It's really not that difficult to figure out what makes senior Jim Garvey tick. Garvey--a standout wingback on the football team--runs on relationships.

"What's most important to me are my family and friends. Then comes football," Garvey says.

If there's a Horatio Alger on the Harvard football, program, then it's Jim Garvey. Before being recognized as one of the squad's most talented and versatile performers, Garvey had to steer his way around several obstacles. Seeing very little playing time through the beginning of his junior year, Garvey spent most of his time working with the demo squad and watching the events of a game from the sidelines.

Not until another player injured his knee during Garvey's junior season did he receive the playing time to prove himself to the coaching staff. Performing admirably during those two games, Garvey came to camp this summer assured of a starting position at wingback.

One might guess that when one ventures off to college, the significance of a strong family life may dissipate. Not in Garvey's case--most of his family decided to tag along and enroll in Harvard also.

At this very moment there are three Garvey brothers circulating about campus. Besides Jim, there's Joe--a junior who also plays varsity football as a split end. Then comes Jerry, who just happens to be the captain of Harvard's freshman football squad. And let's not forget about the eldest Garvey sibling, John, who graduated from this university last spring.

That's very impressive, Mr. and Mrs. Garvey.

"Our parents took us on camping trips, and we did all that kind of stuff when we were kids. They always provides us with what we needed, but they never spoiled us neither. I don't come from a wealthy family or anything like that, but my father always managed."

In retrospect, Garvey has nothing but praise for the way he and his brothers were brought up. "They must have done something right. They're the greatest parents. Oh, I love them. They really cared about us. You know, they've come to all the football games this year."

Besides bringing up four Harvard men in five years, Garvey's parents also maintained a very close-knit familial environment. Today, the brothers seem to be as tight as ever. Several times during the interview, Garvey steered the discussion back to his relationship with his brothers.

"We're a really good family. Part of it is because we're all pretty much the same age. Sure, we have our squabbles--but there is nothing major," Garvey said.

They socialize together, too. Except for Jerry, "we're all members of the Pi Eta. Jerry goes there and parties a lot also. Jerry's old enough to do that. He used to be the little one. Now he's a big kid."

"I get a lot of laughter out of watching them do things (when we're out together). And they get a lot of laughter out of me too." Garvey declined to expound on the meaning of that last statement. "But we do have fun together."

Garvey admits that he and his brothers and often seen as a group, not as individuals. But he doesn't let that bother him at all. In fact, "I like it. We are a family. That's the way it should be. I don't mind being thought of as a group, because I have a lot of respect for my brothers...I'm proud to have my brother out there on the football field with me. And I'm proud to have my other brother be captain of the freshman team."

Joe shares his older brother's view of the Garvey family. "In other families, the brothers do the same things and they don't get along well. But we back each other up. I guess that our parents had a lot to do with that."