KPRC's Randy McIlvoy's Rants: HTown's First Family of Football

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HOUSTON'S FIRST FAMILY OF FOOTBALL

By Randy McIlvoy

KPRC Local 2 Sports Director

Football has long been a part of the family tradition for the Matthews clan.

Jake and Mike Matthews are now teammates once again. At one point it was at Elkins High School where they enjoyed the magic of the "Friday Night Lights." They cut their teeth dominated defensive lineman in Fort Bend with technique beyond their years and adequate size for today's high school athlete.

"High school football issomething people in Texas take seriously. People go to games for years even if their kids have graduated. They are proud to be a part of the experience and it's a cultural thing in Texas," Jake Matthews said.

Now, both have begun the next phase, landing in College Station where they both play for Texas A&M and coach Kevin Sumlin. It's a new challenge as the defensive linemen in the Southeastern Conference are NFL-ready.

"At first I leaned on him a lot," said Mike Matthews. "I didn't know anybody on campus and it was awkward to be honest."

"I've always told him that he has it so good. I show him the ropes. teach him everything he knows and he gets to hang out with the players earlier than the other younger guys. We have a good time though," said Jake Matthews.

Jake is a junior , who stepped right in for former coach Mike Sherman to lead the line as an underclassman, while Mike is a true freshman for the Aggies. They lived together growing up and things haven't changing in Aggieland. Yes, they are roommates and dealing with the issues all roommates face.

When asked who is the sloppiest in the apartment?

"We've both been pretty sloppy," said Mike.  "I have Gatorade bottles by my bed and I'm too lazy to pick them up. There's also no time to wash clothes other than on Sunday, so we just throw them on the ground. But it's not just me."

Jake and Mike carry the Matthews name with pride. Let's just say when you have a famous father like they do, in former Oiler and Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews, they learned early what it takes to be successful between the lines.

"They are real good kids," Bruce Matthews said from Tennessee Titans camp in Nashville. "They do things the right way. They play hard, work hard and study hard, so that's all that their mom and I can ask for."

"He mentors us in everything in life," said Jake. "Not many people can say that their dad played 19 years in the league. We go home to that every day. We are blessed to have him as a father for sure."

Houston's first family of football has long produced talent. so with seven kids in all, are Jake and Mike the best?

"I don't see why not," said Bruce. "We left a bunch on the table, so there is plenty for them to accomplish. Their futures are bright and they are already on the right path, whether it is in football or not."