Sept. 30, 2008
By Jenna Marina
Athletic Communications Assistant
When Penn and Lafayette take the field for today's game, take a close look at Penn's No. 90 and Lafayette's No. 60.
You might notice a little extra quickness to their steps, a little extra muscle behind their tackles and a little extra fire behind their eyes.
Though they will never be on the field at the same time - Drew Goldsmith is a Quakers' defensive lineman and Neil Goldsmith is a Leopards' linebacker - they're going to do their best to thwart each other's efforts.
After all, that's how it's been their whole lives.
Drew and Neil Goldsmith were born 19 months a part. That made for a tight bond, constant comparisons, but most of all, a heated sibling rivalry.
The two have found everything to compete over: from football to sword fighting with tree sticks to computer video games.
They moved to Jupiter, Fla., from Massachusetts before high school but when Neil was about 12 years old, he and his brother played computer games constantly. It got to the point where they needed to map out certain time slots so they wouldn't argue about playing time.
On one occasion, Neil refused to hand over the computer and Drew started to get impatient.
"My brother was like, `It's my turn, it's my turn,' and I was like, `No it's my turn,'" Neil recalled. "We were in the basement and there were these big, iron foundation poles. He grabbed my arm and swung me around and my head slammed into the foundation pole.
That was the only time I've ever blacked out in my life."
"I don't know how much he liked me back in the day," Drew said with a laugh. "We're still competitive but in a more respectful way."
That competitiveness likely turned them into the players they are today. That, and their mother's cooking.
The Goldsmith boys attended The Benjamin School in Florida, which did not offer a cafeteria lunch. So their mother, Leslie Flaherty, had the task of feeding two 6-foot-3, 200-plus-pound teenage boys.
"They would have lunch boxes the size of small coolers with four-inch thick sized sandwiches," Flaherty said. "I became famous for my big, huge sandwiches."
She's not kidding.
The Goldsmith boys were the envy of everyone at the lunch table. Instead of a measly piece of bologna stuck between two pieces of bread, the Goldsmith boys feasted on four turkey sandwiches: two for lunch, one for a pre-workout snack after school and the fourth for an after-workout rejuvenator.
"That's how I put on all my weight," Neil said. "Guaranteed I would not be here without the sandwiches. I could write an essay about that."
Neil's major is currently undeclared, but he said he is considering English.
"I want to either write or work with people. Nothing with numbers or science, it's just not my thing," he said. "My brother is the numbers dude."
Drew was accepted into the Wharton School at Penn and is working toward a business degree while he enjoys his junior season of football.
It's a dream come true for Drew, who was diagnosed with a rare, life-threatening illness in high school. While his parents feared for his health, Drew was concerned that he would never play football again. Luckily, after an innovative treatment, he recovered.
"I think the challenges Drew and Neil have faced and obstacles they have overcome have deepened their character," Flaherty said. "We can't express how proud we are of both of them."
When Drew left for college at Penn, Neil took it as a chance to become more of his own person. For the longest time, Neil had always followed in his older brother's footsteps.
But, he still needed his big brother, especially when he suffered two knee injuries that both required surgery.
"He told me to stick through it and it's going to be worth it. I needed some kind of encouragement to keep going and some motivation," Neil said. "Playing (against) him was another motivation. I can't quit now. He's there, he's ready to play. I've got to be there when the game rolls around."
And now here they are as solid contributors for their respective teams. Neil even snagged two interceptions in Lafayette's first two games.
But none of that matters when it comes to tonight's game - the one that's going to provide year-long bragging rights.
Last year, Lafayette squeaked out a last-second field goal to win an 8-7 thriller at Penn. At their mother's request, Neil and Drew posed for a photo on the field after the game, but the brothers did not say a word to each other.
"You can tell in the picture he was so angry and I was kind of smiling. I was trying not to be a jerk about [winning]," Neil said.
The brothers still have not uttered a syllable about that game, but they can't contain their excitement for tonight's matchup.
Drew said he's looking forward to seeing Lafayette's new football stadium that his younger brother has been bragging about, and he's hoping for a better outcome this year for the Quakers.
As for Neil, he elected not to say a final score, but he did have some predictions as to how the game would play out.
"I'll say it's going to be really physical game. It's going to be close," he said. "And I think the Goldsmith boys are going to have a good game."
