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Where Are They Now? Sodie Orr

April 26, 2018 By

For the next installment of the Rubio Long Snapping Where Are They Now? series, we head to sunny Southern California to learn about Sodie Orr.

Sodie is a TOP 12 Long Snapper from the class of 2012 that was always a crowd favorite with his overflowing personality and his tendency to bring into song. Don’t believe me? Check out Sodie’s entry for a Rubio Long Snapping contest many moons ago….

Sodie and his mom

Sodie went off to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo but realized that college football wasn’t for him in the long run. He had visions (or sounds) of music on his mind and he didn’t want let his musical dream fade so he ran with it! He has played under the name Sodie Orr, Sodie Aura and Wes James. Here we go…..

What is your occupation? I am currently a full time musician

Where do you live? I live in Carlsbad but am moving to the San Fernando Valley soon.

Married? Kids? No marriage and I ammmm NOT THE FATHER (yet, praise the heavens)

What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? My fondest memory of playing college football is watching all the upperclassmen angrily look at me with jealousy in their eyes as they practiced while i sat on the sidelines for the last 2 hours of practice every day. Special teams was right after warm ups.

How come you no longer play football? Full time musician.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? If I could give a bit of advice to Rubio Long Snappers, it would be to really appreciate the camps and time with Rubio while you’re there. Football was cool, but being a part of the Rubio family and Long Snapping community meant more to me than anything I ever did in college. I learned a lot about life and how to be a better human as well as a better long Snapper.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? My advice to the parents of Rubio Snappers would be to push your young man harder. Make sure he’s doing his drills daily, stretching, and that his grades are up. I’ve seen a lot of my friends lives change completely in the best ways from dedicating fully to the craft. Shoutout to my NFL homies I met at Rubio camps.

When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? The last time I snapped a ball was a few months ago, on camera, to show Rubio I still sling pearls. Once a snapper always a snapper.

If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? If I HAD to go back to school again and play ball, I would want to go to a different school. I didn’t enjoy my program very much, and would have enjoyed the benefits of playing for a big time football oriented university. I also realized once I got there that I didn’t love football at all. If Long snapping was an Olympic sport I would have gone for gold… but I knew that football wasn’t my path, so I left and went for my dream of making music. And if you’re feeling that way, it’s okay. Stick it out as long as you can and give it a chance to come around. But if you know deep down it’s not for you once you’re in it, don’t be afraid to follow your heart and passion.

Chance the Rapper with Sodie Aura (Sodie Orr)!

Any regrets during college? Anything you wish you had done or hadn’t done? I don’t have too many regrets about my college experience. Since my heart wasn’t in football, I do feel that I missed out on a lot of the things that were going on while I was traveling for away games etc. But I am and will always be grateful I got there through Rubio’s teachings and my own hard work.

What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? I did not graduate… instead I started writing music and decided to do a showcase in LA, where an A&R from Atlantic Records saw me and wanted to sign me on the spot. Since then, i have recorded at multiple Atlantic Records studios, opened for artists such as Curren$y, Ab Soul, Chance the Rapper, Shwayze, and more. I interned for rapper Too $hort for a year at his complex in LA, as well as producer legend Rodney Jerkins (aka Darkchild). And I believe that’s all just the tip of the iceberg. As long as I maintain BALANCE in my life (work hard/ maintain self care, grind/ get proper rest), EXTEND and network with the contacts I’ve made in the industry and beyond, and FOLLOW THROUGH on my commitments and goals… anything is possible.

Neil Diamond with Wes James (Sodie Orr)!!!!

The poster you see above was given to me by Sodie Orr. It is when he was a special guest of Neil Diamond (if you don’t know who the legend Neil Diamond, you have some severe issues) and opened for him in San Diego. I hang it proudly where I do lessons and have it right next to where all the Long Snappers snap the ball so they can see it and realize that life is not all about Long Snapping and a person has to be truly well rounded to succeed. This poster is truly one of my most valued possessions I own. Thank you Sodie!

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the USA Today, Deadspin and countless other publications.

Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world, Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 1,000 Long Snappers earning full scholarships and preferred walk-on opportunities to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Richard Wilcox

September 27, 2016 By

richard-wilcox3553Every once in awhile, there will be a Rubio Long Snapper that realizes, “You know what, maybe Long Snapping just isn’t for me anymore.” You are probably thinking to yourself, “Oh, I bet that really pisses Rubio off!!!” Actually, it doesn’t because it is not for everyone and like I always tell the parents and the kids when they make this decision, “As long as the kid is happy, I am happy!” Long Snapping is a great thing but being an all around great person that can also snap, is so much better in the long run.

This brings me to Richard Wilcox of Humboldt State University. Wilcox is a TREMENDOUS human being that graduated from high school in 2015. He was a very good Long Snapper and has an outstanding personality. He was always well beyond his years and we would have some great conversations at the CA camps and VEGAS.

Well, as it happens at times, Wilcox got to college and decided he needed to move on from Long Snapping to pursue a goal of his. I have been following him and his progress for quite some time and I asked if I could do a blog on him so here we go….

Where do you live? I currently live in Eureka, California attending Humboldt State university.

What is your major? I’m a business major, with a minor in writing.

What year do you plan to graduate? Well Thanks to a lot of AP classes in high school I am already an academic junior even though this is only my second year at HSU. I should hopefully graduate by Spring 2018

What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? Well, I only played one year of college football at HSU but there was one time, after a game, when I signed an autograph for a little kid, yeah he probably didn’t know I was a long snapper, but he looked up to me, and that felt pretty cool.

untitled2How come you no longer play football? I decided that I wanted to focus on my degree, and my writing, to better prepare myself for my future.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? Listen to Rubio and practice religiously. It’s imperative to your development as a long snapper to practice. Oh, and stay out of your head, everybody has bad snaps, they don’t define you as a snapper.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? Don’t be afraid to let your kid make mistakes, sometimes that’s the best way they learn and if a coach calls the house just pass the phone off to your athlete, that’s who they are calling for.

When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? Over the summer at my brother’s house I was snapping in the street wearing socks and I tore a huge hole in them because of the asphalt haha.untitled

What do you do other than school? My dream job is to be a video game journalist, so with my free time I focus on refining my writing skills by writing for a website, Binderbits.com. I have been doing this for a little over a year now and it has helped me improve my writing exponentially and opened me up to opportunities a few years ago I was dreaming of achieving, including going to the Electronic Entertainment Expo in LA, which is an invite only industry event. On top of my writing I also recently started my own YouTube channel, DickDoesGaming. It is pretty bare bones right now as I kind of just started it, but I’m currently in the process of working out a content schedule so I can make sure my channel keeps up the consistency at which it publishes content, and once that’s finalized I’ll be pumping out videos on a regular basis!

