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Franco Harris
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== Early life and education == Harris was born in [[Fort Dix, New Jersey]]. His father, Cad Harris, a Black soldier, served in [[World War II]] and was stationed in Italy during the war. His mother, Gina Parenti Harris, was a native Italian and became a "[[war bride]]", who moved with her husband when he returned to the United States after the end of the war.<ref>[https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1996-09-22-1996266123-story.html "Franco Harris: still goal-bound 'He has always known where he wanted to go'"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423192623/https://www.baltimoresun.com/ |date=April 23, 2021 }}, by Sean Somerville, ''Baltimore Sun'', September 22, 1996</ref><ref>[https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/12/11/black-and-gold-soul-with-italian-legs "Black and Gold Soul with Italian Legs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019154726/https://vault.si.com/vault/1972/12/11/black-and-gold-soul-with-italian-legs |date=October 19, 2020 }}, ''[[Sports Illustrated]]'', December 11, 1972.</ref> Harris was a three-sport athlete (football, basketball, and baseball) at [[Rancocas Valley Regional High School]] in [[Mount Holly Township, New Jersey]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Beckner, Jr. |first=Bill |date=December 21, 2022 |title=βHe was super:β Franco Harris was 3-sport star in New Jersey before NFL fame |url=https://tribhssn.triblive.com/he-was-super-franco-harris-was-3-sport-star-in-new-jersey-before-nfl-fame/ |work=Pittsburgh Tribune}}</ref> He graduated in 1968.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Ultimate New Jersey High School Yearbook|date=1998}}</ref> He then attended [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State University]], where he played on the [[Penn State Nittany Lions football|Nittany Lions]] football team. Although he was primarily a blocker for the running back during his first year at Penn State, he amassed a career total of 2,002 yards rushing with 24 touchdowns and averaged over 5 yards per carry, while also catching 28 passes for 352 yards and another touchdown. He led the team in scoring in 1970.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://onwardstate.com/2020/02/02/franco-harris-immaculate-reception-voted-greatest-moment-in-nfl-history/|website=Onward State|title=Franco Harris' 'Immaculate Reception' Voted Greatest Moment in NFL History|date=February 2, 2020|author=DiSanto, Matt}}</ref> Harris's statistics during his final three seasons at Penn State are as follows: * 1969: 115 carries for 643 yards and 10 touchdowns; 12 catches for 189 yards.<ref name=":0" /> * 1970: 142 carries for 675 yards and 8 touchdowns; 6 catches for 66 yards.<ref name=":0" /> * 1971: 123 carries for 684 yards and 6 touchdowns; 10 catches for 97 yards and 1 touchdown.<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/franco-harris-1.html|title=Franco Harris College Stats|website=College Football @ Sports-Reference.com|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150106091601/http://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/franco-harris-1.html|archive-date=January 6, 2015|access-date=May 16, 2015}}</ref>
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