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Tuesday, Oct. 06, 2009

Who's that little dude on the Fresno State football field?

FRESNO -- His nickname is Mighty Mouse Rouse.

All it takes is one look on the football field to know why Robbie Rouse is called that.

He's the little guy on Fresno State's offense, that really small running back who enters games midway through and causes a ruckus in the stands and on the field.

"When I go into the games, I try not to listen to what everyone is saying," Rouse said. "But sometimes, you just hear it. 'Who's that little dude?' Guys on the other team are saying it. Fans are saying it. Sometimes, I can just sense it.

"My build is different from all the other running backs on this team. It's different from everyone on the field. Sometimes, the referees are bigger than me."

Listed at 5 feet, 7 inches and 185 pounds, Rouse, a true freshman, is by far Fresno State's smallest player.

"5-7?" senior cornerback Damion Owens said. "Maybe on a stack of telephone books."

Still, Rouse has proved to be one of Fresno State's bigger contributors, offering a change of pace.

While most of the Bulldogs running backs are straight-ahead runners, Rouse relies on his shiftiness and juke moves.

And considering his size and quickness, Rouse just might be Fresno State's toughest player to tackle.

Some compared tackling Rouse to Rocky Balboa chasing after a chicken in the original "Rocky" movie.

"You've got to get so low to the ground sometimes to get to him -- really, really low," Owens said while crouching low with his arms wide. "That can be frustrating to someone on defense, because most of us just want to hit someone.

"You got to try to get a hold of him. He could make you look stupid. You feel like he might run between your legs."

Rouse smiles and laughs at the little man jokes. He's heard them his whole life and then all the doubts he could survive football's physical nature.

But that was long ago.

As a senior at Madison High in San Diego, Rouse posted a state-best 12.9 yards per carry en route to 2,390 rushing yards, ninth-best in the state, and scored 39 touchdowns.

Recruited by Bulldogs assistant Tim Skipper (who at 5-7 was himself an undersized linebacker), Rouse chose Fresno State over San Diego State for a chance to showcase his skills on the national stage.

"I love Fresno State's schedule," Rouse said. "We play anyone, anywhere, anytime. So I can show the world what I'm capable of doing -- what little dudes are capable of doing."

Like in Fresno State's 28-20 loss to Cincinnati when Rouse ran into his own lineman but avoided a defender in the process and still bounced outside for a 29-yard run.

"It's kind of fun playing football and being this small," Rouse said. "I can hide behind my teammates. Then all of a sudden, I kind of pop out of nowhere."

Rouse is second on the team (to the nation's No. 2 rusher, Ryan Mathews) in both carries (28) and rushing yards (224).

Rouse's playing time is quite the surprise considering the Bulldogs have more experienced backs in seniors Lonyae Miller and Anthony Harding.

But like his playing style, Rouse is full of surprises.

"I'm easy to notice," Rouse said, "and in other ways, I'm not."