What is the Youtube Channel all about? One day I hope my channel Is a combination of Video game gameplay, opinions, news, and interviews with developers and video game personalities, but since I don’t have the right equipment, time, or money to do this full time, I’m going to focus about video game news and culture while interjecting my personal viewpoints’, hoping to grow it from there over time!

Where can we follow you on social media? I’m most active on my twitter (@richardw55) where I post stuff about football, video games, and the occasional dumb joke. If the type of content I do is interesting to you, subscribe to my YT channel to get updates when I post new videos, it would mean the world!

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Chris-Rubio-2Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years, Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

Rubio_Card_frontMAGNET

 

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Brian Bennyhoff

August 30, 2016 By

bennyhoff-b-cm-2009-482-089jpg-a972fc14971f59e6_smallThe next installment of “Where Are They Now?” takes us to Michigan to catch up with former Central Michigan Rubio Long Snapper Brian Bennyhoff!

What is your current occupation?

I’m a CPA with Ernst & Young in our Assurance practice, performing financial statement audits primarily in the automotive industry.

Where do you live?

I live outside Metro Detroit in Lake Orion, MI #WhereLivingIsAVacation

13626632_10157329850600121_7455014115815863114_nMarried? Kids?

I’ve been married to my beautiful wife, Kelly, for 13 months, and we’re expecting our first child in late January!

What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football?

The obvious answer is winning a MAC championship my sophomore year, as well as the GMAC bowl and finishing #23 in the nation. The not as obvious answer is looking back on all the time spent in the locker room, every single day, with such good friends and teammates. When we all get together now we reminisce much more on the fun in the locker room than the time we spent on the field. When I got married, my teammates roasted me at the rehearsal dinner. Nearly all the things on the list were inside jokes from the locker room. That’s the kind of stuff you never forget.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

Listen to everything Rubio tells you, and I’m not just saying with snapping. He’s had more interaction with coaches, athletes, and the recruiting process than many, many other people. He knows what he’s doing, and he’s genuinely interested in what’s best for you. That includes the life advice he’ll casually offer or if you ask him his opinion. I wasn’t interested in Central Michigan when they first talked to me, but Rubio helped me keep that door open because he knew I’d need it. When other expected offers evaporated, CMU was still there, and I’d choose them again from the start if I could.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be?

The hard work helping train your son pays off. The snaps you catch every night, sometimes in the most unlikely places (i.e. hotel hallways), make a difference. Wherever your son plays next, whatever level, you take those memories with you, and the other parents you meet along the way who have made similar sacrifices will be your closest friends for the next 4/5 years during college.


10392317_10155272772120121_3908158657800194975_nWhen was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason?

A few weeks ago. I lead a Bible study for a group of high school freshmen guys, and they wanted to see if I still have it. Spoiler alert: I do.

If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why?

CMU, hands down. See my previous answers for obvious reasons why. The teammates I’ve met along the way, the lifelong memories we forged, the impact they still have on me, and the impact it had on my parents and family along the way are all things I wouldn’t trade for the world. The winning was pretty great, too!

Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

This goes both ways, regrets of things I did and didn’t do, and the lesson is learning which battles to fight. Coming back from injury, there were times I pushed too hard with my coaches to get back on the field and in the wrong way, and times I didn’t fight hard enough. Know which battles to fight, and fight them with strategy instead of force.

What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated?

This could be a big list so I’ll keep if succinct. Personally, I’ve gotten married, am expecting my first child, ran two half-marathons, bought our first house, and love the community we’re blessed to live life with in Lake Orion and at Kensington Community Church. Professionally, I’ve earned my CPA, am a senior auditor at the firm I’ve dreamed of working at since I was young, and seen great team success by passing a PCAOB inspection (my profession’s regulator).

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Bobby Shepard

June 21, 2016 By

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The next installment of “Where Are They Now?” takes us to Northern California to catch up with former Fresno State Rubio Long Snapper Bobby Shepard!

What is your current occupation? I am a firefighter.

Where do you live? I live in Lodi, California.

Married? Kids? Single, with a three year old chocolate lab.

What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? Both creating lifelong bonds with teammates and getting to travel the country and play in incredible stadiums. I played for a head coach that didn’t back down from any team. I was able to play in the Rose Bowl (and beat Rubio’s Bruins!), play at Camp Randall stadium, play at Nebraska, and at Candlestick Park to name a few.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? Work your butt off. Not only as an athlete, but even more so as a student. You can only wear pads for so long. There is so much more to your life than football. Also, have fun. It truly will be the quickest four or five years of your life. Enjoy it.

If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? Support your son. My parents only missed two games in my entire playing career. Having them there every step of the way was incredibly rewarding. They were there for the game winning field goals and the rough losses. To this day it is something we always talk about. Very few kids get the opportunity to be a college athlete, soak it in with them.

12308534_10153718196912305_7028083895285253500_nWhen was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? I didn’t snap a football for probably two years after attending NFL free agent camps and try outs. Then probably a month ago some fellow firefighters wanted to see if I could still snap, and how fast it was.

If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? I would absolutely do it all over again and be a Fresno State Bulldog in a heart beat! Only one school wanted me to walk on for them. I am forever in debt to Coach Hill for letting me walk on. I am also beyond thankful to Coach John Baxter (USC) and Coach Pete Alamar (Stanford) for working with me. Also the city of Fresno truly cares about their Bulldogs and Fresno State as a whole. Their passion at games was unmatched.

Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t? My first few years in college, I didn’t really enjoy myself. My life was all football and school. While I loved that I was devoted to my sport and education, I didn’t really get to experience all that college had to offer until later in my career.

What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? Since I graduated in 2011, I was able to attend Graduate School while playing my Senior season. I earned my Master’s degree in Sport Psychology. Obviously, my job is incredible to me! As cliché as it sounds, I love being the person that gets respond to help people when they are injured or having problems in their life.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Bobby Dunn

April 19, 2016 By

10304980_727548790637419_3270315977127620750_nFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to Illinois to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Bobby Dunn who went to high school in IL, received a scholarship to the Air Force Academy and is heading toward becoming a DOCTOR!!!

