Knew Major personally during early years and went through high school together. Really was a funny and humble dude. He was an incredible athlete no matter the sport, just explosive. Lots of great memories.
I see a great leader and playmaker at the QB position but not a great QB. The game has changed to make him more appealing but he wasn't making Mahomes type throws.
I was at Penn State in 1988 and Major Harris whipped our butts. I have no idea how that Mountaineer team didn't win the national championship that year but they faced a really talented Notre Dame in the title game, which beat the juggernaut Miami Hurricanes that season so they were top dogs
Thanks for reminding me of what a special talent Major was. WVU has had some pretty good QB's through the years. I was there when Oliver Luck was the guy. Jeff Hostetler was great for us as well and of course, Bulger was awesome. Love Pat White and he is incredible as well, but the best QB I ever saw in the Mounties uniform was this guy...Sad we didn't get to watch him Sundays.
Oh my gosh Major Harris was the man. Watching NFL and college football as a kid, I had never seen anyone that moved like him. What an athlete!!! What a great run during those years!!!
My All time Favorite QB.I started going to WVU football games in 1988. I was spoiled got to witness both undefeated seasons. He should of won the Heisman in my opinion not 5th.....
Sam, I am no from West Virginia, but I am from South Bend, In and I watched "MAJOR HARRIS" play several times including against us in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame and he was the best quarterback in College for two (2) years in a roll! He should have won the Heisman Trophy plain and simple. They couldn't let him play in the NFL because he would have broken every Quarterback Record that they had, and that is "NOT" what they wanted a black Quarterback to do at that time. That's the only reason he didn't get in the NFL!
In '88, I was lucky enough to see the home opener, (eastern michigan? Perhaps?) the Cincinnati game in riverfront and the Notre Dame bowl game (Fiesta Bowl) but the best was seeing WVU beat Syracuse and seal the undefeated regular season. That's the best moment in any sport I've ever seen. And I've been to MLB post season games, NFL playoff game and ncaa men's basketball tournament games. Nothing can top that win, at home, over Syracuse.
Anyone remember seeing that snippet on ESPN in 1988 where Harris threw a football -- from his knees on the 50-yard line -- through the uprights in the end zone? I can't seem to find it anywhere, but I know I saw it. Stunning.
I have never been compelled to leave a comment on any video here on youtube but I had to on this one. I remember watching Major Harris play when I was a kid. He has always been and always will be my favorite college player of all time. Thanks Major for all the great memories.
As a product of the Brad, Rasheed, Pat era these highlights make me think that Major very well could have been the best scrambling passer I've ever seen. He was just a beast at what he did.
Grew up in West'By'God. Been to two WVU games my whole life. The "busted play" win over Penn State and the "Victory Lap" win over Syracuse. Country Roads never sounded better. Thanks Major.
I have commented on this video before but just wanted to leave another comment to give a big Congratulations to Major Harris for being chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame. Well Deserved!!!!!!!
The play vs Louisville, at the 1:08 mark, that's the first time I've seen that play since watching it live in cardinal stadium that day... thanks for posting this. Lots of great memories surround the Eers during the Major Harris years.
He was AMAZING,I think had he come around a few years later..he would probably have had an NFL career. However,he was never really given a chance to prove what he could do on the next level. At that time,teams were looking for the classic pocket passer.
aaron walker I dont know man, Pat could sure as hell run and was probably faster than Major. I think Major could throw the deep ball more accurately though.
Described as having a "Cannon" for an arm.....was a pleasure to have watched him play back in the day...wish he would have just stayed that last year......
The great Jack Fleming..ahh..Saturdays spent playing sandlot football with his voice in the background...great times. He put WVU football on the map..the entire state expects them to go undefeated every season it seems..LOL. Yeah,he was an amazing athlete for sure.
How can it strictly be about race, when in the very same draft year - 1990 - Heisman winner Andre Ware was the first round selection (#7 overall) of the Lions.
Major Harris was a 6'1" QB and at the time in the NFL you were considered way to short to play. He left after his junior season and all but sealed ANY chance he had to ever be in the NFL. Had he stayed his senior year, WVU would have most likely played once again for the national championship. Remember that they lost to Notre Dame in the title game and Harris was injured during the game.
