Is Jacory Harris Soft?

Jacory Harris received racially charged tweets this week after Miami's loss to Ohio State—an absolutely horrid and deplorable act by a narrow minded individual calling himself Motown305 on Twitter.

What's even more disturbing than the act itself is the way that it seems to be getting to Harris. Even more disturbing than THAT, is that we even know about it at all! What point does it serve the general public to know about this incident?

Long-time friend and high school team mate Marcus Forston was quoted as saying that the Hurricanes' starting quarterback was visibly shaken all week. My question is why? This person, judging by the caliber of vocabulary he used in preceding tweets, obviously has no idea to the struggles of African Americans and his allegiances don't travel any further than the football fields.

I am a die-hard Hurricanes fan and have been since the age of 7, when I first watched the '86 squad get off the plane in military fatigues like they owned the entire country west of the Mississippi. Even though they lost that game, the way they came out the following season captured my imaginations as a child. 

As I grew older I became even more enchanted by not only the school but by the city itself. I spend the majority of my week reading about all of the 'Canes inter-collegiate athletics.

I have grown to care about these players and coaches and have nothing but respect for the good they do in the community and the opportunity at a world class education the school gives to it's athletes, an opportunity that after four years totals well over $250,000—a price tag that to many kids, including myself, was well out of reach even with GPAs significantly higher than what it takes to get accepted with a football scholarship.

Is this free license to say what ever you want to these kids? Of course not. However, in my opinion, Jacory, and any player for that matter, needs to put comments like these in perspective. When football is over, when it's had it's fill with you, you are still going to have a degree from a top 50 school in the world! What's this guy gonna have? A Twitter rage problem, and that's about it!

People who have enough time to harass a college kid because that kid embarrassed him in front of his buddies at the local wing shack, need to be ignored! Jackie Robinson was spit on! Had his family threatened! And still he went out every day and turned a blind eye!

Ask Doug Williams about the death threats he received during his years in Tampa Bay and Washington. Put it in perspective J12, this guy's a loser, and the fact that it's gotten to you to the point that you have not only gone public with it, but have teammates worrying about you in the locker room is concerning.

I'm begging you, on behalf of 'Canes nation, leave this trash and his trashy comments in the gutter where they belong, don't even give him the satisfaction of knowing you read the damn thing! Get your head straight, and get this team and season back on your shoulders after you brush them off!

If Jacory goes out and has a miserable game against Pitt tonight, is this going to be the excuse? "Oh well, Jacory may have thrown three picks tonight, but how could he focus with all the racial insensitivity flying around"! Don't let this one person ruin everything that you have worked for in the off season, and all the POSITIVE support that the rest of us out here in 'Canes nation have put not only behind you, but the rest of the squad.

In full disclosure, I am white. I obviously don't know how it feels to live in America as an African American. In this day and age however, it's important to point out that racism is not just a two way street, its a multi-junction highway. Caucasian, Asian, African American, Hispanic, I am sure there can be times in any of our lives that could be construed as racist. 

Jacory Harris is a nice guy, period! Loved by his coaches and teammates, and by the majority of 'Canes fans across the country. As much as I love him and his personality off the field, I equally love how he switches to J12 mode on the field. Ice in his veins, the uncanny ability to throw a pick six one play, and a 70-yard score the very next!

He's a gunslinger, a cowboy, he's the confidence of Brett Favre, the leadership of Johnny U, and the attitude of Broadway Joe all wrapped up in a 6'4" 200 lb package. I don't want to see him go the way of Kirby Freeman or Kyle Wright because of one ignorant "fan!"