Defending Damien Harris and The Decision ?

dancerman4

Sophomore
Feb 7, 2004
155
125
38
It seems to me that there are 2 different ways to look at Damien's decision. Everyone has to agree that he needed to make the decision that he thought was best for him. There can be no argument about that. The real issue is after that decision was made, he owed it to Mark Stoops and his staff to be up front with them so they could move on to a plan B.
By his OWN ADMISSION he decided on his official visit to Bama that is where he was going to play his college football. There in comes the rub. After he clearly stated he had made his decision, he moved his announcement date back 2 more times. That is what everybody is so upset about. If that does not prove 100% that he was enjoying all of this attention and fan fare he was getting at the expense of the UK coaches who had spent 1000's of hour recruiting him, then I do not know what else to say. He clearly and blatantly played the UK coaches so as for the adulation to continue. For anyone to try to defend him for those actions is simply not thinjking clearly or rationally. In the last 6 weeks, UK could have had Darrin Hall in the fold by now, but that was not made possible because Damien Harris wanted it to be all about him, much to the disservice to the UK coaching staff. For that reason, for anyone to wish him well is out of their mind. Was he wishing UK well and helping them when he knowingly was not honest and up front with them ? Of course he was not. His actions and his own words speak clearly to the fact that he was thinking only of his own self interests. I deem it pathetic given the way UK treated him through out this recruiting process.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,131
25,046
113
I just don't fall into the camp that there is a problem with a kid making a decision to go out of Ky to a better football program. If he'd have de-committed that would be different. But he picked Michigan, then very early de-commits from them and visits UK a bunch, tweets out plenty of good vibe about UK as well as Ohio St and Bama. Takes a visit to bama on Thanksgiviing and makes an announcement on Jan 9th. Outside of a making his decision apparently 1.5 months earlier...I can't see what he did wrong to make people upset.
 

DaBossIsBack

All-Conference
Jun 28, 2013
3,359
1,991
0
He knew he was going to Bama a month and half ago. He knowingly strung the staff and fans along. That was wrong and that is why people are pissed. Not because he chose Bama.
 

mdlUK.1

Heisman
Dec 23, 2002
29,712
57,543
0
Originally posted by K_TIME:
I just don't fall into the camp that there is a problem with a kid making a decision to go out of Ky to a better football program. If he'd have de-committed that would be different. But he picked Michigan, then very early de-commits from them and visits UK a bunch, tweets out plenty of good vibe about UK as well as Ohio St and Bama. Takes a visit to bama on Thanksgiviing and makes an announcement on Jan 9th. Outside of a making his decision apparently 1.5 months earlier...I can't see what he did wrong to make people upset.
Duh, making the decision 1.5 months ago IS the issue. How hard is that to understand?

Most of us are sad that he chose Bama but completely understand. He did what his heart told him. No one can fault him for that. But to drag it out like he did, giving the impression that UK was still right there when they weren't? That's BS.

As late as yesterday he was saying NO DECISION had been made. Today he says he chose Bama after the Iron Bowl. And you can't understand why UK fans might have a problem with that?
 

O C-A-T-S 06

Redshirt
Mar 23, 2011
979
29
0
Don't have a problem with the decision, just the way he handled it. He'll be a great fit at Alabama and probably be a good back someday in the NFL. I don't really care though. I don't wish any ill-will but I don't care if he succeeds or fails. We should have known after he immediately named OSU his favorite after decommitting from his "dream school" in Michigan (one of biggest rivalries in college football) that he wouldn't be as honest as his demeanor.
 

ukfan03

Senior
Mar 31, 2007
50,926
987
0
It was tough to watch but truthfully UK needs defensive backs. We have some young really talented RB's. We need to upgrade the DB's.
Posted from Rivals Mobile
 

UKCatNnc

All-Conference
Sep 30, 2005
6,163
1,736
0
Originally posted by DaBossIsBack:
He knew he was going to Bama a month and half ago. He knowingly strung the staff and fans along. That was wrong and that is why people are pissed. Not because he chose Bama.
^^^^^THIS!!!!! He wanted to enjoy the UK basketball games and let us make fools our of ourselves drooling over him possibly coming to UK. I could care less what he does now or at alabama. GO CATS!!!!!
 

