TEN Years Later and TONS to be Thankful For….

I have never been a really big Thanksgiving fan, but for the tenth year in a row, and every year from this point on, this holiday will always remind me just how thankful I need to be. Here is why….

Anyone that has been with Rubio Long Snapping for over nine years knows about Damon Dale and his story. Damon is my 12 year old son who has had quite the journey in the past nine years. My wife, Jolie and I, are extra thankful during this time of the year because nine years ago we had to go through so much with the little guy.

I’ll recap for those that don’t know his story….

Ten years ago, Damon had not been feeling well, off and on, for a couple weeks. Jolie took Damon took to the doctor on the Monday of Thanksgiving week and found out he had jaundice. We were told it was not that uncommon and to just ride it out and come back the following Monday to see Damon’s doctor.

Like always, we went up to my in-laws for Thanksgiving. Damon is not 100% at all but we just figured it was the jaundice and he would be fine. Our local doctors didn’t seem to be nervous, so we weren’t either.

On the Saturday after Thanksgiving, my family was still up at my in-laws in Harrison, ID. To put it nicely, Damon acted and looked like crap. Everyone agreed, we needed to take Damon to the hospital. We hopped in the car, went to the nearest big urgent care (about an hour away from Harrison in Coeur d’Alene, ID.) and the doctor ran some tests then said, “Something is just not right with Damon. You guys need to go to Spokane, WA. to see their Children’s Hospital.” Jolie and I both began to get a little nervous here. I mean we are just in sweats and thought we were going to the urgent care to hear “He’s fine, get him some fluids, some aspirin and wait until Monday.” We were going just to be pre-cautious.

We arrived in Spokane, WA (about another 50 minutes away from Coeur d’Alene, ID.) and they had a room set up for us to stay the night. We both started to lose it a bit more as we had no idea we would have to stay the night. They ran more tests on Damon. It is now about 10:00 pm and Damon is done with the whole process. They told us the major doctor would be in on the AM shift and she would be able to tell us a lot more.

Jolie began to come unglued. I assured her that that is just them covering their butts, all will be fine and, if all hell really was breaking loose, they would send us to Seattle, WA. (everyone in the northwest knows, it is truly a CODE RED if they say you have to go to Seattle…the big city)

Well, the morning came, the doctor arrived and said something is really not right with Damon and we were going to be flown to Seattle Children’s Hospital in the next twenty minutes.

Time stopped. Jolie and I lose it. Damon loses it. He has no idea what the heck is happening, but he is just done with all the poking and prodding.

In the plane to Seattle Children's Hospital

In the plane to Seattle Children’s Hospital

I got on the plane with Damon, the pilot and two nurses. Jolie, not in the condition to go, gets on the next flight with the help of the staff in Spokane (they were awesome). I actually only beat her by like 30 minutes.

First of all, let me tell you, Seattle Children’s Hospital knows what they are doing. There is a reason they are one of the top children’s hospitals in the world. Anyway, they run MORE and MORE tests on Damon. Blood test after blood test. If I remember correctly, Damon was getting “poked” every two to three hours for tests (yes, all day long).

We get fully admitted and they sit us down to talk to us. They proceed to tell Jolie and I that Damon had Acute Liver Disease and explain all that is going to happen to him. They told us how he got it was a mystery, and it is was caused by a virus that anyone could have gotten as well. We would have to wait and see how his “numbers” progressed. Getting out of the hospital quickly is becoming a luxury we won’t be seeing in the near future.

After a couple of days, maybe four, (it gets blurry here since so much was happening) we have to meet with the MAIN, MAIN doctor for Seattle Children’s Hospital in a meeting room. He tells us that we won’t be leaving Seattle anytime soon, Damon’s liver is not getting better at all, he will need to have a liver transplant, he will be #1 on the list for said transplant and this will all begin to take place within the next four hours. Jolie and I absolutely lose it. I mean lose it. He left us with “We need to do one more blood test in four hours. If those numbers keep going down like they have been, it’s a go and the surgery is happening fast. Be ready.

Not wanting to grasp how severe the whole situation was and not being able to talk from crying so hard, I remember specifically looking at him and saying “Um, I can’t stay here even this weekend, I have a camp in NC and GA that I need to be at.” His response, “You aren’t going anywhere until March.” Time stopped. (First camps I missed but I can’t tell you how great my instructors were that stepped up for Rubio Long Snapping. Thank you again Jeff Abraham and Corey Adams).

The next four hours are a blur. We met with countless people that were beginning the process of telling us how Damon’s life would be different for the rest of his life. How our life would be different. Where we would need to stay for the next couple of months (FYI: If you don’t know about the Ronald McDonald House, you really need to check out this amazing organization and what they do).

Well, fours had passed and Damon gets “poked” again for the final test. The blood test comes back and Damon’s numbers didn’t move. They didn’t go up and they didn’t go down. The doctor and the entire staff were confused. He said, this isn’t necessarily good, but it isn’t bad either. We would need another blood test in another four hours.

Another four hours go by and the next test stayed the same again. And the next. And the next. Hope?

Our room where Damon, Jolie and I stayed for about two weeks.

Our room where Damon, Jolie and I stayed for about two weeks.

Then, a blood test came back with numbers that rose. Then, again, another blood test came back with better numbers. Then, again.

The staff (and I mean staff, they had about ten doctors alone working on Damon’s case since it was so unique for his age) didn’t want us to get anxious but you could even see they sensed something was happening.

