An ambulance is not the preferred mode of transportation for most cowboys on the pro rodeo circuit.
But brothers Jacobs and Sterling Crawley and close friend Jeremy Melancon aren’t most cowboys. In October 2010, the trio acquired a used 1993 Ford ambulance in Philadelphia, then drove it home to College Station, Texas, where they had it refurbished by a horse trailer company to include a couch, bunk beds, shower, TV and air conditioning. If it were not currently out of commission in a repair shop in New Mexico, the well-traveled trio would have arrived at the 97th annual Snake River Stampede in the all-black ambulance. "We’d rather show up in one than leave in one," Melancon said. While their unique form of transportation has already gobbled up more than its fair share of fame, the saddle bronc riders don’t seem to be having any trouble holding the spotlight. Jacobs, 24, qualified for the 2011 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, winning the eighth round with an 83.5-point ride on Flying Five Rodeo’s Sundance. He has already earned more than $179,000 since joining the Pro Rodeo Cowboys Association in 2011. This season, Jacobs currently sits eighth in the saddle bronc standings with earnings of $40,133. Sterling, 21, will be a senior at Sam Houston State majoring in business agriculture, and is already within reach of advancing to his first WNFR. Sterling is 16th in the saddle bronc standings with $32,047, and the top 15 cowboys in each event make the season-ending WNFR. While 24-year-old Melancon - who also attends Sam Houston State - hasn’t fared as well as his roommates this season, he isn’t complaining. "We just try to keep the money in the vehicle to get us all down the road," Melancon said. All three will be at the Idaho Center in Nampa this week, vying for a share of more than $400,000 in prize money. With three hats in the ring, there’s a good chance at least one of them will make Saturday’s finals. "You always want to win, but heck, I don’t mind. In a perfect world we could just go split every rodeo," Sterling said. Jacobs and Sterling met Melancon through the amateur circuit. Though they rarely stay put, the three also live together in Texas. "A couple days apart is a stretch for us," Jacobs said. Added Sterling, "(Jacobs is) the one that pretty much taught me mostly about riding broncs. He knows how I ride more than anybody. If anything is going wrong, it’s kind of like having a coach with you. It’s always good to have somebody like that."
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