Calsarmy

All-Conference
Jul 24, 2013
1,009
1,232
0
Played the Kentucky Football program. Knew in October and played Coach Stoops. I am pissed at the kid for playing us when he knew full well how much it would hurt us.

So yea, Im pissed at this kid
 

KYCAT78

All-American
May 24, 2006
7,858
6,073
0
I too have no problem with him choosing Bama, every recruit should do what he or she feels is best for them. My issue is he purposely strung the Staff around to reap the benefits associated with
being somebody we coveted. When he made his decision he should of done the right thing and let the Staff know. He exhibited extremely selfish behavior.
 

Anon1713320623

All-Conference
Oct 6, 2014
3,074
4,304
0
I won't get too upset about it, he is 17 and wanted all eyes on him, so he played with people a bit, I get it. I wish him neither success nor failure. He is another random person I do not care about. I care only about UK, the people at UK, and the people who want to be here. The rest can take a hike.
 

KingOfBBN

Heisman
Sep 14, 2013
39,077
38,403
0
Originally posted by UKCatnNC:
Originally posted by DaBossIsBack:
He knew he was going to Bama a month and half ago. He knowingly strung the staff and fans along. That was wrong and that is why people are pissed. Not because he chose Bama.
^^^^^THIS!!!!! He wanted to enjoy the UK basketball games and let us make fools our of ourselves drooling over him possibly coming to UK. I could care less what he does now or at alabama. GO CATS!!!!!
That's why you don't hang on to the words and actions of a teenager and follow them on twitter. Recruiting is exhausting to keep up with and I don't even bother with it anymore until they're signed. I think other fans would be better off if they chilled out on it too.
 

Lempface

Heisman
Feb 16, 2009
12,159
20,637
98
Everyone who thinks Damien Harris strung along the UK coaches, please consider this.

I decided I wanted to marry my wife after we were together for 3 months, however I waited longer than that before I asked, just to make sure. If I would have ended it, it wouldn't have meant I was stringing her along.

It is not always so black and white, although it is easy to go there in one's disappointment. We don't know for sure that Damien was 100% dedicated 1.5 months ago, and then just used UK. I think he realized the magnitude of the decision and just wanted it to rest on his mind for several weeks just to make sure it still felt right.

I, for one, won't bash the kid off an assumption. I'm as disappointed as anyone, but that doesn't mean he did anything wrong. Does it make you feel better to think in that manner?
 
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mdlUK.1

Heisman
Dec 23, 2002
29,712
57,543
0
Originally posted by Lempface:
Everyone who thinks Damien Harris strung along the UK coaches, please consider this.

I decided I wanted to marry my wife after we were together for 3 months, however I waited longer than that before I asked, just to make sure. If I would have ended it, it wouldn't have meant I was stringing her along.

It is not always so black and white, although it is easy to go there in one's disappointment. We don't know for sure that Damien was 100% dedicated 1.5 months ago, and then just used UK. I think he realized the magnitude of the decision and just wanted it to rest on his mind for several weeks just to make sure it still felt right.

I, for one, won't bash the kid off an assumption. I'm as disappointed as anyone, but that doesn't mean he did anything wrong. Does it make you feel better to think in that manner?
He said YESTERDAY, e'ffing YESTERDAY, that no decision had been made. That was obviously a lie. At the very least, he should have told the UK coaches that he was a Bama lean. Instead, he DID string them along. From all I have read, the UK coaches felt like he was leaning toward UK.
 

UKfan2151

All-American
Oct 1, 2003
14,064
8,372
113
The only thing I can say is that he apparently deliberately mislead us in order to sabotage our recruiting and string us along, giving fans false hope that he would come here. Frankly, I think the kid is a scumbag for doing that.