They told us that we would have to stay in the hospital for at least another week to see how the numbers progressed but, very cautiously, said this was a good sign.

After two weeks of more tests and nonstop monitoring , we were allowed to leave the hospital but had to stay very close as tests needed to be done every couple of hours.

Then, on December 17th,  after countless days in a hotel, Damon had a doctor visit and they told us we were allowed to go home!

It was a MIRACLE. An absolute MIRACLE!

I re-tell this story since this is the time of the year when it all happened and I want everyone to know just how thankful Jolie and I are for Damon’s health and for all members of the Rubio Long Snapping family. That was a ROUGH month and I wish it on no one…ever. Seeing your child in the hospital is terrible. Absolutely terrible.

Bottom line….

  • Damon Dale is perfectly healthy now. The doctors call it a miracle. The doctors told me they call this type of cure a “OGK” (Only God Knows)
  • Damon was part of a study through Seattle Children’s Hospital since his care was so unique (the study actually concluded three years ago). For a child his age, to get liver disease that quickly absolutely baffled them. They simply don’t get how he got it or how it stopped. His liver went from killing itself to fixing itself within hours. 
  • We can’t thank our neighbors back in Lewiston, ID enough. I call them “The Triangle” since our houses form one. They are the best neighbors you can ever imagine. By the time we drove home (how did we get a car to Seattle? Oh, they drove one out to us….like I said, the best) we walked into our house and they had our Christmas tree up and our house decorated. We lost it again. They are the best.
  • I wrote a blog when this all happened explaining the situation and that I wouldn’t be at the NC and GA camps (I would link to the blog, but due to our old blog company, that blog got “lost”…yes, they have been fired) and on that blog, I wrote how Damon (cough, cough, I) would be updating everyone on his situation through his Twitter account (@DamonDaleRubio). The outpouring of love from everyone (we had random people stopping into see us that were friends of friends of friends) around the country was amazing for the little guy. I highly recommend going to his Twitter account, searching back to November and December, nine years back, and reading his account of what happened.

Please, remember this time of the year to be extra thankful for what you have and tell someone what they mean to you. Have a great Thanksgiving weekend….I know I will.

Damon's first walk in the hospital

Damon’s first walk in the hospital

Damon Hospital 4

Long Snappers at the GA Camp giving Damon a shout out.

Damon Hospital 3

Damon in the hospital

Damon Hospital 5

Damon in the hotel

Damon Hospital 6

Minutes after we found out we could go home!

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From a Rubio Long Snapping Parent…..

A long time Rubio Long Snapping parent asked me if they could write a blog for everyone to read. Here it is….

I have wanted to write about our experience with Rubio Long Snapping for years because there are things that I wish someone had pointed out/told me when we were first getting started.

Our son is a Rubio Long Snapper. He isn’t just a long snapper he is a Rubio Long Snapper and he is now playing Divison 1 college football on full scholarship.

From the time our son was in 1st grade he had 3 goals:

  1. He wanted to make the Varsity Football Team at his high school as a sophomore – we are a 6A school so making Varsity as a sophomore is a big deal. (He achieved this goal)
  2. He wanted to play Division 1 college football (He achieved this goal)
  3. He wanted a full scholarship (He achieved this goal)
  4. He wanted to play in the NFL (He is working toward this goal)

We have always encouraged his passion for the game and sent him to all different types of camps – full contact as well as skills and we have had him in sports performance training since 4th grade.

He started long snapping in 7th grade. His head football coach asked anyone who thought they could snap a ball to try out for the position and he won it. While we “knew” that he snapped the ball for punts, extra points and field goals, we really didn’t have any idea it was an actual “position” so to speak. We thought it was just “something extra” he did in addition to playing Linebacker and Fullback.

The summer before his freshman year in high school he came and asked us to go to a long snapping camp and my husband and I were like – a what??? What in the heck is that? We were in the process of signing him up with a college recruiting service and I asked the representative if he knew of any long snapping camps and he recommended Rubio. The college recruiting service cost us a lot of money and didn’t end up doing anything for us in terms of recruiting BUT it will forever be worth the money because of their recommendation of Rubio Long Snapping.

I got on the computer and found out that Rubio was doing fall camps in various locations but the one closest to us was already set up. I emailed Rubio and was able to get our son on the waiting list and – eventually – into the camp.

This camp was our first exposure to the ins and outs of long snapping and to Rubio. While at the camp, my husband saw another father there that he knew. The father

wanted to share all of his knowledge with us and informed us that we shouldn’t limit ourselves to doing only Rubio camps – we should do ALL of the different ranking camps and get our son out there so he could have as much exposure as possible. Basically he was saying not to put all of our eggs in one basket. We listened politely to everything he said but at the end of the camp I told my husband that I didn’t agree – that I really liked this Rubio guy and how he ran his camp and our son seemed to respond to him and that was that. We never looked back and never put him anywhere else and have never been sorry about that. Interestingly enough, this other long snapper never ended up playing college ball and his father approached my husband here in town after our son received his scholarship to tell us how wrong he had been and if he had it to do over again, he would’ve stuck with Rubio like we did. He spent so much time running from one camp to the other that his son never had any consistency in terms of critique or what he needed to do to be the best that he could be.

SO WHY NOT PUT YOUR KID AT ALL THE DIFFERENT RANKING CAMPS?

