Jim Garvey

It's really not that difficult to figure out what makes senior Jim Garvey tick. Garvey--a standout wingback on the football team--runs on relationships.

"What's most important to me are my family and friends. Then comes football," Garvey says.

If there's a Horatio Alger on the Harvard football, program, then it's Jim Garvey. Before being recognized as one of the squad's most talented and versatile performers, Garvey had to steer his way around several obstacles. Seeing very little playing time through the beginning of his junior year, Garvey spent most of his time working with the demo squad and watching the events of a game from the sidelines.

Not until another player injured his knee during Garvey's junior season did he receive the playing time to prove himself to the coaching staff. Performing admirably during those two games, Garvey came to camp this summer assured of a starting position at wingback.

One might guess that when one ventures off to college, the significance of a strong family life may dissipate. Not in Garvey's case--most of his family decided to tag along and enroll in Harvard also.

At this very moment there are three Garvey brothers circulating about campus. Besides Jim, there's Joe--a junior who also plays varsity football as a split end. Then comes Jerry, who just happens to be the captain of Harvard's freshman football squad. And let's not forget about the eldest Garvey sibling, John, who graduated from this university last spring.

That's very impressive, Mr. and Mrs. Garvey.

"Our parents took us on camping trips, and we did all that kind of stuff when we were kids. They always provides us with what we needed, but they never spoiled us neither. I don't come from a wealthy family or anything like that, but my father always managed."

In retrospect, Garvey has nothing but praise for the way he and his brothers were brought up. "They must have done something right. They're the greatest parents. Oh, I love them. They really cared about us. You know, they've come to all the football games this year."

Besides bringing up four Harvard men in five years, Garvey's parents also maintained a very close-knit familial environment. Today, the brothers seem to be as tight as ever. Several times during the interview, Garvey steered the discussion back to his relationship with his brothers.

"We're a really good family. Part of it is because we're all pretty much the same age. Sure, we have our squabbles--but there is nothing major," Garvey said.

They socialize together, too. Except for Jerry, "we're all members of the Pi Eta. Jerry goes there and parties a lot also. Jerry's old enough to do that. He used to be the little one. Now he's a big kid."

"I get a lot of laughter out of watching them do things (when we're out together). And they get a lot of laughter out of me too." Garvey declined to expound on the meaning of that last statement. "But we do have fun together."

Garvey admits that he and his brothers and often seen as a group, not as individuals. But he doesn't let that bother him at all. In fact, "I like it. We are a family. That's the way it should be. I don't mind being thought of as a group, because I have a lot of respect for my brothers...I'm proud to have my brother out there on the football field with me. And I'm proud to have my other brother be captain of the freshman team."

Joe shares his older brother's view of the Garvey family. "In other families, the brothers do the same things and they don't get along well. But we back each other up. I guess that our parents had a lot to do with that."

As for Jim, "He's just a nice kind, and he's easy to get along with," Joe said.

Besides the value Garvey places on his family life, he also stresses the importance of the friendships he has formed at Harvard. "My friends that I've made are the best part of my times here. We're pretty close and we've remained close through a lot of adversity. These friends are going to be friends for life."

Garvey rooms with several other established seniors on the football team, including offensive guard Mike Corbat and defensive ends Joe Margolis and Pat Fleming.

"I look at us as one big family. All these guys in the senior group have gone through a lot together, always wanting an Ivy League championship. That's the important part about athletics. The relationships you gain from practicing together every day and seeing and helping people when they're hurt or injured," Corbat said, adding that the comraderie of this year's football team is "unique You can't always have it like that."

Garvey's coach sounds like a proud father when asked about the wingback. "Jimmy has set the standard for the position of wingback for the future. He is a total athlete," offensive Coach Larry Glueek said.

Glueck added that as a wingback, "we have asked him to each like a receiver, block like a tight end and run like a back. He has done everything we've asked him to do. That kind of person is hard to find. We're gonna miss him terribly. He has large shoes to fill, and we're going to have to search hard for someone to fill them."

Jim, why do you think that you've garnered so much esteem from your peers and coaches?

"I don't like to answer those kind of questions. I'm just part of the team. I really have trouble answering those questions," Garvey said.

"He's one of our hardest workers. He doesn't hold back at all, and he gives absolutely everything he has to give," Glueck said. "His attitude has been super, even in the years when he wasn't playing."

Glueck also credits Garvey with an incredible sense of football savvy. "He's just so consistent. I don't think that he's busted more than three assignments all season."

Reflection

Garvey was asked to reflect upon Harvard's 23-21 loss to Penn which cost the Crimson an undisputed Ivy Championship. In that game last Saturday, Harvard--when time ran out--had the lead after the Penn placekicker shanked his boot. But a roughing the kicker penalty enabled Penn to try again, and this time, the ball soared through the uprights.

"After the game officially ended, it seemed like a dream come true. It was beautiful, the biggest thing I had ever hoped for. But after they made the second field goal, it was the biggest letdown that I had ever experienced. It was the low point of my football," career. It will stay with me for the rest of my life." Garvey said. "But that's over and done with Now we're just grateful that we have a last chance to prove ourselves against Yale. I guarantee that we'll be ready."

Individually, the most rewarding experience Garvey has had as a Harvard football player was a 67-yard pass from Donnie Allard against UMass. That was Garvey's first collegiate touchdown.

"It was something that I've always wanted, to do. It was [a] goal to score a touchdown for Harvard," Garvey said.

His career in all respects at Harvard has been rewarding. But he looks forward to graduation.

"I'm ready to move on to new things. I think that I've accomplished everything that I can here. I'm ready to start my next step in life. There's high school, college and there's whatever."

Garvey said that his future is very uncertain, but what is for such is that he can reflect on a fulfilling post.