Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 19, 1994 TAG: 9411220036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DOUG DOUGHTY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
When they make their first collegiate appearance at Lane Stadium today, Virginia football players Tiki and Ronde Barber almost will be able to see their birthplace, Montgomery Regional Hospital.
Most state football fans are aware of the Barbers' connection with Virginia Tech, where their father played running back in the early 1970s, but the most influential ex-Hokie in the family is their mother, Geraldine.
``It's still my school and I want Tech to do well,'' she said Friday. ``We've got a friendly rivalry going. The last time I talked to Ronde, he told me, `We're going to get you this weekend.'''
Geraldine Barber will be sitting among a group of UVa parents when the Cavaliers visit Tech at 12:07 p.m. She hopes to support Tech, but realizes that will be difficult with sons playing offense and defense for Virginia.
Ronde, second in the nation in interceptions, is a redshirt freshman defensive back. Tiki, the Cavaliers' second-leading rusher, is a sophomore running back.
After distinguished careers at Cave Spring High in Roanoke, they signed with Virginia after taking only one other visit, to Clemson. Their mother would have been happy for them to consider Virginia Tech.
``I bit my tongue many times,'' she said. ``For obvious reasons, I wanted to stay out of it. You have to realize, it's their life.
``I talked to them after they got to Virginia and asked them, `Are you comfortable? Are you sure you made the right choice?' There was never any problem.''
That went for the classroom as well as the football field. Geraldine has always emphasized academics and this year has the best grades in the family as she pursues a master's degree at Averett College in Danville.
As a single parent, it was difficult to return to school before her sons went to college. James Barber, from whom she has been divorced for many years, now lives in the southwest part of the country and communicates with his sons only infrequently.
``I'm sure he's picked up the paper after some of our games,'' Ronde said. ``I know he's paying attention to me.''
There has never been any discussion of the twins' decision to sign with their father's ex-rival, but Ronde did hear from his father after intercepting two passes against Wake Forest.
It was one of three two-interception games for Ronde, who was named national defensive player of the week by Sports Illustrated for his play in a 34-10 victory over North Carolina.
The Sports Illustrated feature has become a conversation piece.
``One of Tiki and Ronde's friends called from East Tennessee State and asked how I liked Sports Illustrated,'' Geraldine recalled. ``I said, `It was nice.' Then he said, `What about the pictures?' I thought for a second and asked, `What pictures?' ''
It seems that Sports Illustrated had sent a reporter to the game to do a story on North Carolina coach Mack Brown for its weekly southern football supplement. The story was accompanied by a full-page picture of Tiki carrying the ball and a smaller shot of Ronde.
``I called Sports Illustrated to ask why I hadn't gotten the supplement,'' she said. ``They told me Virginia is considered the Mid-Atlantic and there is no Mid-Atlantic supplement. So, all I've got is one copy and I don't let it out of my hands.''
When her husband was playing and later served on Tech's football staff, Geraldine was a regular at Tech football games. Later, ex-Hokie football player and assistant coach Billy Hardee provided tickets for the boys.
``I also bought tickets a couple of times,'' she said, ``but, as Tiki and Ronde got older, they had other interests.''
Many of their Cave Spring classmates go to Tech, including Ronde's girlfriend, Jennie Kallio.
``I get down there when I have a chance,'' he said, ``and we're always talking about the [Tech-UVa] game with her friends. I'm sure my friends will be pulling for me, but I understand there might be a few boos.
``I think all my friends knew I basically wasn't going to Tech. You could say it was too close to home. My father's career was nothing I really thought about; I wanted to leave my own mark wherever I went.''
Geraldine Barber said she has not dreaded today's game in any way, although she is a little concerned about her sister and fellow Hokie, Janice, sitting in a section of UVa fans.
``I'm probably one of the loudest voices you'll hear at [Virginia's] Scott Stadium,'' she said. ``I always cheer for my guys, but regardless of what happens today, I'll come out a winner.''
by CNB