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I attended Davis Harbin's signing ceremony today at Orangewood.

I asked him why Valpo and his reply was, "It just felt right. When I left I knew I wanted to go back." He said he has to report on 8/1 and that the staff had already told him what was required for his fitness test on the first day of practice... 22x80 yard sprints.

Best of luck to all of you and Davis too. Again, I really proud of him and y'all have a fine young man joining your program/family.   

Today was a great day.   

Crusaders, this is my maiden post on your board as I became a Valpo fan over the weekend with Davis Harbin's commitment.

I am a (overly) proud family member but you guys just got a first class young man. His is a wonderful story that bears sharing.

His dad played hoops at Stetson in the late 80's. His grandfather played (late 50's) and was an assistant hoops coach (early 60's) at Stetson so I assumed it was fait accompli that he would go to Stetson. His dad was a CPA and SVP of Public Systems for HTE Sungard and on the fast track to a bigtime CEO job here in central FL. Unfortunately, he contracted a rare form of legionnaires disease and went from perfectly healthy to dead in the space of 3 days at the age of 41 in fall of 2008. Davis was in many ways a "mini me" of his dad. They did everything together... Magic games, UF football, playing hoops and golf, you name it... tight as thieves.

Davis had every excuse to quit achieving academically, to withdraw, to lose his behavioral discipline but instead never waivered, dedicated himself and busted his tail in the classroom, turned into a weight room rat, and became a leader in his household and an exceptional young man who is a fan favorite at Orangewood. There is not any situation that college football or classwork can present him that will be any tougher than what he has already gone through. He is mature way beyond his years, just like his dad and granddad were, and solid in every way.  He's tougher than boot leather on the field and a true gentleman off it... a winner in every conceivable way.

If you guys can recruit 24 other kids like him in this class you will be well on your way to establishing a winning program both on the field and off. 

Congratulations to y'all for getting such a fine young man and to davis for the next step in his life!!!