1.  What is your current occupation?

I am currently in my 2nd year of medical school at Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine as well as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force Reserve. After graduation I will commission as a captain in the Air Force as an active duty officer and serve as a physician.  

2. Where do you live?

Carol Stream, Illinois.

3. Married/ Kids?

I recently got engaged to my beautiful fiancée Dominique in December. We will be getting married in May of 2018 after I finish medical school.

blob4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

My fondest memory of college football comes from a couple of early mornings in February before spring practices started. After the off season in the weight room the team takes part in “Cages.”. All of the players report down to the field house before breakfast and classes start to go through 2 hours of speed, agility and strength drills with all of the coaches. Although this was difficult and not particularly fun, it is my fondest memory because it was one of the rare times we as long snappers could compete directly with the rest of the players. At the end of the two day training there is a competition between starters and backups that is an “anything goes” 1 on 1 tug of war with a car tire. I think I enjoyed this so much because it was an opportunity to break the monotony of practices and show off our largely hidden athletic prowess as long snappers.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

When choosing schools to apply to, and eventually a school to attend, try to choose a school that you could see yourself loving even if you were not playing football. Keep your dreams big and work your tail off to achieve them, just know at some point football will have to end. At that point it will be important to be somewhere with great friends and incredible opportunities.  

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

I think my parents did everything right and I appreciate everything they did along the way. The number one bit of advice I gathered from them is to ENJOY THE RIDE! Your sons will love you and appreciate everything that you do. At the end of each day make it known that you believe in them, you support them and most of all you love them no matter what happens with football.
7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? 

The last time I snapped a football was about a year and a half ago in Texas at a country music festival. Some buddies and I were tailgating outside of our tent and made some friends with the guys in the spot over. One of them turned out to have played college football and he had a hard time believing that I played Division 1 football as well. Luckily he had a football so I could prove myself. There was no stop watch there but I am confident that it was a persuasive demonstration of quality long snapping.

8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I would absolutely choose to attend the Air Force Academy all over again. It was definitely a different college experience with some hard days, but overall I loved it. I met some of my best friends and enjoyed several unique experiences.

If there are any high school long snappers who have aspirations to serve our country and play college football at a high level you should consider one of the service academies. If you have any questions talk to Rubio and he can give you my contact information, I’d love to talk to you about it.

9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I do not have any regrets during college. I had big dreams to play football all 4 years however I had even bigger dreams to attend medical school and be a military doctor. After a year of football my grades were not as competitive as I would have liked them to be, and unfortunately I had to give up football to keep up with my grades and military training. I absolutely would have loved to continue to play football longer but I know that I gave it my best shot and am happy how everything has turned out.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 

I have been blessed with the incredible opportunity to stay in school and wait another 4 years to enter the real world. That itself is tremendous. Besides that I have wooed a great woman, become an uncle and been a mediocre participant in recreational basketball and softball leagues. Life is good!

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Cary Kriegsman

March 30, 2016 By

AAEAAQAAAAAAAAcNAAAAJDM1MjM0M2QwLTc5ZmQtNDY3MC1iNWJhLWFjYzkzN2NjMDBjMAFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to San Francisco to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Cary Kriegsman who went to high school in Southern California, went to Cal Berkeley and is dominating the adult life….

1.  What is your current occupation?

I work for the investment management firm BlackRock, where I am responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with public and private pensions in the US and Canada Institutional sales team.

2. Where do you live?

San Francisco

3. Married/ Kids?

No

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

On the field, my fondest memory was when I joined the team mid-Fall camp (as I was supposed to grey shirt my first Fall, but the backup snapper went down, so I was called up) and a few weeks later I was running through the LA Coliseum tunnel to play USC in the stadium I used to watch games at with my family.

Off the field, my fondest memories are the times spent in the locker room with my best friends (some of the funniest and most entertaining by far) as well as pushing through the toughest off-season workouts (especially 6ams…).  

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

I’ll give you two: 

1) Focus on your mental game just as hard as you do on your physical game. This can be through visualizations, breathing exercises, sports psychology, or film (all of which helped me). People overlook the mental game, which really sets one snapper apart from another.

2)  Your two main priorities should be school and long snapping. A commitment to both will get you to where you want to be, both during and post college. I worked my tail off in high school to get the opportunity to play for Cal. If I didn’t fully commit myself to snapping on a daily basis, I wouldn’t have been able to play college football. If I didn’t fully commit myself to academics on a daily basis, I definitely wouldn’t have gotten accepted into Berkeley. Making a commitment to both allowed me to have the amazing experiences and opportunities I had at Cal.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

Support your son, and don’t be overbearing. My parents helped guide my focus in the right direction, but it was ultimately my own choice on whether I wanted to fully commit myself to snapping or not.

I will forever be indebted to my Mom who was the only mother at our time to warm up their son and catch his snaps at Rubio camps. If that doesn’t scream support, here’s another example: I (accidently) broke her finger during a snapping drill in High School, but she continued to catch my snaps a few weeks after this happened. Thanks again Mom! 

331031_2130949644643_712539449_o7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? 

My coworkers had me snap a football down our office hallway a few months ago. Requests like these come around more than you can imagine.

8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I would 100% go to the same school. Cal Berkeley had everything that I wanted: academics and Pac-12 Football. It’s hard to get the opportunity to be recruited to a Division 1 school, but once you do get this opportunity, you realize it’s even harder to get the opportunity to start and play. If things don’t go your way on the field for various reasons, you still have your academics to lean on. 

Side Note: I cannot echo Rubio’s advice enough: Never Pick A School Based Off Of Coaches. In my time at Cal, I had 2 Head Coaches, 3 Head Strength coaches, 2 Special Teams Coordinators, and 2 Athletic Directors. There was not one single staff member that was there from when I began my college career to when I ended it. 

9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

No regrets

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 

After graduating, I went on a two-month solo European backpacking trip, where I went to 16 different countries and stayed in hostels. It was completely out of my comfort zone, but turned out being the best decision and experience of my life.

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Cary in Santorini, Greece.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Justin Drescher

March 2, 2016 By

iFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to New Orleans to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Justin Drescher who went to high school in Texas, received a full scholarship to Colorado and has been excelling ever since….

