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‘There is life after basketball’ for Tony Harris

Ex-UT point guard is earning his degree

By Mike Griffith (Contact)
Originally published 10:17 p.m., June 3, 2008
Updated 10:17 p.m., June 3, 2008

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This time around, Tony Harris wants to have a happy ending at the University of Tennessee.

Harris is back on campus to complete his degree in psychology. Since January, the former All-SEC point guard has completed more than 20 credit hours and needs 24 more to graduate in December.

“My agent told me I had an offer for about $90,000 to go play … but if I don’t finish my degree now, I’ll never do it,’’ Harris said. “There is life after basketball.’’

Harris, whose professional career included stops in the CBA, ABA, USBL and Spain, is leaning toward playing in the Pilot Rocky Top League this summer.

But, he wondered aloud Monday at Thompson-Boling Arena, “Do you really think people here would want to see me play?”

Harris regrets not leaving a better impression in Knoxville when he finished his eligibility seven years ago.

“When I was here, I made some mistakes, like a lot of young guys,” said Harris, a 29-year-old husband and father. “I don’t blame the media, but back then, I didn’t know how to handle the media when stuff happened. I was short, standoffish, and pretty much stayed to myself.”

Former UT coach Jerry Green, for whom Harris played, also had a strained relationship with the media, further adding to the animosity that once surrounded the men’s basketball program.

The situation reached its peak for Harris his senior year (2001) when he charged off the bench — in street clothes due to an ankle injury — and got involved in a team skirmish during a game with Kentucky. The incident led to former UT athletic director Doug Dickey calling a press conference to address the situation.

“I heard about how people thought I was a thug, and I really felt misunderstood,” Harris said. “I had a lot of passion for the game, and I think some people took the way I was on the court the wrong way.”

Harris shook his head when recalling the way the public’s perception of him unfolded.

“That stuff can follow you around,” said Harris, once referred to as a “punk” by former News Sentinel columnist Gary Lundy after the Kentucky incident. “I just felt people never knew me. With coach Green, I never really felt I could speak my mind.’’

Pearl plays role

UT coach Bruce Pearl has welcomed Harris back to the school to do just that while completing his degree as part of the RAC (Renewing Academic Commitment) program. The program is for former UT scholarship athletes who didn’t finish their degrees when their eligibility expired. It is funded by the athletic department. Applicants are judged on a case-by-case basis, and the powers that be determined Harris was worthy.

Pearl couldn’t agree more.

“Tony has come back and done a great job with his academics,’’ Pearl said. “He had to jump in with both feet and become a full-time student. It’s amazing what getting in the real world can do for you.’’

Harris is one of many former basketball players Pearl has called on to come back and finish their degrees.

“I let them know that even through they played for different coaches, they are part of the Tennessee family,’’ Pearl said. “I told Tony, `I don’t know what you’ll do with your degree, but I can tell you what could happen without one.’ ‘’

Dan Carlson, the director of the RAC program at UT, said Harris has grown into a role model of sorts for the athletes.

“Tony has matured so much, it’s amazing,’’ Carlson said. “I was working in athletics when he came in the first time, and he was always very nice, but his mind was on playing basketball after college.

“Now, he’s always in the Thornton Center working with tutors and using the resources. He’s a good role model for our young guys.’’

A mentor for others

Pearl likes the idea of having Harris around his players in a mentor capacity; listening to the former McDonald’s All-American recruit and All-SEC player talk, it’s easy to understand why.

“These young players here now need to realize there’s more to this than basketball,’’ Harris said. “It’s about education and how you carry yourself. How you treat people will be remembered, too.’’

Harris said he wishes he could have had the opportunity to play for Pearl.

“Jerry Green helped me in some ways, but Pearl is a people person, and he’s one of the main reasons I came back to get my degree,’’ Harris said. “We didn’t have that type of relationship with coach Green. We didn’t look at him like Chris Lofton and JaJuan Smith look at coach Pearl. They know he has their back.’’

Former UT standout Ron Slay said Harris would have benefited greatly in Pearl’s system, both on and off the court.

“Tony would fit right in right now,’’ Slay said. “He was looked at by some as a hothead, and some people thought he shot too much. But he could run the team, and you look at what teams are doing now and they want point guards that can score.’’

As for the “punk’’ or “thug’’ perceptions, Slay said those who knew Harris personally knew that was not the case.

“Off the court, Tony is very mellow and relaxed,’’ Slay said. “He’s really a bit of a practical joker.’’

Back on the court?

