LINCOLN -- From a humble beginning pledging to end a 29-game football losing streak through state playoff triumphs and tearful goodbyes, favor seemed to permeate Brad Harris' affiliation with Lincoln.
Favor was a major factor in how much the former Lincoln physical education teacher and coach, who resigned at the end of the baseball season moving his family close to his father and father-in-law who have experienced health issues, imprinted a favorable stamp upon the community.
Almost everything he touched flourished but not without hard work, persistence and due diligence on his part.
That Lincoln will open the 2014 football season playing in Hooten's Kickoff Classic against Hot Springs Lakeside at Reynold's Razorback Stadium on the University of Arkansas campus is part of Harris' legacy even though he's now on the sidelines at Benton as a defensive coordinator.
When Harris first arrived on the scene in the spring of 2008 Lincoln wasn't on anybody's radar when showcasing football prowess and on-the-field athletic execution. Five years later Lincoln opened a new Wolfpack football stadium of their own and went 9-1 in only their second year competing at the 4A level qualifying to host a playoff game.
That was previously unheard of as was the 27-13 win Lincoln posted over traditional gridiron power Nashville followed by the Wolves' first playoff road win, 41-22, at Malvern in November, a game in which Lincoln runningback Tyler Cummings rushed for 415 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Harris was nominated for 2013 football Coach of the Year honors by Hootens for the second time in three years. None of this happened by accident, Harris tweaked his offense going away from a three receiver spread offense to lining up with a tight end and frequently inserting 210 pound linebacker Colton Barnum as a bruising lead blocker at fullback.
Favor created a vacuum effect drawing football players from other schools. Jake Davenport, a 300-pound tackle, who laughed at Cummings in junior high when he transferred from Prairie Grove, made the same transition and a huge impact as a blocker for Cummings' season totals of 2,058 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns.
Then there was Ryan Holcomb challenged with autism never having played football and not planning to but deciding to go out in seventh grade upon receiving a letter from Harris telling him and all incoming seventh graders the team needed them. Holcomb responded enthusiastically and football revolutionized his world. He played every year making an interception at Dover as a senior before graduating in May.
Madison Rich, who dated Harris' son Drew and will be a senior at Lincoln this fall, remembers being in Harris' ninth grade Health class.
"He's a very good teacher and a very good coach," Madison said. "I'm going to miss them a lot but they have their good reasons for leaving."
Madison counted several athletic achievements among her treasured memories of the Harris family's impact.
"It was pretty cool winning the junior high championships together in basketball and to be able to watch all Drew's games. This was their best football season, watching them go to state; and I think it was two years ago whenever we played Genoa Central in the state semifinal that was a very good game."
The disappointing 1-0 loss in 2012 was replicated by another painful 3-2 first-round exit from the 2014 4A North Regional baseball tournament Lincoln hosted this spring.
"I hate it for them. It's not about me, it's about these guys and getting to the next level for them and the state tournament is the next level for them," Harris said. "You know most of these guys are not going to go to college and play football, baseball, basketball, anything, so the state tournament is the grand-daddy of them all and unfortunately we didn't get there."
"It's been a great, great run. I think we counted about eight or nine years that Lincoln's been to the state tournament in a row and unfortunately we wasn't able to get there this year but I'm very proud of our guys still."
Yet, joyful memories outweigh the sting of losses.
"He's going to be definitely missed because he's a great man, great coach came second but he was a great man, too," said Deon Birkes, Lincoln athletic director.
"I completely understand what he's going through. You got to have family first and Brad was always a guy I could go to and he was there to give me good advice and help me make good decisions and he's going to be sorely missed but you know I don't fault him for this."
In Lincoln, Brad Harris and his family will be remembered with fondness.
Sports on 07/23/2014