Harris earns USU athletic honor
Utah Statesman: What got you interested in basketball?
Nate Harris: When I was younger I used to go out and shoot around in the yard a lot. It was always kind of a first love. It’s just such a competitive game for me. It was always fun for me to get out there and compete with everybody.
US: You had a career high 26 points last Wednesday. Do think BYU being your opponent had something to do with that?
NH: Maybe a little bit. Always playing BYU, you wanna bring a little bit extra; them being an in-state rival and everything like that. But other than that, I just make sure I play hard every game.
US: Who do you think is the bigger rival: Utah or BYU?
NH: Wow, that’s a tough question. Over the years, I would probably say BYU just cause. Even football too, basketball and football both.
US: If you couldn’t have played for Utah State, would you have rather played for Utah or BYU?
NH: That never was an option for me really. I chose here first. I never even considered those two schools.
US: The Spectrum is a very hard place for any team to come and play in. Where is the hardest place for you to play?
NH: I would say the Marriott Center down at BYU. I’ve never won there, I’m not sure when the last time Utah State went down there and won. That is a very tough place to play, and also I’d say Pacific. Pacific is a real hard place to go into and get and win.
US: Do you think they need a playoff in college football?
NH: Definitely a college playoff. I don’t how they would do it or what they’d change but we gotta do something different because the BCS, there is just too many problems.
US: Which would be worse – having a losing season or being a top team and be left out of the NCAA tournament like last year?
NH: Definitely a losing season because as tough as last year was at the end, it was still a great run. We still won a lot of games, anytime you win a lot of games it’s good. So, definitely, I would rather have the winning season.
US: What are your plans after graduation?
NH: I don’t really know yet. I don’t know if I am going to pursue my career anymore, if I’m gonna go overseas or see what happens that way. Eventually, I would like to coach at the high school level, I think.
US: What player from last year do you miss playing with the most?
NH: I would probably have to say Mark Brown. He was such a good point guard and he ran the team well.
He was a great passer, he was able to get us the ball inside. We’ve got guys who are doing the job this year, but Mark Brown was fun to play with. He was a good strong player for us.
-mlglade@cc.usu.edu