Slay said he hopes Knoxville gets to know Harris through the Rocky Top League and has already started pushing his former teammate to play.

“I’m going to call him right now,’’ Slay said. “I’m going to make him play in the league, and I want him on my squad. People haven’t seen anyone that fast on this court.’’

Rick Campbell, a former Lincoln Memorial University basketball assistant who led Toyota of Knoxville to the Rocky Top League title last year, said Harris will be on his draft list.

“If Tony’s as quick as he was, and he’s in shape, he will be dynamite,’’ Campbell said. “Tony was a blur. People were pressing him and he’d beat it himself and go coast to coast and score.’’

Harris, who has been conducting individual basketball workouts for youth with Vision Athletics at Cumberland Estates, said he still has game.

“The only thing that’s changed is the year; I can still play,’’ Harris said with a smile. “But I might not score as much — unless someone starts talking trash and challenges me.’’

Scoring wasn’t a problem for Harris when he went to Madrid, Spain, to spend two seasons with Melilla Baloncesto in 2002. He said he averaged about 18.5 points and five assists per game despite playing on a weakened knee.

“I had (arthroscopic) surgery before I went over there, and I only had two weeks of rehab before I started playing,’’ Harris said. “You can imagine what my knee looked like after the practices and games … it was swollen pretty big.’’

After Spain, Harris returned to the U.S. for a two-year stint with the Albany Patroons of the CBA before spending a year with the ABA’s Charlotte Krunk.

Harris didn’t play last season, spending the fall back home in Memphis before getting the call from Pearl to return to UT.

While he misses playing basketball for the Vols, Harris is quick to say he’s appreciating other aspects of college life more than ever..

“The mistakes I made in college I learned from and I won’t make them again,’’ Harris said. “It took those mistakes to make me the person I am now.’’

45 Comments

Posted by KHVOLFAN on June 3, 2008 at 10:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Welcome back Tony. I loved you when you were a VOL and I wish you the best of luck in life.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on June 3, 2008 at 10:49 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Good stuff. Way to go Tony.

Posted by byobbio on June 3, 2008 at 11:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)

If i'm not mistaken, i remember he was on the honor roll his freshman year. I would think anybody who is a student athlete can do that should be a great ambassador for UT. I'm sure that's why he got the invite.

Posted by murrayvol on June 3, 2008 at 11:20 p.m. (Suggest removal)

We all make mistakes. But if you're a high profile athlete, the headline is above the fold.

Welcome back and good luck.

Posted by haynes91956 on June 4, 2008 at 12:08 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I would say right off the top, there are a lot of former VOLS who wished they could have played for Pearl! Not only will he go down as the best coach the VOLS will have ever had, he is going to turn out to be the best ambassador the University has ever had also. Peal is not only looking to the future to build the program, he is pulling in the past to build up the foundation. How smart is that?
Tony, wish you the best and all the former VOLS.

Posted by volwalk on June 4, 2008 at 12:22 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Very good point haynes!

This is a great story in many ways. Great to see a misunderstood athlete come back to clear his name and most importantly finish his degree.
Way to go Bruce and Tony!

Posted by BillVol on June 4, 2008 at 12:51 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Welcome back, Tony. Your best years are yet to come. And way to go (again), Coach Pearl. I'm so proud to have Coach Pearl as our coach.

Posted by bamacheats on June 4, 2008 at 2:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tony is quite possibly the most underrated player in UT history.

Ironically, Jerry Green is quite possibly the most overrated human being in history.

Posted by DenmarkVol on June 4, 2008 at 2:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Man, what a story, and what a great example for today's players. Tony can share the real deal with them as he's lived it. Especially important for the incoming players.

Maybe in 10-15 years, we'll have similar stories about Duke Crews and Ramar Smith coming back to make a difference.

Posted by Gigavol on June 4, 2008 at 2:57 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Didn't Green wear the Orange blazer for his first game. If Green would have just went on Rome is On Fire or PTL, Tennessee would have 10 20 win seasons and NCAA tourney appearances. Green had a couple of very good assistants, too.

Green just got kicked off golf courses instead of high school gyms!!

Posted by C123456 on June 4, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)

To have seen Harris and Slay play under Coach Pearl would have been an absolute blast. Glad they're both in town and I wish them both success.

It's great to hear that the same drive Harris had when he was playing is now helping him to get his degree.

Posted by King53 on June 4, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

good luck to you Tony! also, to Pearl, wow! what a guy! A coach like this only comes along once in a lifetime. Vol fans, sit back and take it all in. We are very lucky to have this guy at the helm.

