Friday, August 27, 2004

Brother vs Brother

Let me just put this out there before you read this. I am Class of 1993, Independence High School in Charlotte, NC. The Patriots have won 4 straight North Carolina High School Athletic Association football titles…..and are favored to win their 5th. They are currently riding a 62-game winning streak…and their nationally followed QB [Joe Cox] and WR [Mohamed Massaquoi] have both committed to Georgia. This from a school that, at least when I was there, was anything but a football power. In fact, it was more of a basketball school [Todd Fuller, former NBAer and NC State star went there].

September 18th could match two brothers at the quarterback spot in one of the top rivalries in college football. Tennessee vs. Florida. Or CJ Leak vs. Chris Leak.

The Leaks were at the helm of the Independence Patriots football team from 1996-2002. During that tenure, the Pats won titles in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003 [the last one without a QB named Leak].

CJ Leak was the QB for Independence from 1996-1998 and pretty much helped put the school‘s football program on the map. He chose to go to Wake Forest over Notre Dame and Penn State….but in 2000 he suffered a horrible knee injury that sidelined his college career. The injury itself wasn’t so bad…but the infection gained was bad enough that they needed to place a catheter directly into his heart so he could inject antibiotics to his bloodstream. After that red shirt season….he left Wake to go to Tennessee. He sat out 2001 because he transferred…and got into 8 games over the last two seasons with the Vols. The six-year senior is #1 on the depth chart….but the job isn’t securely his. Behind him is his little brother of the guy he is replacing…..Casey Clausen’s brother Rick.

Chris replaced CJ at Independence….and won 3 North Carolina state titles. He left Independence at the all-time passer in high school history. Leak stole the show in Gainsville and became the full time starter after some impressive cameos early in the season. Now, he’s a serious contender for the Heisman in 2005 or maybe even this year. One interesting sidebar is the Vols’ fans hatred for Chris. Chris was “all but in the bag” for Tennessee, especially since big brother was there trying to bring him along. Instead, Chris spurned UT for their hated rival, the Florida Gators.

So, to me….and people in Charlotte….the 9-18 battle between the Vols and Gators could be a pleasure!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hey Sportz! South Mecklenburg Sabre from way back here! How many out of state players does Independence have this year?  

Ducking!

Anonymous said...

Only problem is that CJ wont be playing, or starting anyhow at UT

Anonymous said...

I am an alumni of Tennessee and I think that it would be great to have to two brothers go head to head in the Tennessee Florida game. Both are talented atheletes.  It is always and exciting game to watch.  As of now Tennessee has one of two incoming freshmen quarterbacks starting against UNLV. I would just like to say Good luck Chris, I think you have a great story and I think it would be great to see you overcome everything you have gone through and have a great season as the starter for Tennessee.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, I meant Good luck CJ.  Jumped ahead of myself. Good luck to you too Chris. I hope both brothers have a great season.  

Anonymous said...

I hope Cj catches a few of Chris' passes that day. He may be playing safety for the Orange. They have him at tight end, too. He's not the QB and Rick Clausen isn't the back-up. You reading last years comic books, too?

Anonymous said...

Wher have you been, Leak has been moved to saftey...if not the side line and Clausen is 4th on the depth chart, TN. is starting a freshmen QB for the first time in it's history, Leak is now 3rd on the depth chart, maybe he can pick off one of his brothers passes, at least they may be on the field at the same time...

Anonymous said...

To be blunt, and I am a die hard UT fan, I am of the opinion that the staff and alumni ( I graduated UT Orange , too) catered to the Clausen's to draw talent further down the road. Rick never matured to the system and for that they may lose younger brother. CJ never got a fair shake to learn the system and now he loses out due to younger and more eager talent. Because of the politics Chris Leak chose UF over UT!!

Anonymous said...

Actually Todd Fuller went to Charlotte Christian...and I have watched the Leak boys at Indenpendence....people forget that CJ commotted to Wake Forest and Wake forest even offered hi 13 year old brother a scholorship at the time...which was a joke...the leaks father from what I understand is a little over bearing even starting his own football league when they were young just to insure them both being quarterbacks...but the reason Chris did not go to TN was the coached called their family one week and told them to come see the game because CJ was going to play ..so the whole family went up there and CJ got in one series....so they felt they had been lied to....

Anonymous said...

Chris Leak didn't really impress me last year, yes he had his moments but he was still devoloping. Which unless his brother is completely different(they don't look alike), I think his brother will be devoloping this year also. So I'm assuming that Chris will dominate over C.J. not because of talent but merely because of experience. Being a Georgia fan though I'm rooting for UT all the way because I'll root for anyone other the Florida.

Anonymous said...

ESHOEMA
"Actually Todd Fuller went to Charlotte Christian"

Actually....he went to both.  He was a sophomore and junior for Independence High School, then moved onto Charlotte Christian [along with Independence PG Anton Hubert] for his senior season.