Well, there are several reasons for this in my opinion. First, they are extensions of Kicking Camps – not really long snapping camps per se and it is not always the same person doing the evaluations and/or rankings so there is no consistency in what your son is being told to do and/or work on to improve.

Over the years, I can’t even count how many times our son has been approached to train with these other companies or attend their “invite only” camps. They have stalked him on social media, private messages and at different college camps he was attending that they happened to be running. The invited him to their regional camps and their “invitation only” camps (which is pretty much anyone that will pay for it). What they REALLY wanted to do was recruit a Rubio Long Snapper. They will pretty much tell you anything/everything you want to hear to get you to go to their camps but they really don’t do anything for you and your son in the long run – oh yeah – big talk and all but very little contacts and actions. If you look across the board in college football – the vast majority of long snappers come out of Rubio Long Snapping. I’m not telling you that there aren’t some from other companies but – overall – the college coaches trust and rely on Rubio and his evaluations. It doesn’t really matter if you are the #4 ranked long snapper in your class on their site if they are only ranking 30 kids. What, exactly, does that tell a college coach? That you invested your time and money with a company that doesn’t see enough long snappers to truly be an expert in the art form that really is long snapping.

I’ve seen kids go with other companies in addition to Rubio and think that they are somehow going to be chosen for a bowl game that way. That.Isn’t.Going.To.Happen. Let me repeat that – That.Isn’t.Going.To.Happen. Look back through their choices over the years and you can bet that their choices are never kids that train elsewhere. They TELL you that your kid is amazing and has a shot at it just to get your money and have your kid at that camp. Rubio now chooses snappers for 2 different bowl games and that isn’t an accident – he really is the foremost authority on long snappers.

If a “coach” from another long snapping company only tells you and your son how amazing he is and how much this company could do with/for them, they are likely blowing smoke up his (and your) butt. The truth is that every long snapper has things that can be improved. Our son continues to train with Rubio privately once a year and with Finch as many times as we can manage it when he is home for any period of time and he attends the college camp. And guess what? There are still things Rubio has him working on in order to go to the next level – the NFL.

Regardless of which college team is your favorite I don’t think that there is any doubt in anyones mind that Nick Saban is one of the best coaches in college football history. There is a reason that he only uses Rubio Long Snappers – think about that!

RANKINGS AND HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM

This is a tricky one and I will be the first to admit that I didn’t (and still don’t) always agree with Rubio in whoever was ranked above my kid. Now, I didn’t question the STAR rankings of the kids involved, but if there were several kids with the same number of stars – I didn’t always think that the person/people he ranked above my son were better than him. Sometimes I did agree and sometimes I didn’t but what I always DID agree with is whatever he critiqued our son on needing to work on so that is where we put our focus. Concentrating on that is what made our son the long snapper he is today.

If you and your kid don’t like where he is ranked, work on what Rubio says he needs to work on and improve that and then the next time Rubio sees him he will likely move up in the rankings because he fixed, or at the very least improved, that situation.

Or you can go coach shopping and find another company to tell you what you want to hear because they want your money. If they are telling you how awesome you are when Rubio is telling you what you need to work on then I would question their knowledge level. The way I look at it is this – wouldn’t it be “easier” for Rubio to just tell every kid how amazing he is and then write that up after every camp? He doesn’t do

that – he actually pays attention to the kid AT the camp and then goes back and watches their film and gives you detailed information – and he balances that – giving positive affirmations as well as things that need to improve. Ask yourself which “review” a college coach is going to trust – one that only tells you how amazing this kid is or one that is honest and straightforward? I personally prefer to hear the bottom line truth and so does our son. What about you?

AND ANOTHER THING ABOUT RANKINGS

I’ve heard a lot of people complain that their kid should be ranked higher or have more stars when their kid hasn’t been at camps. They complain that Rubio only wants them at the camps so that he can make more money. Two things here:

  1. Rubio can only rank the kid if he SEES the kid. So even if you think your kid is better than John X right now, if your kid isn’t at the camp and John X is and John X is better NOW than the last time Rubio saw your kid then John X is going to jump your kid in the rankings because he can only compare John X NOW to your kid the last time he saw him. This isn’t Rubio moving your kid down in the rankings at all – it is about another kids improvement since the last time he saw him and since he hasn’t seen your kid since then…..well you see how that is?
  2. This is Rubio’s business – his livelihood, his way to support his family so absolutely there is a financial aspect to him doing this. But – I have never been involved with an organization where the owner gives so much back to the kids. If you or your kid texts Rubio, he answers, if you comment on one of his posts on social media – he answers. He is encouraging and funny and supportive of everyone that is part of the Rubio Family – parents and kids and he doesn’t charge a dime for any of that “extra” support. My son started as a true college freshman and his first game was an away game and it was supposed to rain. Although my son was confident in his abilities he was a bit nervous and got in touch with Rubio and guess what Rubio did? He answered him right away and took the time to talk him through everything that needed to happen for our son to be successful. He set him at ease and helped him get out of his head in that minute when it truly mattered. I don’t know any other “long snapping” companies that are that accessible in that way and would’ve taken that time – after business hours – to do that. Do you?

    RUBIO FAMILY

Our particular high school class of long snappers was an exceptionally close class and I have heard people from other classes complain that they don’t have that bond that we

had – parents and kids. ANY class can have that bond but you have to have one or more families who are invested in making things happen – lunch together during camps, dinners together after camps staying the same hotel in Vegas and regional camps, etc. Guess what that means? Someone has to step up to the plate and coordinate it all – meaning do the research and keep in contact with everyone. If no one does that then it doesn’t happen.