If he wanted to go to Alabama, then fine, go to Alabama. But why keep stringing UK along when he knew a month and a half ago where he was going? You simply don't do that kind of thing to your local program if you possess an ounce of class. He should have let the staff know where his feelings were. And he shouldn't have misled the fans into thinking we had a chance when we didn't. Why deliberately do things to hurt the hometown program and people he grew up around?

Piss on this guy. The more I think about his actions the more contempt I feel toward him.
 

UKWildcats#8

All-American
Jun 25, 2011
30,327
9,337
0
As I said in another thread, this stuff goes on all the time in recruiting. Harris should not have admitted it today though, as most of our fanbase clearly cannot handle his honesty.

If he had decided on UK 1.5 months ago I'm pretty sure no one on here would have an issue with him taking his visits and enjoying the process.

We also have a bunch of people saying we are set at RB and did not need him (typical of any recruiting decision that does not go UK's way in b-ball or football), BUT if that is the case, and I do think we are pretty ok at RB with Boom especially leading the way, then I don't get why people are so angry. You can't have it both ways.
 

Lempface

Heisman
Feb 16, 2009
12,159
20,637
98
Originally posted by mdlUK.1:

Originally posted by Lempface:
Everyone who thinks Damien Harris strung along the UK coaches, please consider this.

I decided I wanted to marry my wife after we were together for 3 months, however I waited longer than that before I asked, just to make sure. If I would have ended it, it wouldn't have meant I was stringing her along.

It is not always so black and white, although it is easy to go there in one's disappointment. We don't know for sure that Damien was 100% dedicated 1.5 months ago, and then just used UK. I think he realized the magnitude of the decision and just wanted it to rest on his mind for several weeks just to make sure it still felt right.

I, for one, won't bash the kid off an assumption. I'm as disappointed as anyone, but that doesn't mean he did anything wrong. Does it make you feel better to think in that manner?
He said YESTERDAY, e'ffing YESTERDAY, that no decision had been made. That was obviously a lie. At the very least, he should have told the UK coaches that he was a Bama lean. Instead, he DID string them along. From all I have read, the UK coaches felt like he was leaning toward UK.
Maybe it was a hard decision for him, hard for him to disappoint so many people? I'm just saying we don't know everything and we shouldn't make rash judgements, he's 17 and everyone is raking him over the coals.

Sure its possible everything thats been discussed is true and he just wanted the perks/awards/whatever else came along with it. But he seems like a good kid, and I think he just wanted to be firm in his commitment before announcing and that takes time to make stew it over. He may very well have not decided until last night, and when he picked Alabama, just thought back to a gut feeling he had at the Iron Bowl. Many possibilities.
 
Sep 13, 2003
23,905
33,655
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The impact that a Harris commitment would have had on our UK Football Program far out weighs the impact of just another 5 Star recruit choosing Alabama. The kid knew that. He strung our fan base along for the notoriety he received on social media and in the local media for possibly choosing UK.
 

justanotherguy505

All-Conference
Jul 16, 2003
13,225
2,217
0
Originally posted by mdlUK.1:

Originally posted by K_TIME:
I just don't fall into the camp that there is a problem with a kid making a decision to go out of Ky to a better football program. If he'd have de-committed that would be different. But he picked Michigan, then very early de-commits from them and visits UK a bunch, tweets out plenty of good vibe about UK as well as Ohio St and Bama. Takes a visit to bama on Thanksgiviing and makes an announcement on Jan 9th. Outside of a making his decision apparently 1.5 months earlier...I can't see what he did wrong to make people upset.
Duh, making the decision 1.5 months ago IS the issue. How hard is that to understand?

Most of us are sad that he chose Bama but completely understand. He did what his heart told him. No one can fault him for that. But to drag it out like he did, giving the impression that UK was still right there when they weren't? That's BS.

