Oregon State's Rodgers Brothers Get Chance to Shine in Home State of Texas

When James Rodgers came to Oregon State a few years ago, to be followed one year later by his younger brother Jacquizz, the brothers' uncle, Rodney Williams asked coach Mike Riley if he might able to schedule a game in Texas to give them a chance to come home.

Riley replied, "You never know."

Riley found an opportunity, and it's a pretty darn good one.

No. 24 Oregon State will open the season Saturday at Cowboys Stadium against No. 6 TCU on national television.

It's a four-hour drive from Richmond, Texas, the Houston suburb where the Rodgers brothers are beloved. Teachers, high school friends, neighbors and former coaches are making the pilgrimage to see James and Jacquizz flash on the gigantic big screen that dominates the field view at Cowboys Stadium.

"It's everybody around here, from 16 to 70 years ago, they are all asking about going to the game," Rodney Williams said. "The buzz has been building here all summer."

It's a big game on a big stage and a big chance for James and Jacquizz to show everyone what they've been doing in Corvallis the past few years. Like folks don't know.

Jacquizz is a Heisman Trophy candidate, the best returning tailback in the Pac-10 this season. He could wind up as one of the best running backs in the history of the conference. The shifty 5-foot-7 back rushed for 1,440 yards and 21 touchdowns as a sophomore last season. He caught 78 passes, which is a school record for a back. The receptions accounted for 522 yards and a touchdown. And he threw a touchdown pass. With 2,793 yards in two seasons, he is on pace to be the No. 2 rusher in the history of the Pac-10.

James Rodgers (right), a 5-foot-7 senior, led the Beavers with 91 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns. He's was an All-Pac-10 receiver last year and a preseason All-America candidate. He needs 530 yards to become the school's all-time leader in all-purpose yards.

Richmond has an abiding connection to two talented brothers who grew up in a rough part of town, raised by a single mother and mentored by uncles and cousins after their father went to prison on drug charges. He remains in prison.

"I think the connection people have to them is about coming where they've come from and who they are," Rodney Williams said. "Everybody wants to have a piece of them.

"I think it's that and the fact that people see their height and think, 'They're doing it, and they're the same as me.'"

Their mother, Tasha Williams, said people have been following her boys since they stood out in pee-wee football, attention that grew when they starred at Lamar Consolidated High School and crowds of 8,000 people would come to watch them play.

"I think people will tell you that they are well-mannered and respectful," Tasha WIlliams said.

Riley raves about his star players, considers them among the most humble, hard-working players he's ever coached. They are quiet. They live together, stick together, play video games to relax, try to talk about something other than football in the down time.

But there's no escaping the attention they are getting. Jacquizz is the focus of a Heisman Trophy campaign. The brothers are on the cover of the Oregon State media guide. Riley said they are "rock stars" in Corvallis.

"I asked James if he ever thought they would be on the cover of the media guide here and he said 'Not really.'" Riley said. "I think in the past, they might have been very, very uncomfortable with the attention they've gotten. But now I've seen them speak in front of hundreds of people."

This will be their last season on the field together. James, a senior team captain, hopes that this time next year he's in an NFL training camp. Jacquizz will be on his own at Oregon State for the first time.

Tasha WIlliams said she cried when James left for Oregon State by himself four years ago and she will worry a little when Jacquizz (right) is there by himself.

"I push him and he pushes me. We've made each other better," Jacquizz said. "But I'm not going to jump ahead. I'm happy I've been able to play with my brother and I think it's great that we've both had a little success. A lot of times you have two brothers on a team and one is good and maybe the other is not. I think it's a great thing that both of us have had a big role on this team."

James said he is trying to make the most out of his final college season.

"I've been working all along to get to this point," James said. "The time flew by really fast, but I've been here three years now and it feels like time for us to get things done."

For the Rodgers brothers, the TCU game is much more than a chance to play in front of people they know. TCU played in the Fiesta Bowl last year. The Horned Frogs are a national power and this could be a defining game for the Beavers.

The distractions of a home state return have to be put aside.

"Playing in front of family and friends, having our family be able to come to a game, it's a great deal," Jacquizz said. "But we are going there to win that game."