Titans Hire Local Legend James Earl Harvey as Head Coach
Fayetteville, NC – March 8, 2017. The Sandhills Titans independent high school football program announces today the hiring of Coach James Earl Harvey as their head football coach. Coach Harvey is well known in the area for his spectacular college career at North Carolina Central University where he was named Division II All American. He has since been coached at the high school, college and pro level and founded a ministry around coaching called Levelupfootball.
“We are thrilled to have such a quality coach join our organization” says Brad Gustafson, Titans AD. The Titans are beginning their 4th season in the Sandhills where they won a Coastal Athletics Conference championship in 2015. They believe that Coach Harvey is the right pick to lead them to the next level.
Coach Harvey played high school football at Douglas Byrd in Fayetteville before beginning his 4 year stint at NCCU as a starting quarterback where he earned the nickname “Air” for the dynamic aerial assault he displayed on the NCCU gridiron from 1985-88.
A four-time First-Team All-CIAA selection, Harvey set NCCU, CIAA and NCAA Division II records for career passing yards (10,621), career total offense (10,667) and career touchdown passes (86). He still holds NCAA Division II records for total offense (3,008) and passing yards (3,190) by a freshman, as well as most touchdown passes in a game by a freshman (6 vs. Johnson C. Smith, Nov. 9, 1985).
Harvey also maintains NCCU and CIAA single-game records for pass completions (33 vs. Johnson C. Smith, Nov. 9, 1985), passing yards (550 vs. Jackson State, Aug. 30, 1986) and total offense (536 vs. Jackson State, Aug. 30, 1986). He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill award recognizing the NCAA Division II football player of the year in 1986 (5th) and 1988 (3rd). He was inducted in the NCCU Hall of Fame in 2004 and the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2016.
Beyond 7 years of coaching at Levelupfootball, Coach Harvey has served at various positions for a distinguished list of high schools, college and pro teams including time at Morristown Beard Prep, EE Smith, Fayetteville Christian, Village Christian, Virginia Union University and the New Orleans Night (arena) and Fayetteville Rough Riders. He feels like this is the perfect time and opportunity for him to get back into coaching high school football. “I'm am both honored and excited to be chosen to be a part of the Titans organization. I thank God for this awesome opportunity as we share the same vision for success on and off the field.”, says Harvey.
The Titans football program is open to any high school football player and begins their spring practice in April under the guidance of Coach Harvey. The Titans 2017 schedule will be very competitive, including local rivals Fayetteville Christian, Village Christian and Trinity Christian, along with East Columbus High School and Ravenscroft out of Raleigh. The Titans are holding a free NFL-style combine on Saturday, April 8st, at 5pm at Reid Ross Classical School practice fields. This is open to any high school player who would like to participate. For more information and for our full schedule and information about how to join the program, visit our website at www.sandhillstitans.com.
“We are thrilled to have such a quality coach join our organization” says Brad Gustafson, Titans AD. The Titans are beginning their 4th season in the Sandhills where they won a Coastal Athletics Conference championship in 2015. They believe that Coach Harvey is the right pick to lead them to the next level.
Coach Harvey played high school football at Douglas Byrd in Fayetteville before beginning his 4 year stint at NCCU as a starting quarterback where he earned the nickname “Air” for the dynamic aerial assault he displayed on the NCCU gridiron from 1985-88.
A four-time First-Team All-CIAA selection, Harvey set NCCU, CIAA and NCAA Division II records for career passing yards (10,621), career total offense (10,667) and career touchdown passes (86). He still holds NCAA Division II records for total offense (3,008) and passing yards (3,190) by a freshman, as well as most touchdown passes in a game by a freshman (6 vs. Johnson C. Smith, Nov. 9, 1985).
Harvey also maintains NCCU and CIAA single-game records for pass completions (33 vs. Johnson C. Smith, Nov. 9, 1985), passing yards (550 vs. Jackson State, Aug. 30, 1986) and total offense (536 vs. Jackson State, Aug. 30, 1986). He was a finalist for the Harlon Hill award recognizing the NCAA Division II football player of the year in 1986 (5th) and 1988 (3rd). He was inducted in the NCCU Hall of Fame in 2004 and the CIAA Hall of Fame in 2016.
Beyond 7 years of coaching at Levelupfootball, Coach Harvey has served at various positions for a distinguished list of high schools, college and pro teams including time at Morristown Beard Prep, EE Smith, Fayetteville Christian, Village Christian, Virginia Union University and the New Orleans Night (arena) and Fayetteville Rough Riders. He feels like this is the perfect time and opportunity for him to get back into coaching high school football. “I'm am both honored and excited to be chosen to be a part of the Titans organization. I thank God for this awesome opportunity as we share the same vision for success on and off the field.”, says Harvey.
The Titans football program is open to any high school football player and begins their spring practice in April under the guidance of Coach Harvey. The Titans 2017 schedule will be very competitive, including local rivals Fayetteville Christian, Village Christian and Trinity Christian, along with East Columbus High School and Ravenscroft out of Raleigh. The Titans are holding a free NFL-style combine on Saturday, April 8st, at 5pm at Reid Ross Classical School practice fields. This is open to any high school player who would like to participate. For more information and for our full schedule and information about how to join the program, visit our website at www.sandhillstitans.com.
Titans global connection
In the Sandhills Titans' inaugural season, we were blessed to have a player from Turin, Italy. Tamsir Seck -- or "Italy" as he was affectionately known by his teammates -- had played American football for a club team in Italy before coming to the Titans.
"When Tamsir first came to a tryout, I heard he was from Italy so I initially sent him over to kick some field goals," says Titans' coach Mark Shaw. "His kicking was not great, but we were all blown away when he put the pads on and could really play the game. He caught a touchdown pass in his first game."
Italy has a real passion for the game and won the respect of all his teammates. We were excited to learn that he has received an academic scholarship and an invitation to play college football at NCAA Division II Emporia State University in Kansas. We know he will have a great career and we will be following him.
"When Tamsir first came to a tryout, I heard he was from Italy so I initially sent him over to kick some field goals," says Titans' coach Mark Shaw. "His kicking was not great, but we were all blown away when he put the pads on and could really play the game. He caught a touchdown pass in his first game."
Italy has a real passion for the game and won the respect of all his teammates. We were excited to learn that he has received an academic scholarship and an invitation to play college football at NCAA Division II Emporia State University in Kansas. We know he will have a great career and we will be following him.
Titans player participates in Punt, Pass and Kick at Carolina Panthers game
Titans player John Brown finished first in the local and regional 14- to 15-year-old Punt, Pass and Kick competitions. His results were in the top four in the state, which allowed him to advance to a national stage and particpate at a Carolina Panthers home game, where he came in third place.
He felt he could have done better and vows to return next year. His best results of the year for punt, pass and kick were 42 yards, 51 yards and 47 yards respectively (rounded for accuracy). The Titans are very proud of John and look forward to seeing him out there again next year.
He felt he could have done better and vows to return next year. His best results of the year for punt, pass and kick were 42 yards, 51 yards and 47 yards respectively (rounded for accuracy). The Titans are very proud of John and look forward to seeing him out there again next year.
