The voice of the Blue Devils Bob Harris loved Charleston and wrestling | Wrestling

“I got several job offers, even within the ACC, twice from NC State. I felt at the time that I was already so established at Duke that it wouldn’t have been fair to NC State or Duke to take the job,” he said. “And I love Duke. Even though I didn’t go there, I love it. It’s a part of me. Sometimes I feel like I went there.

“There is no other area in America with three major universities close to Duke, (NC) State and (North) Carolina. And I have no ambitions to play professional sports. I am in Durham and I feel at home.”

Since giving up a brief career as a tire salesman and an even shorter one in the insurance industry, Harris has never wanted to do anything else.

“I’ve seen some great players and some great games,” he said. “I’ve been telling people for years that I stole that line from Lou Gehrig, because today I feel like the luckiest person on earth. I get to do something I’ve loved my whole life, I get to work with some of the most talented student-athletes in the country.”

“I’ve learned from some of the most brilliant coaches in the history of sports. I travel all over the country, stay in beautiful hotels and get one of the best seats in the house. And on top of that, I get paid for it.”

Harris, who never met a stranger and never forgot a face, died on June 12 after a three-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

“Bob’s life on this earth is over,” wrote Wes Chesson, who worked with Harris as co-commentator for Duke football broadcasts, “but as he proclaimed at the end of a sure Duke victory, Bob proclaims today ‘How Sweet It Is.'”

You can reach Mike Mooneyham at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @ByMikeMooneyham and on Facebook at Facebook.com/MikeMooneyham. His latest book – Final Bell – is now available at https://evepostbooks.com and on Amazon.com.

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