Temple University Athletics
DB Dominique Harris
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Dominique Harris: Blessed to be an Owl
11.6.09 | Football
Gameday Feature Story
by Cathy Bongiovi, Temple Athletic Communications
Dominique Harris could not wait to enter this world. Born a month prematurely, he weighed in at four pounds. Even as an infant, his determination and strong will aided his rapid growth.
Today he uses those qualities to help the Temple Owls on and off the football field.
The third of Carmen and Ignacio Alleyne's seven children, Harris started playing sports at a young age. He credits his parents with instilling strong values and keeping him out of trouble.
“If it weren't for my parents-- my mother and stepfather, I wouldn't be here,” Harris said. “Where I am today is because of them. They kept me in football. They told me I had a future in it even when things weren't going well. They've been my biggest supporters along with my siblings.”
Now he pays it forward, giving back to young people.
“I used to belong to a Boys & Girls Club,” Harris said. “It's run by police officers and older people. It was amazing. I know how much it helped me out. It helped me as a person, kept me positive and gave me something to do.”
The recipient of the 2009 Athletic Department's Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service and inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community, as well as the team's T.E.A.M. Award [Temple's Exceptional Acts for Mankind] and Robert P. Levy Award for Community Service, Harris devotes his free time to helping others. He has participated in several projects during his five years on North Broad Street, including regular hospital visits, the Partnership Field Days, the bone marrow donor drive, and Diamond Street Clean-up.
“Anything that deals with kids I love to do,” Harris shared. “Anything that deals with children, like working at the Ronald McDonald House, the field days we do here with the children, when I went up to the hospital and met with them and took pictures. Just to see the excitement and the smiles on their faces is rewarding. All I'm doing is giving them a poster, taking a picture with them, spending some time with them, talking to them.”
But it hasn't been all smiles for Harris. The Washington, D.C., native arrived in Philadelphia in 2005, almost a full year before Al Golden was named head coach.
“My first year there really was no structure,” Harris recalled. “Coaches didn't care too much about us. Coach Wallace was a good guy, but we never had a personal relationship with him or with any of the other coaches like we do with the coaching staff now. It was always hard. We always tried to practice hard, but I don't think anybody had the right mindset to be a winning organization.”
Four short years later the entire football culture at Temple has changed, thanks to Golden.
“As far as grades, how we act in the community, how we represent Temple and our football program, we've done a complete turnaround,” Harris said. “People definitely see a change, and we get a lot of comments about how we act and how the culture around here changed.”
Redshirting in 2005, Harris didn't see game action until 2006. Now he's a four-year starter and two-year team captain.
“I'm blessed that I was able to get that experience as a freshman and build on my skills and abilities,” Harris shared. “And to be looked up to and to be seen as a captain is amazing. I've never really been a vocal person, so to come from being non-vocal to being a leader is … I've come a long way.”
Senior linebacker John Haley plays alongside Harris every day.
“It's been a lot of fun,” Haley said. “Dom's a great leader and a great football player. I love playing with him every day on the field. He brings energy. It helps me practice better and practice harder, because I'm trying to keep up with him.
“I think he's always been a leader, especially by his actions … more verbally this year than in past years. He's always been a leader here since I got here. People have always looked up to him on the team.”
A fifth-year senior, Harris earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Liberal Arts. With a degree already in hand, he could have left the program last spring.
“I wanted to see this go through all the way to the end,” he said. “I had the opportunity to be a part of something spectacular, so I wanted to stick around to see what happens.”
During his five years, Harris has played in every game of his collegiate career with 38 starts. He ranks eighth on Temple's career chart for interceptions with nine. The All-MAC honoree has a few more goals to achieve before leaving campus for good.
“I want to make it to the championship game, I want to win the championship, and I want to go to a bowl game,” he said. “I want that experience.”
“Dominique is a tremendous talent on the gridiron,” Golden said. “He has been the quintessential role model for our program and has set the standard for which all players should follow. Dominique's body of work speaks for itself. His involvement within the community has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many people in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. His commitment to academic excellence is only paralleled by his tireless work ethic and unquestionable desire to be the best teammate he can be on and off the field.”
When his football career is over, Harris would like to work for the FBI as a field agent. And spend his free time helping others.
A nominee for the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team, the Wuerffel Trophy, the ARA Sportsmanship Award, and the MAC's Vern Smith Leadership Award, Harris and his extracurricular activities have not gone unnoticed. He is truly blessed to be an Owl.