@buster facts I'm from pittsburgh and I remember him doing this ish in high school for brashear I went to Perry after he graduated and thank God cause we might be a few champions down if we played against him ahead if his time Salutes Major one of the burgh's finest
Major Harris was before Michael Vick,Vince Young,Pat White and Cam Newton at his time and if he was playing college football today he be a top 10 NFL draft pick.
its taken over 20 years but wvu finally has another major harris type QB in geno smith. smith was nothing but spectactlor in wvu"s improbable comeback win over marshall. if wvu can find future players like slaton, devine, renaud, geno could win a national championship before he leaves wvu. geno was absolutly Awsome and diden"t fold under preassure at marshall. his passing was flawless and that what it takes. he is going to be fun to watch.
before D. Mcnabb, before M. Vick, before R.G.3, or C. Kaepernick there was Major Harris. Bashear High school city champion, Heisman trophy winner up, Pgh, Pa Hill District native....Black Quarterback pioneer( highlights cant lie... #9)
Kai Day He wasn't a QB pioneer at all. Look at Condredge Holloway some 20 years before Harris. And Holloway did his things in the south, at TENNESSEE in early 70s! I think he became the first black QB, or one of the first, the start in the SEC. Doug Williams, Warren moon, etc. Many black QB with NCAA success before Harris. Major Harris was VERY GOOD, but not a pioneer.
He was drafted by the Raiders while they were in Los Angeles but didn't play in a regulsar season game. He played one season for Vancouver up in the CFL, got hurt and was basically done.
Exciting and great that Major Harris was. You know before him there wss a guy named RANDALL CUNNINGHAM was who a pro since 1985. I think Renaldo Turnbull was a pretty good too.
We're from Northern VA, gradually moving out of DC. Not a huge family, but Ive heard we were originally from Illinois. Pretty cool! If you have facebook, and are interested, my name is Jacob McNemar. Good way to research the family history a bit. Take care man!
Although I think Dantzler was the first to do something like that, however, that feat has been surpassed by Vince Young. He threw for over 3000, and ran for over 1000 in his last year I believe.
He was Mike Vick, a decade earlier. He was just flat out ahead of his time. It's too bad there wasn't a single open-minded, intelligent team in the NFL at the time to utilize his strengths. He would easily be a Vince Young type and caliber player if he was playing in this era.
No ND won 34-21 and Major Harris got a separated shoulder on the 3rd play of the game which slowed him down. WVU lost but they still made i there and played hard. ND had rocket ismail and Ricky Waters.
When Dantzler was the first, all records and stats only included the regular season (not the case with Vince Young). Woody had 11 games to accomplish 2360 yards passing and 1004 rushing. Vince had 3000 in 14 games. If you were to avg out Woody's stats for 3 more games he would have right around the same exact passing yards and a lot more rushing yards than Vince Young.
Major had one flaw he carried the football out in his had like a loaf of bread instead of up next to his body and fumble at times because of that , but speed arm great ,I wish like many he wouldn't have been injured against Notre Dame in the championship game
no they just weren't suited as well as Aikmen for NFL style teams, notice NFL mainly goes for Pro-style passers, most scramblers coming from college are converted, like most smaller runningbacks who dominate college are usually converted to 3rd & long or return only.
You all left out the first QB ever in the NCAA to pass for over 2000 yards and run for over 1000 yards in a regular season (Clemson's Woody Dantzler). I think he remains the only QB to ever do it in a regular season at the DIV 1A level. Look at his youtube video a few years back on his #2 play of the year in the NFL. He was playing kick returner. Not too bad for a former QB. He was electric and reached a peak no one in history had accomplished
Just think if he would have stayed in school instead of opting for the NFL draft...he may have won the Heisman.....and too bad about him getting hurt early in the Championship game against ND, if not the outcome could have been quite different !!
Same reason Cam isn't signed as I type this... most teams were convinced that a certain style play was required & there just weren't enough teams willing to give an athletic black QBs a fair shot... Randall was the exception, Major was the norm or rule (like Charlie Ward, Marvin Graves, Tony Robinson, Stave Taylor, Shawn Moore, Phil Bradley, etc)...
Should've won the Heisman Trophy in 88, that was bs he was far and away the best player in the country. Andre Ware played nobody that season and threw the ball 60 time's a game. We were blowing teams out the major only played 3 qtrs. Allot that season!
![Twenty One Pilots - “The Line” (from Arcane Season 2) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/E2Rj2gQAyPA/mqdefault.jpg)
I remember thinking how was it possible he could not make an NFL team? Today he would be a top pick..crazy..
Knew Major personally during early years and went through high school together. Really was a funny and humble dude. He was an incredible athlete no matter the sport, just explosive. Lots of great memories.
If Major Harris was playing in today college football he will be a 1st round pick in the NFL.
Before Mike Vick, NFL was not ready for that type of ability,
I see a great leader and playmaker at the QB position but not a great QB. The game has changed to make him more appealing but he wasn't making Mahomes type throws.
