Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509120036
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DANIEL UTHMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RALEIGH, N.C. LENGTH: Medium
Saturday's game between Virginia's victory over North Carolina State on Saturday offered strong evidence why coaches aim for a close-knit, family atmosphere on their football teams.
The game featured a number of brother acts, from the Cavaliers' Barber and Rainer brothers to the Wolfpack's filial fireplugs, Jon and Kenneth Redmond.
Sometimes, being just like brothers is close enough, though, as shown by Virginia's Patrick Jeffers and Mike Groh on the final, game-winning drive. That they don't share a bloodline doesn't matter. What they share on the sideline and off the field is just as good.
``I'd say he's my best friend,'' Jeffers said after the Cavaliers' 29-24 victory. ``We spent the whole summer together, throwing and catching every day.''
On the final drive, the pair added four connections to the thousands they made in the summer. They were responsible for 39 yards during the Cavaliers' 69-yard, nine-play drive and set up Tiki Barber's 17-yard run to the N.C. State 1-yard line.
``Up until then, it was a frustrating day for me,'' said Jeffers, who had missed or dropped a number of Groh's passes.
Once the Wolfpack went ahead 24-23 with 1:19 to play, the friends let bygones be bygones. They had to. Also roommates, when they step off the plane back in Charlottesville they'll be heading to the same address.
Once Barber ran it in from 1 yard, they didn't have to worry anymore.
``Up until now, big games didn't mean that much because we were losing them,'' Jeffers said. ``To finally turn it around, it feels good.''
It didn't feel so good for the Wolfpack's big, bad brothers of blocking, the Redmonds. They have been teammates since Little League, when Kenneth was a fullback/nose guard and Jonathan already was in the trenches as an offensive guard.
But since the 1992 season they have shared space on the N.C. State offensive line, where Jonathan still is a guard and Kenneth plays center.
They always watch each other's back.
After the game, when Kenneth was telling a reporter that Virginia players claimed last year's Wolfpack victory was a lucky one, Jonathan walked over and hit him on the arm.
``You from Virginia?'' Jonathan asked the writer, who said he was.
Jonathan looked at his older brother and said, ``Don't say anything that's going to get you in trouble.''
Kenneth proceeded to do just as his younger sibling had told him.
Not surprisingly, the Redmonds spend as much time putting other players on their backs. For proof, just ask Virginia defensive linemen Tony Agee and Duane Ashman, who were planted by the brothers on the same play in the second half.
The resulting hole was one of many that led N.C. State to 17 second-half points and yet another comeback.
Their coach, Mike O'Cain, explained, ``As the game gets on, we get better. That's a trademark of this team.''
It certainly has been against Virginia, a comeback victim in the past two matchups with N.C. State. In the fourth quarter last season, the Redmonds busted a big hole that tailback Tremayne Stephens ran through for an 84-yard touchdown and a 30-27 Wolfpack victory.
``We've been here five years,'' Kenneth Redmond said. ``We know how to get you on the ropes.''
This time, UVa bounced off and hit back, thanks to a 1-2 punch of Jeffers and Groh.
``That's the thing about N.C. State football,'' Jonathan Redmond said. ``If you're going to beat us, you've got to beat us all day.''
Then, Kenneth chimed in: ``We did it to them last year. We've been in their locker room, and now they've been in ours.
``It's just a good game always.''
by CNB