Should Eli follow dad or Peyton?

By Stan Crawley The Chattanooga Times
11/26/97 11:57 PM Central

Knoxville, TN (AP) - Archie and Olivia Manning are ecstatic about one of their sons these days.

Their namesake, a tall, skinny youngster with big hands and a strong right arm, is having quite a year. In fact, he is very close to playing for a championship while compiling some impressive statistics. His team has lost only one game all season.

This young Manning, however, doesn't wear the orange and white of the University of Tennessee. Instead, his green and white football uniform represents the colors of New Orleans' Newman High School.

Sixteen-year-old Eli Manning is the youngest of Archie and Olivia's three sons. Like his father and older brother Peyton, Tennessee's Heisman Trophy candidate, Eli is a quarterback. The Manning's eldest son, Cooper, was a receiver at Mississippi until a congenital neck problem ended his career.

Eli Manning, a 6-foot-4, 180-pounder, led Newman to a 9-1 record during the regular season, completing 103 of 152 passes for 1,928 yards and 21 touchdowns. A junior, he played only three quarters in several games because his team was so far ahead.

In the last two weeks, Newman has won two Class 2A playoff games for a berth in Friday's state quarterfinal against West St. John. Eli threw for 150 yards and two touchdowns in an opening-round victory, and for 120 yards last week when Newman's fullback ran for five touchdowns.

"Eli has been playing well," Archie said Monday night. "But Newman will have a tough time beating West St. John this week."

In an Associated Press story last week about Eli, Newman coach Frank Gendusa heaped excessive praise on his young quarterback.

"He's got everything Peyton had," Gendusa said. "There's every reason to believe he'll have the same kind of college career and be as attractive to the pros."

The quote was the kind of remark Archie has been trying to avoid in conjunction with Eli's future.

"I really didn't like the coaches' comments," Archie said. "Eli doesn't need that kind of pressure put on him at this point."

Also in the AP story was a comment from Cooper about Eli not being completely familiar with the bigger football picture.

"He opened a letter from Joe Paterno and didn't know who he was," said Cooper, now an executive in the oil business. "He knows football, but isn't up on the programs and personalities the way Peyton and I were."

Once again, Archie defended his youngest son.

"Cooper was just having fun, telling a few jokes to the New Orleans Quarterback Club," Archie said. "Eli is a laidback kid, but he knows who Joe Paterno is."

The Manning family is gearing up for another onslaught from college football coaches. Archie and Olivia will do everything possible to ensure everything is handled properly.

When Peyton chose Tennessee, folks in Mississippi were bitter when he didn't follow Archie and Cooper to Ole Miss. Tennessee fans expect Eli to carry on the Manning tradition in Knoxville. Consequently, the pressure is building. Peyton has advised Eli to enjoy school and playing, go to the prom, see his friends and don't worry about college yet.

"I guess I'll hear from both schools when I start picking," Eli said. "I don't have any idea about where I want to go. I'm just having fun. I'll start worrying about the future when it gets here."

Archie and Olivia may be successful in keeping the pressure off Eli for a few more months, but it's obvious they haven't hidden the family quote book from him.