@@kylecruel he couldnt read the alphabet lol
@@kylecruel awesome athlete tho exciting player
He could never play quarterback in any organized professional league.
I'm not even a WVU fan and I loved watching Major Harris back in the day. He was one of my favorite college football players when I was growing up.
He was very exciting
Ah the memories. Great video. We need one for Pat White too!
I was a WVU student from 1987-89, went to every game, Major Harris was by far the best QB I have ever seen!!
Same
0:49 check out the type of players he was up against. It’s a different talent today.. imagine a guy as athletic as Travis Hunter playing against them!
Nvm I didn’t realize he was a quarterback! He was definitely special
I miss those WVU uniforms.
I was at Penn State in 1988 and Major Harris whipped our butts. I have no idea how that Mountaineer team didn't win the national championship that year but they faced a really talented Notre Dame in the title game, which beat the juggernaut Miami Hurricanes that season so they were top dogs
I was in the 9th grade during that time Georgia Tech split the title with Colorado and I’m from Georgia so I remember it well
Thanks for reminding me of what a special talent Major was. WVU has had some pretty good QB's through the years. I was there when Oliver Luck was the guy. Jeff Hostetler was great for us as well and of course, Bulger was awesome. Love Pat White and he is incredible as well, but the best QB I ever saw in the Mounties uniform was this guy...Sad we didn't get to watch him Sundays.
Major Harris......one of WVU's finest!
Oh my gosh Major Harris was the man. Watching NFL and college football as a kid, I had never seen anyone that moved like him. What an athlete!!! What a great run during those years!!!
My All time Favorite QB.I started going to WVU football games in 1988.
I was spoiled got to witness both undefeated seasons.
He should of won the Heisman in my opinion not 5th.....
Sam, I am no from West Virginia, but I am from South Bend, In and I watched "MAJOR HARRIS" play several times including against us in the Fiesta Bowl against Notre Dame and he was the best quarterback in College for two (2) years in a roll! He should have won the Heisman Trophy plain and simple. They couldn't let him play in the NFL because he would have broken every Quarterback Record that they had, and that is "NOT" what they wanted a black Quarterback to do at that time. That's the only reason he didn't get in the NFL!
In '88, I was lucky enough to see the home opener, (eastern michigan? Perhaps?) the Cincinnati game in riverfront and the Notre Dame bowl game (Fiesta Bowl) but the best was seeing WVU beat Syracuse and seal the undefeated regular season. That's the best moment in any sport I've ever seen. And I've been to MLB post season games, NFL playoff game and ncaa men's basketball tournament games. Nothing can top that win, at home, over Syracuse.
that was good, thanks! quite a player for wvu back in the day.
Anyone remember seeing that snippet on ESPN in 1988 where Harris threw a football -- from his knees on the 50-yard line -- through the uprights in the end zone? I can't seem to find it anywhere, but I know I saw it. Stunning.
I played against him in high school. He was a beast on the field and the court. And yes, he had a cannon for an arm.
I have never been compelled to leave a comment on any video here on youtube but I had to on this one. I remember watching Major Harris play when I was a kid. He has always been and always will be my favorite college player of all time. Thanks Major for all the great memories.
I saw him win a national championship in one semi league. He was a great player regardless of his opportunities not given or wasted.
Im blessed to have seen Major play wow he was ahead of his time...
I really enjoyed watching this young Man play Quarterback. The only other quarterback that I enjoyed more was my favorite Joe Montana.
As a product of the Brad, Rasheed, Pat era these highlights make me think that Major very well could have been the best scrambling passer I've ever seen. He was just a beast at what he did.
Grew up in West'By'God.
Been to two WVU games my whole life.
The "busted play" win over Penn State and the "Victory Lap" win over Syracuse.
Country Roads never sounded better. Thanks Major.
My 1st time actually watching this video.. Pretty cool seeing the man I was named after!
Thanks for that vid brings back many memories. Major rocked the football world when he was there.
I have commented on this video before but just wanted to leave another comment to give a big Congratulations to Major Harris for being chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame. Well Deserved!!!!!!!
The play vs Louisville, at the 1:08 mark, that's the first time I've seen that play since watching it live in cardinal stadium that day... thanks for posting this. Lots of great memories surround the Eers during the Major Harris years.
He was AMAZING,I think had he come around a few years later..he would probably have had an NFL career. However,he was never really given a chance to prove what he could do on the next level. At that time,teams were looking for the classic pocket passer.
Call it for what it really was!!!!!
Thanks for the memories!!!
