Shrine Game a Harris tradition

The annual Montana East-West Shrine Game celebrated an important milestone last month in Great Falls.

Caleb Harris, a strapping 6-foot-4, 215-pound defensive end, lined up in the trenches at Memorial Stadium with his West squad teammates to play the East All-Stars in the annual charity football game on a warm summer evening.

Not only was it another proud, special moment for the Greg Harris family, but a historic one for the Shrine Game as well. Caleb became the fourth Harris to participate in this prestigious summer classic, something no other Montana family can match in the 66-year history of the event.

“It was a fun game,” Caleb said.

“The first time I got a sack I was pretty excited. I was trying to get it for two quarters.”

He said he felt no added pressure regarding the family’s legacy at this event.

“Once I got first team all-state, I figured I would be in it,” he said.

“It was pretty exciting that I got in. It’s our family tradition to play in it.”

Caleb turned in a superb Harris-like showing. He recorded two quarterback sacks and made several touchdown-saving, open-field tackles.

He’s the first Harris to graduate from Glacier High School, where he was an all-state and all-conference selection his senior season. His next football action will be at the University of Montana, where he will be a grey shirt. He will be on a football scholarship when spring drills begin in 2013.

Greg, owner of Grizzly Security in Kalispell, is the one who started the Shrine Game tradition with his appearance in 1971.

At 6-4, 270, he went on to have a brilliant All-Big Sky career at the University of Montana along with a short stint in the NFL with the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers. He was a two-time all-conference selection with the Griz and a first-team Popular Sports Kick-Off magazine pick.

Tiger was his first son to play in this game in 2004, followed by Josh in 2008.

Caleb was No. 3.

“I was happy to be in it, carry on the tradition,” Tiger said.

“It was fun being down there with all the best players in the state. I got to know the guys (I played against in high school) a little bit better. You were trying to beat them (during the season). It was nice to get together with them this way and try to beat the east side.”

Tiger was an all-state offensive guard/defensive end at Flathead High School his junior and senior seasons (2003-04).

He lettered two seasons in football and four in wrestling.

Tiger was a two-time Class AA state heavyweight wrestling champ.

“What stuck out the most was just trying to stay in the game the whole time,” he said of the Shrine Game.

“I don’t remember the score.”

Tiger’s collegiate career at the University of Montana, however, was cut short by an injury.

“Three of us (brothers) being in the Shrine Game and playing the same position (is pretty special),” he said.

“Not too often,” Josh said of his reflecting back on this game.

“With Caleb being in it (this year), I looked back on it every now and then.”

Josh, 6-5, 251, is looking forward to a banner season with the University of Montana this fall. He is expected to be an anchor on the defensive front from his end position.

He has battled his way back from an Achilles tendon tear and started one game last year — versus Sam Houston State — in the playoffs.

Josh was an all-state player his senior season at FHS and an all-conference pick twice. He also lettered in basketball and track with the Braves.

“That was pretty exciting being out there with people from all over the state,” he said of the Shrine Game.

Josh also played with the Montana team that summer in the Badlands Bowl versus North Dakota. That gives him the distinction of being the only Harris to play in both summer events.

“It has more history,” he said of the Shrine Game. “But playing in both was pretty cool. We won that game (Badlands Bowl).”

Josh, however, was on the losing end in the Shrine Game.

Although the Harris family is 0-4 in Shrine Games, that could change in the near future.

The youngest son, Andrew, is a 6-3, 190-pound sophomore at Glacier who has hopes of one day playing in the Shrine Game. He was in the stands with his father to watch Caleb play last month and also watched Josh when he played in it.

“It was fun to watch the best players playing against each other,” he said. “I think they (his brothers) all did pretty good.”

Andrew said “it would be pretty cool,” if his name is called to play in the Shrine Game in 2014.

But his biggest immediate worry will be helping the Wolfpack make the Class AA playoffs this fall.

“They have been wonderful,” Greg said of his sons. “I am very proud of them. They have done very well in school. Josh is 4.0 (grade point average) at U of M and Tiger graduated with honors, too.

“I take a special interest in my children,” he continued. “I want them to do better than I did. That’s what all parents want.”

The Shriners did honor the Harris family at this year’s banquet before the big game.

“To have a tradition like that — father to sons — (is pretty special),” Greg said. “But the real winners of this are the kids and the Shrine Game.”