1.  What is your current occupation?

Long Snapper for the New Orleans Saints

2. Where do you live?

New Orleans in season and Denver in off season

3. Married/ Kids?

No wife and No kids

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

My fondest moment on the field came my Sophomore year when I recovered a fumble to set up the tying score against OU the #3 ranked team at the time than snapping the game winner couple mins later to beat them on last second field goal. But some of my favorite moments came off the field while floating the Boulder Creek, summer workouts and the cook outs.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

To have a balanced college experience and to find friends outside of the athletes you see everyday. It will help you get a different perspective of college and it serves as a good get away of the daily grind that can sometimes take over.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

To give your child the support and resources so that they can make informed decisions for their future. Sometimes it may not always be the best decision but know failures can lead to great success.

temp_MH18601--nfl_mezz_1280_10247. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? 

About 3 hours ago at practice in punt period getting ready for last preseason game

8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I would definitely choose to go back to University of Colorado. It allowed me to grow up and mature while also providing me with a great degree. It introduced me to some of my best friends that I still stay in weekly contact with that I couldn’t imagine not having those relationships.

9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

My biggest regret was graduating and leaving Boulder Co in 3 and half years. It went by way to fast. The real world, Yes, I worked at Home Depot and Substitute taught while trying to make the NFL was not all that cool.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 

I would say coolest thing for me, was going from Substitute teacher on a Monday to playing in my first Career NFL game on Thanksgiving against the Cowboys in Dallas, my hometown. It was a surreal moment for me to play my fist career game in front of my family and friends. I even rode home with my family in the backseat just like the good ol’ days of playing pee wee football.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Gabriel Miller

December 18, 2015 By

For the next installment of Where Are They Now? we head to Lincoln, Nebraska to see how a career ending injury didn’t stop Rubio Long Snapper Gabriel Miller (#4 for the class of 2013, full ride to Nebraska)….

What is your current occupation? 

I am the founder and CEO of Bella Baby Nuts, LLC. I broke my back in the summer of 2014, and had surgery that fall. After undergoing a 6 hour surgery I was unable to do Gabe Miller and Rubioanything but stand up for close to a month, so I started messing around in the kitchen with some raw pecans. And after many months of perfecting my own candied pecan recipe I decided to turn it into a business. We have now been in business for almost a year and are growing rapidly. If anyone would like to see the fun things we are up to they can check out our website at http://www.bellababynuts.com/ or www.facebook.com/BellaBabyNuts. I am also still a full time student at the University of Nebraska and I am the Rubio Long Snapping Instructor for the state of Nebraska. Oh and during the summers I breed high end Japanese Koi fish on my small koi farm back in Indiana. 

*Rubio Note: I have had some Bella Baby Nuts and they are FANTASTIC! I highly recommend them for a Christmas snack at your holiday parties!

Where do you live? 

My wife and I currently live in Lincoln, Nebraska. We will be in Nebraska for at least another 3 years, my wife has 3 more years in her PhD program for Math Education. After my wife finishes her PhD we plan to hopefully move back to Indiana. 

Married? Kids? 

I am married to my beautiful wife Erica Miller. We got married last January so we are coming up on our first anniversary. And we do not have kids at the moment, except for our English Bulldog, Bella. 

Screen Shot 2015-12-16 at 1.27.38 AMWhat is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

My fondest moment from playing college football is definitely when we played Penn State at Happy Valley my true freshman season. It was a late day/ night game and it started to snow in the second half. We were neck and neck the whole way, and the game went into overtime. With a chance to win the game we lined up for a game winning 42 yard field goal. With 100,000 fans and the Penn State student section at our faces it was pretty crazy. I snapped a pearl back to Sam Foltz my holder and Pat Smith nailed it for the walk off field goal. It was an awesome experience and to top it off Pat and I were named special teams players of the game. 

If you could give one bit of advice to Rubio long snappers, what would it be? 

My advise to current Rubio Long Snappers is to always keep the end goal in mind. If you can remember what you want your life to look like 5, 10, 15, 30 years down the line then going through some short term pain will be worth it to accomplish your goals in life as well as in football. 

If you could give one bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping parents, what would it be? 

My advice to the parents is to be supportive of your sons. Your son is embarking on one of the toughest journeys in all of sports, and that is to get a scholarship for Long Snapping and play college football. This adds a ton of pressure to his already hectic life as a teenager, so the biggest thing you could do is support him during this crazy time. There were times when it seemed life was ending because I wasn’t getting where I wanted in my Long Snapping, but my parents supported me and gave me confidence that if I continued to work hard the results would follow. And at the time I was given a full ride scholarship from the University of Nebraska and ranked as the number 2 Long Snapper in my class, there was no one I wanted to share that moment with more than with my parents who had supported me during the whole process. 

When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason. 

The last time I really snapped a football was during the summer of 2014 before I broke my back. Unfortunately bending over and throwing my head through my legs is one of the things I am unable to do anymore (haha). 

If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I was fortunate enough to have multiple scholarship offers coming out of high school and am extremely glad I chose to spend my college career at the University of Nebraska, and would do it again if I had the choice. The support that we received as student athletes was top notch and the whole environment around Lincoln is awesome. Getting to snap in front of 90,000 crazy Cornhusker fans every Saturday was fantastic. And I met my wife here in Lincoln, so I would say my decision turned out to be a good one. 

What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated?

The thing that has changed my outlook on my future the most is my newly found love for books. In all honesty I had read probably 3 books in the first 19 years of my life, but after my back surgery I began to start to read. I am a huge leadership and entrepreneurial junkie, and have been reading a book a week for going on two years now. The saying is that leaders are readers, and that is so true. I truly believe the knowledge and wisdom of Americas greatest men and women can be used for our benefit if we just open some books and turn a lot of pages. 

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Luke Sims

December 1, 2015 By

For the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to your….ears! Rubio Long Snapper Luke Sims (Event Elite – 2010) has taken quite the journey to his next step in life. Find out more about him below…

1.  What is your current occupation? sims3

After graduating from Iowa State University with a supply chain management degree, I moved back to Denver to pursue a music career. I am currently an electronic music producer for my “band”, Bass Physics, which consists of me and my friend from high school. We have been playing music festivals all over the country and are currently in the middle of a 40 city tour.

