Football: Permian's Rumbaugh gets his payback on the run

Ryan Rumbaugh has heard it all before.

Cornerbacks bark the slur from across the line of scrimmage. Safeties and linebackers say it after a big hit.

The name even showed up on a message board last week, put there by a rival fan who claimed Permian's "Little White Boy" wasn't fast enough to get past the Duncanville secondary.

You'd think somebody could come up with something original, but it's always the same.

Little White Boy.

Rumbaugh is sick of hearing it, but he never talks back.

He just goes to work.

And after catching five passes for 65 yards and a touchdown against Duncanville, with a 36-yard bomb called back because of a penalty, Permian's opponents should know better.

But at some point this season, some corner's going to make the mistake, and Rumbaugh will hear that name again.

Go ahead.

Poke the rattler with a stick.

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A common misconception lies behind the obvious racial insensitivity of the remark.

During last week's game Duncanville coaches kept telling their cornerbacks to move up and pressure Rumbaugh. "He's not quick enough to get by you," they said.

 Rumbaugh still found a way to end up all alone in the end zone for a 24-yard touchdown pass from Trevor Adams in the third quarter.

"He's worked extremely hard over the past year to get stronger and faster," Permian head coach Darren Allman said. "He's found another gear."

A new and improved Rumbaugh should scare District 2-5A defenses. Rumbaugh led Permian in receiving last season with 44 catches and 710 yards.

He doesn't look like a prototypical big-play receiver. He looks a little small.

Rumbaugh is listed at 5-foot-11, 175 pounds.

But West Texans should know size doesn't matter much at wide receiver, not with Mike Leach's offense at Texas Tech churning out the likes of Wes Welker, Danny Amendola and Eric Morris.

All three are shorter than Rumbaugh's listed height, but two are in the NFL, and Morris will be one of Tech's leading receivers this season behind Michael Crabtree.

Guys like Morris give Rumbaugh an example to follow.

"I've been small my whole life," Rumbaugh said. "That's always pushed me to be the best at what I do."

Most high school football players want to be mentioned among the best. Few put in the time to make it.

Rumbaugh is one of the few.

Already an intelligent football player, Rumbaugh was already extremely quick and a crisp route-runner. Extensive offseason work has helped his strength and speed, and he's got one of the most essential tools in a receiver's arsenal.

Confidence.

"You have to be a little confident," Panthers wide receivers coach Mike Ballew said. "You have to know that you can go out there, get the job done and beat the person in front of you."

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Rumbaugh comes from a family of Odessa football players.

Billy Rumbaugh, his father, was a quarterback at Odessa High in 1978 and 1979. His grandfather Russell was a sophomore defensive end on the Bronchos' 1953 state final team and an all-State pick a year later.

Billy originally thought his son would pick a different sport.

Ryan used to love baseball, but when he moved to wide receiver in ninth grade, football clicked.

And his dad has been there at every step to coach his son.

"He's the reason where I am today," Rumbaugh said. "He's been my coach in every single thing I've done since I was in T-ball. He's pushed me since I was born."

Billy thinks he might have pushed his son too hard sometimes.

He coached Permian's 7-on-7 team last summer, and he loves working with kids, but it's hard to coach your own son with an objective eye.

"I was way too hard on him," Billy said. "Coaching your own kid is tough. It gets personal."

But the game is still fun. Rumbaugh makes sure of that.

"He makes everything fun," Permian quarterback Trevor Adams said. "He knows when it's time to work, but he's always laughing, and he always tries to pick on me."

That started a long time ago.

The first time Rumbaugh went over to Adams' house, he pushed Adams off of a table, and his mom had to come get him.

These days all the teasing has a purpose.

"You can't always be serious," Rumbaugh said. "Last week, when Trevor threw his second interception, he got mad. I went over and messed with him to pick him up."

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Billy's work has paid off.

His son has become one of Permian's most dangerous weapons, a complete receiver who is a threat to score on any play.

Rumbaugh likes to credit his dad for his success.

"I wouldn't be where I am today without him pushing me," Rumbaugh said.

Rumbaugh knows other teams are going to underestimate him, knows the taunts are going to come.

And he knows how to deal with them.

"You kinda laugh, and then you go back and burn them on the next play," Rumbaugh said. "That's more payback then talking to them."

Go ahead. Poke the rattler with a stick.

It's a great way to get bitten.

THE BASICS

>> Who: Permian vs. San Angelo Central

>> When: 7:30 tonight

>> Where: Ratliff Stadium,  N. Grandview Ave. and Yukon Rd., Odessa

>> Records: Permian 1-0 overall, 0-0 District 2-5A; Central 0-1, 0-0

>> Last time: Permian 28, Central 17, Nov. 26, 2006

>> Radio: KMCM-FM (96.9)