Where are They Now Wednesday - Joe Ross
Where are They Now Wednesday - Caroline Bevillard
Where are They Now Wednesday - Everett Teaford
Where are They Now Wednesday - Charlie Edwards
Where are They Now Wednesday - Ricky Harris
Wednesday of each week during the football season Georgia Southern Athletics will catch up with a former coach, administrator, student-athlete, trainer, cheerleader, etc. to see where they are now and how their time at Georgia Southern helped get them there.
Ricky Harris
Program Director for Empty Stocking Fund
Atlanta, Georgia
A 1983-1986 Football Letterman, Ricky Harris was a member of Georgia's Southern first two national championship teams in 1985 and 1986. He caught three passes for 143 yards including a 79-yard touchdown reception against Arkansas State in the 1986 championship Game. It was the only 100-yard receiving game of his career. He is also the career record holder for yards per rush and ranks second only to Adrian Peterson for yards per rush in a season. He led the 1985 team in all-purpose yards, catches and rushing yards. Harris totaled 100-yard rushing games six times in his career. He is now the Program Director for the Empty Stocking Fund and resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Q: Give fans an idea on what you are doing now?
RH: "I have been the Program Director for the Empty Stocking Fund for the past 16 years. The fund has been around since 1927. It was created in Atlanta for Atlanta's needy children. We provide toys to needy children in the metro Atlanta area. We serve 55,000 kids in 18 days during the holidays. We use monetary donations in order to purchase dolls, balls and anything that is a hot toy item for the needy children."
Q: What are some of your most memorable moments as an Eagle?
RH: "The last play I ever played.
Tracy Ham and I actually talked about it the other day. He threw the same pass over the middle twice. The first time I jumped offsides, and he threw the same pass again. I ran it 79-yards for a touchdown in the 1986 National Championship game against Arkansas State. That was the last time any of us really played ball at that level together."
Q: What was it like to be a part of those early Georgia Southern football teams?
RH: "You had to really go out and sell the program in those early years. We went to churches, civic groups and really went everywhere to talk about football. That was what Erk wanted us to do. To sell the program to the people around Statesboro to get them involved. We were talking to people in Millen, Georgia and everywhere else. Erk was direct and to the point and had your best interest in mind all the time. You knew you where in good hands with him and when he asked you to do something you wanted to do your best.
I liked the 1985 and 1986 teams, but I liked the 1984 team a whole lot better believe it or not. That team had a lot of really great players. We missed the playoffs more so because we where not well known that year. The next year in 1985 we were better known and got in the playoffs and went all the way. "
Q: What is one of your favorite Erk Russell stories?
RH: "Everyday before we went to practice Erk had a story to tell and I swear in my time on the team he never told the same one twice. He told many of them, but really he was trying to get you motivated before going out in that hot sun in Statesboro."
Q: How did your experience as a student-athlete at Georgia Southern prepare you for life after college?
RH: "Coach Russell instilled a lot of things in us but these are the three big ones. The first was to wear a clean shirt, sit in the front of class and smile at the teacher. He also told us to know who you represent. You represent your school, your parents, your church and your community. The last one was do right. If your curfew was 9 pm don't start at 8:30 pm trying to figure out how to get out of it just go home and make curfew. I take those same three things to work with me everyday."
Q: What brought you to Georgia Southern?
RH: "My senior year of high school I did not know what I was going to do. I had a lot of scholarship offers, and I visited a few campuses. I had been to Georgia and heard Vince Dooley speak. I liked Dooley a lot, but Dooley didn't talk X's and O's he talked about other stuff. When Erk Russell talked in the locker room everybody got quiet and listened. I really admired that. Georgia had Herschel Walker at the time, and I didn't want to play behind him so I went where Erk went to Georgia Southern."
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