Dominique Harris could not wait to enter this world. Born a month prematurely, he weighed in at four pounds. Even as an infant, his determination and strong will aided his rapid growth.
Today he uses those qualities to help the Temple Owls on and off the football field.
The third of Carmen and Ignacio Alleyne's seven children, Harris started playing sports at a young age. He credits his parents with instilling strong values and keeping him out of trouble.
“If it weren't for my parents-- my mother and stepfather, I wouldn't be here,” Harris said. “Where I am today is because of them. They kept me in football. They told me I had a future in it even when things weren't going well. They've been my biggest supporters along with my siblings.”
Now he pays it forward, giving back to young people.
“I used to belong to a Boys & Girls Club,” Harris said. “It's run by police officers and older people. It was amazing. I know how much it helped me out. It helped me as a person, kept me positive and gave me something to do.”
The recipient of the 2009 Athletic Department's Temple Teammates Community Service Award, given to student-athletes who have demonstrated leadership qualities in the area of community service and inspiring others to engage in similar selfless civic endeavors for the purpose of improving the quality of life for those in the local community, as well as the team's T.E.A.M. Award [Temple's Exceptional Acts for Mankind] and Robert P. Levy Award for Community Service, Harris devotes his free time to helping others. He has participated in several projects during his five years on North Broad Street, including regular hospital visits, the Partnership Field Days, the bone marrow donor drive, and Diamond Street Clean-up.
“Anything that deals with kids I love to do,” Harris shared. “Anything that deals with children, like working at the Ronald McDonald House, the field days we do here with the children, when I went up to the hospital and met with them and took pictures. Just to see the excitement and the smiles on their faces is rewarding. All I'm doing is giving them a poster, taking a picture with them, spending some time with them, talking to them.”
But it hasn't been all smiles for Harris. The Washington, D.C., native arrived in Philadelphia in 2005, almost a full year before Al Golden was named head coach.
“My first year there really was no structure,” Harris recalled. “Coaches didn't care too much about us. Coach Wallace was a good guy, but we never had a personal relationship with him or with any of the other coaches like we do with the coaching staff now. It was always hard. We always tried to practice hard, but I don't think anybody had the right mindset to be a winning organization.”
Four short years later the entire football culture at Temple has changed, thanks to Golden.
“As far as grades, how we act in the community, how we represent Temple and our football program, we've done a complete turnaround,” Harris said. “People definitely see a change, and we get a lot of comments about how we act and how the culture around here changed.”
Redshirting in 2005, Harris didn't see game action until 2006. Now he's a four-year starter and two-year team captain.
“I'm blessed that I was able to get that experience as a freshman and build on my skills and abilities,” Harris shared. “And to be looked up to and to be seen as a captain is amazing. I've never really been a vocal person, so to come from being non-vocal to being a leader is … I've come a long way.”
Senior linebacker John Haley plays alongside Harris every day.
“It's been a lot of fun,” Haley said. “Dom's a great leader and a great football player. I love playing with him every day on the field. He brings energy. It helps me practice better and practice harder, because I'm trying to keep up with him.
“I think he's always been a leader, especially by his actions … more verbally this year than in past years. He's always been a leader here since I got here. People have always looked up to him on the team.”
A fifth-year senior, Harris earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice last May. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Liberal Arts. With a degree already in hand, he could have left the program last spring.
“I wanted to see this go through all the way to the end,” he said. “I had the opportunity to be a part of something spectacular, so I wanted to stick around to see what happens.”
During his five years, Harris has played in every game of his collegiate career with 38 starts. He ranks eighth on Temple's career chart for interceptions with nine. The All-MAC honoree has a few more goals to achieve before leaving campus for good.
“I want to make it to the championship game, I want to win the championship, and I want to go to a bowl game,” he said. “I want that experience.”
“Dominique is a tremendous talent on the gridiron,” Golden said. “He has been the quintessential role model for our program and has set the standard for which all players should follow. Dominique's body of work speaks for itself. His involvement within the community has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many people in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. His commitment to academic excellence is only paralleled by his tireless work ethic and unquestionable desire to be the best teammate he can be on and off the field.”
When his football career is over, Harris would like to work for the FBI as a field agent. And spend his free time helping others.
A nominee for the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America Team, the Wuerffel Trophy, the ARA Sportsmanship Award, and the MAC's Vern Smith Leadership Award, Harris and his extracurricular activities have not gone unnoticed. He is truly blessed to be an Owl.
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