The other thing I noticed is that all the families in our class were supportive of ALL the boys. There wasn’t any competition EXCEPT on the field. These kids have had a group chat going since they were Event Elite together summer before their Junior Year in high school and Top 12 the summer before their Senior Year and they are going into their (academic) Junior Year in college now and still chatting via group text. If someone was going to turn down an offer, they told the others in their group chat so that the rest of them could reach out to the coach if they were interested in playing for that college. No one “hoarded” that information – they shared contact information for coaches so that they could all achieve their dreams. They were all doing exactly what Rubio taught them to do – building each other up rather than tearing each other down.

Whenever I’ve seen issues between kids in the same class (not friendly competition), you can bet that some adults is egging that on and so if you stop any of that, then you can all have the same closeness up and down the rankings that we had. I can honestly tell you that out of the 5 Start Snappers in our class any one of them could’ve been #1 in the class on any given day. And, out of the parents in our class – we are still close to many of them and keep in touch and keep rooting for each others kids.

Rubio actively encourages these kids to not only be great long snappers but also to be great human beings.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

If your son genuinely wants to play college football don’t be laser focused on whether it is a scholarship or a PWO. I mean, I get it – they all want a full ride but there are still some schools that simply will not bring in a long snapper on scholarship as a true freshman. Don’t make your son feel like a failure that he “only” received PWOs. Long Snapping isn’t like playing QB or RB where the school is going to take at least one player in that position every single year. If they don’t need a long snapper, it doesn’t matter how good your kid is – they aren’t going to take them.

We constantly told our son that he could play where HE wanted to play whether it was a PWO or scholly (and he multiple offers of each type). Ultimately he chose a school

that offered him a full ride but – for him – it was more about the actual University then it was about anything else.

CONTINUED TRAINING

This is a mistake I’ve seen families make. Our son got the offer so we are done with training. The difference between high school football and college football is the difference between driving on the Interstates here in the US and driving on the autobahn in Germany and you want your son to keep honing his skills for his entire college – and NFL – career.

We highly recommend starting private lessons with Rubio in high school and continuing these at least yearly – through college and beyond. Also, be sure you have your kid training at least sometimes during the year with a RUBIO instructor (Samantha can tell you where the closest RUBIO instructor is to you) and if you aren’t near one then go with Virtual Lessons. We started private lessons with Finch as soon as we started with Rubio and that made a huge difference. We didn’t have the option of virtual lessons at that time so we drove quite a distance on a regular basis so that our son could improve. With the option of virtual lessons, the sky is truly the limit in terms of improvement.

The one “regret” that I have is that we didn’t start private lessons with Rubio in Idaho sooner than we did. It is definitely an investment but having Rubio completely and utterly focused on your son for a period of time truly is priceless and every time we have gone up there it has taken our son to the next level. So, as soon as you can afford that – do it – you won’t regret it.

We also recommend attending January and May Vegas if at all possible. It gives your son invaluable experience.

THOUGHTS TO TAKE AWAY

To sum all of this up, our son worked very hard and daily to achieve his goal of playing college football and continues to work his butt off to be the best that he can be but none of this would’ve been possible without Rubio.

Rubio wasn’t easy on him. He set goals for him that were sometimes difficult for our son to achieve but he worked as hard as he did because Rubio expected it of him and challenged him to never settle for less. People rise to the level of expectation that are

placed upon them and we believe that Rubio set him up for success by expecting these things from him.

So I will end this the way I started it…..Our son is a Rubio Long Snapper. He isn’t just a long snapper, he is a Rubio Long Snapper and we are very proud of that distinction.

Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, 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 14 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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Rubio Long Snapping has become…

Rubio Long Snapping has grown immensely over the past 16 years….

Rubio Long Snapping has gone from having barely double digit Long Snappers at a Vegas Event to double digits plus 300 at the same Vegas Event.

Rubio Long Snapping has gone from 1 lesson per every other month to continuous lessons all over the country, Virtual Lessons and lessons with NFL Long Snappers (that have been with Rubio Long Snapping since the beginning)

Rubio Long Snapping has gone from a couple Long Snappers going to college, to over 350 in the past three years alone, and to over 1,000 in college and/or the NFL!

Rubio Long Snapping has gone from not being able to fill the TOP 12 Camp, to having so much talent at one, a simple video of kids with offers could take over a minute.

Rubio Long Snapping method of training and exposure has been so productive that it has literally made history in programs.

Rubio Long Snapping has created testing and rankings that are beyond fair to showcase a Long Snapper’s true talent level. If a Long Snapper can show up and dominate, they are at the top. If they don’t, they aren’t. Rankings are based on snapping and talent. Come to one camp or come to fifty, it doesn’t impact your rankings unless you prove yourself…you either have it, get it and show it or you don’t.

Rubio Long Snapping is proven, it’s impact is overwhelming and it’s actual results are simply incredible.

Rubio Long Snapping is not a place for research or experiments, where measurement may be performed with possible results.

Rubio Long Snapping is a producer. It produces polished, glorious, exceptional final products.

Rubio Long Snapping produces polished Long Snappers that produce on and off the field.

Rubio Long Snapping produces a family atmosphere where people from all over the country compete with one another but still, in the end, want the best for each other’s children.

Rubio Long Snapping produces countless, and I mean countless, testimonials from parents, coaches and Long Snappers.

