Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 30, 1993 TAG: 9309300034
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: SCOTT BLANCHARD STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Long
Virginia Tech's top receiver, who set a school record for yards per catch last year, whom Tech coach Frank Beamer calls "one of the best open-field runners I've ever seen," who has 18 games in which to get the eight touchdown passes he needs to set Tech's career record, says he wants to earn the respect of peers, opponents and coaches.
Well, he is asked, has he?
He squirms.
"I think I've earned respect but . . . it's just that I want to keep striving. I don't want to stop," he says.
Hollow words to some, they are flesh and blood to Freeman.
"The reason I get antsy, I think back to my brother," Freeman said of Clarence Freeman III, a 27-year-old U.S. Marine stationed in Japan who never played Division I football. "He was a real good high school football player. He chose a different path. I'm living this dream not only for myself, but for him also."
Maurice DeShazo tosses balls to Freeman now; it used to be down-and-outs from Clarence on the streets of Baltimore. Antonio and Clarence still connect, by mail, about five letters per month.
"It's like we were twins when we were born [six years apart]," Freeman said. "When I was growing up . . . I was his biggest fan. He kind of persuaded me to play football. He's my biggest fan now."
Clarence's editorial comments on Antonio's doings help keep the Hokies junior from reclining in the comfort of his sophomore season: 32 catches, 703 yards (most for a Hokie in 13 years), a school-record 22 yards per catch and six touchdowns, including the third-longest TD catch in Tech history (83 yards against West Virginia).
He has 11 catches this season for a 20.3-yard average and three touchdowns, but Tech's coaches still see an improving receiver.
"He worked harder last spring and this year than he worked last year," said offensive coordinator Rickey Bustle, who coached receivers until this season. "Some of 'em kind of get satisfied. He hasn't done that."
Freeman could have gotten buried - although Bustle thinks Freeman would have risen eventually. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound receiver hardly was recruited out of run-oriented Baltimore Polytechnic High School. He was Bo Campbell's backup at split end last year until Campbell dislocated an elbow during the preseason. At the time, Beamer mourned the loss of a "big-play" receiver.
An ironic thought, it turned out.
"He had a lot of talent that never really kind of showed until last year," Bustle said of Freeman. "He played better than he practiced at that time."
Including even Tech's 1991 junior varsity game against Fork Union Military Academy, played during the Hokies' off week after the season's first two games. Freeman caught six passes for 205 yards and two touchdowns in that JV game.
"From that point on, we said, `Maybe this kid needs to be playing,' " said former Tech defensive coordinator Mike Clark, who recruited Freeman.
Freeman played in the rest of Tech's game that year, then got his chance in 1992 when Campbell missed the first three games. Freeman caught eight passes for a 27.8-yard average, including scoring receptions of 69 and 64 yards. Freeman never left the starting lineup.
"I think I would have had to settle with that," Freeman said when asked what would have happened if he had remained second string. "I don't think it would have been enough.
"Bo had proven himself the previous years in great magnitude. Having that burden on my shoulders and playing . . . I had to prove something to myself."
Freeman gave himself at least one hurdle when he was kicked out of school for the second semester of 1992 for his involvement in a dormitory fight. He missed spring practice and, as Clark said, "could've went either way."
Freeman had the tools, Clark said, to save himself. Clark remembers visiting Freeman's home on a recruiting visit and he described the neighborhood as "rough."
"When you walked in his home, you knew something was different," Clark said. "You just saw there was some structure [and thought], `He's been taught the right things growing up.' "
Freeman remembered those things.
"I'm the center of their attention right now," he said of his family, which includes a sister, LaTonya, as well as Clarence III and his mother and father. "I'm going to do whatever I can to keep my family happy. I want to give them something to talk about, where I'm not just another statistic from the city of Baltimore. I beat the odds and left the city and went on with my life."
Freeman eluded those troubles as he does a groping defensive back. Beamer, asked what distinguishes Freeman as a person, cites his "positive" nature - even during practice.
Freeman says sometimes that's a put-on, but a harmless one.
"When I used to have to do household chores and I really didn't want to do it," Freeman said of growing up, "I used to try to sing or dance while I was doing it, to psych myself up - I wanted to act like I was enjoying it. Despite the fact that I love what I'm doing [now], you get those days you'd really rather be home sleeping or playing Sega or Nintendo. You really have to have that mentality that you're into it."
Freeman is inextricably locked into one thing: Tech's offense. Beamer said it's a mistake if the Hokies don't get the ball into Freeman's hands six or seven times per game.
That figures to keep Freeman busy, although he's unlikely to rest until he takes care of some things. He wants to win. He wants to play in a New Year's Day bowl. He also wants his degree in consumer studies.
"I think the moment after my last college football game," he said, "I can sit back and say, `There's another chapter in the book.' "
And, the inference is, another one coming up.
by CNB