The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Billy Pittman and Ramonce Taylor: Extended family
10.27.2005 | Football
There's a thing in the south. You don't have to be blood relatives to be cousins. Anyone with a long close friendship crosses the line from friends to family. After meeting one hot summer day in Temple, Texas, 10 years ago, Billy Pittman and Ramonce Taylor have seen that line blur, and eventually erase, as they now think of each other as cousins.
"When I was 10, I was on an area basketball team and our coach told us that he was going to bring in this new kid to be on the team," Taylor remembers. "It was Billy."
The two played basketball together that summer, and as a result of all the practices, team functions and games, their mothers became fast friends. Pittman's mom had just moved to Temple from their hometown of Cameron. Billy had a good time that summer but wanted to stay in Cameron, so he went back to live with his grandmother.
Pittman spent many weekends riding back and forth on US-190 between Cameron and Temple to visit his mother. He also made sure he saw his friend when he was in Temple.
"Whenever I went to visit my mom on the weekends, I would always go to Ramonce's house," Pittman said. "We would just hang out, play football, basketball and video games."
Over the next few years, the two friends grew up together and grew closer. They were the football stars of central Texas.
"We were like superstars in high school," Taylor said. "Billy was the man in high school, everyone in Cameron knew him and everyone in the area knew him."
Pittman played quarterback at Yoe High School in Cameron. A four-year starter, Pittman racked up 7,090 yards and 66 touchdowns during his career. When he wasn't throwing and running for touchdowns, he was playing defensive back and returning kicks. As a senior, Pittman threw for 1,616 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran for 1,387 yards and 15 touchdowns.
"We were always in the spotlight," Pittman says. "It was always just me and Ramonce. Ramonce is Mr. Temple."
Taylor went to high school in Belton, Texas, about 8 miles southwest of Temple. At Belton High, Taylor rushed for 3,899 yards and 52 touchdowns in just two seasons. Taylor also played all over the field in high school, spending time at defensive back, punter, wide receiver and returning kicks. Taylor was tabbed first-team 5A All-State by The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writers Association.
Growing up in small towns and being huge football stars, the two began to truly relate to one other. They spent more and more time talking on the phone.
Despite having completely opposite personalities, Taylor is over-the-top, outgoing and flashy, while Pittman is reserved, quiet and unassuming, they remained good friends and over the course of time, the friendship grew and the two became cousins.
In the summer of 2003, their bond faced a new test. Pittman left the Temple area and headed south to Austin to become a member of the Texas Longhorns football team. While the move wasn't far geographically, emotionally, it might as well have been to the moon.
"I was so frustrated at first. I kept getting hurt, and I wasn't playing," remembers Pittman. "I was used to being big time and then I was nobody."
Pittman had a frustrating first two years to put it lightly. Over the course of his first year on the Forty Acres, he suffered a torn quadriceps muscle in each leg and then was struck with Bell's palsy, a nerve condition that temporarily paralyzed the left side of his face.
Even though Pittman was away at school and dealing with so many issues, he still kept in close contact with his cousin Ramonce.
"I would talk to him on the phone during my freshman year," recalls Pittman. "I would also go and see him when I had a chance to go home."
Meanwhile, Taylor was having a remarkable season as a senior, rushing for 2,370 yards on 262 carries for a 9.0-yards per carry average. Just about every big school in the conference was recruiting him, but it was Pittman who turned his interest to Texas.
"Billy really made me think about Texas," Taylor said. "He came home and was hanging out at my school and was just telling me how great Texas was. So, I decided to come to one of the day camps and that was pretty much it. I was sold."
Taylor entered fall practice as a freshman expecting not to see the field much. With Cedric Benson and Selvin Young returning, the Longhorns backfield had plenty of firepower and experience.
"It was hard," said Taylor. "I was used to being the big man on campus. It was hard at first."
Pittman was dealing with just the opposite circumstances. With the vacant spots at receiver due to the departure of Roy Williams, B.J. Johnson and Sloan Thomas to the NFL, the Longhorns were looking for new talent.
There was a large group ready to step in and prove they should be the go to guy. Pittman knew this was his chance and his moment to step up. He was finally healthy and ready to go. Then the injury bug bit again. During a fall scrimmage, he separated his shoulder and was forced to sit.
While Pittman sat out the 2004 season, Taylor made a considerable contribution. After Selvin Young's season ending injury, Taylor stepped into the role of backup tailback. That season, Taylor played in 10 games and ended the season as the team's third-leading rusher behind Cedric Benson and Vince Young. Taylor averaged 10.5 yards per carry and dazzled the Longhorn faithful with explosive plays such as a 48-yard touchdown run on a reverse and a 44-yard catch against Oklahoma State. Taylor showed flashes of brilliance, but maybe the greatest contribution he made that season was inspiring and encouraging his cousin.
"I was so happy for him," Pittman recalls. "I wasn't getting to play, so it helped me to see him doing something good."
Pittman had gotten so frustrated with the string of injuries he even considered quitting football.
"I would just keep telling him to push through," Taylor said. "I knew how good he was, so I knew his time would come."
Entering the 2005 season, things were looking up for both Longhorns. Because Pittman redshirted his first season, both entered fall practice as sophomores. Pittman was finally healthy and Taylor was competing for the starting spot at running back. After fall practices, both were listed as potential starters on the depth chart at receiver.
The change to receiver was something Taylor was excited about, especially having the chance to be on the field with Pittman.
"I love being on the field at the same time as Billy," Taylor remarks. "With him on the inside and me on the outside, there is so much speed and so many options, it's hard for defenders to know what to do."
The 2005 season has been productive for the sophomore receivers. Taylor has scored four touchdowns on the season, two rushing and two receiving. He also gives the Longhorns another threat at running back, averaging just under 10 yards per carry in nine attempts.
Pittman has added five scores and has had three 100-yard receiving games to go along with a game of 99 yards. He is averaging over 28 yards per catch and leads the team in receiving yards with 548.
"It feels good, because we are both out there producing," said Taylor. "It's cool to see us grow from our childhood to adulthood and now be on the same team."
Pittman and Taylor could not be more excited about the season and the opportunity to play together for the Longhorns. While they both continue to prosper on the field, their relationship continues to grow.
"We never lost touch," Pittman explains. "Even when I was away at school, we always talked and I always kept up with him."
"We'll always be tight," Taylor replied. "We started out as friends, now we're cousins and it's growing into brotherhood. More and more I think of him as my big brother."
The dream for the cousins continues now. They are looking forward to finishing the season together, finishing their Longhorn careers together and moving on to bigger things together.
"I never thought this would happen," Pittman said. "I never thought we would be on the same team."
"My dream is for us to end up on the same team, playing on Sundays," Taylor said. "That would be wild!"
Since their meeting 10 years ago, the two central Texas youngsters dreamed of playing on a big stage. Being able to do it together has brought them even closer. Now, the only line that is involved in their relationship is the one they've crossed a combined nine times this season while scoring touchdowns for the Longhorns. And it is even sweeter to both because they are getting to do it together.
