U Got Me Under Pressure

This article was written by CaneSawMassacre exclusively for Canespace...

The pressure and weight of the entire Cane nation rests on the shoulders of one young man.  This is somewhat ironic and probably even harder to handle with the pain he constantly feels in one of those shoulders as he sleeps. 

That doesn’t worry the young man, the pressure or the pain that is. He thrives off both.  In fact it appears that he actually thrives off everything that knocks most people off their game. 

Growing up, he was constantly told he couldn’t, that he wouldn’t be able to succeed as a skinny underweight kid from Carol City.  Even though all along he knew what he would be the starting quarterback for his football team. It didn’t matter what team he was playing for, starting from Pop Warner to now as the leader of The University of Miami, he always expected to be “The Guy”. 

Jacory Harris was a 6’4 164 pound freshman when he arrived January as an early enrollee to the University of Miami. He had major expectations for himself as Mr. Football in the State of Florida and just coming off his second consecutive high school state championship.

Harris had an unblemished record as the starter, going an amazing 30-0 against the best of Dade County. He compiled those victories against top competition, with comeback victories in crunch time, and blow out victories on prime time. Jacory Harris had played live football on ESPN before most kids in Miami got E.A. sports NCAA football to live out their dreams.

As he prepared himself for the 2008 season during grueling two-a-day practices with his new team there were questions.  Lots and lots of questions the maniacal fans were asking out loud. 

Was he big enough and strong enough to play college football?  People were worried that he might get hurt in practice with our own players accidentally hitting him. 

Were a lot of his accomplishments due to the amazing talent that surrounded him his two years as starter?  After all, he did have 14 teammates get division 1 scholarships to programs around the country. 

Would Jacory even get the opportunity to play?  There was already a Mr. Football from the State of Florida who was on campus and he was the incumbent starter.  Not to mention that this Mr. Football named Robert Marve, just happened to be a freshman himself. 

Marve had redshirted the previous year due to a severe hand injury he suffered in a car accident. This all meant if Marve was really good or equally as good as Jacory, Marve could potentially be a starter all four years that Jacory was on campus.

Often times though things have a tendency to work themselves out. Jacory surprisingly began the season off as the starter for 2008. Due to a controversial suspension of Marve for an incident that occurred during the offseason, Jacory would be the starting QB for the University of Miami against Charleston Southern.

Despite the weak competition Jacory played very well and showed an enormous amount of poise for a true freshmen.  I remember my father asking me in the stands, "Do you think we have a quarterback controversy? There is no way Shannon starts Marve for the UF game after the way this young man just played." I laughed at my father, as much as I enjoyed Jacory’s performance I still believed Bobby Drama was the future and hope of this program.

Much to my father’s dismay and much to my chagrin Robert Marve started the UF game for the Miami Hurricanes. Jacory patiently waited for an opportunity to play and was anxious for any chance to show that he belonged.

Despite his great performance in week 1 he knew people would question the competition and he wanted to compete against the best. He wanted a chance to go out there and play against the Gators, the third ranked team in the country.

Harris was very excited and a little bit nervous because he knew he would play at some point because of discussions with coach Shannon, Coach Nix and Marve. It was already agreed that whatever happened both quarterbacks would play to try and gain experience in case something happened to one or the other.  

So instead of pestering the coaches and tormenting himself, Jacory focused on the game and what the UF defense was giving Robert Marve from the sideline.  He was confident he had spotted a weakness.

Finally, Jacory was called upon by the coaches. They wanted him to go in there as a change of pace, and try and jolt the offense. His calm demeanor was evident as he strolled out onto the field at “The Swamp” with 70,000 screaming fans getting increasingly more volatile.  As he reached the huddle he gave a slight pep talk and called the play. He was backed up and standing at his own goal line.

As the Gator defense set-up he noticed the defensive back lining up the same way he had before on the sideline. Immediately Jacory called an audible, screaming loudly to assure that his teammates heard the call. The ball was snapped and Harris threw a dart out of his own end zone for a completion and a first down.  The ESPN announcers complimented the Hurricanes offensive coordinator for a “gutsy” call, never knowing that the young freshmen had just called an amazing and daring audible himself.

As the season wound down the situation between Bobby Drama and Shannon was on very icy ground.  So as the Emerald Bowl rolled around, Robert Marve was suspended and Jacory Harris would finally get his second start of the 2008 season. Robert Marve didn’t even make the trip with the team. 

The game was a very close and hard fought game for both teams. Cal brought their “A” game with running back Jahvid Best  having a great game for the Bears.  Despite Jacory playing a pretty good game, a late fumble proved to be crucial. Jacory attempted to tie up the score and bring his team back, but it was evident that Coach Nix had failed this team by not preparing them properly for the two minute drill. 