There is no trial and error with possible results from Rubio Long Snapping. There is only production.

Rubio Long Snapping has become a FACTORY that simply produces greatness and results.

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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 300 Long Snappers earning FULL SCHOLARSHIPS to major colleges and universities just for Long Snapping and many into the NFL as well.

For a full list of upcoming camps, please go HERE

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Rubio Virtual Lessons!

As many of you have noticed at camps, on social media, and through conversation, Rubio Long Snapping is improving every time you see us. We add new drills, new online interviews, change up the TOP 12 format, and market our private instruction all in the efforts to create MAXIMUM exposure for the Rubio Long Snapping family.

Well, we’re improving….AGAIN!

Starting in June, Rubio Long Snapping will be launching Rubio Virtual Lessons which will exclusively be run by long-time senior staff member, John Finch. Over the past eight years, Finch has been my top private instructor (other than yours truly, of course) and he wants to help Long Snappers from all around the world, at every level. Finch has worked privately with over 30 Rubio Long Snappers that have taken their career to the collegiate level including seven TOP 12 Long Snappers in the past three years.

The goal for Rubio Long Snapping is for every Long Snapper to have the opportunity to snap in college and the NFL. Private instruction is a great way to make that happen and we know that not every member of the Rubio family lives near a private instructor. Rubio Virtual Lessons changes that and opens up private instruction to all….no matter the Long Snapper’s location!

You will be able to sign up for online private instruction with Finch through the Rubio Long Snapping registration page. Think of these lessons as the regional camp film session but one on one with just the Long Snapper, the parents and Finch (and possibly even Rubio at times). You will submit film from ten snaps to Finch and he will go through them one by one with each snapper via video chat. He will then give each Long Snapper specific drills to work on before their next session. Every single lesson will be one on one and completely tailored to what the Long Snapper needs. Each Long Snapper will be able to have a top notch private lesson with Rubio Long Snapping!

Packages will be laid out in multiple options and you can register for them HERE….

  • Solo Lesson
  • 4-pack (1 lesson per week for 1 month – 10% overall savings)
  • 8-pack (2 lessons per week for 1 month – 15% overall savings)
  • 12-pack (1 lesson per week for 3 months – 20% overall savings)
  • 24-pack (2 lessons per week for 3 months – 25% overall savings)

Be on the lookout for more information regarding the Rubio Virtual Lessons coming soon and be sure to contact Finch asap to reserve spots as he is only taking a limited number at the beginning of the Rubio Virtual Lessons.

Feel free to reach out to Finch@RubioLongSnapping.com with questions.

Rubio Virtual Lessons does not take place of a private lesson with Rubio or a certified Rubio instructor and will not allow a Long Snapper to be reranked. Only attending a camp and/or a private lesson with Rubio will do that for a Long Snapper. For more information on a private lesson with Rubio, please email Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com

___________________________________________________________________

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 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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The Journey of Rubio Long Snapper Damon Johnson

I wanted to tell you a quick story, that very few of you actually know about, regarding Rubio Long Snapper Damon Johnson.

Damon, a 2016 Five Star Rubio Long Snapper from CA, was offered a full scholarship to West Virginia back in June heading into his senior year. He took his trip there during the fall, fell in love with it and committed to be their next Long Snapper in October of his senior year.

On the Friday of VEGAS XXVII in January (several months after his commitment), Damon was packing the car for the weekend and was contacted by a Graduate Assistant from West Virginia.The G.A. informed Damon that West Virginia was not going to honor their commitment to Damon and there would be no scholarship for him as they were going to give it to another position. (I have been working with Long Snappers for well over a decade and this is the first time I have ever seen something like this happen. First time.) 

Damon was beyond dumbfounded and completely thrown for a loop. Down in the dumps would be the biggest understatement in the history of mankind. This is a kid, who is very quiet and doesn’t show much emotion, having to deal with a major ordeal before one of the biggest weekends of his life. Damon who was so loyal to West Virginia that he told many schools (North Carolina, Memphis, Portland State and BYU) that he was done with his recruiting to get ready for the Mountaineers.

Imagine heading to a Rubio Long Snapping Vegas competition with a full scholarship under your belt, knowing you could breathe a little easier and having it taken from you (out of your control) at the very last second. 99.9% of the Long Snappers and their families would have not shown up or been a visual mess. With the Johnson family, you would never be able to tell anything was even wrong. I am still amazed at how well they handled it all.

I told him and his family to simply relax and that EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON. I knew we could be headed for an uphill battle, but even I didn’t realize just how much of a fight it would entail.

After a call, USC immediately jumped on the Damon bandwagon and wanted him asap. A top tier Rubio Long Snapper is not always around after signing day and one had just appeared. Damon began communication with the Trojans but soon found out his English score on the SAT was simply too low to be a preferred walk-on at USC. This is where Damon goes from a boy, to a man.

Damon was told he would have to go to a JC, maintain a 3.5 GPA, take eight classes from summer through fall, and if he received a C or lower, he would disqualify himself. The eight classes had to be core classes (fluff elective classes would NOT be accepted).

This is a BIG reach for Damon. He is (was) not, let’s say, a very motivated and/or highly academic student….in the past. School was something Damon simply tolerated in order to play football and hang out with his friends. His entire mindset would have to change.

He stuck his head in the books, camped out in the library and hired any tutors he could find to help him TRY to achieve his goal of getting to USC. In the summer, he took English, History and Art History. In the fall, he took English, Biology with a lab, Sociology, History and Criminal Justice. He studied and studied and studied and studied and studied….well, you get my point.

