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Twins Give Gators Double Team On Offensive Line

Tribune photo by SCOTT ISKOWITZ

Mike, left, and Maurkice Pouncey have started every game this season, contributing mightily to an offensive line that has averaged 6 yards per rushing attempt.

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By MICK ELLIOTT

melliott@tampatrib.com

Published: January 7, 2009

MIAMI - A first glance at the University of Florida's Pouncey brothers - Maurkice and Mike - inevitably is followed by a quizzical, extended, head-shaking stare.

Holy, double-take! Which one is which?

"One is No. 55, and the other is No. 56," Gators offensive coordinator Dan Mullen joked about his right guard and center. "Besides that, who knows?"

It is not enough that the 6-foot-5, 312-pound sophomores from Lakeland are identical twins. Beyond that, they go for the same close-cropped haircut, speak with duplicate low and easy voices, break quickly into echoing belly laughs, frequently wear matching T-shirt and knee-length-short combinations and rarely leave each other's side.

"We do everything together," said Maurkice, the youngest by one minute. "We do everything the same. We like the same books, movies, food, clothes. Everything."

There also is the fact that neither seems to ever stop talking, yielding only for the other to complete sentences.

"Whenever I see them, I just go, 'Hey, Twins,' defensive teammate Major Wright said. "I still can't tell them apart. They do everything the same. They walk to the line the same. If I ever see just one of them, I call him 'Pounce.' Ahmad Black knows them, so he'll help me out."

Black, who lines up with Wright in the secondary, has the benefit of extended Pouncey identification studies. Like the Pounceys, Black is a Florida sophomore out of Lakeland High, and he played with the twins on the school's football and basketball teams.

"Mike's face is a little bit fatter, and he's got a scar," Black said. "So I know which one is which. But they are just alike. They even play the same."

For the Gators, that's twice as nice.

If Tim Tebow is the heart and soul of this Florida team, and linebacker Brandon Spikes is its muscle and conscience, then the twins - Mike, No. 55, at right guard, and Maurkice, No. 56, at center - are its personality.

"They are unbelievable," Tebow said. "I think anywhere we go they are going to be the loudest people there and the funniest people there. They are just a joy to have on your team. When everybody may be a little sluggish in practice, they are the guys talking and yipping and getting everybody hyped. They are the guys who are always excited in the weight room and give a lot of enthusiasm and joy to a lot of players."

All delivered with an assortment of purpose.

Mullen, who will leave the Gators to take over as head coach at Mississippi State after Thursday night's BCS title game against Oklahoma, has been an easy target during this week's practice.

"I've had to listen to their abuse about being the coach at Mississippi State every second they aren't in drills," Mullen said. "You better have a thick skin to deal with both of them, that's for sure."

They are, however, far more than just talk.

Both have started every game this season, contributing mightily to an offensive line that has become a smash-mouth outfit that has allowed ball carriers to average 6 yards per attempt.

"They are very smart," senior left tackle Phil Trautwein said. "And I just know they are going to do their job. They are very tough. They love football and would do anything for their team."

The feeling is mutual. Earlier this season, the Pounceys faced family tragedy. Stepfather Rob Webster, who helped raise the boys from the time they were a year old, was severely injured on his job at a Lakeland railroad yard.

While unloading animal feed from one train car, another slammed against it. Rob was trapped in the middle and lost his right leg above the knee. He was in shock when Polk County EMS arrived.

Four days before the Gators were to play at Florida State, Webster was in critical condition in a Lakeland hospital because he lost so much blood.

Immediately upon hearing the news from their mother, Lisa Webster, the twins drove two hours to the hospital, skipping class and practice.

"I'm going to be honest - that first day when the Pounceys were gone, we had a horrible practice," senior receiver Louis Murphy said.

A day later, at the urging of their stepfather from his hospital bed, the Pounceys returned to Gainesville and were in attendance for practice.

"We just consoled them, man, and just came out and worked hard and had one of our best practices," Murphy said.

Before going to FSU for a 45-15 victory, the team voted to wear wristbands with "RW" stitched on them in support of the two teammates.

"They made the decision to go play for their family," Florida coach Urban Meyer said. "Everybody on the team has dealt with family issues, so we had a meeting about that before the game and wanted to support them. Real emotional."

Thursday night's BCS Championship Game against Oklahoma also will be emotional. Rob and Lisa Webster will be at Dolphin Stadium to see the twins play for the first time together since the accident.

"Yeah," Mike said. "He's done with everything. He's had his skin graft. So, he'll be sitting in one of the handicap sections. And as long as he's happy, we're happy."

Family makes the Pounceys go.

The two remember fighting only once in all their years, a brief throw-down during a pickup basketball game in which they were guarding each other.

"We threw some blows," Mike said.

Besides that, their world has been in perfect harmony.

"I'd die for my brother," Maurkice said. "I love him to death. I mean, there is nothing in life I would not do for him."

The power of two.

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534.

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