24 - Football Preview friday night lights Score Big This Season! With A Car or Truck From MEADOWS AUTO CENTER DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE for Foreign & Domestic Autos ✓ Check Engine Light ✓ ABS Service & Repair ✓ Cooling System Flush ✓ Transmission Flush ✓ Brakes & Tires ✓ State Inspections Come see our great ✓ Complete Automotive Service ✓ Pick-up & Delivery Available selection of late model used ✓ Genuine AC DELCO Parts cars, trucks and 4x4’s! ✓ Nationwide Warranty 5859 East Gretna Road • GRETNA, VA Toll Free: 866-585-5235 • (434) 656-2140 Directions from Gretna: Turn on 40 East at the traffi c light, go 5 1/2 miles, 0.6 miles past Tucker Rd. Approximately 10 minutes from stoplight Business Hours: Monday - Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. • Saturday 8 a.m. - Noon VADEALER #29405 Chatham • Gretna • Dan River • Tunstall • GWHS • Hargrave 2016 | A special supplement to www.meadows.mechanicnet.com Sydney Sports Shelton/Star-Tribune STAR-TRIBUNE 2 - Football Preview Football Preview - 23 trey edmunds finding Go Team Go! life in college park Western Auto Good Luck Main Street • Gretna PROPANE, FUEL OIL, GASOLINE, DIESEL to his liking 434-432-0251 (434) 656-1411 This Season! davenportenergy.com By EDDY LLOYD Star-Tribune Sports Editor Edmunds. The name is known all across Southside Virginia from Danville to Blacksburg, but as Trey Edmunds is finding out, it might carry more weight in College Park, Maryland, than any Good Luck This Season! other place on the map. “If I had a nickel for every time I run into someone who knew him or knew of him, I’d be a mighty rich man by now,” Trey said with a chuckle. The him is Ferrell Edmunds, Trey’s father. Diesel Engine & The head football coach at Dan River High School, and the father of three college football players (Terrell and Tremaine are starters at Virginia Tech), Ferrell’s identity is sometimes lost because of the success of his sons, but in College Park they remember. ����������� Equipment Repair Trey, a Virginia Tech graduate with one year of football eligibility remaining, decided late last �������������������������������������������� fall that it would be in his best interest to pursue his final year of football in a different venue. 175 Macken Ln. • Blairs That venue ended up being the University of Maryland, where his Dad starred for the Terps in ��������������������������� the mid-80s. 434-836-6711 “Sometimes people will come up and ask me, ‘Are you Ferrell Edmunds’ son?’,” Trey said. “I am blessed to be in a situation to follow in his footsteps. I hope and pray I can make it to the professional ranks like he did, but I have to make my own path. I don’t minimize anything he did, but it has to be my own journey.” It is not surprising that people remember the elder Edmunds in that neck of the woods. A third team All-American in 1987, Edmunds had 35 catches for Maryland, which tied the record State Farm Insurance for catches by a tight end for the Terps. From Maryland, Edmunds was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the NFL Draft and in 1989 with the Dolphins, Edmunds was selected as the top tight end for the entire league. He played in the Pro Bowl in 1989 and 1990. TODD BREAUX But for the Edmunds family, from Nana (Felicia’s mother Mary Morris) to Ferrell and his wife Felicia, the legacy left to the Edmunds’ sons goes much farther than the 100-yard gridiron. 13995 US Hwy. 29 • Suite 700 “Whether the message comes from my Nana or my parents, the message is always the same. Photo Courtesy of Maryland Athletics Your Local Choice For Fresh Foods Chatham, VA 24531 Academics comes before athletics,” said Trey. & Low Prices! “I graduated from Virginia Tech last December, but my parents are still always interested Trey Edmunds (9) takes a handoff during in the classes I am taking and if I am doing my homework,” said Trey, “and I am in graduate workouts with the Maryland offense. Shelton St., Gretna, VA • 434-656-1755 Phone: (434) 432-5461 school,” he laughed. “I appreciate so much what they have done for me. I’m not sure where I would be without them.” Trey said the stress on academics has been part of the Edmunds household for as long as to me to stay focused and avoid outside distractions to keep you out of trouble.” he can remember. “We would always take a vacation in the summer, but my mother would buy Tremaine, who will be starting at linebacker as a true sophomore, said his parents have advised each of us a summer workbook,” said Trey. “It had lessons in math, English, literature and other him about expectations. “They just told me to tune out the expectations and just do the best I can “I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. subjects and we had to finish pages in our workbook before we were allowed to play. We also do,” Tremaine said. had to read a book from cover to cover every summer.” As with his brothers, Tremaine is held to a high standard by the Edmunds family. “Be a leader. But I cannot accept not trying.” - Michael Jordan Trey said the bottom line was that without academics, there would be no sports. Don’t follow what other people do,” Tremaine said his family advised. The idea of valuing an education has already passed on from the parents to the sons, at least Although Trey broke up the Edmunds party in Blacksburg, his decision to head to the big city life one of them. During Media Day at Virginia Tech, Terrell talked about the things he would miss hasn’t affected the relationship of the brothers at all. “Leaving my brothers behind was a difficult with Trey in Maryland. “Trey was always checking on me, making sure I was keeping up with decision, but they understand I had to take a different route,” said Trey. “We’re in constant com- Let’s make this a fun and safe season! my classes, doing my homework,” Terrell said. “He is my second biggest role model.” munication. We haven’t missed a beat.” Terrell said the torch has now been passed to him and how he takes care of Tremaine. “I try Trey admits the brothers all operate with the same goal in mind; to make a career in the NFL like Vice Mayor Alonzo Jones to look out for Tremaine the way Trey looked out for me,” said Terrell. their father. “We are all working for the same thing,” said Trey. The lessons taught in the Edmunds’ household didn’t stop with academics as Terrell and So while the party in Blacksburg is just a pleasant memory, the brothers Edmunds are hoping to 434.250.3231 • [email protected] Tremaine expressed thoughts on the lessons of life that were relayed from their parents. “My one day put the band back together at a NFL city near you. Dad and Trey told me the ins and outs of everything,” said Terrell. “My parents always stressed 22 - Football Preview Football Preview - 3 danville scores touchdown with helmet purchase By EDDY LLOYD to a helmet. The Speedfl ex was one of 26 adult helmets that Fain said the entire football Star-Tribune Sports Editor have been evaluated by Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech states that coaching staff, trainer Tim although no helmet is concussion proof, helmets with a higher Torborg and himself Danville Public Schools has taken a major step in promoting number of stars provide a reduction in concussion risk com- are excited about the safety for football players playing in the Danville system. pared to helmets with less stars. safety features of The system has purchased the Riddell Speedfl ex helmet to Stefan Duma of the Virginia Tech helmet testing lab said this the new helmet. be worn by all players on the middle school, junior varsity, and about the Riddell Speedfl ex helmet. “The Speedfl ex is one of According varsity football teams. According to Jonathan Fain, athletic di- the very best helmets on the market today. It is the fi rst to the Virginia rector for high schools and middle schools, the decision was a employ a new fl exible shell strategy that can be seen with its Tech Helmet collaborative one agreed upon by stakeholders in the school unique front design.” Study, the division. Riddell representative Lou Kocacevic came to Danville in helmet retails from According to Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings, the Riddell May to personally size each player for a perfect helmet fi t. for $399. Wewant to Speedfl ex was rated a fi ve-star helmet, the highest rating given hear tech’s foster Huntin’, Fishin’, you! excited about Campin’, 4-Wheelin’ the edmunds By EDDY LLOYD Star-Tribune Sports Editor or Muddin’? BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech defensive starters Terrell and Tremaine Ed- munds are receiving heaps of praise going into the 2016 football season and Blue that praise is coming from the highest source. Long-time Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster spoke very highly Be a part of of the two former Dan River players during the pre-season Media Day at Virginia Tech. “I am really excited about those guys,” said Foster. “In most cases, the sec- Womack Publishing’s Collar ond and third brothers are usually the most highly recruited of the brothers. In the Edmunds case, they still came here. I think it goes back to our staff and how newest monthly magazine we treat the players.” Foster then got into specifi cs about the brothers. “Terrell has been outstand- ing,” Foster said.