BC's Harris nearing Ted Brown's record

PINEHURST – In a matter of 15 minutes, four different reporters asked Boston College running back Montel Harris about Ted Brown.

Brown is the former N.C. State player who set the ACC record with 4,602 rushing yards from 1975 to 1978. Harris enters his senior season with 3,600 rushing yards, so he needs 1,003 more to break one of the ACC’s longest-standing records.

“I’m starting to hear a lot more of Ted Brown,” Harris said. “Once I go back home, I’m going to look up some tape on him.”

Harris originally committed to Duke, but backed off after the Blue Devils fired Ted Roof and hired David Cutcliffe as coach. Harris said Roof had recruited him as a running back, while Cutcliffe didn’t promise him which position he would play.

Meanwhile, then-Eagles coach Jeff Jagodzinski was scrambling to replace Andre Callender and L.V. Whitworth. Harris visited Boston College, committed and set the school freshman rushing record with 900 yards.

With regard to Brown’s record, Harris said he is trying to focus on winning rather than individual accomplishments.

“That would be a great goal to accomplish this year,” Harris said. “It will mean a lot more when I’m finished playing football and able to look back on it.”

Ken Tysiac