09.25.07
Posted in Memories at 1:32 pm by jeffmc80
Lucas and I were not good friends. We hung out because we had a lot of the same friends, but he wasn’t on my speed dial and I probably wasn’t on his. Don’t get me wrong, I respected Lucas. I thought he was hilarious. I think he intimidated me. I never understood how someone 5 inches shorter than me and 40 pounds lighter than me could intimidate me.
I didn’t come to his funeral. School was about to start, so I was pretty busy, but mostly I was just mad at Lucas. I didn’t understand how someone who I respected so much could do what he did. I decided that was more important than coming home to support my friends and his family, so I stayed in Jackson. It was selfish.
I say all this now because when I think about Lucas, none of the negatives enter my mind…
I think about his passion. I remember after getting beaten by Highland Home, I gave Lucas a kind of “well that sucks†smirk. He responded by yelling in my face, “Why are you smiling? Do you not care?†I thought I cared, but maybe I didn’t care enough. I made a point to care enough from that point forward.
I remember his intensity. I remember how his shoulder would come out of its socket every time he would make a hit. He would stand there, leaning forward, his arm hanging limply and rotating in circles, calling out the defensive formations through his gritted teeth (in between a few “dammitsâ€). Against MA, he played the entire second half with a broken hand. A doctor from MA even tried to examine him at halftime. The other team prayed he would come out. They would rather play against a fresh running back or linebacker than Lucas with one arm.
I think about his selflessness. I remember after we won Players of the Year, I asked him how he felt. I wanted us to gloat together for just a minute, to take just a second and pat ourselves on the back. Instead, he just answered, “We are lucky Jason (Smith) broke his leg. If he hadn’t, we wouldn’t be getting these.†The proudest moment of our lives up until that point, and Lucas would only complement one of his rivals.
I think about how he loved to laugh. He loved to laugh almost as much as we loved to hear him laugh. I remember (back when we sucked) standing through one of the worst renditions of the national anthem I have ever heard before one game (yes, it was an away game…no, there weren’t any white kids in the band…) Anyway, every player and coach had his head down, biting his lip, trying their hardest not to snicker…everyone except Lucas… he starts in with that goofy laugh “he he, he, ahh ha, AAHHH, HA HA HA!†None of the coaches could get on to him because they were too busy trying not to laugh themselves… The funny thing is, whenever he comes up around the coaches now, including Bowman and Smeltzer, the first thing that comes up isn’t his football play. Someone always tries to imitate his laugh…I wish someone had a tape recording of nothing but his laugh…
I hope people learn two things from Lucas. I hope they learn the dangers of getting caught up in the bad stuff. Just as importantly, I hope they learn what it means to care about something.
Lucas, I love you and I respect you. We may not have been best friends, but you impacted my life for the better. Thank you for teaching me how to care about something.
-Jeff McIntyre
9/25/07
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09.24.07
Posted in Memories at 10:34 am by jeffmc80
I am honored to speak some brief words about Lucas Harris. I’m Robert Johnson and was Lucus’ head football coach at STJ.
I had lunch with some of his best friends yesterday and asked them what they wanted me to talk about.
They had been getting together and had received numerous phone calls.
They said that they wanted to hear what Lucas was passonate about and talked about all the time: his senior year of STJ football.
They said that Lucas was his happiest when he played football and got excited when he talked about it.
Lucas was some kind of ball player. He played about every postion at some point. He played RB,WB,Center,Kicker,LB,DE, and DB to name a few.
Lucas finished his career at STJ in specatular fashion, but things weren’t always so easy.
He started being the ball boy when he was in elementary and hanging around the older players.
In 7th grade, he played on a team of only 15. It was tough.
In 8th grade he would practice with varsity and get his tail whooped, but it wasn’t from a lack of effort.
He had a good 9th grade year, but his soph and junior years were disappointing. Lucas did well, but the team didn’t.
All he cared about was the team.
I was fortunate to become head football coach his senior year. Lucas was such a blessing to have. Coaches always look for leaders.
And Lucas was a born leader. He made sure everyone busted their tail in the weight room and running.
He made sure everyone gave max effort on the field both by example and words.
He gained over twenty pounds and increased his speed before his senior year.
By the time the season rolled around, he was a beast and he had everyone believing.
Some of highlights of his senior year are: running over an ACA defender at the goalline in the first game.
Being called Lucious Harris as he ran thru Saint Jude players.
Destroying every counter play run. “Don’t run no counter at Lucious Harris.”
Beating Trinity for the first time in 10 years.
Running for over 160 yards at Calhoun and over 100 against Calera.
Breaking his hand in the first half of the MA game, but having an incredible second half to beat them and win the first ever CCC title at STJ.
Snapping his shoulder back into place constantly while calling defense.
Winning the first round of the playoffs.
But, Lucas told friends that his best and proudest moment was just being with his Dad in the locker room after the final game.
Lucas was the captain and MVP of the football team. He also was named CCC player of the year and proundly displayed the trophy next to his bed.
He loved to talk about his senior season and tell anyone that he was on the team that turned Saint James around.
Lucas’s impact at Saint James will be felt forever. Last years seniors loved to watch Lucas play on highlight films and used him as inspiration.
Lucas was so much fun to be around. He had that goofy laugh, and he loved to laugh at his own jokes and stories.
He loved Bacon, BBQ, and milk. I can remember he would drink a half gallon of whole milk at lunch every day to bulk up.
He loved to play pool.
Some of his football buddies might remember this,
after a long story about Cortez burning the ships, he was worried his car was going to burned to the ground went to the parking lot.
And he knew that dive was the first play ever put into football.
Lucas never met a stranger and was willing to spend time with people and help them.
He was a friend to the young and old alike.
He loved Pops, his granddad. They would watch Fox News together, go to Wendy’s, and just be together.
In difficult times like these, we all have questions.
I have no answers, but to trust in the Lord.
Ones life is not summed up by one decision.
It is a culmination of many events. Lucas had some great times, great friends, and lived life to the fullest.
Lucas we miss you and love you. I hope now, that you and Pops get a chance to watch some football together.
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