Temple University Athletics
Photo by: Joseph V. Labolito/Temple University
Follow Me, I am Going to Show You the Way
10.25.13 | Football
Military Backgrounds of RB Harper and QB Reilly Help Shape Their Leadership
by Andy Eswothy
Temple running back Kenneth Harper Jr. and quarterback Connor Reilly are all too familiar with the similarities between a military operation and a football team. Harper's mother, Staff Sergeant Ingrid Beach is a Medical Readiness NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) for the United States Army. She is stationed at the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Jacksonville, Florida, not far from where Kenny was raised.
Reilly's father, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Reilly Jr., is a well-decorated member of the Army. Having been deployed twice overseas to Afghanistan and Iraq, Reilly Jr. is currently stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana, where he trains pilots how to fly military helicopters.
"The military is really similar to football, everyone has his or her job, and if one person lets you down you wont accomplish the mission or complete the play," Harper said. "Just as it is on the battlefield, you are as strong as your weakest link. If someone doesn't do their job right there is severe consequences."
Reilly reiterated this statement saying, "The army is all about family. Everyone has an "all in" attitude for each other. With football it is the same thing, you have to be accountable on the field. Ten other guys are counting on you to do your job every play."
Ms. Beach was a member of the Marines before she had Kenneth, but decided to leave when she was pregnant with him. She later joined the Army when Kenneth was heading into middle school, where she has been ever since for 14 years.
There was no father figure in Harper's life at this point. It was up to his mother and her brothers, all of who are in the military, to raise him the correct way. Kenneth said his mother heavily stressed being tough and overcoming obstacles.
"She held me up to high standards," Harper stated. "I never wanted to have my mom worry about me. She showed me what is right and what is wrong, and I just did not want to let anyone down in my family."
Connor's father, he says, has instilled the leadership qualities in him that are necessary to lead a football team in the heat of battle.
"As a quarterback you are in charge of the other 10 guys on the field. You are trying to get them lined up and direct them what to do. After that is set, you have to be able to dictate where the ball is going to be thrown or handed off."
Neil Reilly Jr. would always make sure to have breakfast with his son before work, but even during breakfast he was preparing for work that day. Preparing for the unexpected is something Reilly said his father was always planning for. This translates over to Reilly's game he says, as the quarterback must always be ready to dictate his troops as they march down the field attempting to score touchdowns.
"Not every play is going to work out to perfection," Reilly says, "Every play is designed to score a touchdown. If it doesn't, then something unexpected happened and you have to be able to cope with what's happened."
One person helping Reilly cope with the unexpected situations is Harper. He is having his best season as an Owl, leading the team with six rushing touchdowns. Harper may not be the vocal leader the quarterback is, but he is more comfortable that way. He can often be seen joking around and consistently has people bent over in stitches laughing with him. He says that is something he and his mom both can relate to.
"We are both goofy and like to joke around, but she knows when to be serious, and I get that from her," Harper says. "She always tells me there are times when you play and there are times when you work."
Working hard is nothing new to Harper. Coming into this season Harper, a junior, did not see much playing time his first two years on North Broad Street. In his freshman year he was behind Temple's career and single season rushing touchdown record holder, Bernard Pierce. Pierce is now a featured back with the Baltimore Ravens splitting time with All-Pro running back Ray Rice. Montel Harris, who rushed for 351 yards and seven touchdowns against Army last year and Matt Brown, a speedy return specialist also sat atop of the depth chart in front of Harper last season.
It was not easy for Harper being stuck behind those talented backs, and he said sometimes you start to get down on yourself. He always would think of his mother and the lessons she taught him as a boy when those thoughts encompassed his head.
"Whenever I get down on myself she always tells me, you know how we ride, we're strong, we're tough, and we always overcome everything. It's similar to the military when you are facing an obstacle you have to get past that, you have to go around it. Whatever it takes to get around it and overcome it."
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something," Harper said his mother would constantly remind him. "If you say you are going to go to the moon, go to the moon. Nobody can stop you from what you want to do and the goals you want to accomplish."
Harper has not relinquished those opportunities this year, starting all five games thus far, and leading the Owls with 56 carries for 250 yards. He has a long run of 22 yards this year.
