Ever since Joe Harbour stepped on the campus at Baldwin-Wallace College, he has been making a contribution both in the classroom and on the football field. Now, Harbour enters his senior season with a reputation as an Academic All-American.
"Joe has been an outstanding role model, student and football player each of his first three years," said second-year Head Coach John Snell. "He works very hard every day in practice. Joe is a quiet leader, and when he speaks, his teammates listen."
As a freshman, Harbour was one of five first-year Yellow Jackets to earn a varsity letter. He saw action as a backup on the offensive line at guard and on the special teams. In the classroom, Harbour excelled with a perfect 4.0 grade point average and was both on the Dean's List and selected for membership to the Alpha Lambda Academic Honor Society. It was just the beginning of his honors.
As a sophomore, Harbour split time as a starter and earned his second varsity letter. It also marked his first selection to the Ohio Athletic Conference All-Academic honor squad and to the Verizon Academic All-District IV squad. It was just the beginning of Harbours reputation.
"I have always worked hard to balance my academics and athletics," said Harbour, an education major who plans to teach history following graduation. "The B-W football program has a reputation and tradition of strong academics and winning football. I am just pleased to be a part of that tradition."
As a junior, Harbour would become an even bigger part of the tradition. As the Yellow Jackets starting guard, he helped lead B-W to an 8-2 record and a number-22 ranking in Division III. In the classroom, Harbour continued to maintain an outstanding 3.98 grade point average and earned unanimous first-team Academic All-OAC honors, first-team Verizon Academic All-District IV accolades and third-team Verizon Academic All-America team by two-time first-team pick and 2003 graduate Matt Kish.
"Joe is an outstanding person and leader," said Kish, who graduated with a 3.919 grade point average and won the Milton T. Baldwin Prize at graduation as the senior with the highest grade point average. " I am proud to have him carry on a tradition of academic excellence. He takes great pride in the tradition, just as I did. I have confidence that Joe will have his best season as a senior."
"What Matt and Joe did last year (Academic All-America recognition) is an inspiration to all of our young men who play football," said Snell. "We tell each of our young people that academics are their first priority, and they thake great pride in it. Last year, we had 10 players named Academic All-OAC and eight make the Verizon Academic All-District team, including Joe."
"I want to win an OAC title, return the B-W program to the NCAA Division III National Playoffs and win the Milton T. Baldwin Prize at graduation," said Harbour. "The great thing is that each goal is achievable. We return a strong team and each of us have set our goals high. In the classroom, I will continue to do my very best. Matt (Kish) set a great example for me and gave me another goal to shoot for (the Baldwin Prize) even after football ends."
"Matt and I are great friends," said Harbour. "Matt was also an education major who will begin his teaching career this fall as a history teacher. He is already out there making a difference in the lives of young people. He is setting new goals for me to achieve after graduation."
Now those are great goals.
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