I don’t know if this has been mentioned or not but on Sept 27, Ron Harper will be bestowed an honorary degree by Miami University. This is a very nice tribute, and in my opinion, overdue, for the greatest player in Miami Men’s Basketball history.
Sat., Sept. 27 - Ron Harper Honorary Degree Ceremony, 12:15 p.m. (Millett Hall)
Also, Sept 27 is homecoming and prior to the 3:30 kickoff, men’s basketball practice starts at 11:30 am with Harper’s Ceremony at 12:15 pm followed by men’s basketball scrimmage at 12:30 pm
Order up a Statue!
All time great!
Does this make him technically Miami HOF eligible?
It’s the Athletic HOF. He should have been in long ago.
Absolutely. I know we have certain standards but he was a great representative for Miami and Miami athletics. He should have been in a long time ago. If you are doing a Mt Rushmore of Miami athletics two absolutes are Ron Harper and Big Ben.
HOF requires a Miami Degree,I believe.
AKA ALEC Martinez finished his degree and made it a couple years ago,hockey.
This should do it for Harp.Hope so.
I know the requirements, I’m saying they’re bullshit.
I agree one of the standards should be a degree from Miami. But there should also be a caveat, OR, (along the lines of) at least two seasons of enrollment at Miami, two definitive links (All-MAC, team captain, or career Top 10 in a major statistical category) to the program AND more than 5 years of exemplary representation of the University after NCAA eligibility expires.
Harper, or anyone, who meets such criteria should be Miami HOF eligible.
My opinion.
(Did someone say Ira Newbill???)
Honorary degree ceremony is being postponed from Sept. 27 due to Ron Harper’s overseas responsibilities for the NBA.
I hope it’s rescheduled and promoted as I would like to be there. I still remember going to basketball practice when Ron was a freshman, basically the 1st time anyone could see him. I was the only person there outside of the staff, but it was obvious, we had a player and he could dunk. Yes, back then not many Miami players were dunkers. Just got better from there, never missed a game, so much fun!
Harper time was magical in Oxford, I was a townie in HS but was amazing. My class from 89-93 was fun as well with Joby and a pretty good squad.
It is supposed to be rescheduled but no new date given. I was at Miami 1983-1987 so the Harper years.
When our son was in third grade I took him out of school to come down to Oxford with me for a game. Post game we went into the locker room and when Coach Peirson introduced us to Ron, Ron picked up my son and took him around the locker room introducing him to the team. A great moment.
Great to hear!
Long overdue to honor Harper.
And, when Wayne Embry, the Cavs’ GM, a fellow Miamian, traded him, it cost the Cavaliers at least one NBA Title.
What angers me still is that Embry felt the need to sully Harp’s character on his way out the door.
I didn’t remember that.
I don’t believe it was Embry responsible but rather Gordon Gund who owned the Cavs at the time. He didn’t like Harper and ordered Embry to make the trade. Lenny Wilkins, HOF coach always lamented it and loved Ron Harper.
Here’s the answer:
Ron Harper was a product of a tough environment. No question. But too many folks believe - ‘if you’re around trouble, you’re in trouble’ - and that is not always accurate.
Probable, perhaps. But not an absolute.
It’s like your kid coming home smelling like weed. Was he smoking. Probably. But he also could have just been in the car. If you know your kid you know the answer, Embry and Wilkins knew their kid. Gund obviously did not (and did not trust Embry and Wilkens on the matter, either).