Harper is quick to tell you that his mother is where he gets his "never give up" attitude and determination.
"She is very determined, when she sets her mind to something she is going to do it," Harper says of his mother. "It doesn't matter who says what. She is going to accomplish [her goals] and she instilled that in me, and I think that translates on the field when I am out there playing."
This mental toughness has helped Harper prepare for the array of defense's he will face this season. Six of the twelve opponents Temple is set to face this year participated in a bowl game last year, with two of the teams (Louisville and Notre Dame) playing in the highly touted BCS bowls. Notre Dame lost in the BCS Championship Game to Alabama, but returned two of the top defensive players in the country in Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt.
"The military preaches about being tough and prepared," Harper explained. "When we do drills at practice that requires mental toughness the coaches stress paying attention to detail. I am used to hearing all that stuff. It's the same with my mom, she always said you cannot let little things break you down."
Harper relates this to an in-game situation where he has the ball in his hands on a crucial down. He focuses on everything his mom, uncles, and coaches have taught him. He knows the importance of having accountability and fulfilling the assignments that are tasked to you.
"[Running the ball] there is a defender between you and the touchdown. Just like in the military the enemy is in front of you and your ability to come home safely. You have to defeat the player to get to the touchdown."
"If we're in the game and its 4th and 2 you can't let that moment break you down and say that it is too stressful," Harper says. "You have to relax and understand what you have to do and accomplish your assignments."
These decisive game moments are what Kenneth Harper lives for. He will tell you he is not very much of a vocal leader, but rather leads by example letting his actions speak for him.
"My mom always told me it is easy to talk about it, but rather you should 'be about it.' Show people through your actions. It has really been instilled in me. People always say, 'Kenny, Kenny you got to be vocal,' but I am more of leader through my actions. Follow me and I am going to show you the way."
Harper plans on leading the way for the Owls the rest of the season, always having his mom in the back of his mind, pushing him forward towards success in life on and off the football field.
Who knows what lies next for Harper, maybe a trip to the moon, where he may just land amongst the rest of the Temple stars that grace the record books here on North Broad Street.
Temple running back Kenneth Harper Jr. and quarterback Connor Reilly are all too familiar with the similarities between a military operation and a football team. Harper's mother, Staff Sergeant Ingrid Beach is a Medical Readiness NCO (Non-Commissioned Officer) for the United States Army. She is stationed at the 146th Expeditionary Signal Battalion in Jacksonville, Florida, not far from where Kenny was raised.
Reilly's father, Lieutenant Colonel Neil Reilly Jr., is a well-decorated member of the Army. Having been deployed twice overseas to Afghanistan and Iraq, Reilly Jr. is currently stationed at Fort Polk in Louisiana, where he trains pilots how to fly military helicopters.
"The military is really similar to football, everyone has his or her job, and if one person lets you down you wont accomplish the mission or complete the play," Harper said. "Just as it is on the battlefield, you are as strong as your weakest link. If someone doesn't do their job right there is severe consequences."
Reilly reiterated this statement saying, "The army is all about family. Everyone has an "all in" attitude for each other. With football it is the same thing, you have to be accountable on the field. Ten other guys are counting on you to do your job every play."
Ms. Beach was a member of the Marines before she had Kenneth, but decided to leave when she was pregnant with him. She later joined the Army when Kenneth was heading into middle school, where she has been ever since for 14 years.
There was no father figure in Harper's life at this point. It was up to his mother and her brothers, all of who are in the military, to raise him the correct way. Kenneth said his mother heavily stressed being tough and overcoming obstacles.
"She held me up to high standards," Harper stated. "I never wanted to have my mom worry about me. She showed me what is right and what is wrong, and I just did not want to let anyone down in my family."
Connor's father, he says, has instilled the leadership qualities in him that are necessary to lead a football team in the heat of battle.
"As a quarterback you are in charge of the other 10 guys on the field. You are trying to get them lined up and direct them what to do. After that is set, you have to be able to dictate where the ball is going to be thrown or handed off."
