Alvin Harper
Encyclopedia
Alvin Craig Harper is a former American football
player in the National Football League
. After going 1-15 in 1989
and 7-9 in 1990
, the Dallas Cowboys
were poised to capitalize on some key draft
opportunities. In the 1991 NFL Draft
, of its three first-round picks, the team drafted defensive tackle Russell Maryland
(first) and wide receiver
Harper (12th).
Harper would play in Dallas for four years as the Cowboys went from the team with the worst NFL record to become back-to-back championships in Super Bowl XXVII
and Super Bowl XXVIII
.
, Harper was a standout football
player, earning USA Today
High School
All-America
n honors as a senior in 1986. He also excelled in track and field
, where he at one time held the Florida High School high jump
record and won two state Class A high jump
ing titles , as well as basketball
where he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.
He went onto the University of Tennessee
, where he practiced football
and track and field
.
He continued to excel in track and field
, capturing the 1989 SEC
Indoor High Jump
Championship with a jump of 7-2½. He also anchored the University of Tennessee
4x100 and 4x400 metres relays.
In football
he earned All-Southeastern Conference
Freshman First Team honors in 1987, and All--Southeastern Conference
first team honors in 1990. He was also the MVP of the 1991 Hula Bowl
, and finished his NCAA football career with 103 receptions for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdown
s which is a volunteer career record he holds with Tim McGee
.
in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft
, in order to find a receiving partner for Michael Irvin
.
During his rookie year, he caught 20 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown
, helping Dallas finish 11-5, it's first winning season since 1985
.
In 1992
, he rushed once for 15 yards and caught 35 passes for 562 yards and four touchdown
s. He probably had the signature play of his career during the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers
, catching a slant route
for 70 yards, setting up the Cowboys on the 10 yard line and sealing the win.
He also caught a 45-yard touchdown
from quarterback
Troy Aikman
during the 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills
in Super Bowl XXVII
, after which he dunked the ball over the goal post crossbar.
In 1993
, Harper established himself as one of the best deep threats in the NFL with a 21.6 yards per catch average, and a total of 36 receptions for 777 yards and five touchdown
s.
He again had a key play in the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers
, with Troy Aikman
knocked out of the game with a concussion, Dallas backup quarterback Bernie Kosar connected with Harper for a 42 yard touchdown
.
That year, Dallas returned to face the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII
during which Aikman completed a 16-yard pass to him to give the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the six early in the fourth quarter. That set up one-yard-run by running back Emmitt Smith
and helped seal the Bills fate as Dallas won 30-13.
Harper's best year came in 1994
, when he led the league with a 24.9 yards-per-reception average, catching 33 passes for 821 yards and eight touchdown
s. However, Dallas failed to three-peat, dropping out of Super Bowl
contention with a 28-38 loss to the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers
.
contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
based on his big play ability and championship experience, and although he had a career high 46 catches his first season in Tampa, he was not able to live up to his free agent
billing.
He was released before the start of 1997 season
. During his two years in Tampa he was slowed by injuries and played in only 25 games where he caught 65 passes for 922 yards and three touchdown
s.
the Washington Redskins
signed him, gambling that he could flourish again after being reunited with Norv Turner
, but Harper played in 12 games in which he caught only two passes for 65 yards.
The Redskins released Harper, before the season ended, after he complained about his playing time following Washington's 23-20 loss to the Saint Louis Rams.
claimed the veteran receiver off waivers, but didn't play in any game.
when he returned to play for his former team, the Dallas Cowboys
, and played only two games that year.
Harper finished his eight NFL seasons with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdown
s. He also rushed once for 15 yards, completed a pass for 46 yards, and recorded one interception on defense.
of the ill fated XFL
but he did not finish among the league's top ten receivers in any category.
with NFL Europe
team Rhein Fire
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. After going 1-15 in 1989
1989 NFL season
The 1989 NFL season was the 70th regular season of the National Football League. Before the season, NFL commissioner Pete Rozelle announced his retirement...
and 7-9 in 1990
1990 NFL season
The 1990 NFL season was the 71st regular season of the National Football League. To increase revenue, the league changed the regular season so that all NFL teams would play their 16-game schedule over a 17-week period...
, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
were poised to capitalize on some key draft
NFL Draft
The National Football League Draft is an annual event in which the National Football League teams select eligible college football players and it is their most common source of player recruitment. The basic design of the draft is each team is given a position in the drafting order in reverse order...
opportunities. In the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
, of its three first-round picks, the team drafted defensive tackle Russell Maryland
Russell Maryland
Russell James Maryland is a former professional American football player. He played defensive tackle for ten seasons for the Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers of the National Football League . He was drafted by the Cowboys first overall in the 1991 NFL Draft...
(first) and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
Harper (12th).
Harper would play in Dallas for four years as the Cowboys went from the team with the worst NFL record to become back-to-back championships in Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
and Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
.
Early years
At Frostproof High SchoolHigh school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
, Harper was a standout football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player, earning USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
High School
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
All-America
All-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n honors as a senior in 1986. He also excelled in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, where he at one time held the Florida High School high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
record and won two state Class A high jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
ing titles , as well as basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
where he averaged 23 points and 10 rebounds per game.
He went onto the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
, where he practiced football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
and track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
.
He continued to excel in track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, capturing the 1989 SEC
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Indoor High Jump
High jump
The high jump is a track and field athletics event in which competitors must jump over a horizontal bar placed at measured heights without the aid of certain devices in its modern most practiced format; auxiliary weights and mounds have been used for assistance; rules have changed over the years....
Championship with a jump of 7-2½. He also anchored the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
4x100 and 4x400 metres relays.
In football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
he earned All-Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
Freshman First Team honors in 1987, and All--Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
first team honors in 1990. He was also the MVP of the 1991 Hula Bowl
Hula Bowl
The Hula Bowl was an independently administered post-season invitational college football game held each year in Hawaii from 1947 to 2008. The game was last played at Aloha Stadium in the Hālawa district of Honolulu, Hawaii. At one point the longest-running sporting event in Hawaii, it had been...
, and finished his NCAA football career with 103 receptions for 1,547 yards and 16 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s which is a volunteer career record he holds with Tim McGee
Tim McGee
Timothy Dwanye Hatchett McGee is a retired professional American football wide receiver who played in the National Football League for the Cincinnati Bengals and the Washington Redskins from 1986 to 1994...
.
Dallas Cowboys
He was drafted by the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
in the first round of the 1991 NFL Draft
1991 NFL Draft
The 1991 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 21–22, 1991 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Manhattan, New York...
, in order to find a receiving partner for Michael Irvin
Michael Irvin
Michael Jerome Irvin is a former American football player for the Dallas Cowboys, and actor. He is also a former broadcaster for ESPN's NFL Countdown and currently an analyst for NFL Network. Irvin was self-nicknamed "The Playmaker" due to his penchant for making big plays in big games during his...
.
During his rookie year, he caught 20 passes for 326 yards and one touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
, helping Dallas finish 11-5, it's first winning season since 1985
1985 NFL season
The 1985 NFL season was the 66th regular season of the National Football League. The season ended with Super Bowl XX when the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots.-Major rule changes:...
.
In 1992
1992 NFL season
The 1992 NFL season was the 73rd regular season of the National Football League.Due to the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the New England Patriots–Miami Dolphins game that was scheduled for September 6 at Joe Robbie Stadium was rescheduled to October 18. Both teams originally had that...
, he rushed once for 15 yards and caught 35 passes for 562 yards and four touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He probably had the signature play of his career during the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, catching a slant route
Slant (route)
A Slant route is a pattern run by a receiver in American football, where the receiver runs up the field at approximately a 45-degree angle, heading to the gap between the linebackers and the linemen...
for 70 yards, setting up the Cowboys on the 10 yard line and sealing the win.
He also caught a 45-yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
from quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
during the 52-17 victory over the Buffalo Bills
Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII
Super Bowl XXVII was a football game played on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California to decide the National Football League champion following the 1992 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football Conference champion...
, after which he dunked the ball over the goal post crossbar.