About one week ago, Damon received his final grades from Citrus Junior College and found he had done it! USC already knew and congratulated him on his accomplishment. He would be able to get into USC and play football for them. To put even more icing on the cake, the Trojans presented Damon with a four year college scholarship to USC instead of a preferred walk-on!

Damon accepted, signed right away and will be enrolling at USC on January 4th.

I am EXTREMELY proud of Damon and his family. I really don’t think Damon, or his family, even believed he could do it. There were many calls, texts, emails between us all. Damon, and his family, have traveled an incredible emotional journey over the past year. His story is one that I will tell countless times as I am sure he and his family will as well.

Remember, recruiting is never easy and no two stories are the same. Patience is a key virtue throughout and, never forget, everything happens for a reason.

Congratulations once again to Rubio Long Snapper Damon Johnson! YOU DID IT….on the field and, more importantly, off the field as well.

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Rubio 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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Rubio Long Snapping Lessons in Idaho

screen-shot-2016-11-01-at-4-27-00-pmAs stated before, there are many reasons to get a private Long Snapping lesson with me in Lewiston, ID. Obviously improving your form, asking as many questions as you have and coming out with an enormous amount of confidence are just a few of the things that come to my mind.

The funny thing is, I would say about 90% of the Long Snapping families that come out to Idaho end up coming back for at least one more time.

To make things easier and more beneficial for the Rubio Long Snapping family, I have contacted a local hotel and gym to give Rubio Long Snapping families a great rate. o

Rubio Long Snapping is now associated with the Holiday Inn Express and Smart Fitness.

When you set your lesson schedule (this is done by emailing Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com for availability), you will now have a great and affordable option for your stay and additional fitness requirements while in the great northwest.

See you soon! FYI: Spots before VEGAS XXIX are filling up VERY quickly.

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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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2nd Annual Rubio Long Snapper George Steward Award

Steward, GeorgeTo honor Rubio Long Snapper George Steward, let’s do this again!

If you have been following me on social media the past year, you know that the Rubio Long Snapping family suffered a terrible loss with the tragic death of Rubio Long Snapper George Steward one year ago today.

George was simply waiting at an intersection, with his long time girlfriend, when an out of control car crushed his car and ended his, and his girlfriend’s lives. They were 18 years old.

If you knew George, even for a second, you knew he was always smiling and having a good time. His smile was infectious. He was a big man with a big heart and an even bigger smile.

George was the perfect reflection of a Rubio Long Snapper.

I have spoken to his mom several times over the past couple of years. She is obviously extremely distraught over what has occurred but wants George to live on with Rubio Long Snapping. She told me he was extremely proud to be a Rubio Long Snapper (look at his graduation announcement) and was always in a Rubio shirt.

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George’s mom, Adrienne De La Fuente, wants to create a VEGAS scholarship in George’s name. She wants to sponsor a deserving Long Snapper that wants to go to VEGAS but possibly doesn’t have the means. She asked me to create the criteria, so here we go….

WHO: Any Long Snapper from 7th grade to 2nd year of JC

WHAT: This award will go simply to a happy Long Snapper. In honor of George, who was ALWAYS smiling and happy, this award will go to someone on that same page. To enter, you need to include at least three pictures of you with a genuine smile. Three more with you around others smiling and two letters of recommendation (yup, you guessed it, just stating you are happy person) from a family member and someone at your school.

WHEN: All entries must be in my hand by November 14th. Now, to make things easier this year, they can be mailed OR scanned and emailed to me at Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com

WHERE: All entries must be mailed to me at the following address:
Rubio Long Snapping
1104 Richardson Ave.
Lewiston, ID. 83501

If you win this award but have already signed up for VEGAS XXIX, I will push your win to VEGAS 30!

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UPDATE!!!!

jaden-sanchez8209And the winner, chosen by George’s mother Adrienne, is going to be Rubio Long Snapper Jaden Sanchez!

Here is just one testimonial about Jaden and his smile…

“Jaden Sanchez, a freshman at Bakersfield High School and 14 years old, sounds a lot like George… always smiling.  Jaden’s smile is infectious and makes everyone around him happier.  Jaden has faced many obstacles in his life but nothing keeps him from having that huge smile on his face.  Finding out about 4 years ago that he was diagnosed with alopecia and loosing every hair on his body was hard for him but he still found a way to stay positive and always had/has a smile on his face.  We would be at the dermatologist’s office with him and even when going thorough treatments and getting 16 shots in his head, I remember him having a smile on his face.  Jaden is a great young man with a great attitude on life… it shows in that awesome smile!”

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VEGAS XXIX CONTEST WINNER!!!!

Vegas XXIX_ContestAs you know, Rubio Long Snapping had a GIVE BACK CONTEST for a free admission to VEGAS XXIX.

All of my contests are difficult to judge, but this was one was probably the most tricky as everyone did a great job in expressing themselves and what they do to give back. I saw videos on topics ranging from….

  • Voluntarily mowing a cemetery lawn that takes THREE days…
  • Working with the Special Olympics
  • Volunteering for a Pediatric Cancer Foundation
  • Care packages of food for the needy
  • Organizing kid’s games at the local church
  • Heart screenings for teens
  • Serving meals to the needy
  • Working on a food drive for ELEVEN years
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Traveling to Costa Rica to help the poor
  • A project to keep kid’s in school
  • The Ronald McDonald House
  • It’s About the Warrior Foundation to help soldiers

Honestly, any one of the entries could have won but there are two that really stood out and here they are in alphabetical order….

