The faint sound of oinking can be heard coming from Morris on Saturday nights. To inspire a new generation of footballers, little league coach Jan Colombin has provided his offensive linemen with a special moniker that not only creates unity but also has brought on some laughs.

“This year we were sitting there, and I was trying to think of name for them,” Colombin said. “So, one day I just said, “Give me the Hogs! I’ll take the linemen. Give me those Hogs over here.’”

According to Colombin, the best time for offensive linemen was when the Washington Redskins were playing John Riggins, stating that period of time was a golden era for the Redskins. The offensive linemen during that time was given the same nickname Colombin currently uses for Morris’ 4/5th grade little league squad.

“They dominated because they drove people, so you guys are my hogs,” Colombin said, reenacting one of his moments with his offensive line. “So, one day we were sitting there, and I called them the hogs and all of them, now what they do, all oink, and they bought into it.”

Giving his players an identity has helped bring them together, but it also created something else. His offensive line, which is made up of several different players, including, Isaiah “Sugar Bear” Taylor, Remy “Rem Dog” Martin, Wyatt “Warhog” Foutch, Wyatt Boone aka Boone, Zach “Zac Attack” Moore, Joseph “Big Joe” Wind, JoJo “Little Joe” Waters, Jacob “Tire Tool” Hil and Hunter “Boog” Smith.

“Nicknames, they’re badges of courage and love,” Colombin said. “They’re a shield of honor.”

One day, Zack Attack approached Colombin and told him that they had come up with a nickname for him. “You realize that when you do these things with little kids or with kids, you give a little you might get a little,” Colombin said. “I said, “Okay, what’s my nickname?’ and they said, ‘We’ve given you the name of Boss Hog.’”

Colombin laughed and immediately adapted to his nickname. He went out afterwards and had a shirt embroidered on the back with ‘Boss Hog.’ Wearing it to their first game in Liberty, Colombin surprised his players with his Boss Hog shirt.

“I walked up probably about 10 yards from them and they were stretching, I turned around and I went like this to my back,” Colombin said as he turned around and pointed to the back of his shirt. “They all just screamed, ‘He’s got a Boss Hog shirt on.’”

Now every Saturday, you can travel out to Morris to see the Little Eagles fly and see the 5/6th grade offensive linemen hog it up.

Colombin had spent years coaching and playing in Okmulgee, but one day, as he was watching his grandson practice, he noticed that certain drills were done wrong. Not one to sit on the sidelines and just watch, Colombin pointed out where there could be improvement.

“They were running a drill incorrectly and I corrected it,” Colombin said. “And I went back and sat down, and the guy that was coaching, one of the kids that was helping him had played for me years ago, and I saw them talking, they were pointing back over. The head coach came over and said, ‘You know much about the game?’”

From then on Colombin lent his coaching talents to the Morris Litte League football team. Coaching came at a time when Colombin most needed it. The comoraderie, activity and spirit that Colombin found working with the Little Eagles improved his overall health.

“I went in after about two years after starting this and [my doctor] said, ‘What is different in your life?’” Colombin said. “You want to know the difference…I’m coaching little league football and I’m having fun…I get to deal with some little kids that are a lot of fun.”