Fresno State Athletics
Rouse Ready to Roll
8/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 11, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - When he was just six years old, Fresno State's sophomore running back Robbie Rouse started playing football on the streets and in the parks of his San Diego neighborhood as a safe, positive activity with his friends. A lifelong fan of the San Diego Chargers, Rouse knew from the first time he ever touched a football that playing the game was something he wanted to do.
"I started playing when I was 6 on a Pop Warner team and in the neighborhood I grew up in. You had to find other things to do besides negative things, so football was the way to go for me," said Rouse. "I play all sports year-round to keep me out of stuff, including basketball, track, a little tennis and soccer, which was one of the first sports I played."
Smaller in stature at roughly 5 foot 7 inches, Rouse uses many of his own hidden tools to burst onto the field like a stick of dynamite, and with big shoes to fill this season following former Bulldog Ryan Mathews' successes as the nation's leading rusher, Rouse is completely up for the challenge.
"Ryan taught me a lot on and off the field," said Rouse. "There's more to it than football and you have to know the ins and outs of it and be ready to work. He wasn't much of a vocal person but his actions definitely spoke louder than his words to me."
A very smart and goal driven player, Rouse gained extremely valuable experience as a freshman that has enriched his abilities in more than one way. As a true freshman, Rouse moved past two veteran senior players in Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding, both who are in NFL camps right now.
"I feel like I'm in a good situation because last year was a big year for me and I was behind experienced backs," said Rouse. "So for me to come my freshman year I was lucky to play and last year was just a good experienced year for me because I see how things work and now I am taking that and carrying it to this season ahead of me."
And with the strength of an offensive line consisting of all returning starters and a seven-home game schedule, Rouse and the Dogs have solid strategies and goals giving them momentum moving through training camp and leading up to the first game of the year against defending Big East Champion Cincinnati.
"My top strategies are to run the ball, make blocks and know teams as best as possible coming into the game," said Rouse. "I want to know any possible thing the team can do so I can have the upper hand on them so I know what I'm doing before they can even do it. For us to have the returning offensive line is really good because those guys were playing some really tough games when I was still in high school. It's going to be another really good experience for me to have that line behind me and I will be ready to go even more."
Rouse's daily training regime consists of early morning workouts, weights, squats for explosion, quick footwork and a lot of change of direction drills, which is very key for running backs. Although he is smaller than the average college football player, Rouse believes his size will also work his advantage, along with his ability to visualize, which he says, is his most important tool.
"I always looked at my size as an advantage. Basically when I am running back there I am looking into the linebackers eyes and they can't see into my eyes. So I have the upper hand because they don't know where I'm going but I know where I'm going. And by the time when they see where I am going it's too late. I know football and the game and I know what to do on the field. Vision is my best tool to the game and the ability to see in the holes and ability to change directions. My goals are to be a leader to the team and to be consistent in helping my team."
And when it comes to the pressure of the position and the game, Rouse has taken guidance from Mathews, the No. 12 overall pick of the 2010 NFL draft by the San Diego Chargers, and other inspirational guys on the field.
"Ryan talked to me about the pressure and just told me to play your game and you know how to play and we're two different people. We wear two different shoe sizes. He just told me to play my game and to not worry about replacing me but to just play your game. I always looked at smaller people on the field such as Barry Sanders and Terrell Davis, being that he's from my hometown, so I would always watch a lot of smaller running backs."
Now with one complete year under his belt, Rouse is ready to follow in the footsteps of Mathews and perform at a high level.
"Experience gives you the edge because you know what to expect. Last year I would get nervous but would still be ready to go, but this year I feel I know more about the game. My goal is to get over 100 yards a game and the yards will just add up. With seven home games we easily have an advantage. This is not an easy place for teams to play at. I look at this being a good season with this many home games and I am ready."
"We Are Your Team!" -- The Dogs open their season in less than a month on September 4 against defending Big East Champion Cincinnati. Don't miss any of the Bulldog football action. Ticket packages, includes season tickets for all seven home games, are available now by clicking the tickets icon at the top of the page.