Needless to say, I was VERY impressed with Nick Tibbetts and Jacob Zuhr for acting as leaders in their community. They not only volunteer, they started a volunteering organization to get others involved.

So, in the spirit of GIVING BACK, I am going to crown them BOTH the winners of the contest and they are both going to be given a FREE admission to VEGAS XXIX!

Congratulations once again to Tibbetts and Zuhr for going above and beyond in helping others. These two, and all of the others, are great examples of what the Rubio Long Snapping family is all about!

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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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Positive Vibes Needed for Rubio Long Snapper Ryan Parris

12983214_10209156556736206_8333383286686519457_oA couple of weeks ago I was contacted by Butch Parris. Butch is a long time member of the Rubio Family and his son, Ryan, is on the team at the University of Alabama. He notified me of a medical issue Ryan was having in Tuscaloosa. I offered to write this blog, so here we go.

Ryan needs some MAJOR positive vibes right now from the whole Rubio Long Snapping Family.

Here is the deal….

Couple weeks ago…The weekend of the LSU game this past season, Ryan started having vision and irritation problems in his left eye. It wasn’t the first time for something like that, he’s worn contacts for years and it happens occasionally.

This time though, it didn’t get any better.

To make a long story short, he has Acanthamoeba keratitis in his left eye. It’s a rare disease where an amoeba invades the cornea. It can result in permanent visual impairment or even blindness. It often takes 4 or 5 months to diagnose, but Ryan was lucky, it only took 2 months for him. Since the week after the National Championship game, he’s been visiting a cornea specialist in Birmingham once a week. During that time, he’s been on a strict regimen of drops that in some ways do as much harm as they do good.

We got some good news today, his vision, the irritation and the infection are all getting better. The biggest issue now is his cornea. Throughout this process, the irritation in his eye (in some ways exacerbated by the drops) has really been bad for his cornea. Today, the doctor put an amniotic membrane on his eye to a) slow down the damage being done and b) help the cornea repair itself.

If that membrane works, he should make a complete recovery. If it doesn’t, he’s going to need a corneal transplant. That wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world, but it would most likely end his time playing football.

Today….But, he went back to the doctor yesterday and things have gotten worse. Right now, it looks like the infection has made a comeback.

It’s so bad, that when the doc held two fingers up two feet in front of him (with his right eye covered) he could only tell that her hand was there. He had no idea how many fingers she was holding up.

He’s going back to the doc tomorrow. If things aren’t better, it’s likely that he’ll have surgery on Thursday.

PLEASE keep the entire Parris family in your thoughts. This kid needs all of the positive vibes he can get right now.

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What Do You Get at a Rubio Long Snapping Camp?

INSTRUCTION – There is simply no doubt that you will receive the best instruction in the country at a Rubio Long Snapping camp. It is unprecedented and known by college and NFL coaches throughout the country. When you sign up for a Rubio Long Snapping camp, you get perfection. I am there, my senior staff is there, on time and we don’t leave early.

EXPOSURE – Every camp that Rubio Long Snapping run offers the most exposure possible for Long Snappers. I bombard several avenues to make sure my Long Snappers are visible to all. The Rubio Long Snapping YouTube Channel has over 970,000 views (this is all just for Long Snapper….NO kickers are on the page). RubiosBlog.com has been viewed well over 1,000,000 times. @TheChrisRubio on Twitter has over 5,750 followers (many of which are coaches) and the Rubio Long Snapping Facebook Page has over 5,600 followers (many of which are coaches) and stories in publications all over the world make Rubio Long Snapping the one stop shop for the most exposure in the country.

PLAYER PROFILE PAGE – As soon as you perform in a camp in the fall (or after) of your freshman year, you get a PLAYER PROFILE PAGE….for free! This player profile page is controlled by me and it can have any information you wanted added to it at anytime. You can use it for your recruiting purposes throughout high school.

RANKINGS – As soon as you perform in a camp in the fall (or after) of your freshman year, you get a ranking. I don’t rank off a target. I don’t rank off a formula. That would be ignorant. I rank off of THIS blog that describes what makes a Long Snapper great. That ranking can be adjusted anytime I see you live. Coaches look to these rankings religiously in their recruiting of Long Snappers.

YOUTUBE VIDEO – At every single Rubio Long Snapping camp you attend, you will be filmed for a YouTube video. Those videos will be placed on your free player profile page. You can use the video at your own discretion. It is yours and there is no extra charge for this service.

FILM SESSION – At Rubio Long Snapping camps, I will go in with you to a classroom and review the morning sessions. Long Snappers attend but I really want the parents/guardians to attend as well since this is when a majority of the learning will take place.

RECRUITING SEMINAR – At Rubio Long Snapping camp, Chris Sailer and I run an hour long recruiting seminar where we hit on some key topics and always open it up to a Q&A session for the specialists and parents. You will not leave without all your questions answered.

PROVEN SUCCESS – Dont’ believe me? See what others have to say HERE

RUBIO LONG SNAPPING SHIRT – You know, to wear at prom and such:)

Trust me when I tell you, I could keep this list going and going and going. Things like Friendship, Confidence, Humor are just some immediate things that pop into my head….see you soon! Remember, Not only on the field, but off. I am not your coach. I am your Rubio and I will be there for you.