Neil Reilly Jr. would always make sure to have breakfast with his son before work, but even during breakfast he was preparing for work that day. Preparing for the unexpected is something Reilly said his father was always planning for. This translates over to Reilly's game he says, as the quarterback must always be ready to dictate his troops as they march down the field attempting to score touchdowns.
"Not every play is going to work out to perfection," Reilly says, "Every play is designed to score a touchdown. If it doesn't, then something unexpected happened and you have to be able to cope with what's happened."
One person helping Reilly cope with the unexpected situations is Harper. He is having his best season as an Owl, leading the team with six rushing touchdowns. Harper may not be the vocal leader the quarterback is, but he is more comfortable that way. He can often be seen joking around and consistently has people bent over in stitches laughing with him. He says that is something he and his mom both can relate to.
"We are both goofy and like to joke around, but she knows when to be serious, and I get that from her," Harper says. "She always tells me there are times when you play and there are times when you work."
Working hard is nothing new to Harper. Coming into this season Harper, a junior, did not see much playing time his first two years on North Broad Street. In his freshman year he was behind Temple's career and single season rushing touchdown record holder, Bernard Pierce. Pierce is now a featured back with the Baltimore Ravens splitting time with All-Pro running back Ray Rice. Montel Harris, who rushed for 351 yards and seven touchdowns against Army last year and Matt Brown, a speedy return specialist also sat atop of the depth chart in front of Harper last season.
It was not easy for Harper being stuck behind those talented backs, and he said sometimes you start to get down on yourself. He always would think of his mother and the lessons she taught him as a boy when those thoughts encompassed his head.
"Whenever I get down on myself she always tells me, you know how we ride, we're strong, we're tough, and we always overcome everything. It's similar to the military when you are facing an obstacle you have to get past that, you have to go around it. Whatever it takes to get around it and overcome it."
"Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something," Harper said his mother would constantly remind him. "If you say you are going to go to the moon, go to the moon. Nobody can stop you from what you want to do and the goals you want to accomplish."
Harper has not relinquished those opportunities this year, starting all five games thus far, and leading the Owls with 56 carries for 250 yards. He has a long run of 22 yards this year.
Harper is quick to tell you that his mother is where he gets his "never give up" attitude and determination.
"She is very determined, when she sets her mind to something she is going to do it," Harper says of his mother. "It doesn't matter who says what. She is going to accomplish [her goals] and she instilled that in me, and I think that translates on the field when I am out there playing."
This mental toughness has helped Harper prepare for the array of defense's he will face this season. Six of the twelve opponents Temple is set to face this year participated in a bowl game last year, with two of the teams (Louisville and Notre Dame) playing in the highly touted BCS bowls. Notre Dame lost in the BCS Championship Game to Alabama, but returned two of the top defensive players in the country in Louis Nix III and Stephon Tuitt.
"The military preaches about being tough and prepared," Harper explained. "When we do drills at practice that requires mental toughness the coaches stress paying attention to detail. I am used to hearing all that stuff. It's the same with my mom, she always said you cannot let little things break you down."
Harper relates this to an in-game situation where he has the ball in his hands on a crucial down. He focuses on everything his mom, uncles, and coaches have taught him. He knows the importance of having accountability and fulfilling the assignments that are tasked to you.
"[Running the ball] there is a defender between you and the touchdown. Just like in the military the enemy is in front of you and your ability to come home safely. You have to defeat the player to get to the touchdown."
"If we're in the game and its 4th and 2 you can't let that moment break you down and say that it is too stressful," Harper says. "You have to relax and understand what you have to do and accomplish your assignments."
These decisive game moments are what Kenneth Harper lives for. He will tell you he is not very much of a vocal leader, but rather leads by example letting his actions speak for him.
"My mom always told me it is easy to talk about it, but rather you should 'be about it.' Show people through your actions. It has really been instilled in me. People always say, 'Kenny, Kenny you got to be vocal,' but I am more of leader through my actions. Follow me and I am going to show you the way."
Harper plans on leading the way for the Owls the rest of the season, always having his mom in the back of his mind, pushing him forward towards success in life on and off the football field.
Who knows what lies next for Harper, maybe a trip to the moon, where he may just land amongst the rest of the Temple stars that grace the record books here on North Broad Street.
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