Thursday, November 21, 1996
FOOTBALL:
Although parting as teammates, the Guidry’s exemplify true
brotherhood on and off fieldBy Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
They may be brothers for life, but they will be teammates for
only two more days.
Come Saturday, the final gun at the Rose Bowl will symbolize
much more than the conclusion of yet another battle for the city
championship. It will represent the end of an era in Westwood.
For three seasons, Paul and Javelin Guidry have lined up
together as members of the Bruin secondary. However, older brother
Paul will be graduating this year. And with no hope of a Bruin bowl
berth, the USC game will be the last time ever that the two will be
competing as fellow Bruins.
"It’s going to be a memorable occasion," Paul said. "Against
‘SC, and playing our last game together, it is something that I am
definitely going to remember."
Actually, the last three years have been unforgettable for the
Guidrys.
"It’s something that’s special because you’re out there with
somebody that is family, somebody you’ve grown up with and somebody
you feel comfortable with," the younger Guidry said. "Growing up,
we shared a lot of things. We shared our room, we shared our toys,
and we shared a car, and now we are getting to share something we
both love to do, and that is to play football."
And they’ve done a pretty darn good job at UCLA.
In addition to being a three-year starter in the secondary, Paul
is the school’s career leading punt returner (89 returns for 904
yards).
Javelin has done his share too. In 1994, Javelin was the only
true freshman to earn a significant starting role that season,
starting the final four games of the year. Then, last year he led
the team with 11 passes defended, despite starting only two games.
This year, he has started every game at right cornerback for the
Bruins.
"They are great at covering the corners," junior free safety
Shaun Williams said. "They do a great job when they’re in there and
you can count on them to know what’s going on in the game and to
cover their responsibilities."
Javelin credits a lot of his own success to his older
sibling.
Javelin had to undergo trial-by-fire his freshman year, and Paul
was there to help him through it.
"Coming in, I had expected to sit out as a redshirt," the
younger brother said. "But just because of the progress I made out
on the field, I was kind of forced to go out and play as a true
freshman. It really helped me that Paul was already out there,
established, so that he could show me a lot of the things he did.
In turn, I could avoid a lot of the big mistakes."
The education has been continuous. Paul still helps his younger
brother in certain facets of the game.
"Because we both play in the secondary, he has showed me a lot
about the backpedal, and reading the receiver release of the route,
game tempo, and … well, it varies. He was always able to help me
adjust to each new level."
Paul was able to help Javelin in ways that no one else could.
After all, they had that special bond that only brothers share.
"I know just growing up together, us being the only two
children, we know each other pretty good," Paul said.
The two brothers possess similar personality traits and
mannerisms  both are described by teammates as laid-back,
easy to get along with and always kidding around.
In fact, their similarities sometimes confuse the outside
world.
"I was at a party a couple weeks ago," Paul said. "A guy walks
up to me and says ‘Javelin?’ I say ‘No, I’m not Javelin.’ He said
‘You’re lying.’ I said ‘No, I’m not Javelin.’ ‘You sure you’re not
Javelin?’"
And so goes the life of a Guidry brother.
One thing that may distinguish the two 5-foot-10-inch defensive
backs, however, is a glance at Paul’s right quadricep. Paul bruised
it during the second game this season against Northeast Louisiana,
and has only been able to start one game since.
"I’ve been disappointed," Paul said. "The year hasn’t come out
the way I expected it to. It’s been very frustrating, and at times
I look back to what it could have been if I wasn’t injured."
Although he is obviously flustered by his injury-prone season
and lack of a postseason bowl game for the second time in three
seasons, Paul is proud of what he has accomplished as a Bruin.
"There is an endless amount of things that I’ll remember about
the experience," Paul said. "I’ll remember the ‘SC games and the
Rose Bowl season, and I was really excited about (the punt return)
record. Every athlete wants to leave some sort of mark at their
school, to leave something behind, and I’ve had a chance to do just
that."
Yeah, in more ways than one.
Paul has his little brother to leave behind. Javelin saw Paul’s
run to the Rose Bowl during Javelin’s senior year of high school,
and has been observing his brother throughout his career at UCLA.
He knows what it takes to be a leader and to win.
"Next year, being a senior, I think it puts more responsibility
on me, helping the others out," Javelin said. "It really has to
start after the ‘SC game. Whether in training, in spring ball, or
the summer, each step is there and leads to our goal of going to
the Rose Bowl, winning the Pac-10 title and contending for the
national title. But, it all starts with beating ‘SC and then it
goes on from there."
But whatever happens from here on out, it will happen without
Paul. Next season, when Javelin turns to his left, no longer will
he be staring at the jersey of his brother, but rather the number
of some other Bruin.
"It will be a little different because he’s not going to be
here," Javelin said. "You kind of get accustomed to who you’re
going to be with. But, times change and Paul has to get on to
somewhere else. I feel as though I have a job here that I am going
to have to fulfill."
In fact, both have already proceeded with plans for the rest of
their lives. Paul is planning on taking a look at professional
football, and if that doesn’t work out, he wants to get involved
with coaching at some level.
Javelin is getting married to his high school sweetheart in just
over two weeks.
But, no matter what happens with the rest of their lives,
neither of them will ever forget the years they lined up together
in the Bruin secondary.
"During the games we don’t really have time to reflect on it,"
Paul said. "But after the games we have more of an opportunity to
do so, to realize that I got a chance to play with my brother. Not
a lot of people can say the same thing.
"With my last game coming up, I hope we have a good time
together. It will most likely be our last time playing together,
and it will be special."
As for Javelin, there’s only one way to make Saturday’s game
truly special, and it’s all about having fun.
"We just want to have fun out there, and you have fun when you
win."
Spoken like a true Guidry.
WYNN RUJIRAVIRIYAPINYO
Top: Senior Paul Guidry (12)
Above: Junior Javelin Guidry (3)