Post by lionsroar on May 30, 2009 6:16:24 GMT -5
www.ledger-enquirer.com/293/story/733897.html
Columbus Lions' Babb brothers enjoy first season on same team
The jerseys are not the color brothers Joel and Ryan Babb imagined they’d be wearing, but the details don’t seem to matter much now that they are playing on the same team for the first time.
“We used to always pretend we were on the 49ers together when we were little because that was our favorite team,” Joel, a Columbus Lions receiver, said.
“Growing up, we just wanted to be on the same team one day.”
When younger brother Ryan signed with the Lions as a linebacker before the start of this season, it marked the first time the brothers ever made the same regular-season roster. Despite growing up together in Phenix City, the closest the Central High alums came to playing together was when they both played for Alabama one spring. But even then, they never competed against each other and Ryan eventually transferred to Troy.
Now that they’re together, they realize what they’ve been missing. Joel, 28, is a three-year indoor football veteran who can offer up advice to Ryan, 25. The rookie is not shy about giving his own opinions, either.
“I always try to help him out, tell him what I see and how he can get better,” Joel said.
“And I’m sick of hearing it,” Ryan said with a laugh. “I had to hear that voice for 18 years. I don’t want to hear that voice anymore.”
Ryan has been more than happy to take the advice, however, and his numbers have seen steady improvement through the season.
“At the position he plays, at jack (linebacker), he can really dictate what the quarterback does,” Joel said. “It was hard to get at first, but now he understands the impact the jack can have.”
The AIFA rookie has three interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — and 18.5 tackles and is part of the American Indoor Football League’s No. 2 pass defense and No. 4 overall defense.
“I’ve seen him get better this year in the plays he’s made,” Lions coach Jason Gibson said of Ryan. “The first week or two weeks, we were a little shaky at that position and I wondered if maybe we made the right choice there. But he really exploded after that and has been making plays.”
Joel has emerged as one of the Lions’ top receivers, hauling in six touchdowns in six games this season and averaging more than 40 yards per game. He is second among active Lions players to Gerald Gales.
“Joel has had three or four really good games for us,” Gibson said. “We need him to keep doing that and I’ll be looking for a big game from him this week.”
It won’t be hard to find motivation for the Babb brothers tonight when the South Division-leading Lions host the Florence Phantoms (6-3), who are just a game behind in the AIFA’s tightest division. The brothers have their own dedicated cheering section made up of longtime friends and fellow Oasis Church International members.
“It feels real good to have them there,” Joel said. “It always makes you play better when you have your friends and family there watching you. I played in Odessa, Huntsville and Mississippi, but this is the only place where you know it’s home.”
:smileylions:
Columbus Lions' Babb brothers enjoy first season on same team
The jerseys are not the color brothers Joel and Ryan Babb imagined they’d be wearing, but the details don’t seem to matter much now that they are playing on the same team for the first time.
“We used to always pretend we were on the 49ers together when we were little because that was our favorite team,” Joel, a Columbus Lions receiver, said.
“Growing up, we just wanted to be on the same team one day.”
When younger brother Ryan signed with the Lions as a linebacker before the start of this season, it marked the first time the brothers ever made the same regular-season roster. Despite growing up together in Phenix City, the closest the Central High alums came to playing together was when they both played for Alabama one spring. But even then, they never competed against each other and Ryan eventually transferred to Troy.
Now that they’re together, they realize what they’ve been missing. Joel, 28, is a three-year indoor football veteran who can offer up advice to Ryan, 25. The rookie is not shy about giving his own opinions, either.
“I always try to help him out, tell him what I see and how he can get better,” Joel said.
“And I’m sick of hearing it,” Ryan said with a laugh. “I had to hear that voice for 18 years. I don’t want to hear that voice anymore.”
Ryan has been more than happy to take the advice, however, and his numbers have seen steady improvement through the season.
“At the position he plays, at jack (linebacker), he can really dictate what the quarterback does,” Joel said. “It was hard to get at first, but now he understands the impact the jack can have.”
The AIFA rookie has three interceptions — two returned for touchdowns — and 18.5 tackles and is part of the American Indoor Football League’s No. 2 pass defense and No. 4 overall defense.
“I’ve seen him get better this year in the plays he’s made,” Lions coach Jason Gibson said of Ryan. “The first week or two weeks, we were a little shaky at that position and I wondered if maybe we made the right choice there. But he really exploded after that and has been making plays.”
Joel has emerged as one of the Lions’ top receivers, hauling in six touchdowns in six games this season and averaging more than 40 yards per game. He is second among active Lions players to Gerald Gales.
“Joel has had three or four really good games for us,” Gibson said. “We need him to keep doing that and I’ll be looking for a big game from him this week.”
It won’t be hard to find motivation for the Babb brothers tonight when the South Division-leading Lions host the Florence Phantoms (6-3), who are just a game behind in the AIFA’s tightest division. The brothers have their own dedicated cheering section made up of longtime friends and fellow Oasis Church International members.
“It feels real good to have them there,” Joel said. “It always makes you play better when you have your friends and family there watching you. I played in Odessa, Huntsville and Mississippi, but this is the only place where you know it’s home.”
:smileylions:
