Sad news. Defensive Line coach Richard Harris (a former #1 draft choice of the Philadelphia Eagles in 1971) collapsed in his office today and was rushed to a Winnipeg hospital where he later died. He was 63.
Had the pleasure of buying a drink for him when he coached here. Really nice man.
Details are just now being released.
http://www.tweetdeck.com/twitter/CFL_News/~2nqt8
DH
Former Lion and Bomber coach Richard Harris passes away
Moderator: Team Captains
Horribly sad news. Had the pleasure of meeting the man as well. Just awful.
http://www.bluebombers.com/article/stat ... ard-harris
http://www.bluebombers.com/article/stat ... ard-harris
Real women wear orange!!
- WestCoastJoe
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Big, friendly bear of a man. Condolences to his family.
- Toppy Vann
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Very sad for his family, friends and the Bombers who I am sure will be shocked and deeply saddened.
Wasn't Richard Harris the guy who was trying to get Casey calmed down at the end of the game where he got angry with a team mate?
Wasn't Richard Harris the guy who was trying to get Casey calmed down at the end of the game where he got angry with a team mate?
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
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Sad news. Condolences to his family, friends and the Bomber organization.
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Will never forget how he always took time out to say hi to the fans. He used to always stop by our table at Dix and say hi. He even stopped in a few times as a visiting coach. a truly great one was lost today.
Now that I don't live in Quesnel do I need to change my handle??
Yes, he was. That was the Thanksgiving Day game last year (Casey's last one with the Lions). Sad to hear of Harris' passing.Toppy Vann wrote: Wasn't Richard Harris the guy who was trying to get Casey calmed down at the end of the game where he got angry with a team mate?
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Richard Harris was also instrumental in preventing the players from giving Buono a gatorade shower following the game, knowing that Buono had a heart problem. (since corrected)
- Toppy Vann
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When someone dies rarely a bad word is spoken but in this case it is incredible what is being said by fans on blogs, players in all the teams or by the players he knew (def. and offense) across the CFL.
From his first head coach with the Lions - Steve Burratto to Greg Marshall who said this:
"Harris was well-known to several Roughriders players and coaches, but his death was particularly hard on Roughriders head coach Greg Marshall, who considered Harris more than a friend.
“There have been a lot of great people go through Winnipeg as administrators, coaches and players, but I don’t think there’s anybody that impacted that organization more on any level as far as in the locker-room, in the community and in the office than Richard did,” said Marshall, his voice wavering. “I know he’ll be greatly missed over there — and I’ll personally miss him.
“I’m the oldest of seven kids, so I never had a big brother. He was my big brother.”"
http://www.canada.com/sports/football/S ... story.html
From his first head coach with the Lions - Steve Burratto to Greg Marshall who said this:
"Harris was well-known to several Roughriders players and coaches, but his death was particularly hard on Roughriders head coach Greg Marshall, who considered Harris more than a friend.
“There have been a lot of great people go through Winnipeg as administrators, coaches and players, but I don’t think there’s anybody that impacted that organization more on any level as far as in the locker-room, in the community and in the office than Richard did,” said Marshall, his voice wavering. “I know he’ll be greatly missed over there — and I’ll personally miss him.
“I’m the oldest of seven kids, so I never had a big brother. He was my big brother.”"
http://www.canada.com/sports/football/S ... story.html
"Ability without character will lose." - Marv Levy
Based on what I've been hearing from the other teams players, I'm wondering if most of the Western Division shouldn't be wearing RH stickers on their helmets for the rest of the season. Even our offensive guys seem to be raving about what an awesome coach/person he was.
RIP
RIP