As late as yesterday he was saying NO DECISION had been made. Today he says he chose Bama after the Iron Bowl. And you can't understand why UK fans might have a problem with that?
Exactly. He d*cked us around; this is why we are pissed at H****s.
 

ukgolfnut36

Sophomore
Feb 6, 2012
964
143
0
He sure didn't turn down all the free football an basketball tics an leading all the fans along like he relay cared about UK,if knew 6 weeks ago he should Coach Stoops to look elsewhere for a RB,but no he strung us all alonf like he might relay go to UK,he was love the lime light an free tics,hope mhes happy,sure he never gave it a thought
 

katwest

Heisman
Feb 16, 2003
39,182
12,701
113
That's the way a lot of fans feel about it, I certainly do, and I agree about not following kids on twitter, when you get burned you tend not to do it anymore. I'm not on any of that social media anyway.
 

JBHolmesfan

All-Conference
Jul 23, 2009
8,181
4,747
0
In my eyes, he didn't really owe UK's staff anything and he definitely didn't owe UK's fans anything as well. Sure UK spend a ton of time recruiting him, but that's what they are getting paid a lot of money to do. It wasn't his decision that UK's staff didn't have a backup plan, and maybe they do who knows? To say he intentionally played UK and its fans is a little off because we don't know Harris individually. Obviously, it wasn't the ideal situation for UK but I don't think Harris is a bad kid because he didn't tell Stoops and the staff.
 

TheCatDaddy

Redshirt
May 29, 2001
2,630
36
0
My problem is that Harris is a Kentuckian but he played fellow Kentuckians like a fiddle just to make himself and Alabama smile, he will not enjoy the karmic retribution I'll assure you. Have fun in Alabama, the most intellectually god forsaken state that ever existed and coming from a Kentucky native that's saying something.
 
Sep 13, 2003
23,905
33,655
0
Originally posted by JBHolmesfan:
In my eyes, he didn't really owe UK's staff anything and he definitely didn't owe UK's fans anything as well. Sure UK spend a ton of time recruiting him, but that's what they are getting paid a lot of money to do. It wasn't his decision that UK's staff didn't have a backup plan, and maybe they do who knows? To say he intentionally played UK and its fans is a little off because we don't know Harris individually. Obviously, it wasn't the ideal situation for UK but I don't think Harris is a bad kid because he didn't tell Stoops and the staff.
The UK fan base and football staff in turn doesn't "owe" Mr. Harris "anything" either from this point forward. The decision was his to make and he made it. The way he went about it is most certainly free to debate and scrutinize by UK fans. How anyone would see a problem with that is puzzling to me.
 

jnewc2_rivals30628

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2006
6,564
3,919
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I know this will ruffle some feathers but if you'll notice the people who seem to be "fine" with Harris committing to Bama are usually the basketball-first Kentucky fans that casually follow UK football in their spare time. It's the true football fans that are upset (as they should be after the way he strung along his home state when he knew what he was going to do for over a month)
 

jnewc2_rivals30628

All-Conference
Nov 22, 2006
6,564
3,919
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Originally posted by catben:
The impact that a Harris commitment would have had on our UK Football Program far out weighs the impact of just another 5 Star recruit choosing Alabama. The kid knew that. He strung our fan base along for the notoriety he received on social media and in the local media for possibly choosing UK.
Hit the nail on the head..he's a better actor than I could ever be I'll give him that
 

UKvisitor_rivals101449

All-American
Jan 3, 2007
18,099
8,602
0
People forget how they might have been in a similar position.: You decide on something and then you (or someone close you) have a nagging doubt that leads to delay of the decision when the decision doesn't have to be made right now.

There are other options than he was just pumping it for all its worth. Lot of butt hurt being expressed.
 

snakesnot

Redshirt
Sep 1, 2001
912
0
0
Just because at Thanksgiving he thought he was going to Bama doesn't mean he couldn't have changed his mind. These basketball players do it all the time when they announce for KY but they don't say it exactly when they make their minds up. I wished he had gone to KY because we don't need to lose these kind of instate players, however he probably did the best thing in the long run for him.
 

