Standing in front of the pool of Washington Husky reporters, the corners of tight end coach Jordan Paopao’s mouth turned up ever so slightly as if he was told a silly joke.  As he listened intently to the next question about returning to the Emerald City, it wasn’t the memory that nearly brought a full grin to his face, it was that one of his kids was standing on his shoes.

Some teams preach “family” while Washington practices it.

For Washington’s newest commit it was how Jedd Fisch’s embraced his family–both literally and figuratively.

Hailing from Norman, Oklahoma, Mason James had nearly 30 offers, from the 4 corners of the country, got to see first hand how much his family matters to Washington’s staff compared to other “southern hospitality” schools like Alabama, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Missouri.

During his 10 minute long commitment segment on 247 Sports he was asked why each school was a top contender for his services.  Each time he rattled off the list of names of the coaches and their backgrounds and the schemes.

“It’s a great program,” 247 Sports’ number 2 player in the state of Oklahoma said.  “I love the whole entire coaching staff coach Fisch all the way to  (receivers) coach Kevin Cummings.”

Naturally, the explosive receiver, like most recruits, thanked his family for the support and sacrifices they made to help get him to this spot.  However, when 247 Sports’ Tom Loy pressed him on who the Huskies were able to win his pledge he made it clear that it was because the Huskies recruited his entire family.

It was a family matter.

“Since day one visit my whole entire family was taken care.  My brothers (Brody and Kyson) were getting looked at like they never really got to experience.  Mom and dad were getting taken care of every single time,” he stated.

But it was the involvement of his future family that clinched seemingly before it even got started.

“Coach Fisch has been really involved with my recruitment and through the entire way.  The whole entire staff is also really been involved. It was wide receiver coach, the head coach and OC. It was a whole offensive staff. It was a special team coaches,” he paused to make sure he didn’t leave anybody out from UW.  “I mean, it was everyone.”

Recently committed Gavin Day, on his official visit got to experience the family culture, as well.

“They were great to my family and especially my little sister, Ryann Day.  She’s 15 and plays volleyball,” he recalled.  “They took her to see the volleyball arena and that really made the trip for her.”

And that’s the culture that Jedd Fisch stated in his first speech when he took over Washington that it would be a family first organization–as was evidenced by recruits last weekend and the tiny footprints on Jordan Paopao’s white adidas 15 months ago.