Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993 TAG: 9311120100
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: S-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Ernie Harrington has acquired a reputation as a big-time hitter with an attitude.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound William Fleming senior wide receiver and defensive back has such a mean disposition on the field that it's can be frightening at times.
"He's mean as hell," said Fleming head coach Sherley Stuart. "I kid you not. You stand around and he'll knock your butt two or three loops."
And that's not just in games.
"He's the same way in practice," Stuart said. "Everybody's looking around when he's around."
Harrington has had a big year: six interceptions (one for a touchdown), 31 pass receptions for 443 yards, and nine receiving touchdowns. He's been the top pass receiver for the Colonels (5-4), who can clinch a berth in the Group AAA Northwestern Region playoffs if they beat Patrick Henry on Friday.
But the big numbers don't show Harrington's violent hitting ability.
"I don't want to say he wants to hurt somebody," said Stuart, "but he hurts their feelings. He just likes to knock somebody crazy every play."
Even Harrington's free time - up until he hurt his right wrist in the second game of the season while making a tackle in a 13-12 win over Patrick Henry - is spent in physical contact.
"I have some boxing gloves," Harrington said. "On weekends, guys in the neighborhood would come out, and we'd just slug it out."
Sounds like fun.
"It's something to do," he said. "I'll fight anybody, even if they're bigger. I'm undefeated."
On the field, however, is where Harrington has acquired his reputation as a big hitter, and this year, as a receiving threat.
This is Harrington's third year as a starter in the secondary, and his second year starting at wide receiver. He ran track to work on his speed last spring, and it paid off.
"His speed has improved," said Stuart. "He's always been quick, and now he's a solid 4.5 [in the 40-yard dash] runner. He's just started catching the ball better."
In a 26-14 win at E.C. Glass on Sept. 24, Harrington caught three passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns, and returned a pass 40 yards for an interception.
"He's a sideline-to-sideline player," said Keith Smith, Fleming's defensive coordinator. "He can turn a game around by himself. He makes plays over the field and calls all our pass coverages. . . he's a very intelligent player."
But sometimes Harrington's intensity worries people.
"He's very sneaky," said Fleming quarterback Al Holland Jr. "You've gotta watch him, and make sure he doesn't get the other receivers hurt [in practice]. They'll think twice about going over the middle after he hits them."
Harrington smiles at these comments and shrugs them off.
"I played in the [Roanoke] Inner-City League since I was six," he said. "The coaches always taught me to play mean.
"I just like watching people like Ronnie Lott. I like stuff like that. I like making people on other teams fear catching the ball."
And when he hits somebody in a game, you can bet they know it.
"He hit [Pulaski County running back] Eric Webb earlier this year," said Holland, "and he [Harrington] said, `Hi, my name is number 7. You're gonna remember me.' "
"They feel the hit and it distracts them from their game," Harrington said. "I just want them to know it."
A solid student, Harrington has received inquiries from about 20 colleges. Vanderbilt, Boston College and Syracuse are some of the schools interested in him.
"I think he's a fine young man," Stuart said. "He can play on any level. He has the desire, speed and the toughness.
"We wish we had two more like him back there [in the secondary]."
by CNB