George Schroeder of the Eugene Register Guard has an excellent column today about suspended University of Oregon football player Cliff Harris. Harris was cited for going 118 in a 65 mph zone on I-5 with a suspended license this last weekend. It has since come out that Harris owes over $8500.00 in traffic fines in various courts in Oregon and California.
Some points made by Schroeder:
Harris wasn’t cited for reckless driving, which will save him a few bucks. But he’s been suspended for reckless living. For being immature, dumb and selfish
Will he somehow begin paying the thousands of dollars he owes for those unresolved brushes with the law? Will he alter a lifestyle of casual disregard for authority?
But it’s clear Harris hasn’t learned to follow the rules. Since his arrival, he has apparently seen the standards and obligations of the football program — team meetings, studies, stuff like that — as optional, or at least as unimportant. There are reasons he didn’t crack the starting lineup until halfway through last season.
It is an honor to play football for and represent the University of Oregon and Cliff Harris is a stain on that honor ! Another football player this week tried to defend Harris by saying we fans cheer him when he makes a touchdown and turn on him when he makes a mistake,. We cheer the TEAM that makes a touchdown. Football is a TEAM sport and to Harris it is too much about him. I wonder if Ohio State has an opening for him. As some one who lives and dies with my Ducks we fans have for too long been making excuses for some of there off field violations. NO MORE !
For now he is a cancer on this team. He needs to go !
Oliver Cromwell said it best in another context:
"Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"
(Click on the title for the full Schroeder column.)
