stewart said that Harris does not go around the locker room or practice field preaching to teammates. He simply allows his actions to speak for themselves.
Some of his actions have been noticed.
He has been awarded Fresno State̢۪s Bulldog Spirit Award, given to the student-athlete who best represents their sport.
Harris has also been selected to the Academic All-Western Athletic Conference Team and will graduate with a bachelor̢۪s degree following his junior season.
The future is bright for the Bulldog safety, and Stewart sees no limit to his potential.
“Inside of football or outside, he is going to be a success,â€Â Stewart said.
What’s coming up: Getting to know the UCLA Bruins…
2007 Record: 6-7 (5-4 in Pac-10 play)
The story so far: The Bruins started the season on a high with a 27-24 overtime win against No. 18 Tennessee. Since that win, coach Rick Nueheisel̢۪s Bruins have had a tough run losing 59-0 to BYU and 31-10 at home against Arizona.
Impact Players: Offense – Quarterback Kevin Craft – Craft started the offseason third on the depth chart, but after a few injuries he has started all three games for the Bruins. The junior’s numbers are not flashy, but he orchestrated a fourth-quarter comeback against Tennessee.
Defense – Linebacker Reggie Carter – Carter leads the Bruin defense with 30 tackles in three games. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound linebacker has also recorded 2.5 sacks and forced two fumbles.
The Buzz: The Bulldogs come off a tough double-overtime win against Toledo and will travel for the third time in the first four games. The Bruins should expect the ̢۪Dogs best effort and an unusually large visitor section at the Rose Bowl.