Brian Randolph doesn’t know Eric Berry very well personally, but he has revered the former Tennessee All-American and Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl player since before Berry ever came to Knoxville.
Randolph, now a junior safety at Tennessee, was in middle school in Marietta, Ga., when Berry starred as a safety and quarterback at nearby Creekside High School in Fairburn. Though Randolph eventually went to Kell, he followed Berry’s career closely, taking on his position and his alma mater.
“I definitely got to see some of his games” Randolph said. “I was in middle school at the time. I always watched Eric Berry. I always heard about Eric Berry. He’s been in my life for a long time, watching him and looking up to him. That’s probably a big reason I came to Tennessee, because of him.”
Now, it’s partly Randolph’s responsibility to look after the mental health of Berry’s younger brothers, who are staying with the team while Eric continues testing to see if the mass found in his chest is lymphoma, a form of cancer.
The Chiefs announced Monday that Berry had been placed on the season-ending non-football illness list after complaining Thursday of discomfort in his chest. An MRI revealed the mass and the Chiefs arranged for Berry to meet with a specialist in Atlanta.
That makes for a difficult period for his twin brothers Evan Berry, a Tennessee safety and kick returner, and linebacker Elliott Berry, both true freshmen with the Vols (5-6, 2-5 SEC.) Both, however, decided to stay with Tennessee as it heads into its regular-season finale on Saturday (TV: SEC Network, 4 p.m.) at Vanderbilt (3-8, 0-7), which will determine whether Tennessee gets to play in its first bowl game since 2010.
“They’re here, they’re practicing, they’re doing everything,” Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. “... Their teammates have been there for them. It’s been family coming together.”
Randolph serves as something of an older brother, especially to Evan, who plays his position. As a fourth-year junior who has started all four seasons at UT, Randolph is one of the most experienced members of the secondary. He said he’s doing what he can to keep the Berrys’ spirits up, especially Evan’s.
“I’m trying to be there for him,” Randolph said. “Just hang out with him outside of practice and stuff like that.”
Both Randolph and Jones said the Berrys have handled it well so far and that focusing on football has made it easier for them. Elliot has appeared in seven games this season, mostly on special teams, and Evan is now the Vols’ kickoff returner, averaging 30.9 yards per return on 13 kicks since taking over for injured Devrin Young.
“You can tell football is in their family,” Randolph said. “It’s like a business to them. It’s pretty hard to get them off their game.”
Word of Eric Berry’s possible illness has had an emotional impact on the Vols. Berry left for the NFL after the 2009 season, so none of his teammates remain in the program, but there are several photos of him in the Anderson Training Center. Randolph said the team discussed it collectively and said a prayer for him and his family. Jones said the Vols are in discussion with the Berry family about finding a way to honor him in Saturday’s game.
RELATED: Chiefs fan that survived lymphoma knows a bit of what Berry's going through
Randolph said there’s an easy way to do that.
“I think we’ll honor him with our play on Saturday,” Randolph said. “We’re gonna come out fired up and just try to show him that he’s a VFL, Vol For Life and we still care.”
Dustin Dopirak covers Tennessee football. Follow him at twitter.com/TennesseBeat.
VIDEO: How will the #Vols pay tribute to #VFL Eric Berry? @UTCoachJones talks about what UT is considering: http://t.co/203MSpX2nw
— Tennessee Football (@Vol_Football) November 26, 2014
And if you need another pick-me-up clip today, 41 Action News reader Craig Gordon pointed us in the direction of this clip of Eric giving his father a puppy like his alma mater's mascot.
THIS IS TENNESSEE: ERIC BERRY from VFL FILMS on Vimeo.
