Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 6, 1994 TAG: 9410110095
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Tony and Earline Washington, one of their subjects says, rule their kingdom with ``a Bible in one hand and a switch in the other.''
At that, King Tony laughs heartily enough to shake the castle.
``Not close,'' said the father of Virginia Tech offensive linemen T.J. and Todd Washington. ``That boy [T.J.] ... Now look, it wasn't that tight, but it was tight.''
T.J. and Todd, two bright, gleaming faces, two garrulous giants, had curfews, forbidden destinations and always something to do - be it cutting trees and chopping wood at 6 a.m., playing sports, singing in the church choir or teaching Sunday school. A few weeks each summer found them at their grandparents' farm in Marion, S.C., messing with chickens, pigs and crops.
``We said we'd rather feed them out of the back of a car [at games or events] than go downtown and get them out of jail,'' Tony Washington said.
The Washington kids' busy lives have moved to Blacksburg, where T.J., a redshirt sophomore, is getting the most playing time of his career, and Todd, a ``true'' freshman, is seeing time at center. Though they're part of an often-penalized, sometimes-criticized offensive line, they're blood, and that's what counts in the Washington family.
Todd saw his first extended playing time in the second half against Southern Mississippi on Sept.10, and both were on the field when Tech scored the go-ahead touchdown in a 24-14 victory. The first thing T.J. did was look for Todd; they hugged on the field.
``I figured if I was at any other college and that happened, who am I gonna grab?'' Todd said.
``One thing we can't do is get mad at each other, because we're all we've got.''
Well, not exactly. The Washington household in Melfa (an Eastern Shore town, population 391) is receiving $500 monthly phone bills, because T.J. and Todd remain well-connected to their parents and Tony won't let them do anything but call collect.
And, there's Tech basketball player Ace Custis, who grew up a few miles from the Washingtons. Tony Washington taught and coached for 22 years at Custis' alma mater, Northampton High School in Melfa-size Eastville.
``We're different from everyone that's here,'' T.J. said. ``Only three of us know what we go through - Todd, myself and Ace Custis. What we do could be magnified 10 times because we're Tech athletes, but 100 times more [in our] small area.''
The brothers returned home after Tech's Thursday night victory over West Virginia on Sept.22 to a sort of hero's welcome. Todd shook the hand of the principal at Nandua High School, the Washingtons' alma mater. ``He said, `I don't want a handshake, I want a hug,''' Todd said.
The Washington parents, both teachers and coaches, are so well-known that their kids are the community's kids. Of course, because Tony has been Nandua's head football coach for the past five years, he coached both his sons - and the community, not to mention Earline Washington, also knew that once in a while Coach Tony would feed his pair of 6-foot-4, 300-or-so-pound sons a scalding verbal meal.
On those occasions, T.J. and Todd would report to their protective Mom on the day's happenings. When Tony would get home later, he'd open the front door and test Earline's mood by throwing his hat inside.
``If it came back, I'd better stay out a little longer,'' Tony said. ``The next morning, I would get up and say, `OK, boys, time to go.' I'd go in their room and give 'em a hug and say, `Look, Daddy loves you.'''
Said Todd: ``There might be silent times in the house, because you're mad at him. But he's your father off the field.''
T.J. and Todd praise Tony for never bringing home football problems - although dinner sometimes was eaten while watching game film. The pair, whom Tony said may have been able to get academic college scholarships if not for football, appreciate their parents' attention to their studies. Once when T.J. and Todd were busted watching TV behind their closed bedroom door instead of studying, Tony and Earline decided they'd check papers from their classes with the boys as they studied.
Tony Washington's sons marvel that, although Tony has been offered faculty positions at bigger schools, he's chosen to stay in Melfa. Tony says that's because he likes the area and wants to help Eastern Shore kids get to college; T.J., for one, says he grew up knowing he would go to college and then come back to do the same thing.
As for the Washington family's strict rules, there's no second-guessing from the boys.
``People say we got here because of our athletic ability,'' T.J. said. ``And that might be true, but I think the main reason why we're here is by the grace of God and both our parents.''
They're survivors, too. T.J. once ignored his parents' directive and went to an outdoor party he wasn't supposed to attend. He happened to be standing near a friend who, during an argument, was shot; the friend later died. A Spanish teacher the boys knew at Nandua was shot and killed. And Todd lost one of his best friends in high school to a heart ailment.
The Washington brothers have leaned on each other as much as anyone. T.J., for example, was redshirted as a freshman and barely played in his second year. This year, although Tech coach Frank Beamer says he needs to get tougher and execute better, T.J. played almost the whole game against West Virginia and Syracuse.
``I wonder, if my brother was here when I first got here, would I have been able to play?'' T.J. said. ``We both give each other that drive.
``I think he has given me that little extra spark now to do better on the field. I guess he just rekindled what I needed. It's kind of nice to see your brother on the sideline or in the huddle. You have that bond, that brotherly thing. It helps us out a lot.''
by CNB