We really need to go back to these old uniforms. Please watch this Neal Brown.
you hit the nail on the head. warren moon had to basically leave the country to get noticed and hes one of the best to ever play.
Major had over 7000 career yards. passing and rushing combined. He belongs in the College Hall of Fame!
best qb at wvu ever hands down
Nah Pat White and it’s not close
aaron walker I dont know man, Pat could sure as hell run and was probably faster than Major. I think Major could throw the deep ball more accurately though.
I grew up on the same street as him. Elmore Square Pittsburgh Pa.
Met him recently, told him he was the best
Great talent the NFL wouldn’t allow him to flourish. Not many black qb’s in the league let alone starting qb’s
Described as having a "Cannon" for an arm.....was a pleasure to have watched him play back in the day...wish he would have just stayed that last year......
i loved watching him as a kid .. he was the man ...
Major Harris was awesome, but "first dual threat?" 'Cuse went undefeated 2 years earlier with Heisman finalist Don McPherson.
Don McPherson was good... and Major and Co. gave them quite the scare up in the Dome in 1987. That Syracuse Option was fun to watch.
The great Jack Fleming..ahh..Saturdays spent playing sandlot football with his voice in the background...great times. He put WVU football on the map..the entire state expects them to go undefeated every season it seems..LOL. Yeah,he was an amazing athlete for sure.
The GREATEST racial injustice in NFL drafting--EVER!!!
You live in a fake fantasy world 🙄
@@uncasunga1800 Then name a WORSE one.
How can it strictly be about race, when in the very same draft year - 1990 - Heisman winner Andre Ware was the first round selection (#7 overall) of the Lions.
@@drink1lonestar Honestly--can you imagine a White player being that good and NOT being a prime 1st-rounder?
Major Harris was a 6'1" QB and at the time in the NFL you were considered way to short to play. He left after his junior season and all but sealed ANY chance he had to ever be in the NFL. Had he stayed his senior year, WVU would have most likely played once again for the national championship. Remember that they lost to Notre Dame in the title game and Harris was injured during the game.
Major came too soon. He would fit in with many NFL offenses in 2015.
Gregory Krug yep ahead of his time
He could have fit in back then too if he had been given a chance.
@buster facts I'm from pittsburgh and I remember him doing this ish in high school for brashear I went to Perry after he graduated and thank God cause we might be a few champions down if we played against him ahead if his time Salutes Major one of the burgh's finest
Still can't believe ANDRE FRIGGIN' WARE beat out Major for the Hesiman (shakes head)
College football was magical back in the day ..
Major Harris was before Michael Vick,Vince Young,Pat White and Cam Newton at his time and if he was playing college football today he be a top 10 NFL draft pick.
Tell that to Randell Cunningham
Thanks Major!
Awesome. Would love to see more.
Really don't know why the NFL didn't give this man a shot. His arm was just as stronger then John Elway.
its taken over 20 years but wvu finally has another major harris type QB in geno smith. smith was nothing but spectactlor in wvu"s improbable comeback win over marshall. if wvu can find future players like slaton, devine, renaud, geno could win a national championship before he leaves wvu. geno was absolutly Awsome and diden"t fold under preassure at marshall. his passing was flawless and that what it takes. he is going to be fun to watch.
before D. Mcnabb, before M. Vick, before R.G.3, or C. Kaepernick there was Major Harris. Bashear High school city champion, Heisman trophy winner up, Pgh, Pa Hill District native....Black Quarterback pioneer( highlights cant lie... #9)
Kai Day
He wasn't a QB pioneer at all. Look at Condredge Holloway some 20 years before Harris. And Holloway did his things in the south, at TENNESSEE in early 70s! I think he became the first black QB, or one of the first, the start in the SEC. Doug Williams, Warren moon, etc. Many black QB with NCAA success before Harris. Major Harris was VERY GOOD, but not a pioneer.
What great memories from The Major. As electrifying a talent as I've ever seen on a football field. What a joy he was to watch!
Great Video Poetry in Motion
He was drafted by the Raiders while they were in Los Angeles but didn't play in a regulsar season game. He played one season for Vancouver up in the CFL, got hurt and was basically done.
Really sad to see what has happened to WVU football and all of college football in the past few years.
Vince Young, please say "Thank You". This guy opened the door for you.
Legend
Going to the CFL caused his career problems! He should've stayed his senior year.
He was Michael Vick before Michale Vick, NFL wasn't ready for his style of play.
What's doing with this guy?
By the way 80's college football ruled!
yes, 80's college football (and hoops) was the bomb.
