Rivalry With Deep Roots

The friendship also flowed in the other direction, into the Wilson home, where living-room wrestling matches continue to this day. In high school, Williams struggled to match Wilson's weight gain and was forever asking Valanda Wilson what his friend was eating, and thus there were joint dinners of spaghetti or macaroni and cheese. When Wilson was beckoned to the driveway to tote groceries, "Deyon would come out and help, just like I'd given birth to him," Valanda Wilson said.

Indeed, they call each other's parents "mom" and "dad," and the parents respond with similar affection. Wilson once won a sprinting event at a track meet in which both boys were entered; "at least one of my sons won," Ricky Williams said.

Williams introduced Wilson to his current girlfriend; Wilson went to Williams's senior prom. They talked about day-to-day worries, and they talked about major problems; Williams was the first friend Wilson confided to about his emotions following the death of his father, former NFL fullback Tim Wilson.

They fought once when they were seniors in high school, refusing to speak to each other for two days. In that time Wilson repeatedly reached for the phone, trying to call his friend before remembering that they were feuding.

"It felt like forever, man," Wilson said.

And the friendship continued even as they headed to rival ACC schools two years ago (both are now juniors). The two players talk every Friday night during the football season, and again after the next day's game, giving encouragement and progress reports. When Virginia had an early-season bye this year, Wilson secured tickets for Ricky and Deyon Williams to attend Maryland's home game against Clemson. Wilson said he has had trouble concentrating during film study this week, because his eye naturally follows Williams whenever he's on the field.

They also watch televised highlight shows, hoping to see each other making plays, and last Saturday was unparalleled in that regard. Williams, playing on his 20th birthday, caught two touchdowns in Virginia's win over Duke.

"Like everybody, I want Virginia to lose," Wilson said, "but I want Deyon to score every touchdown. Lose 55 to 56."

On the same day, Wilson scooped up a fumble and returned it 20 yards for the Terps' first touchdown in their win over Wake Forest.

"To look at the tube and see him, it's like a blessing," Williams said. "I feel pride. I'm like, 'That's the dude I grew up with, that's the dude I know.' This dude is like a brother to me. Me looking at him, that gives me motivation."

They also work out together in the offseason, running passing drills with other high school friends, talking about upcoming ACC games and providing a year's worth of fodder.

"I used to burn him on a couple routes, get his head a little shook up, get him scared," Williams said. "Every time I went up against him I said, 'Be prepared to get some of this during the season.' "

"He's lying," Wilson said. "I shut him down every time. I don't know what he's talking about. He's never caught any ball on me."

The two plan to continue such jousting on the field Saturday; they found a way to jaw at each other after virtually every play last year, even when they weren't matched up head-to-head. They'll try to land less symbolic blows as well; Wilson still talks about the time he drove Williams out of bounds last season. And after the game?

"After the game is done, he knows what it is," Williams said. "It's all love."

Terrapins Notes: Virginia returned a limited number of tickets from its allotment last week, and those seats are now for sale at the Maryland ticket office. Less than 500 tickets remain.