2. Where do you live?

I live in Denver, Colorado

3. Married/ Kids? No

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

My fondest memory of playing college football was when we played #2 Oklahoma State and beat them in triple overtime. Having the crowd rush the field around us was an amazing feeling.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?Sims2

Always have confidence in what you are doing. Whether it be snapping a football, taking a test, or lifting a weight, confidence is key to success. YOU must BELIEVE in yourself and that you can accomplish anything.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

Never pressure you kid into doing something they do not want to do. Always be supportive of what they are doing and encourage them to put their best effort into every aspect of life.

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? 

My friend and I had been producing a track for a while in our studio and we needed to take a break. We grabbed a football, went outside, and I fired a few snaps to him to get the blood flowing again. There’s nothing like seeing life upside down.

8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I would not trade anything for the school I went to. Iowa State was such a good fit for me and I made so many good friends and so many good memories on and off the field.

9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I really wish I had taken the academics more seriously. I wish I had gotten more involved with my major as well as more involved with the community around my school.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 

My sophomore year in school I had been producing electronic music when I wasn’t studying or at football. My friend from Denver and I created a “band” called Bass Physics, and decided to produce an album for fun for our friends to listen to. One of the songs off the album got some interest from rock promoter legend Barry Fey. Ever since Barry heard our music, the right people started filing in and we began to play shows in Denver. In the off season, I would fly home to Denver to play shows with my friend and eventually we created Bass Physics LLC. After graduation, I moved back to Denver to pursue this new music business career we had manifested. Since then, we have played over 100 shows and are continuing to make things happen. Follow your dreams.

Be sure to check Luke out at:

www.bassphysics.com

https://soundcloud.com/bass-physics

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Tyler Schmitt

November 11, 2015 By

For the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we venture to the back of a camera lens to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Tyler Schmitt. Tyler was a tremendous athlete in high school, dominated at SDSU and was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the 6th Round (Go Hawks!)

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Tyler Schmitt….

1.  What is your current occupation?  11142232_711004645674731_59132459_n

Professional Landscape Photographer 

2. Where do you live?

La Jolla , CA half of the year, exploring the globe the other half. 

3. Married/ Kids? Single. No kids

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

My fondest memory of playing football is running out of the tunnel at The Big House (Michigan) in front of 110,000 people as a 18 year old freshman. I’ve never been more terrified/excited to play in a game. 

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

Train with the linebackers, lift with the lineman, run with the defensive backs. Don’t train like a specialist, you will not grow to your full potential. Be an athlete! Practice mind control, tell yourself you are the best long snapper in the world and that is what you will become. 

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

Support your son’s dreams, whatever they may be. They have been put in his heart for a reason. If that means being a long snapper then great, if that means taking a break from football to pursue another deep rooted dream then so be it. I see a lot of parents these days forcing their own childhood dreams on their kids, this works in the opposite way as they would like it too. Thank you in advance for supporting your sons desire to be the best long snapper he can be. 

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? Schmitt_Tyler

A few months ago giving a private lesson. Partially to show the young gentleman an example of what I was talking about, but mostly to make sure I still had it in me. 😉 

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I wouldn’t change my college experience for the world. Being a long snapper at San Diego State is truly one of the best jobs on planet earth. We have quite a nice streak of Rubio long snappers continuing on to the NFL, and we plan on extending it next year. 

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I have no regrets during my college football career. I do wish however I would have taken care of my body and mind better. Clean eating is such an important role in maintaining a healthy career. I learned this late in my career during my short time in the NFL. Athletes spend years tearing down their body with weightlifting and practice, but rarely learn how to build back up their body (through massage, stretching, yoga, meditation) until they learn from NFL veterans. 

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 

Since I graduated college I have had the opportunity to be drafted in the 6th round of the 2008 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks.  More importantly I am now pursuing a dream of sharing my photography with the world. You can check out my work at Instagram – @tyschmitt or www.tyschmitt.com (VERY WORTH CHECKING OUT!)

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Jarin Giesler

October 6, 2015 By

UAGJNJJNEPXKBIN.20070328082229For the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to Arizona to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Jarin Giesler. Jarin was a member of the 20o6 Rubio Long Snapping class and played his high school ball in Cortez, CO. He earned a scholarship to Delaware St and now has quite the interesting story.

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Jarin Geisler….

1.  What is your current occupation?

I am an NFL agent, President/CEO of Giesler Sports World-Wide, Inc. (www.giesersports.com). We currently have four football clients and are a part of taking American Football into New Zealand for the first time in 2016 for the Southern Bowl, more on that below (www.southernbowl.com). Aside from being an agent, I am also a licensed attorney in Arizona (www.gieslerlaw.com).

2. Where do you live?

Phoenix, AZ

3. Married/ Kids? Soon, on both fronts

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

I have many fond memories of Delaware State University, but my fondest memory is as follows: 2007 season, we were undefeated in conference with only one loss on the season. Our opponent, Norfolk State University, hadn’t lost in conference all season either, whoever won this game would win the MEAC Championship. Our team fell down early and we were down 21-3 in the fourth quarter with only eight minutes in the fourth quarter. Our team fought back, we tied the game with seconds to go on a two point conversion and won in overtime on a field goal. We ended the season ranked #10 in the nation and faced Joe Flacco and the University of Delaware for the first time in school history. That year, we won four games by three points or less.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?FBAL30S

Do your job and enjoy the moment. You are where you are for a reason and you have been trained by the top instructor in the world, remember that. Be confident in your skills and perform when called upon, confidence not cockiness. No one should know your name as long snappers are anonymous until we mess up.       Enjoy your time with the team you are on, you will build lifelong friendships, relish in the moment –those memories will be with you for the rest of your life.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

Listen to what Rubio tells you when he meets with the parents and make sure you meet ALL deadlines. I have seen too many student athletes miss out on playing at the school of their dreams because they were delayed through the NCAA Clearing House, don’t let your son be that athlete. I said earlier that your son is playing where he is for a reason, the same logic holds true for Rubio, he is not the top instructor in the world by coincidence. I was one of 26 long snappers to earn a scholarship in the 2006 class, up from the inaugural five in 2004. For illustration, the 2015 class saw Rubio helped over 125 long snappers get scholarship or walk-on opportunity. Rubio knows the path to success and can help avoid dangerous pitfalls, use him as a resource. I can’t think of a time where I contacted Chris and didn’t receive a text (within seconds, the man’s thumbs have to be on fire).

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason?