In 1993
1993 NFL season
The 1993 NFL season was the 74th regular season of the National Football League. For the first time in league history, all NFL teams played their 16-game schedule over a span of 18 weeks. After the success of expanding the regular season to a period of 17 weeks in 1990, the league hoped this new...
, Harper established himself as one of the best deep threats in the NFL with a 21.6 yards per catch average, and a total of 36 receptions for 777 yards and five touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
He again had a key play in the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, with Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
knocked out of the game with a concussion, Dallas backup quarterback Bernie Kosar connected with Harper for a 42 yard touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
.
That year, Dallas returned to face the Bills in Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII
Super Bowl XXVIII was an American football game played on January 30, 1994, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia, to decide the National Football League champion following the 1993 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Dallas Cowboys defeated the American Football...
during which Aikman completed a 16-yard pass to him to give the Cowboys a first-and-goal at the six early in the fourth quarter. That set up one-yard-run by running back Emmitt Smith
Emmitt Smith
Emmitt James Smith, III is a retired American football player who was a running back in the National Football League for fifteen seasons during the 1990s and 2000s. Smith played college football for the University of Florida, where he was an All-American; thereafter, he played professionally for...
and helped seal the Bills fate as Dallas won 30-13.
Harper's best year came in 1994
1994 NFL season
The 1994 NFL season was the 75th regular season of the National Football League. To honor the NFL's 75th season, a special anniversary logo was designed and each player wore a patch on their jerseys with this logo throughout the season...
, when he led the league with a 24.9 yards-per-reception average, catching 33 passes for 821 yards and eight touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. However, Dallas failed to three-peat, dropping out of Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
contention with a 28-38 loss to the Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In 1995, Harper signed a lucrative free agentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are a professional American football franchise based in Tampa, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the Southern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League – they are the only team in the division not to come from the old NFC West...
based on his big play ability and championship experience, and although he had a career high 46 catches his first season in Tampa, he was not able to live up to his free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
billing.
He was released before the start of 1997 season
1997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
. During his two years in Tampa he was slowed by injuries and played in only 25 games where he caught 65 passes for 922 yards and three touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s.
Washington Redskins
In 19971997 NFL season
The 1997 NFL season was the 78th regular season of the National Football League. The Oilers relocated from Houston, Texas to Nashville, Tennessee...
the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
signed him, gambling that he could flourish again after being reunited with Norv Turner
Norv Turner
Norval Eugene Turner is the head coach for the National Football League's San Diego Chargers. He also has served as head coach of the Washington Redskins and the Oakland Raiders, and as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys, San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers...
, but Harper played in 12 games in which he caught only two passes for 65 yards.
The Redskins released Harper, before the season ended, after he complained about his playing time following Washington's 23-20 loss to the Saint Louis Rams.
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
claimed the veteran receiver off waivers, but didn't play in any game.
Dallas Cowboys
His final season in the NFL was in 19991999 NFL season
The 1999 NFL season was the 80th regular season of the National Football League. The Cleveland Browns returned to the field for the first time since the 1995 season...
when he returned to play for his former team, the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, and played only two games that year.
Harper finished his eight NFL seasons with 191 receptions for 3,473 yards and 21 touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s. He also rushed once for 15 yards, completed a pass for 46 yards, and recorded one interception on defense.
XFL
In 2001, Harper signed with the Memphis ManiaxMemphis Maniax
The Memphis Maniax was an American football team based in Memphis, Tennessee. The team was part of the XFL begun by Vince McMahon of World Wrestling Entertainment and by NBC, a major television network in the United States...
of the ill fated XFL
XFL
The XFL was a professional American football league that played for one season in 2001. The league was founded by Vince McMahon, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of WWE...
but he did not finish among the league's top ten receivers in any category.
Coaching career
In 2005, Harper was a volunteer wide receivers coachCoach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
with NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
team Rhein Fire
Rhein Fire
The Rhein Fire was a professional American football team in NFL Europe, formerly the World League of American Football. Established in Germany in 1995, the franchise resurrected the name of the former Birmingham Fire team which was active during the 1991-1992 WLAF seasons.-History:The team was...
.