As the time wasted away, Coach Shannon's disgusted face indicated Nix was done at UM. Jacory showed disgust because this was the first time he had lost a game as the starting quarterback for his team.

Jacory felt sick and felt he let down his team. As the team gathered together on the buses, Jacory marched on to both the offensive and defensive buses and apologized for his performance. He apologized to all the seniors who had to go out with a loss and that bitter taste in their mouths. But he made a promise to rest of the team that he would not let them down again.  He vowed to bring this team, this program, Coach Shannon, and his brethren back to the promise land.

As the 2009 season is set to start, the pressure of the Cane nation is weighing heavily on Jacory Harris.  The skinny kid from Carol City has the opportunity to do something huge here and he wants it more than any fan will ever know.

So as he wakes from another long night of sleeping on his sore shoulder he doesn’t worry.  The pain is only something that will make tasting victory so much sweeter. 

He believes in his players and they believe in him. 

He believes in his coaches and they believe in him.

Are you ready to believe in him?

Comments

[Aqua]

Nice article, but I think Jacory is from Carol City.

[86Cane]

HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY TO ALL CANESPACERS OUT THERE!

[86Cane]

Aqua...are U 100% on that?

[SebastianDaIbis]

Happy 4th to all the `Spacers around the globe

[Aqua]

86, I'm pretty sure his house is in the Carol City district. Not like it's a big deal, but alotta kids wanna play for Northwestern...

[Fran]

well done CSM nice read.
Happy & safe July 4, 2009 to all especially those seeking the thril of fireworks up close with children.
Go Canes

[Alex]

steve Mcnair was found dead with a gunshot to the head. Everyone is dying! what the f@&k is going on?

[86Cane]

FREEDOM ISN'T FREE.

To all the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the U.S. military to protect our freedom:

WE THANK U!

[UMike]

Nice article CSM.

[CaneRock]

Aqua, are the school zones still pretty much the same in Dade County?
I remember when I went to school in the 90's, I-95 was pretty much the boundary that determined where you went to school.

[Six]

When I posted that Steve McNair was murdered at 4:43pm, no other major sports website had it on their front page ..

ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sportsline, Yahoo Sports, etc.

Canespace gets it first - that's right

[86Cane]

Canespace gets it first - that's right

Posted by: Six | July 04, 2009 at 07:58 PM

AGAIN! Thanks Six.

[Hassan]

really good article

i think we going to be good pray jacory does not get hurt, can we put a red jersey on him in a game?

[Aqua]

Canerock, I wouldn't know...

[Cat5 Cane]

Am i ready to believe?... Am I ready to believe?..... HELLLLLL YES!

Lets mov'em out... Rollin, Rollin, Rollin, get those doggie's rollin... RAWHIDE! Move'em out, Head 'em up, Get'em up Get'em out...

[Cat5 Cane]

Hey Chain... Ya got me jacked!

[Cat5 Cane]

Time for some R and R... Later

[86Cane]

Cat5...Happy fourth, this Bud's for U!

CBS is having a Boston Pops Fireworks spectacular. NICE!

[JCane]

I saw the kicker from STA verbaled to UTenn. They're definitely trying to sticks their paws everywhere they can. They're doing quite the job of recruiting, regardless of what techniques they're using.

Hope all had a safe and happy 4th without forgetting what the holiday is about.

[mr troutman]

HAPPY 4TH CANES...YEAH I BELIEVE IN JASCORY..I KNOW HE CAN BRING US BACK TO THE TOP.....WHAT UP 86..YEAH I'M STILL AROUND

[86Cane]

WHAT UP 86..YEAH I'M STILL AROUND

Posted by: mr troutman | July 04, 2009 at 10:57 PM

TROUT! What up, long time?

[canezilla]

yeah he stayed in carol city but used somebodys addy to go to school there.and no the school zones are not the same.he lived in carol city he passed norland ,krop,north miami beach,my school north miami,then theres central,then northwestern.so he was way out of his zone,fuk it everybody does it.

[Cat5 Cane]

22... Woke up, the house is quiet, threw on some coffee... coming to sit a spell, catch-up on the space, dwell on what might be while waiting for the clock to get around to late Augest when practice is in full gear.

Ohhhh that clock moves so slow when your waiting...

TIC

TIC

TIC

OH Jacory... ya got any film we could watch?

[Cat5 Cane]

August

[Cat5 Cane]

Hey 86 and Happy 4th ....

