Roger Harriott and his St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders came through Miami Dolphins high school media day last weekend as one of the main attractions. With 14 of his top players accompanying him, Harriott fielded questions for nearly an hour from numerous media outlets including myself. Below is our brief Q&A session.
Nash Williams: Coach, it's your first year at St. Thomas, but you've also won a state title at University School, what are your expectations for the team and for yourself this season?
Roger Harriott: Well, for the team to play with camaraderie and as a family. I expect them to produce positive results. Not only on the field, but also off the field and within their family structure and within the classroom. As a result I think that will lead to wins on the field.
NW: You guys have a tough schedule this year, you open up with Booker. T Washington in week one and it's tough from there on out, how do you plan on keeping your guys level-headed throughout the season?
RH: We obviously want to take an approach of humility, but we need to remain competitive at the same time. We will take it week by week and right now we are focused on Dillard for the kickoff classic. We have to get ready for them because they really are a formidable opponent and we don't need any letdowns as we approach the following week. I also encourage our guys to practice with an attitude that they need to have on game day. Every game for us has to be a state championship effort. That's obviously the goal, but we have to meet our daily objectives at practice for us to be successful.
NW: Everyone knows guys like Sam Bruce and Nick Bosa, who are some of the unsung heroes on your team that will be key in St. Thomas repeating as state champions?
RH At St. Thomas Aquinas, we firmly believe in the method of interdependence, we expect every unit to pull their weight. All of us coaches have hold high standards among all of our players whether they be first or second string. We are fortunate to have a ton of depth but they need to make sure they are doing what is expected of them from a character standpoint and a philosophical standpoint in order for us to produce optimal results on the field.
NW: As an Aquinas alum, what does it mean for you to come into your alma mater with a chance to win a state championship?
RH: It means the world to me. Coach George Smith did a great job of inspiring those who he led during his tenure and I'm honored to take over the reigns and I'm hoping to make St. Thomas Aquinas proud.
NW: You spent a season at FAU as the running backs coach and assistant head coach, what did you learn from that season and that staff that you will bring with you back to the high school ranks?
RH: The staff at FAU are a bunch of extraordinary individuals. (Head coach) Charlie Partridge is an amazing leader and I learned a ton from him from an administrative standpoint and I wish them all the best in the 2015 season.
NW: Toughest opponent this season and why?
RH: The opponent for that week (laughs).
Harriott currently has three UM commits on his team, 2016 wide receivers Sam Bruce and Michael Irvin Jr., as well as 2017 linebacker Tyler Dunning. The Raiders kickoff classic will be against Dillard on August 20th at St. Thomas Aquinas.
Nash Williams: Coach, it's your first year at St. Thomas, but you've also won a state title at University School, what are your expectations for the team and for yourself this season?
Roger Harriott: Well, for the team to play with camaraderie and as a family. I expect them to produce positive results. Not only on the field, but also off the field and within their family structure and within the classroom. As a result I think that will lead to wins on the field.
NW: You guys have a tough schedule this year, you open up with Booker. T Washington in week one and it's tough from there on out, how do you plan on keeping your guys level-headed throughout the season?
RH: We obviously want to take an approach of humility, but we need to remain competitive at the same time. We will take it week by week and right now we are focused on Dillard for the kickoff classic. We have to get ready for them because they really are a formidable opponent and we don't need any letdowns as we approach the following week. I also encourage our guys to practice with an attitude that they need to have on game day. Every game for us has to be a state championship effort. That's obviously the goal, but we have to meet our daily objectives at practice for us to be successful.
NW: Everyone knows guys like Sam Bruce and Nick Bosa, who are some of the unsung heroes on your team that will be key in St. Thomas repeating as state champions?
RH At St. Thomas Aquinas, we firmly believe in the method of interdependence, we expect every unit to pull their weight. All of us coaches have hold high standards among all of our players whether they be first or second string. We are fortunate to have a ton of depth but they need to make sure they are doing what is expected of them from a character standpoint and a philosophical standpoint in order for us to produce optimal results on the field.
NW: As an Aquinas alum, what does it mean for you to come into your alma mater with a chance to win a state championship?
RH: It means the world to me. Coach George Smith did a great job of inspiring those who he led during his tenure and I'm honored to take over the reigns and I'm hoping to make St. Thomas Aquinas proud.
NW: You spent a season at FAU as the running backs coach and assistant head coach, what did you learn from that season and that staff that you will bring with you back to the high school ranks?
RH: The staff at FAU are a bunch of extraordinary individuals. (Head coach) Charlie Partridge is an amazing leader and I learned a ton from him from an administrative standpoint and I wish them all the best in the 2015 season.
NW: Toughest opponent this season and why?
RH: The opponent for that week (laughs).
Harriott currently has three UM commits on his team, 2016 wide receivers Sam Bruce and Michael Irvin Jr., as well as 2017 linebacker Tyler Dunning. The Raiders kickoff classic will be against Dillard on August 20th at St. Thomas Aquinas.
