Montel Harris Dismissed from Boston College Football Team
By Joe Micik
On what was looking like a rainy, dull Tuesday afternoon in Boston College sports, the Athletics Department announced that redshirt senior running back Montel Harris was permanently dismissed from the team due to a “repeated violation of team rules.” Coach Frank Spaziani has said that the program will still support him as he finishes up his academic career at Boston College.
Despite its untimely end, Harris’ football career on the Heights was stellar. Having played just three full seasons, the tailback ended up as Boston College’s all-time leading rusher, and prior to his 2010 injury, many believed that with one more great season, he’d easily claim the mantle of the ACC’s all-time rush yard leader.
Most BC fans who paid attention to Harris’ injury history over the last few years are aware that he was not likely to play for this team ever again, for fear that he would not be able to hold up (his being shut down in 2012 spring practice due to re-aggravating his twice-repaired knee on the first day of exercises only confirmed these beliefs). Nevertheless, it is a psychological blow to the program and its supporters that one of the best offensive players Boston College has had in recent memory was kicked off the team. It is truly disappointing to see his BC career end in such a way.
It is now absolutely official that Andre Williams, if healed from his injuries, or Rolandan Finch will be the Eagles running back going forward. It does no good to speculate on the particulars of Harris’ dismissal at this stage in the game (or maybe it does, depending on your view of why this happened), but it is still a shame.
Reaction from the national media is decidedly against the current state of the program:
Not really about lost yds w/ Harris. Finch/Williams/Kimble can carry load. More symbol of losing all-time leading rusher. Ship be sinking.
— Paul Myerberg (@PaulMyerberg) May 1, 2012
2012 sounds like Spaziani's last yr. RT @CFTalk: BC announces RB Montel Harris dismissed due to a repeated violation of team rules.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) May 1, 2012
Can we already speculate about Boston College's new coach in 2013?
— Bryan Fischer (@BryanDFischer) May 1, 2012
One more BC note: Frank Spaziani may occupy one of the hotter seats in the nation.
— Dave Miller (@Miller_Dave) May 1, 2012
Granted, many probably believed Montel Harris would be an active part of and contribute heavily to the Eagles this year, but the football punditry out there is building a narrative that the “ship is sinking.” That may be a hard image to shake, especially if they don’t win soon.