K_TIME

Heisman
Jan 2, 2003
18,131
25,046
113
Originally posted by mdlUK.1:

Originally posted by K_TIME:
I just don't fall into the camp that there is a problem with a kid making a decision to go out of Ky to a better football program. If he'd have de-committed that would be different. But he picked Michigan, then very early de-commits from them and visits UK a bunch, tweets out plenty of good vibe about UK as well as Ohio St and Bama. Takes a visit to bama on Thanksgiviing and makes an announcement on Jan 9th. Outside of a making his decision apparently 1.5 months earlier...I can't see what he did wrong to make people upset.
Duh, making the decision 1.5 months ago IS the issue. How hard is that to understand?

Most of us are sad that he chose Bama but completely understand. He did what his heart told him. No one can fault him for that. But to drag it out like he did, giving the impression that UK was still right there when they weren't? That's BS.

As late as yesterday he was saying NO DECISION had been made. Today he says he chose Bama after the Iron Bowl. And you can't understand why UK fans might have a problem with that?
1. Maybe the visit for Iron Bowl pushed him from UK to Bama was 1.5 months ago. Maybe he wanted to visit UK after the Iron bowl to see if it would change him and it didn't. I don't like that he didn't come UK's way, but I don't feel like hating on Harris for his decision.
2. Even if Harris verbals to Bama on first week of December after his Iron Bowl trip...exactly which RB are we missing out upon in 6 weeks time? To be fair...we've missed out on back a long time before Thanksgiving that choose other schools and UK focusing on Harris. A simple decision first week of December didn't leave us hanging out to dry in past 6 weeks.
3. We aren't hurting for RB (even though Harris would play ahead of all current RB besides possibly Boom). Our true problems at UK are DL, Offensive Tackles, DB that can cover and maybe a big play WR. RB isn't what is holding UK down the next 3 years with Boom around...that kid showed he can play bigtime ball and maybe Horton will be a good compliment for a physical back.
 

Ukbrassowtipin

Heisman
Aug 12, 2011
82,109
89,931
0
Originally posted by UKCatnNC:
Originally posted by DaBossIsBack:
He knew he was going to Bama a month and half ago. He knowingly strung the staff and fans along. That was wrong and that is why people are pissed. Not because he chose Bama.
^^^^^THIS!!!!! He wanted to enjoy the UK basketball games and let us make fools our of ourselves drooling over him possibly coming to UK. I could care less what he does now or at alabama. GO CATS!!!!!
Yep..he went home every night and thought things like, man how can I really get to Herbert in Pikeville..I know what I'll do.

Clearly, he wanted to wait until his HS season was over which is understandable, then I'm guessing he wanted to wait until Bama was done, I suppose.
 

Catnerd

Freshman
Mar 23, 2004
741
76
0
He's dead to me. He's perfectly allowed to choose a school over his home school that he's a fan of, and that's fine. And I'm perfectly allowed to never again cheer for him or wish him success at a school we will compete against. I don't wish harm on him physically, but I am not going to wish him great success just because he's from Kentucky. He's like any other SEC running back to me now
 

MychalG

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2012
2,931
2,796
0
Quite honestly I don't wish any ill will on Harris but since I don't know him, I don't really give a crap if he succeeds or fails at Alabama. I was hoping he would stay in state and play at UK but he chose to go play for Saban, so be it. I did not like Alabama yesterday, I don't them today and will not like them on Saturday.
 

Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,593
1,486
50
Getting pissed about it is incredibly petty. He's a 17 year old making a big decision. He didn't handle it in a way you like, I doubt he'll lose sleep over it. He didn't owe the fans or the coaching staff anything. Some of you need to get a life.
 

