The Cheese on the Nachos: Cliff Harris’ Dynamic Career on the Football Field and his Trouble off of it

Cliff Harris was a spark plug for Oregon during their run to the National Championship game in 2010. He was also a target of derision from Oregon faithful when his career did not go as planned.

Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images

When Cliff Harris showed up in Eugene to don the green and yellow, he brought swagger and confidence that bordered on arrogance. Offered the opportunity to introduce himself to his new team, Harris simply stated, “My name is Cliff Harris and I am here to lock shit down”. As a Duck fan, there was something endearing about this unfettered confidence. There was something relatable about how he played: with reckless abandon on the football field, reminiscent of the kid who used to dominate your pickup football games.

Boy, could he back up the talk. Vivid in the mind of all dedicated Duck fans are his pick-6 against Tennessee, and his clutch punt return against Cal, punctuated with a declarative unclipping of his chinstrap. Cliff Harris was controlled chaos, a storm of explosiveness ready to actualize his vaunted sense of self on the gridiron.

Harris was a fan favorite – for his play on the football field, yes – but possibly more so for his personality. He anointed himself “the cheese on the nachos”, bragged boisterously, and oozed charisma. He achieved true cult-hero status when he was pulled over going 118 mph on Interstate 5. When an Oregon state patrolman approached the car and asked, “Who’s got the pot?” Harris quipped, “We smoked it all,” permanently endearing himself to all college-aged Duck fans. Yes, his antics were childish, but Cliff Harris was refreshingly authentic and his electrifying play indisputably permitted some amnesty.

Just as suddenly as Harris arrived and established himself as a force on the football field, he was gone. Harris secured the accolades in his brief collegiate career: All-Pac-12 defensive back honors, All-American Kick returner, etc., but what seemed sure to be a productive career in the NFL never materialized. Many Duck fans quickly forgot about Cliff Harris until they were greeted by a shocking mugshot associated with an arson charge, back in his home town of Fresno, CA.

It is a tired trope that the only thing fans love more than building up their superstars is tearing them down. This – unfortunately – held true in the case of Cliff Harris. The mugshot of Harris was undeniably disturbing, but the response of derision and contempt from many was equally disconcerting. A man who had been celebrated and lauded for his contributions between the lines became a punchline for many in a despicable display of schadenfreude.

Cliff Harris has since been in and out of prison and shown a pattern of self-destructive behavior. Duck faithful will always remember the thrill of watching Harris on the football field, but it is easy to cheer a man when he is on top of the world. True fans will hold on to the memories of Harris’ career and pray that he is able to find peace in his life outside of Autzen Stadium.