A Family Tradition

STILLWATER – Family has always been one of the most important aspects of football, and for Oklahoma State linebacker Melvin Gilliam, football was a part of his family long before he was even born.

"My dad played at OSU, my uncle played at Central State and my oldest uncle played at SMU", Gilliam said. "Football has always been a part of my family so I've always known that I would play when I got older."

Gilliam's father, also named Melvin, was a standout at Oklahoma State during the late 1980s where he was a four-year starter on the football team while also starting for the Cowboy basketball team for two seasons. Today, the younger Gilliam is following in his father's footsteps as a member of the OSU football team.

"He's got a history here with his dad having played here," OSU defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer said. "It's always good to have people on the team that have orange in their blood. Those are the guys that will be on time more and will push everyone to practice hard."

The Tulsa, Oklahoma native got his start in the sport at an early age when he began playing flag football at the age of five. An early start was a common theme of Gilliam's young career however as he was forced to start tackle football a year earlier than the rest of his age group due to his physical nature as a player.

From there, Gilliam became a standout while playing at Booker T. Washington High School. During his four years under head coach Marvin Dantzler, he amassed 240 tackles, eight sacks, forced four fumbles, recovered five fumbles and even scored a touchdown as a starting linebacker. Gilliam's talent didn't go unnoticed either as he earned a wide variety of honors that included being named to the all-metro, all-district and all-state teams.

After leaving Booker T. Washington, Gilliam wanted to pursue his childhood dream and become an Oklahoma State Cowboy, but a discussion with his family helped him realize what was best for him at the time and he instead chose to continue his football career at Central Oklahoma.

"My family and I thought it was better for me to go to UCO initially, but I always wanted to be here at OSU," Gilliam said. "I told my dad that I just wanted to try and make it work at OSU and see if I could do it. I had to work my way here, but now I'm enjoying being around all of the guys out here."

Although he's now a Cowboy, Gilliam still looks back on his time at UCO under head coach Nick Bobeck and applies the lessons he learned then to his life at OSU.

"Coach Bobeck disciplined us and drove us on working hard all the time and that has stayed with me throughout this entire process. Now that I'm here, I want to fill my role and do whatever I can to help the team out whether that be playing on special teams or on the practice squad. Whatever the coaches ask me to do, I'm going to do it."

Gilliam, now a redshirt junior, is currently a member of OSU's defensive scout team where he plays a vital role in helping the first-team offense get prepared for the team's next opponent.

"Those guys make or break your practices for that week in terms of getting prepared," Spencer said. "If they go out there and they don't look at the tape, or they don't hit the right gap, or if they just don't play hard, your team is not going to be prepared come Saturday. Melvin has done a great job at doing those things that he needs to do."

Gilliam had to adjust to life on a college campus just like most other college students. However, spending a Saturday afternoon at Boone Pickens Stadium is something that has been a tradition in his family dating back to when he was a child.

"When I was little we always came down here on the weekends for football games, so in that area it hasn't been a big adjustment. My pop is down here every weekend that he gets the chance to be so that he can support the team."

For Gilliam, his father's visits also provide an opportunity for the elder Melvin to see his son roam the same sidelines that he once did.

"I feel like he's satisfied with where I'm at," Gilliam said. "I feel like he'd like to see me in the rotation, but whatever it is that works for the team and helps us get the win at the end of the day will make all of us happy."

Oklahoma State has been a part of the Gilliam family since before the current Cowboy was born. And having people, like Gilliam, that have a genuine love for a school is something that his coaches see great value in.

"I think that he's a guy that just wants to be here," Spencer said of Gilliam. "If he wasn't playing football, Melvin would probably still be here going to school. It's important to have people in your program that love Oklahoma State."

"I started at Central Oklahoma and worked my way here, but I always wanted to be here at OSU," Gilliam said. "It was always my dream."

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