Gwinnett Daily Post

Terry Harvey knows what it's like to be scrutinized.

The Dacula grad played quarterback, the most high profile position in football, at N.C. State in the early 1990s.

Just like he was in high school and in every sport he played, Harvey was good at the position. He passed for 5,925 yards in his career, which is third most in N.C. State history.

He knows what it takes to play the position and to be an athlete at a major Division I school. Which is why his part-time job for WPTF/680-AM in Raleigh as a post-game show host for N.C. State football is not always easy.

"I have to toe the line very carefully," Harvey said. "It's a very hard job, especially at this level. You want to be objective and not be a homer like some of these guys and talk sports philosophy and X's and O's."

Harvey, 36, spends the week at his full-time job as a senior account executive for a global logistics and supply chain. On Saturdays in the fall he gives analysis of N.C. State football games, provides critique for next week's game and takes questions from callers. The job is easy when the team is winning, but when there are struggles - like the Wolfpack have fought in recent years - it makes it difficult.

"Everyone can be a quarterback from the 50-yard line 30 rows up," Harvey said. "But there's a lot of things that have to happen to execute and it's very tough. You have to realize they are kids and they have parents that have come a long way to sit in the stands and don't need someone giving them an earful."

Harvey's radio gig allows him to stay in touch with N.C. State's program. He's still involved with the alumni club and makes occasional guest speaking appearances, but spends most of his time with his wife and three boys.

It's a busy life, but one Harvey is used to.

Growing up in Dacula, Harvey was a three-sport athlete. The 1991 Dacula grad started four years in football, basketball and baseball. He earned all-state honors in basketball and went on to play football and baseball at N.C. State.

"My parents were very instrumental. They gave me every opportunity to do whatever I wanted to do," Harvey said. "They gave me every chance to be successful. They were always ready and willing to give me every opportunity to be successful."

Harvey made his greatest impact on the gridiron. As a senior he led the Falcons to the 1990 Class A semifinals. He finished his career with 7,100 yards of total offense and 82 touchdowns while leading the Falcons to a four-year record of 46-7.

The team won three Region 8-A championships and made four straight playoff appearances with Harvey at the helm. The team's four-year run is the best in school history.

"The major thing is he started on both sides of the ball for us," said Mike Strickland, Harvey's coach at Dacula. "He started at free safety and quarterback and he never came off the field.

"He was just a tremendous leader and a team player. Obviously, an outstanding athlete as well."

Despite being told in middle school that he should move to a bigger school to get noticed by colleges, Harvey made a name for himself in the tiny town of Dacula.

Considered one of the best athletes to ever come out of his high school, Harvey continued his success at N.C. State. He had his pick of major Division I schools. Some recruited him just for football, some for baseball, but N.C. State was a place where he could play both and excel.

He started three games his freshman year at quarterback at N.C. State, taking the Wolfpack to the Peach Bowl.

After being redshirted his sophomore year, Harvey went on to start the next three years at quarterback. He passed for 5,925 yards and 38 touchdowns, good for No. 3 all time in school history. The team reached three bowl games under Harvey, including a Peach Bowl victory over Mississippi State in 1994.

"We had a lot of good days when I was there and had a lot of success," Harvey said.

As much success as he had in football, Harvey was even better in baseball. In his first college start he came within two outs of throwing a no-hitter and earned Freshman All-American honors.

As a sophomore he threw a no-hitter against Florida State in Tallahassee, the first pitcher to ever no-hit the Seminoles.

He finished his college baseball career with the most wins in school history, compiling a 35-12 record with a school-best 386 strikeouts.

Those accomplishments landed him on the ACC's 50th Anniversary Baseball Team, ranking him among the best 50 players ever to play in the conference.

"I had a lot of success in both sports," Harvey said. "There's a ton of games we came from behind, but as old as I am now it all sort of comes together. The good games weren't as great as you thought and the bad ones are still bad."

Harvey's senior year he was drafted for the third time, this time by Cleveland in the 17th round.

He spent a few years in the minor leagues, but shoulder surgery kept him from ever going past Class A ball. He eventually called it quits after pitching five innings in Tampa Bay's minor league system.

"I just decided it was time and there was no ill will there," Harvey said. "I was kind of the type that I said I would take ball as long as it would take me and when it didn't anymore I would hang it up with no regrets. I haven't thought about it since."

With his football and baseball career long behind him, Harvey has picked up a more relaxing sport - golf. And to no surprise he's pretty good at it with a 1 handicap.

He's already got his boys Andrew, 7, and Luke, 4, swinging a club with nine-month-old Reed a few years behind.

"I've got an automatic foursome for life," Harvey said of his future golf partners. "That's the only thing I need now."

"Catching up with ..." is a series that profiles former Gwinnett County athletes and their lives beyond high school competition. This feature will run on Saturdays throughout the summer. If you have suggestions about former standouts, send them to sports@gwinnettdailypost.com.

SideBar: The Harvey File

Name: Terry Harvey

Age: 36

Current job: Senior account executive for a global logistics and supply chain

Education: Graduated from Dacula in 1991; graduated in 1997 from N.C. State with a degree in communications

Background: Three-sport athlete at Dacula, lettering all four years in football, basketball and baseball; led football team to 1990 Class A semifinals and finished career with 7,100 yards of total offense and 82 TDs, while guiding team to a four-year record of 46-7; three-year starter in football at N.C. State, passing for 5,925 yards, the third-most in N.C. State history; finished college baseball with the most wins in school history, compiling a record of 35-12 with a school-best 386 strikeouts

Family: Wife, Catherine; sons, Andrew, 7, Luke, 4, and Reed, 9 months