For immediate release: September 8, 2003
For more information, contact Creg Jantz at 216-368-6517 or creg.jantz@case.edu

CLEVELAND—It was the still of the night in a quiet neighborhood on the northeast side (Linden area) of Columbus. Bullets ripped through the air. The fire lasted only a few seconds, but all it takes is a second to change a life.

That night, five years ago, 15-year-old Devin Harris' life was changed forever. Harris' best friend, Rick Wallace also 15, was killed in a drive-by shooting, but the loss of Wallace's life may have saved Harris'.

Devin Harris

Harris, now a sophomore at Case Western Reserve University, and Wallace played football for Jeffery Tarver and the Capital City Saints. Many say the nickname "saint" definitely fits Tarver, who ran the Christian Youth Association and was known as Coach "T" to the kids.

Tarver said he has always liked Harris. He had liked Wallace, too, and didn't want to see Harris meet the same fate.

"After that incident," Tarver recalled, "I talked to Devin's mother (Beverly) and told her in order for him to excel, we needed to get him out of the neighborhood."

Tarver had been around Harris' family for years. Tarver's son was a close friend of Harris, so, the two families decided that Harris would move in with Tarver in Westerville, a suburb of Columbus.

"It was tough for my mom," Harris said. "I'm the youngest of four children, and it was tough for her to let me go. But she knew it was best for me."

The move has paid big dividends. Harris' world changed thanks to the care of Tarver, a man he now calls Dad.

"The fine line between failure and success is opportunity," Tarver said.

Tarver took Harris to educational workshops and got him involved in community service. He also made sure the teen never missed a football camp.

"Dad did it all for me," Harris said with a smile. "He taught me life lessons and was always there to tell me he loved me. He opened up a lot of doors for me and then let me choose which one to walk through."

Harris became a star in football and track at Westerville North High School. He became a student of science along the way, too.

"Engineering was something I always liked," said Harris. "I really like science and math a lot."
It all has added up for Harris.

Today, he's a chemical engineering major at one of the nation's leading research institutions, and he plays three sports, one each in the fall, winter and summer seasons.

He does it using lessons-like managing his time and balancing work and play-Tarver has taught him.

"You have to budget your time here," said Harris. "There is not a lot of free time, so sports are a lot of work. But it gives me that little bit of space I want from academics."

Life's lessons are often hard. But in this case, the serious lesson ended in success for Devin in the classroom, on the playing field and in life.

ROOKIE RATING

Devin Harris plays football in the fall and runs track in both the winter (indoor) and spring (outdoor). Harris started in the defensive backfield (corner) for the Spartans last season as a freshman and finished 10th on the team in tackles with 31.5. He also had two interceptions. On the track during the indoor season, he ran the 55 meters (best time & school record - 6.68), the 200 (23.60) and was a member of the 4x400 and 4x100 meter relay. Outdoor, he ran the 100 (11.24) and 200 (22.77). Harris, in just his rookie season, was named the men's track & field MVP and was also All-UAA.

HIGH SCHOOL HYPE

Devin Harris' freshman season at Brookhaven High School was a successful one, but he would shine even more at Westerville North. Harris received three varsity letters in football (defensive back/wide receiver) and track (100 and 200 meter). He was a first team All-Ohio Capital Conference selection in football his senior year (2001), and in track he was two-time district champion (2000 & 2001), a three-time first team All-District selection (2000-2002) and second team All-Region in 2001, when he qualified for state.

BUCKEYE BUDDIES

It only gets better. Tarver played football (OSU free safety '78 & '79) at Ohio State University with Case Head Track & Field Coach Dennis Harris (OSU wide receiver '77, '78, '79). Prior to attending Devin Harris' first football scrimmage a year ago, the two hadn't seen each other since getting off the team plane after returning from a loss to the University of Southern California 16-17 in the 1980 Rose Bowl. "Dennis was one of the guys that had the most heart I had ever seen," said Tarver. "We started talking about old times, and it was really reassuring to know one of Devin's coaches was someone that I had already known."

–Case–

 

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