June 3, 2015 in Auckland New Zealand for The Crowd Goes Wild (New Zealand’s version of SportsCenter, clip below). I was announcing my company’s involvement with the Southern Bowl (www.southernbowl.com), a series of two games on March 5 and March 12, 2016. The series will be coached by Super Bowl winners, Mike Shanahan and Mike Holmgren. We will feature two weeks of practice in front of world-class coaches and NFL Scouts. Our targeted player is one on the cusp of an NFL roster. We just completed the Southern Bowl Tryout Tour, across five U.S. cities to fill a portion of our roster. The remainder of our roster will be filled with top available American football talent (ie final cut players, players finishing active duty with the armed services, etc). I was featured on a segment of The Crowd Goes Wild to discuss the difference between an American football kicker and a rugby kicker. (http://www.followugby.com/videos/4127/category/Funny/9/Crowd-Goes-Wild–American-Football-vs-Rugby-Kicking)

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

I loved my time at Delaware State University, I was there during a special time for the football program. My only regret is that I was across the country from my friends and family. My parents are amazing and made it to many of my games, but I would have loved to play in front of my buddies from back home. I wouldn’t change anything about my college experience, it made me who I am today.

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I do not like the term regret, experiences we have shape who we are as individuals, how a person reacts to a situation builds character. In undergrad, one thing I always wanted to do was run for some sort of office, ie class president. I made excuses about how busy I was and never did it. During my time in law school, I was elected President of the Sports, Property and Entertainment Law Association and stopped making excuses. That year, SPELA created a Sports Law Competition Team. We were unable to secure funding from the University and had to come up with it ourselves, we were also unable to find a full-time coach. I coached our team and was also a competitor as we were able to win a national championship at the 2012 National Sports Law Negotiation Competition (the “NSLNC”).

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated?

I have mentioned the Southern Bowl and 2012 NSLNC and although I would enjoy speaking more about either experience, they fail in comparison to my time with the Oklahoma Innocence Project (the “OIP”) while I was in law school. The OIP is dedicated to identifying and remedying cases of wrongful convictions in Oklahoma. The California Chapter of the Innocence Project took on the case of Brian Banks, the standout California high school football star who committed to USC, but had his career cut short by a false accusation, several years ago and after reading his story I knew I had to get involved. (http://sports.yahoo.com/news/exonerated-ofape–brian-banksealizing-nfl-dream-%E2%80%93-in-different-capacity-005927279-nfl.html) The OIP only pursues cases in which there is credible evidence of factual innocence. During my time with the OIP, I worked on two cases of wrongful convictions. I worked with our Project Director and a supervising attorney to gather field evidence, conduct witness interviews and draft motions on behalf of our clients. Both cases I worked on are currently being heard in appellate court. I encourage anyone interested to watch the 2010 movie with Hillary Swank, Conviction or to read John Gresham’s book titled The Innocent Man. This was, by far, the most fulfilling experience of my life.

11. Do you remember your first Rubio Long Snapping camp? If so, share a memory…

I was a junior in high school at Montezuma Cortez High School in Colorado. I remember when our head coach came up to me with a post card and asked if I was interested in a long snapping camp. I remember talking to my parents and them telling me that it was a “no brainer.” Our tickets were booked the next day. The camp was at Notre Dame High School, before the Adidas deal, before Football University, but with the same caliber instruction. I remember telling my mom, this is going to become a huge event, after I walked off the field. I also remember how much Rubio loved my school colors –orange and black. I had never had instruction to become a long snapper, I filled the position at my school because no one else could do it. My life changed after that first camp and I cannot thank Rubio enough for helping me get to where I am today, both on and off the field.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper PJ Tobyansen

September 22, 2015 By

1929591_574887992716_9507_nFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to Southern California to hear from Rubio Long Snapper PJ Tobyansen (2006, CA). PJ was at UCLA with Rubio Long Snapper Christian Yount and is one of the most vibrant people you will ever meet and comes from an incredible family. Wait until you seen what he is doing now!

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper PJ Tobyansen…

1.  What is your current occupation?

After my career at UCLA I have been working in the film industry in Los Angeles area and have done so for the past five years. My past employers have been Fox, Sony, and Marvel studios. I am currently working for Disney on the film The Jungle Book as a Visual Effects Coordinator for the past year and half. 

2. Where do you live?

I live with my wife Julie in Woodland Hills CA. We have been happily married for TWO months 🙂

3. Married/ Kids? Yes, no kids.

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? 

I have so many good memories that I would love to share about my time playing college football. But I will share two, meeting my wife for the first time at UCLA, and running out of tunnel at the Rose Bowl the very first game of my career. I will Never forget both of those memories.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

For all current Rubio Long Snappers my one bit of advise would be the following. Work on the little things in life, and continue to strive for greatness. You made the right move and your a Rubio long snapper. Rubio hammers into each an everyone of his snappers muscle memory. IT WORKS, plan and simple. You don’t get good muscle memory if you don’t work on the little things and your fundamentals. Just continue to grow and  practice the little things, the little fundamentals, work work work. If you keep adding 1% to your game each day by practicing this approach you will see your results shine. And I can assure you it carries over into your professional life.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

For all current Rubio Long Snapper parents my advice would be patients, TRUST RUBIO he is a wise wise man.

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason?

The last time I snapped a football is actually a very funny story. The day before my wedding Friday June 26, 2015. Kai Forbath (Washington Redskins) who I grew up with and played football in HS and College. We were hanging out in my hotel suite and just messing around and catching up. My dad had a football there and Kai was begging me to snap to him for old time sake. Just to see if I still had it. I reluctantly agreed, thinking to myself man its been almost THREE years since the last time I snapped a football. So we had a good stretch of carpet 15 yards all that you need. I fired my first snap back as hard as I could and almost destroyed the thermostat on the wall. Kai yells at me “PEEJ!! a little off there!!” I screamed back hahhaa ok!! just getting warmed up here, give me a second!! I made a little correction and fired the next 5 perfect snaps back to him. I still had it!! He calls my parents in and goes he still has it!! I said two words to my parents MUSCLE MEMORY. It probably helped that I had an adrenaline rush going because it was the day before my wedding but I’ll take it!

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

If I could go back and play college football again, even tho I did not play, I would still go to UCLA as preferred walk-on. I was a part of a GREAT TEAM, It was the best time of my life. I met my wife and made great memories with team mates and friends that will last me a life time. I also get the greatest kick out of telling my co-workers and friends that two out of the three players in my position group at UCLA play currently  in the NFL, and yes I was the 3rd that didn’t make it. I’m so proud of those guys, and proud to be a Bruin!