Posted by richvol on June 4, 2008 at 6:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)

This is the sort of story you tell recruit's mothers when sitting in their living room. People want and need to feel cared for and Coach Pearl is a master at it.

Posted by numbersvol on June 4, 2008 at 8:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Tony, I think I speak for all Vol fans when I say we would love to see you play again in the Rocky Top League. Please play! Thank you for being such a good representative of our University.

Posted by GreerVol22 on June 4, 2008 at 8:16 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Well, I admire your conviction to return and get your degree, but with a degree in psychology you are qualified to study popcorn habits at all home games. Impress me and hang a PhD on the end of that.

Posted by b_neas on June 4, 2008 at 8:25 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Haynes said it best. CBP is an amazing ambassador for the university. I have never been more proud as a fan of UT.

Posted by mloaks on June 4, 2008 at 8:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As proud as I am also, I remain ashamed of Bama-style fans like bamacheats and their takes.

Posted by dfreeman on June 4, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. (Suggest removal)

While I WAS one of those people that saw Tony as a thug, I think it's great what he is doing! I never doubted his game either! He was sick on the court! Keep representing Tony! All of us would have liked to see you play under Pearl! I think your career would have turned out different and for the better! Good luck!

Posted by bkgunter on June 4, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The treatment of Tony Harris by the KNS sports department is one of the top three reasons to despise John Adams. The publication of that hack Lundy's coulmn calling Harris UT's punk at the time just fed the bigotry at the heart of the rush to label athletes (especially black ones) as thugs. And it looks like that fuel has some serious staying power here in the rocky-top blogosphere.

Posted by banjo on June 4, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I caught an interview on 1180 with Tony yesterday. I've never been so proud of anyone being a member of the Tennessee "family." If UT never won another game but.....turned out young men/women like him, the world would be a much better place. God bless Tony, I'm so proud of you!

Posted by scvols on June 4, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)

The real Tony came out when he said, "But I might not score as much — unless someone starts talking trash and challenges me." Tony it is not about you, it is about the team. Let people talk their talk, you lead the team.

Posted by wewhite on June 4, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)

How many coaches in the NCAA are calling former players and saying "Come back to school and finish your degree"? If you don't think Bruce Pearl is a great coach, a great person, see if you can find any other coach doing this kind of thing, even with players he never coached.

Posted by The_Dude_Abides on June 4, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. (Suggest removal)

I had a class with him when I was in school...He and Isiah Victor got kicked out one day because they were talking, cutting up and laughing in the middle of the lecture....the prof gave them about 3 chances and they kept doing it...he made a scene also as he was leaving....At the time, he was the pure definition of a punk...although people do grow up...hopefully he has!!

Posted by ncvol on June 4, 2008 at 10:24 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Seems as if Tony has become a sensible young man.
Way to go!

Posted by Raynoch on June 4, 2008 at 10:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Good for Harris. Always liked him on those late 90's teams. I hope he plays w/ Slay Daddy in the Rocky Top bball league.

T Harris being called a "punk" didn't have anything to do with the color of skin, everything to do with running off the bench during the UK game. That was embarrassing.

I think almost everyone does some stupid stuff when they are in college.

Posted by dfreeman on June 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. (Suggest removal)

Bkgunter - Tony didn't help himself when he was at school here! Race has nothing to do with someone being a thug! Tony was at the center of a couple of fights with his girlfriend while he was at UT! He got in trouble for hitting her I believe, so don't come into this with the "he was a victim" argument! He does sound like he has improved by a ton, and that's awesome! We can be proud of him for that! Him being black had nothing to do with me thinking he was a thug, it was his attitude! I think Dan Werner is a thug, you gonna read into that any?

Posted by TommyJack on June 4, 2008 at 12:27 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bkgunter: You are political correctness run amok.
One can't criticize a man of color without someone of your ilk jumping in and hollering race. Please.

Posted by nicksjuzunk on June 4, 2008 at 12:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Some grainy video footage has just come to light. It appears that there was a second shooter that fateful night in Kentucky. A man (possibly John Adam), dressed like Tony sprang from behind the UT bench to enter the fray. Slow motion catches the real Tony Harris dancing to "Kung-fu fighting" which played on the loudspeakers at the time.

"There. Now we can be friends again" - Doc Holliday, Tombstone

Posted by GreerVol22 on June 4, 2008 at 3:34 p.m. (Suggest removal)

spakin' of thug, anyone remember Kevin Nash?

