SRU is 2nd home for Butler grid duo
BUTLER TWP — Cole Harvey and Eli Christy won't be strangers in August.
Nor will they feel like they're in a strange place.
When the two Butler seniors join the Slippery Rock University football program, it will seem like a natural progression.
"Our high school team did camps there. It almost feels like we belong there," Harvey said. "I really liked Slippery Rock even before I made my official visit there."
Christy agreed.
"My choices came down to Slippery Rock and Clarion," he said. "Slippery Rock became my No. 1 choice because it felt like home."
Harvey spent three years as the starting quarterback at Butler and had played that position since fourth grade.
The 6-foot, 185-pound Harvey will become a wide receiver at SRU.
""We love his athleticism and how much he loves to play football," Rock coach George Mihalik said. "That kid overcame a lot to play high school ball and he gives his heart and soul to his team. Both of these guys do.
"We've won championships with character guys like those two."
Harvey passed for 2,051 yards and 15 touchdowns at Butler, along with rushing for 659 yards.
"I'm not surprised at going to receiver, nor disappointed," Harvey said. "I knew I was too small to play quarterback in college. Wherever I can contribute, that's where I'll play."
Harvey caught only three passes for 29 yards in limited duty at receiver late last year for the Golden Tornado.
Former Butler coach Jeff McAnallen said Harvey likely will put together two productive seasons as a receiver at The Rock."Once he gets into camp and is able to devote full time to learning the position, Cole can develop into an excellent inside slot receiver, a vital key in their offense up there," McAnallen said."I can see him redshirting, waiting his turn like most college players do, then making the most of his opportunity," he added.Christy's best year at Butler on offense was his junior season, when he caught 18 passes for 248 yards and had 50 carries for 247 yards. An injury hampered him during his senior campaign.The 6-1, 180-pound Christy is being projected as a safety, the position he played steadily at Butler."Eli wanted to play defense and we like him at safety," Mihalik said. "He's got the speed and he'll hit you."Christy said he wouldn't mind redshirting "because it would give me another year to get bigger and stronger."Harvey and Christy will be roommates at SRU."It's important to both of us because we're going to know each other and (fellow Butler graduate and SRU lineman) Rick Gladd when we get into camp," Christy said. "It's always good to see familiar faces."Mihalik won't rule out either Christy or Harvey getting on the field this season."We give all of our first-year players an opportunity to earn that playing time in camp," the coach said. "If they show they can help us, they'll be out there."Both plan to major in education as both want to become teachers and coaches."These are two kids who love football and want to get the most out of their experiences with it," McAnallen said. "They'll give back to the game someday."