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I have no regrets about my choices in college I would do it the exact same way. I worked very hard to contribute to the team. I learned a lot from my time as a student athlete and I am very grateful and so fortunate to have done so.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated?

The most tremendous thing that I have been apart of since my graduation from UCLA would be first and foremost my Wedding two months ago to Julie who was a former student athlete and national champion 3rd baseman for the UCLA softball team. It was the greatest moment in my life. Second would be my career I have worked on some of the greatest movies to come out over the last five years. I have worked on the following movies Jack the Giant Slayer, Alvin and the Chipmunks, Star Trek into Darkness, Iron Man 3, Thor: The Dark World, Captain America: The Winter Solider, Guardians of The Galaxy, and now The Jungle Book. Every movie feels like a new a season and a tremendous experience.  

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Jeff Palmer

September 1, 2015 By

For the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we head to Southern California to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Jeff Palmer. Palmer played his high school football in Orange County then made his way to the Oregon Ducks where he still holds the record for most field goal snaps in a career. Oh, did I mention he is about 5’10” and 190 (dripping wet and holding barbells)

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Jeff Palmer…

1.  What is your current occupation?

I have been an Account Executive for MetLife for a little over two years, selling employee benefits through brokers to companies with 10 to 5,000 employees.

2. Where do you live?

I am in the process of moving from San Francisco to San Diego, currently living in Dana Point, CA.

3. Married/ Kids? Single. No kids

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? Screen Shot 2015-08-20 at 4.48.33 PM

My fondest memory of my entire time at Oregon was running on the field the second the clock hit 0 at the 2012 Rose Bowl. We had lost our two previous bowl games, and the guys that were still on the team for the Rose Bowl had a huge weight lifted off of our shoulders when we won that game. It was the culmination of a pretty special season for us.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be?

Obviously work hard on the football side of things, but work even harder on the academic side and get involved with any networking opportunities that your school offers you. You never know what types of opportunities may come your way after your playing career is over, and the vast majority of guys will be done playing for good when your college eligibility is up.

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? 

Always be positive. Your son is getting the opportunity to do what millions of kids only dream of doing- running on to the field on Saturdays for a college football game. You can’t take everything so seriously. I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, so just sit back and enjoy watching your son have fun and grow up.

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason?

I snap at least one ball a day down the hallway in my apartment just so I can tell myself- “still got it.” A lot of my brokers and coworkers ask me to snap a ball to them once they find out I played football as well.

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? 

No doubt in my mind I would go to Oregon again. Everyone hears about Nike, the uniforms, the facilities, and the flashy offense, but what a lot of people don’t know is how well the Athletic Department sets its student-athletes up for success after their time runs out. There were countless networking and mentoring events to attend during our time there, which allowed me to develop relationships with people I otherwise would have never had the chance to meet.

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t?

I actually wish I did not try to graduate as quickly as I did. I should have stayed in Eugene as long as possible because yes, being out in the real world is fun, but it comes with a lot more responsibility than you realize when you are still in school. 

I wish I didn’t have a girlfriend my senior year…what an idiot.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? 3a549d2

I got to spend some time in Colorado working for Wounded Warriors right after I graduated. We spent time at Air Force Academy as well as the Olympic Training Facilities, but it was so rewarding helping the veterans and hearing their stories and about the daily struggles since returning home. It really put things into perspective for me.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Brendan Lopez

August 20, 2015 By

NCAA FOOTBALL: OCT 16 Oregon State at WashingtonFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we venture to Seattle, WA (Go Hawks!) to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Brendan Lopez. Brendan was a top Long Snapper for Rubio Long Snapping in 2007. He started off as a preferred walk-on to Michigan but came back to University of Washington and was put on full scholarship!

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Brendan Lopez….

1.  What is your current occupation?  I am currently in my last year at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. I will complete my training in June 2016 and pursue further speciality training in periodontics. I am also a Rubio Long Snapping staff member for the Seattle, WA area.

2. Where do you live? Seattle, WA.

3. Married/ Kids? Nooooooo

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? Spending time with my teammates. Whether is was during off season workouts, fall camp, traveling to away games or celebrating after a big win, the best part of college football were the friends and relationships that came from it. 

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? Be patient, enjoy the process and have a good life balance. Maintaining other areas of your life outside of football is very important. Don’t forget about friendships outside of football and focus on your education. Have a plan for after college and use football to help you get there. 

6. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? Never want something more than your kid does. 

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? Vegas XXVI. Next one will be XXVII. 

ELKJQDSGVNISCLQ.20130529005445 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? No doubt I would choose University of Washington again. I love Seattle and it’s an excellent school.

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t? Aim lower on my first snap at BYU. Sailing it for a safety with my parents in the stands was pretty embarrassing. 

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? Celebrating in the streets of downtown Seattle after the Seahawks won Super Bowl 48. That was tremendous. 

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Brendan Lopez and Rubio at VEGAS XXV. Lopez does a great job running Rubio Long Snapping lessons in the Seattle, WA area.

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Maturity, Motivation, Parenting, Relationships, Vegas, Where Are They Now? Tagged With: , , ,

Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Corey Adams

August 7, 2015 By

corey adamsFor the next installment of “Where Are They Now?” we venture to Colorado to hear from Rubio Long Snapper Corey Adams. Corey was the #1 Long Snapper for Rubio Long Snapping in 2007 and has some of the quickest hands you will see. Incredible Long Snapper and an even better person.

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Corey Adams….

1.  What is your current occupation?  I currently work as a financial analyst at Lockheed Martin and as a Rubio Long Snapping staff member in CO.

2. Where do you live? Colorado Springs, CO.

3. Married/ Kids? Married to my wife, Karrington, for two and a half years. We are expecting our first child any day now.

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? My fondest memory from playing college football would probably be my very first game my freshman year. We were playing down at Auburn, in front of 90,000+ fans, plus a national TV audience. My high school team was really bad, and I think the biggest crowd we played in front of was MAYBE 1,000 people. Plus, Auburn’s stadium was about three times the size of my hometown, so getting to play in front of that many people for my first college game was pretty memorable.

Also, all the time spent with all the guys on the team. Whether it was workouts, class, practice or study table, it was a just always a good time getting to hang out with them.

5. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? The one bit of advice I would give to Rubio Long Snappers would be to not have any regrets. The very first team meeting at Kansas State, one of our seniors stood up and told us freshman “The days are long but the years are short”. We all thought he was crazy and upset his time was almost up, but before we knew it, we were playing our last game together. That being said, whether it is a homework assignment/test, practice, workout, or just time with your friends/family,  do not take any of it for granted; put 100% effort in and enjoy every second because once it is all over, you will miss it. 

media_sports_m-footbl_auto_action_6053390-14346997279916. If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? The one piece of advice i would give to Rubio Long Snapping parents would be to support your son when needed, but also give him the space to grow. I know there were times growing up when I was snapping with my Dad, and he knew exactly how to judge when to get on my case about snapping harder, lock my legs out etc, or give me my space to get something figured out on my own. Also, when your son is getting ready to transition from High School to College, be there to support him in any decisions he has to make, but give him the space to make his own decisions and speak to the coaching staffs on his own. This transition isn’t always going to be smooth, but at that time of anyone lives is critical to advancing in life.

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? Last time I snapped a football was the Pro/College demo at Vegas XXVI. It was the first one I had snapped in a while, and my form wasn’t what you would call “good”. Rubio texted me a picture of how bad it was, and since then I would like to consider myself retired, until the urge comes up to snap next Vegas.

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? If i was going back and playing college football again, no doubt in my mind I would pick Kansas State. I loved the small town feel and all the support for the football program. I was able to meet my wife there, and have made so many life long friends, I couldn’t see myself playing anywhere else.

 9. Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t? I really don’t have any regrets from college. I was able to get my degree, had the opportunity to play in the NFL, and was able to find a good job once it was all said and done.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated? The coolest thing I have experienced since graduating (probably going to sound geeky) is getting to learn/work with some of the technology that our Department of Defense develops and uses. Some of the things seem like they would be made for a movie and are pretty unimaginable. It’s just neat to know the advancements we are making in those fields.

Be sure to check out the link below to see a news story on Corey when he was just coming out of high school.

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Filed Under: Featured Posts, Maturity, Parenting, Relationships, Where Are They Now? Tagged With: , , ,

Where Are They Now? Casey Hales

July 22, 2015 By

AYLZIQMRELKJHRW.20050711204727For the first installment of “Where Are They Now?” I thought it only appropriate that I start with Rubio Long Snapper Casey Hales. You see, Casey is the first Long Snapper I ever worked with! He was/is a little surfer kid from Orange County, CA with a great attitude that played his college football at Duke!

Check out what has been going on with Rubio Long Snapper Casey Hales….

1.    What is your current occupation? – Medical Device Sales, specializing in spine surgery. 

2. Where do you live? San Francisco, CA

3. Married/ Kids? No

4. What is your fondest memory of your time playing college football? My favorite experience was traveling with the team on road games.

Whenever we would fly it would be on chartered planes, with a police escort, the way it should be. My fondest memory specifically would have to be playing at FSU my true freshman year. I was a little bit on the chubby side, and these really aggressive fans started taunting me right above our sideline. They were screaming and pointing at me trying to get my attention “Hey Chunk, do the truffle shuffle!” Haha! Classic line from Goonies. They repeated this over an over all game. That always reminded me how special it is to play college football, especially when playing in front of 90,000 hostile fans, against the teams I grew up watching on T.V.

5.    If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snappers, what would it be? SET GOALS, and have fun! Make sure you are putting in the work that is going to get you the results you want. It’s easy to be comfortable when you think you are “good enough” either in HS or College. Keep raising the bar for yourself and be accountable for your progress.

6.    If you could give ONE bit of advice to the current Rubio Long Snapping PARENTS, what would it be? Be consistent. Try not to get too high or too low based on a games outcome or 1 snapping performance. If you are consistently being supportive that is enough.

7. When was the last time you snapped a ball and for what reason? This past weekend on the beach. I was tossing the rock with  some friends and it just happened.

 8.   If you could go back and play football in college again, would you go to the same school or a different one? Why? I would go back to Duke in a heart beat. I wouldn’t trade my teammates or the Duke experience for anything. Plus I was one of the most active long snappers (punts) in the country. 

 9 .Any regrets during college? Something you wish you had done or maybe hadn’t? The only thing I wish I had was a redshirt year to develop more. I wasn’t the most physically gifted and could have used another year in the weight room to adjust to the college game and speed.

10.   What tremendous thing have you been a part of or experienced since you graduated?

 Besides Rubio Long Snapping….

After graduation I was one of 10 Duke Athletes selected to participate in the Coach for College Program in Southern Vietnam. This was a 6-week Student-Athlete Program that allowed us to promote the benefits of higher education and athletics. This was a special experience because it allowed me to connect my love for coaching/teaching with the lessons I learned playing football at Duke. We created a multifunctional sports court and got to work with some great kids.

hales

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Where Are They Now? Tagged With: , ,

Where Are They Now?

July 21, 2015 By

Bill Geiser, father of Rubio Long Snapper Jack Geiser (2006, Boston College, Full Scholarship) sent me an email with a great idea. Here is the meat of the email…

The fact is most of the young men you coach will never make it to the NFL. But many, if not most, will graduate and move on to lead very productive careers/lives. This is what parents *really* want for their kids. Knowing this and understanding that what you and Sailer teach goes far beyond technical snapping and kicking skills may be another promotional opportunity for you. The two of you are teaching these kids a lot more than how to snap or kick a ball – you are teaching ‘life lessons’ that will carry all of them far for the rest of their lives. In this regard, I thought a periodic ‘where are they now’ post which talks about what the career accomplishments your graduates have achieved might be a powerful message to deliver to your new, prospective students and….more importantly…to their parents

He is right and I am going to run with this idea. Expect approximately one of these new blogs per month featuring a Rubio Long Snapper of the past.

If you remember, I have done something like this in the past with Rubio Long Snapper Tyler Schmitt and what he is doing now with his life. If you didn’t see it, check THIS out and prepare to be amazed.

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Chris-Rubio-2Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Offering the best instruction and most exposure in the world. Rubio Long Snapping can help you to become the best snapper you can be!

In just 12 years,  Chris Rubio, President and Owner of Rubio Long Snapping, has become the #1 Long Snapping instructor in the country and the go-to man when a college coach needs a Long Snapper. Colleges from across the country rely on “Rubio’s” word day in and day out on who the best Long Snappers are in the country. Rubio Long Snapping has assisted in over 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

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Filed Under: Article Archives, Uncategorized, Where Are They Now? Tagged With: , ,