Posted by murrayvol on June 4, 2008 at 4:37 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I do remember Nash. Played in the late 70s or 80s. Think he had a dustup w/DeVoe and was not invited back for his senior campaign. Didn't he become a wrestler??

Posted by TommyJack on June 4, 2008 at 5:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Greer/Murray
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_Nash

Posted by invisiblekid on June 4, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Yeah Murray, Nash became a pretty popular wrestler for awhile.

Harris may have gotten the "thug" label because he earned it at times with his attitude and actions. I recall a fight he had with Jason Williams during a FL game as well. Regardless, it sounds as though he has moved past that so maybe we can do the same. Best of luck to him in his studies and future career.

Posted by pdhuff on June 4, 2008 at 8:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Free General Fritter!

Posted by dfreeman on June 4, 2008 at 9:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)

?? What happened to General Fritter? I thought he who should not be named was freed allowing for fritter to be shelved! LOL

Posted by jawbreaker on June 5, 2008 at 11:23 a.m. (Suggest removal)

As we all are aware, Coach Pearl can make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. It's no different with Tony Harris.

Posted by bkgunter on June 5, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)

TJ:
One should be able to mention race as a factor in social transactions without someone "hollering" political correctness. You know nothing of my "ilk," since most of the time I agree with and enjoy your posts. Your comfort level with some of the morons here does give me pause, though.

Posted by itsme53792 on June 5, 2008 at 4:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)

These posts are really funny. Harris was the epitome of the PUNK; foul-mouthed (like Ramar Smith on AK Coach Pelphrey this past season), hot-headed, and low-class just like "the dude" laid out. Everyone should be glad when prodigals repent...because nobler motivations are prerequisite for redemption. However, it is amusing to read these latter day views of Harris by you "history revisionists". Harris' conduct in his era set the state for the uthug model...which lives in noxville today.

Posted by TommyJack on June 5, 2008 at 5:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)

bkgunter: Sorry to give you pause. lol.
True, don't know your ilk. Can only draw conclusions based on your posts. No different than the conclusion (wrong, IMO) you drew from Lundy's saying "punk".
What "morons" are you talking about? Just opinion. Relax.

Posted by brownsvillevol on June 6, 2008 at 11:17 a.m. (Suggest removal)

hey itsme i just heard about cals mystery recruit on rivals he is from poland. he is 7'5" and very athletic i believe his name is
OUYERA DIPUTS.

Posted by itsme53792 on June 6, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Calipari's recruiting and graduation record is light years ahead of the uthugs. Had the current 1-yr minimum before NBA rule been in effect...when he signed Amari Stoudamire, Qyntel Woods, and Kendrick Perkins, they would have made substantial impact. He had to hone a new strategy...and began the current string of Elite 8's...along with the Sweet 16 2 years prior. You can rest assured that there is a well-thought plan...that is compliant with NCAA rules in place. There are 1.6 to 1.7 BILLION people in China...with a very active league that feeds their national league..from which the Olympic team is selected. Calipari isn't depending upon it, but he may well find some hidden gems. They really do play high level basketball there.

Posted by itsme53792 on June 6, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Posted by johnlg00 on June 6, 2008 at 3:09 p.m. (Suggest removal)

I was at UT when Tony was there before. I didn't know him well enough to characterize him as a "thug" but he did strike me as stubborn and arrogant. His game never changed from the time he arrived until he left: Either shoot the three or drive the hoop on the straightest possible line no matter how many or how big the players in his way--nothing in between. By his second year, every team in the league had his number. I don't have the stats to back it up, but my impression was that his field-goal percentage went down and his turnover total went up every year he was here. I'm glad he has apparently gotten his priorities straight, and like everyone else I applaud CBP for his role in getting Tony back. I agree that he could have some really good advice for the current players. Good luck, Tony!

Posted by overatedvols on June 6, 2008 at 5:29 p.m. (Suggest removal)

Special Note: Orlando Antigua will join the University of Memphis Basketball program as an assistant coach. Antigua comes from the Univ. of Pittsburg.
From the CA:

"Antigua, a native of The Bronx, will serve as the Tigers’ primary recruiting contact in the New York area. He replaces Chuck Martin (also a Bronx native), who left in April to take the head coaching job at Marist"

Another piece of the puzzle that will ultimately lead us to the national championship.
I thought you'd want to know.

Posted by dirtywhiteboy on June 6, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. (Suggest removal)

“I heard about how people thought I was a thug, and I really felt misunderstood,”

if it quacks like a duck..........

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‘There is life after basketball’ for Tony Harris

Ex-UT point guard is earning his degree

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