08/16/2008

By JOSH MOSLEY  / Associated Press

Separated by four years, brothers Ryan and Brad Madison never had the chance to compete on the same team in organized sports.

So it's no surprise that both brothers are relishing their brief role as teammates for the No. 6-ranked Missouri Tigers football team.

"It's been going really good," said Ryan, a redshirt senior. "He is with the threes and fours so I haven't been able to play against him too much, but I have been helping him adjust and it's been fun having him here to hang out with."

Ryan, the older of the two, is a three-year starter on the offensive line and has 22 career starts to his credit. His next start comes Aug. 30 when the Tigers open the season against Illinois at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Brad spent the previous two seasons in the stands cheering on his brother. As time went on, Brad not only grew into a fan of the Tigers, but of the prospect of playing with his brother in his final season at Missouri.

"I've always been a fan of Mizzou and it helped a lot coming to watch him," Brad said. "It's like home since he has been here."

"I told him I'd be a little upset if he went anywhere else so I played up the whole me being here thing to him so that we commit here," Ryan said.

Brad, listed at 6-5 and 255 pounds, projects as either an offensive or defensive lineman but has no real preference. He has not sought the advice of his brother though Ryan has hinted that he feels his brother can get on the field sooner if he played offense.

"He's going to need to put some weight on and he knows that," offensive coordinator Dave Christensen said. "Ryan was a little heavier when he got here but Brad is a little bit more athletic. They are similar in some aspects but there are more different."

The sibling competition runs through the two as well. Both are athletic for their size and use that skill in arenas outside of football. And if you were to ask big brother Ryan who is better at assorted sports and games, he wouldn't defer to little brother.

"I'm better at pretty much everything," Ryan said.