THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 29, 1994 TAG: 9409290574
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY HARRY MINIUM, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: WILLIAMSBURG LENGTH: Long : 108 lines
Darren Sharper has no doubt about what he'll do the first time he sees his brother on the Scott Stadium turf Saturday.
``To be honest with you, I've told a lot of people that I'm going to take a penalty and blindside him,'' said Sharper, a William and Mary defensive back.
``I'm going to look for him out there. I'll be looking him up.''
Jamie Sharper, a University of Virginia linebacker, frowned and shook his head when told of his younger brother's comments.
``If I get a chance to get a lick in on him, I'll put him out of the game,'' he said. ``We've both been looking forward to this game for a long time, to having the chance to hit each other.''
For both, that chance comes Saturday when the Tribe visits U.Va. at 1 p.m. Though the Sharpers are defensive players, a brother-vs.-brother confrontation could occur whenever U.Va. punts.
Darren returns punts for the Tribe. Jamie tackles punters for the Cavaliers.
Nor is that the only brother-vs.-brother rivalry in this matchup of state schools. William and Mary defensive line coach Mike London is the brother of U.Va. junior safety Paul London.
Mike London acknowledges he'll be rooting for his brother to play well, though not too well.
``It's not like any other game,'' he said. ``You prepare for all of them the same way, but this one has a little more meaning.''
Both families expect to bring about 40 relatives apiece to Scott Stadium, and most will be rooting for both teams at the same time. Some will wear U.Va. shirts and William and Mary hats. Others will wave a U.Va. pompon in one hand and a W&M pompon in the other.
The London and Sharper brothers have much in common beyond football.
They were raised by parents who stressed discipline, church and academics. Their fathers were athletes - Harry J. Sharper Sr. was an All-American at Virginia State and played for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Londons, raised in Hampton, were stars at Bethel High School. Mike, 33, played collegiately at Richmond, and after a five-year stint as a detective for the Richmond Police Department, became an assistant coach for the Spiders.
``I'd rather take shots from fans in the stands for a bum call than take shots from a criminal in the street,'' said Mike, is in his fourth season with the Tribe.
Paul is 12 years younger than Mike and nine years younger than middle brother Gary, who started at free safety at East Carolina.
``When we were growing up, Paul was always the guy tagging along,'' Mike said.
``He's grown and matured, and if you'd pick those teams now, he'd be the first guy. He's probably the best athlete of all of us. I'm real happy for his success.''
The London brothers haven't spoken all week and won't until game's end. Paul is the roommate of U.Va. quarterback Symmion Willis, and is wary of unwittingly leaking information to big brother about the Cavaliers' offense.
``We've been communicating through our dad,'' Mike said with a smile. ``I've been trying to get him to pass on some information about their game plan. So far I haven't learned any.''
The Sharpers, raised in Henrico County in Richmond's western suburbs, were teammates from grade school through high school. Darren was the quarterback and Jamie the tailback in junior high and on both the junior varsity and varsity at Hermitage High.
Despite their pre-game jawing, the Sharpers admit there's more bark than bite to their brotherly relationship.
``We're close but we don't always show it,'' Jamie said. ``We know how we feel about each other.''
When Jamie was a freshman, he urged his brother, then a senior at Hermitage, to follow him to U.Va. Although the Cavaliers offered him a chance to play, they gave no guarantees of a scholarship. Darren politely said no.
``I followed in Jamie's shadows all the way through high school,'' Darren said. ``I didn't want to do that again.''
Darren had offers from Maryland and Richmond, but chose the Tribe because of the school's football success and reputation for graduating its athletes.
``I would have liked for him to have come to U.Va.,'' Jamie said. ``I know he could play here, and I'm kind of upset with myself for not pushing him harder.
``But things have worked out for him well at William and Mary. He's happy there and playing well.''
Jamie came to Williamsburg last Saturday, when U.Va. had the weekend off, to watch the Tribe demolish Virginia Military Institute, 45-7, and saw his brother return a punt 55 yards for a touchdown.
The return was nullified by a clipping penalty, but Darren was beaming at game's end nonetheless.
``I went up to Charlottesville this summer and worked out with the players for a week, so I know all the guys,'' he said. ``We'll be carrying on a conversation all game.
``Jamie's been calling me all week, telling me what they're going to do to us.''
Darren's fantasy about Saturday's game? ``To return a punt for a touchdown,'' he said.
No way, says Jamie: ``Our first guys down the field should get him. If they don't, I'll get him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Jamie Sharper, left, urged his brother to join him at U.Va. Darren
opted for William and Mary: ``I followed in Jamie's shadows in) high
school . . . didn't want to do that again.''
U.Va. safety Paul London, left, isn't talking to brother Mike, a
Tribe defensive line coach.The big reason: Paul rooms with U.Va.
quarterback Symmion Willis. He doesn't want to give away the
Cavaliers' game plan.
by CNB