JEROME HARPER - PROFILE
By Roger Harris
The first feature
you notice on meeting
Jerome Harper are his
eyes. Clear, bold, and
sharp, they reflect a
quiet surety and sense
of purpose common in
all men of direction,
of destiny. His
handshake, strong, firm
and determined, tells
of dues paid, of
battles fought and won.
His impact is distinct
and immediate,
encompassing yet
amiable, and
underscores the main
force that has
reignited the FSU
Bronco football team.
I recently met
with Coach Harper to
get a closer look at
the person behind the
title. What I found
was a man deeply
committed not only to
establishing a top-
notch football program,
but also more
importantly to the
development of student-
athletes as a whole,
building a foundation
that will serve them
long after their glory
days on the gridiron.
This approach is
nothing new to Harper.
During his playing days
Attention
All student organizations need to make
an appointment with the yearbook staff
for a group photograph.
-DON’T MISS OUT-
Call 486-1406 or stop by the year
book office in the Rudolph Jones
Student Student Center.
The deadline is Oct 29,1993.
at Riverside High
School and later at
Alabama State
University, his father
always stressed that if
he didn't make the
grades in the
classroom, he wouldn't
allowed to plav
football. That
philosophy served him
as he went on to
earn a Bachelor of
Science Degree in
Physical Education in
1974, and a Master's
Degree in Physical
Education in 1975.
Harper's approach
to coaching is hard-
nosed and direct,
tempered with a true
concern that the
players understand, not
just know, their
assignments on the
field. He's been known
to say "Teach an
assignment one time;
drill that assignment a
thousand one times. We
are creatures of habit;
we will learn". He
puts his all into his
job and expects no less
than that from his
team. The results of
his approach are
measurable; as of this
writing the Bronco's
own an outstanding
record.
In fact, the '93
season represents the
blossoming of a program
that was hastily yet
effectively implemented
in '92, when Harper won
the job as FSU's new
head coach. "The
team's limited exposure
to my program
represents our single
greatest weakness" says
Harper. His program is
a year-round process
that emphasizes the
academic, spiritual,
and physical
development of the
student-athlete
necessary to ensure his
successful contribution
to society and
graduation from FSU.
Harper says All
students have the
opportunity to play and
are welcome to try out
for the team, if
"they're willing to pay
the price". Harper's
concern is genuine. A
father of three, he
understands parents'
concerns and the
student-athletes'
needs. His program is
designed to address and
fulfill these
requirements.
Fifty returning
lettermen (twenty of
them starters from last
year) offer Harper an
outstanding nucleus for
success and represent
the team's single
greatest strength.
Harper was hard-pressed
to single out
individual "marquee"
players because he
believes that only a
total team effort will
ensure the level of
success he sees in the
future. However, it's
obvious that an
outstanding coaching
staff, Robin Harrington
(QB), Clifton Davis
(RB) , Mark Macline
(LB), and Michael Adams
(Safety) is expected to
provide the leadership
necessary to get the
job done.
Jerome Harper is a
father, a coach, a
manager,
friend.
With program staff,
team and administration
support, he's been
entrusted with guiding
the FSU Broncos to a
new standard and level
of success. He can do
no less because he is a
man of destiny with the
new spirit that's
pushing the FSU team to
greatness. We will be
the benefactors who
enjoy the sweet fruit
of his labors.