Hometown captains happy for support in Ogden IX) o By ROY BURTON Standard-Examiner staff rburton@standard.net OGDEN — Homecoming is a chance for fans and alumni to show their school pride, and for a few Weber State players, it's an opportunity to represent their hometown school. Fremont High School product J.C. Oram says having his extended family and friends in the crowd for every game at Stewart Stadium is one reason he came to Weber State. "I have a big support base here. I like to look up in the stands and see everybody that's there supporting me," Oram said. "It just makes me want to do more for them and go out there and give it my all." He'll have another opportunity to do that tonight as Weber State faces UC Davis in the annual Homecoming game at 6 p.m. at Stewart Stadium. Oram, now a 6-foot-4,310 pound junior offensive tackle, will be a major contributor if the Wildcats are able to return to the Football Championship Subdivision for a third consecutive season. He was named a second team preseason All-America offensive lineman by The Sports Network and Phil Steele's Football Preview, as well as to the preseason All-Big Sky team. Oram, a four-sport athlete at Fremont High who played football, baseball, track and wrestling, went through an extensive interview process as part of the team's leadership training program before being named one of the team captains. "This is my offensive line and this is my offense," he said. "If the offensive line messes up, it's all on me. I got them all here. We messed up last week against Sacramento State, but I promise you that won't happen again. I took full responsibility for all that we did last week and it's not going to happen again." After a disheartening conference loss last Saturday against the Hornets, Oram said it's time for the Wildcats to stop talking and start doing. "I think we put a huge pressure on ourselves, always talking during the summer about winning the national championship," he said. "We just need to stop thinking about that, stop thinking about winning the Big Sky and think about this game that we're about to play. Take each week step by step and stop thinking about the huge picture." That's how the Wildcats will be able to show their hometown what they're capable of doing, Oram said. Oram's older brother Shawn played at Idaho State and he considered going there, Oram said, but he didn't want to be known only as Shawn Oram's little brother. "I wanted to get my own name out for myself and I knew coach Mac was up here," Oram said. "I wanted to be with him and have a great coach for my next five years. I believe I picked the right place to come." Jordan Brown, a safety from Brigham City who played at Box Elder High School, is another team captain with local ties. Brown is a "dominating safety as far as just speed (and) agility, the guy can do it all. He's an overall athlete," defensive co-coordinator Colton Swan said. Swan came to Weber State from Snow College and picked up the defense during one spring camp. "There's three things that I think of when I get out there and play: Alignment, my assignment and execution. If you guys do those three things and I do mine, we're going to be a good defense," Swan said Brown tells his teammates. Brown's understanding and performance of those elements make him a cornerstone of the defense. "That's what kind of kid he is, he's just real deoendable," SwansaicL K— . They're just real solid in everything they do." ANTHONY SOUFFLE/Standard-Examiner Weber State safety Jordan Brown watches from the sidelines during practice in Ogden on Wednesday. Brown, a Brigham City native, is one of a handful of locals on WSU's squad. J.C. Oram is a valued member of WSC football team september 25, 2010