Having served, I have the right to say thank you from me and all of my brethren who can't be here... So salute and backatcha.

[Cat5 Cane]

To all who are serving now... FREEDOM is the word. Keep'em locked and loaded.
Thanks
Cat

[Cat5 Cane]

Later

[IraqiCane]

Awesome article CSM really a great read thanks. To everyone else happy late 4th. hope everyone made it home safe.

GO CANES!!!

[Old Skool]

Looks like the McNair killing may be a murder suicide by a 20 year old woman who wasn't his wife.

[CaneSniper]

If McNair was from Miami, we'd already be hearing about that.

[Aqua]

Freedom's just a word for nothing left to lose...

[MaryLouAlumni]

Good Morning Canes
Hope all of you had a great July 4th
Not much to say from this end. Nervous and scared about my spine surgery tomorrow. I know all of you wish me a speedy recovery. Good wishes and prayers are appreciated.
Mary Lou

[Aqua]

If Steve McNair was from Miami, you would've already heard a "reporter" say it was his past catching up with him...

[SlingBlade]

it amazes me how in todays economy the newspapers cant get someone to write their sports articles, captions, etc. with the correct names of players...especially when its the team they are supposed to be covering....i thought we drafted patrick turner
http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/mycapture/enlargePopup.asp?image=24463679&event=788435&CategoryID=48008&pSlideshow=1

[Calvin]

Well in sort of an awkard moment, it seems like it's the case with steve mcnair, but than again, what gets me is, they had a hard time finding the gun at 1st, but mcnair had a few guns shots, she only had 1, which only reminds me of 1 song, and here's where it just feels like some kind of weird connection: The smoothness was always their!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLo4hn_WjEA

[OCALACANE]

Sup SpaceCadets..
Aqua...

Happy 4th. of July nad Happy birthday U.S.A.

Was McNair from Marshall?

[OCALACANE]

oops and not nad. we all have enough nads don't need more...

[Calvin]

Nope MCNAIR, played at alcorn st. I remember cause he played against a friend of mine who played linebacker named reginald lee in the championship game against youngstown st. back when sweater vest a.k.a. jim tressel coached their!

[Aqua]

Yeah Ocala it was Alcorn St. Marshall had Pennington and Leftwich. Who, btw, have had better Pro careers than any UM QB at the same time...

[Calvin]

Also, this is why joe wylie is transferring tennessee st. you don't get this in any other conference.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GsEWlffnxoQ

[canechic]

I thought McNair was from Alcorn State but I am not sure will look it up.

I am quite sure this girl is his girlfriend and either she killed him or the wife put out a hit. MEN KEEP your thing in your pants, My goodness these men and their horrific choices!!!! Dishonesty and deceit will bring you down and may, like in this case, cause your death. And your children.....just sad!

[Cat5 Cane]

MaryLou... stop worring about it... You made the tough decission and there is nothing that you can do to control what happens tomorrow... so try to relax and put your faith in the doctors who you have chosen...

Relax Girl...

[Canesawmassacre]

Thanks everybody, I'm glad you liked the article.

And I'm sure Jacory is from Carol City but the bio I looked him up on had Libert City, probably that way for a reason... LMAO, if any kid in Tampa tried what these kids do down in S.FLA you would almost guarantee they would become ineligble.

[Calvin]

This is an ALL-TIMER right here though!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUEd3VCO7y0

[86Cane]

Good wishes and prayers are appreciated.
Mary Lou

Posted by: MaryLouAlumni | July 05, 2009 at 08:48 AM

Boat loads of positive thoughts coming your way MaryLou!

Remember this: "Worry is like a rocking chair. It keeps U busy, but gets U nowhere."

[Calvin]

It's been going on in DADE COUNTY for years. Also, alot of guys just want to play with the same guys they grew up playing with in optimist football anyway and of course the coaches do to, especially when they realize they got a championship caliber team.

[Canesawmassacre]

Calvin I understand, and I can't complain because we got a pipeline to a few of those schools but...

I'll just say in other places, I can guarantee you high school coaches would be causing trouble.

[Canesawmassacre]

And thanks again for the positive insight, I would also like any constructive criticism and pointers for any writers out there.

I'm a manager within Verizon but it is not something I love. I love writing sports and I'm thinking about sending some of my articles to some different people, maybe try and start out as a freelance writer.

If anybody has any connections or just want to over some insight, send me your email so I can reach out to you, thank in advance!

[Canesawmassacre]

By the way big thanks to 86, you did a great job with some of the editing and the pictures were awesome.

Still no word on the FSU tix's? Maybe we can ask some people on here...

[Hurriphin]

Hurriphin.....the U.