MychalG

All-Conference
Dec 16, 2012
2,931
2,796
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I agree Harris did not owe UK fans anything, however the UK FB coaching staff is another story. I don't know the kid, will never know the kid, but I will bet my house that he knew long ago he was not going to UK to play FB. So for that matter, I feel he did string along the UK coaching staff. How many trips did he make to watch UK play FB for free and how many times did he go to a UK BB game for free? All the while he knew he was not going to play FB at UK. He may be a good FB player but he is no different than the rest of the young modern prima dona athletes. I could care less about Damien Harris..
.
 

Hoskins91_rivals

All-Conference
Jun 12, 2011
6,593
1,486
50
Originally posted by MychalG:
I agree Harris did not owe UK fans anything, however the UK FB coaching staff is another story. I don't know the kid, will never know the kid, but I will bet my house that he knew long ago he was not going to UK to play FB. So for that matter, I feel he did string along the UK coaching staff. How many trips did he make to watch UK play FB for free and how many times did he go to a UK BB game for free? All the while he knew he was not going to play FB at UK. He may be a good FB player but he is no different than the rest of the young modern prima dona athletes. I could care less about Damien Harris..
.
I'd be surprised if they were caught completely unaware. Even if they were, it was their decision to go all in on him. It's not his responsibility to make sure we get a running back in the class. It's all on the coaching staff.
 

EclipsingYou

All-Conference
Sep 23, 2003
2,637
1,030
0
I agree with everybody else.

He said YESTERDAY that no decision was made only to laught about the fact that he made his decision 6 weeks ago TODAY.

I hate to use terms like "sabotage", but for the life of me I cannot think of a better explanation.

This cost us Darrin Hall, IMO. All for a small shot at getting some PT 3 years from now at Bama.
 

jeffygray

Redshirt
Oct 23, 2005
1,416
23
38
Originally posted by MychalG:
I agree Harris did not owe UK fans anything, however the UK FB coaching staff is another story. I don't know the kid, will never know the kid, but I will bet my house that he knew long ago he was not going to UK to play FB. So for that matter, I feel he did string along the UK coaching staff. How many trips did he make to watch UK play FB for free and how many times did he go to a UK BB game for free? All the while he knew he was not going to play FB at UK. He may be a good FB player but he is no different than the rest of the young modern prima dona athletes. I could care less about Damien Harris..
.
Well He will get free tickets to watch U.K. on the 17th but it will be in his state and he will root for his team. In 4 years what will be his state?
 

Grumpyolddawg

Heisman
Jun 11, 2001
28,440
37,223
113
Up until last night, I was pretty sure DH was going to commit to UK today, but after talking to a friend who is very close to a Bama coach, his dad in fact, I had a change of mind. Bama coaches felt very confident about his decision, I know that for a fact unless the coach lied to his dad. No names were mentioned but he said it was going to be a "coup:" of a commit today. I can put 2 + 2 together and there weren't many options that would be a "coup".

I know for a fact that its disappointing to lose a top player from your state to Bama or anyone else. But if there is a bright spot to this, he committed nearly a month before signing day giving Stoops and co. a chance to look in a different direction. If he had dragged it out to signing day and hadn't told the UK staff, they would have been left with few options to fill that spot, would have been to plan B or C type guys. Which UGA has had to do, may have to this year, top guy left on our board is announcing signing day, he goes another direction we are waist deep at that position for the class. So Stoops and co have a chance to move to the next man, a month to recruit him and get him here, not the best of things today, but it could have been worse.
 

nodef14

Redshirt
Nov 8, 2014
189
0
0
I'm disappointed that he signed with Bama but I take it more as a sign of where our program is (thanks Joker) and where it needs to go. If and when we become a consistent winner, the more likely it becomes that we win these type of recruiting battles. Like it or not, the jury is still out on whether Stoops will build a winner. I just think that Harris didn't want to chance it. Pro style offense probably helped some to, but I am one that thinks we need to be more like TCU than Bama to win with our recruiting ceiling.