Exciting and great that Major Harris was. You know before him there wss a guy named RANDALL CUNNINGHAM was who a pro since 1985. I think Renaldo Turnbull was a pretty good too.
Honest go God...the way he scrambles and buys time back there, he reminds me of Fran Tarkington.
If not for Major Harris I may have not been a mountaineer fan.
the man
We're from Northern VA, gradually moving out of DC. Not a huge family, but Ive heard we were originally from Illinois. Pretty cool! If you have facebook, and are interested, my name is Jacob McNemar. Good way to research the family history a bit. Take care man!
Although I think Dantzler was the first to do something like that, however, that feat has been surpassed by Vince Young. He threw for over 3000, and ran for over 1000 in his last year I believe.
Good brother I know from baseball and high school football
He was Mike Vick, a decade earlier. He was just flat out ahead of his time. It's too bad there wasn't a single open-minded, intelligent team in the NFL at the time to utilize his strengths. He would easily be a Vince Young type and caliber player if he was playing in this era.
he led us to two national championships
After watching this video I have to wonder why Coach never chewed Major up for his POOR ball security!
No ND won 34-21 and Major Harris got a separated shoulder on the 3rd play of the game which slowed him down. WVU lost but they still made i there and played hard. ND had rocket ismail and Ricky Waters.
When Dantzler was the first, all records and stats only included the regular season (not the case with Vince Young). Woody had 11 games to accomplish 2360 yards passing and 1004 rushing. Vince had 3000 in 14 games. If you were to avg out Woody's stats for 3 more games he would have right around the same exact passing yards and a lot more rushing yards than Vince Young.
You mean one year earlier.
NFL wanted him to play on defense the nerve.
The offense he ran was the spread, it just wasn't called spread then
I have his autograph. He came to our school, I was the only one to get his autograph.
This music is the win💯😂
No way this dude should have not been drafted number I pick
Major had one flaw he carried the football out in his had like a loaf of bread instead of up next to his body and fumble at times because of that , but speed arm great ,I wish like many he wouldn't have been injured against Notre Dame in the championship game
no they just weren't suited as well as Aikmen for NFL style teams, notice NFL mainly goes for Pro-style passers, most scramblers coming from college are converted, like most smaller runningbacks who dominate college are usually converted to 3rd & long or return only.
You all left out the first QB ever in the NCAA to pass for over 2000 yards and run for over 1000 yards in a regular season (Clemson's Woody Dantzler). I think he remains the only QB to ever do it in a regular season at the DIV 1A level. Look at his youtube video a few years back on his #2 play of the year in the NFL. He was playing kick returner. Not too bad for a former QB. He was electric and reached a peak no one in history had accomplished
He might do it this year in the regular season (12 games), but not in the same number of games Woody did it in. Woody did it in an 11 game season
Just think if he would have stayed in school instead of opting for the NFL draft...he may have won the Heisman.....and too bad about him getting hurt early in the Championship game against ND, if not the outcome could have been quite different !!
before major there was fran tarkenton, and roger staubach.
Pat White will do it this year
does anybody know what song is playing in the background?
Guys looked more mature back then
Before Michael Vick it was Major Harris .
man, what a cannon!
He was Michael Vick before Michael Vick if that makes sense lol🏈🔥🏈
Whoa, where are you from man? My last name is McNemar. Im in VA...dont run into that very often...
Got wrecked in the biggest game in their school history in front of a national televised audience. He deserves a nice try ribbon.
Major was not the first Dual-threat QB in College football. There's been plenty before him, like Randall Cunningham.
Check out the clip on the pass rusher at 1:28. Not a great highlight for Major's o-line.
hes 5 years younger than randall cunningham how didnt he make it???
Same reason Cam isn't signed as I type this... most teams were convinced that a certain style play was required & there just weren't enough teams willing to give an athletic black QBs a fair shot... Randall was the exception, Major was the norm or rule (like Charlie Ward, Marvin Graves, Tony Robinson, Stave Taylor, Shawn Moore, Phil Bradley, etc)...
what ever happened to major harris? did he go to the CFL?
Should've won the Heisman Trophy in 88, that was bs he was far and away the best player in the country. Andre Ware played nobody that season and threw the ball 60 time's a game. We were blowing teams out the major only played 3 qtrs. Allot that season!
Was he In the NFL?
Andrew Pifer unfortunately no
13-9
Juke City @ 0:40
Listen these fool's that try to say Pat White is the best WVU Q.B. ever is just that a fool. Pat was good but he wasn't no Major remember that!!!!!!
49ersAwday -- Didn't a Notre Dame player purposely take out Major Harris in this game? And, the ND coach is a WV native (Lou Holz).