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r4ubio5Rubio 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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How to Get an Unofficial Recruiting Trip

Ask. Seriously, that is all you have to do . Call the football office (THE PLAYER CALLS) and say the following when they answer…
“Hi, my name is ___________ and I am a Rubio Long Snapper in the class of ____. (if you want to brag about your ranking, here is where you would do it). I am very interested in going to, and being recruited by,  _____(insert name of school)_____. I am looking to get put on the UNOFFICIAL RECRUIT LIST for your game vs. __________. What is the next step?”
At this point, they will most likely ask you some basic questions…(Name again, school, address, etc.). Answer them all because then you will be in their database and start getting more stuff from the school. Please note: if this is done during the off-season, you simply tell them what day(s) you will be on campus and they will do the rest. Couple Points….
  • The difference between an OFFICIAL RECRUITING TRIP and an UNOFFICIAL RECRUITING TRIP is that the athlete pays his way on the UNOFFICIAL RECRUITING TRIP
  • You can take AS MANY unofficial recruiting trips as you’d like. You are only allowed five official recruiting trips.
  • The bigger the game, the bigger the recruit you have to be in order to get those tickets. If you are not an absolute stud, you most likely won’t get a big time rivalry game.
  • You can start this process anytime, but usually sophomore year is good to let it rain.
  • Dress accordingly. Look clean and presentable. Rubio Long Snapping shirt or sweatshirt is always a good choice.
  • If you are too thin, wear thermals. If you are too heavy, wear something that fits well. If you are built well, wear something tight to show off what you got. Unofficial visits are a good way for a coach to see if you pass the eyeball test. Make sure you pass.
  • If parents go with the athlete, make sure the parents have a lot of taffy in their mouths so they don’t speak. Remember, the coach doesn’t want to hear from the parents. He wants to hear from the athlete.
    Rubio Long Snapping is, by far, the biggest and best resource for Long Snappers in the country. Rubio has been featured in the Washington Post, 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 15 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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You Are Who You Hang Out With

A Rubio Long Snapping parent posted this photo on Facebook and I had to borrow it to show exactly what the Rubio Long Snapping family is all about AND how things continue to grow.

The picture below is from Vegas about five years ago. It shows your normal group of Rubio Long Snappers hanging out on a Saturday evening after the day of instruction. Everyone is smiling and waiting for their food. There is even a little brother thrown in the mix.

Let me give you a run down of the people in the photo. From left to right, Taybor Pepper of Michigan St/NFL., Scott Daly of Notre Dame, Cory Cheadle of Kansas St. Reid Ferguson of LSU/NFL, Blake Ferguson of LSU and Kelly Mason of Kentucky/NFL.

That is one powerful table. Next time you are sitting around with some members of the Rubio Long Snapping family at VEGAS XXVIII on May 21-22, think to yourself and wonder, will Rubio be talking about me in five years?

#YouAreWhoYouHangOutWith

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Taybor, Reid, Blake, Kelly, Cory at Vegas

332

Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Gabriel Miller

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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Nervous at a Rubio Long Snapping Camp? You Aren’t Alone!

Sineath, TannerThis essay was written by Rubio Long Snapper Tanner Sineath (SC, ‘2016). His mother sent it to me…I think without him knowing, but who cares:) and I loved it. I think it really does a good job of showing the emotions and feelings that arise at someone’s first Rubio Long Snapping camp. First timers, parents and Long Snappers, must realize you are not alone and for every single GREAT Long Snapper you see on the field, they had a start and it usually wasn’t good…check films:)

Enjoy…..

I walked up to the registration table and gave my name, received my camp shirt and went off on my own to get ready to go out on the field. I looked around wishing I was like the other seasoned campers all gathered together. The campers already had nicknames from the camp coaches. They were walking around in their special gold shirts, and I felt hunger. I wanted a gold shirt, I wanted a nickname, I wanted the coaches to know me, I wanted to go out and show them all who I was. Wait! Was that jealousy? Probably, but I didn’t care. It fueled me. I was focused. I was going to make it happen. I was going to have them notice me.

That is when I was snapped back into reality! One of the gold shirts snapped the ball, and I thought DANG! I have bitten off more than I can chew! Suddenly the hunger was gone, and replaced by doubt. I didn’t belong here. I was never going to have a nickname, or a gold shirt, or to be part of the group. I tried to swallow, but it just stayed stuck in my throat like a wad of peanut butter. There is no worse feeling than wanting to retreat, but knowing you can’t. I told myself what is the worst thing that can happen? I told myself back, you will look like a fool in front of everyone! I then decided well at least no one knows me here so if I embarrass myself no one will remember it tomorrow.

There it was, they called my name! Time to show them what I have. I felt like I did ok, not great, but at least it didn’t totally suck! I learned a lot that day! I learned I am my own worst enemy. I learned that I am the only person that can hold me back. Then we went to lunch, and I talked to my parents about my feelings. They did their best job of loading me with clichés of doing your best, and hard work pays off. Along with all of the other things good parents are supposed to say. I am in no way saying I didn’t appreciate it, quite the contrary, it was what I wanted to hear from them, but at the same time I was worried, and not realizing the moment was perfect. I was surrounded by love and support, but so bogged down with self-doubt that I couldn’t really appreciate it.

We head back to the camp, and we are reviewing our snapping videos. Rubio got to my video and had positive things to say about my video, and it pretty much made my whole day. Why is it that a strangers words mattered so much more than my parent’s words? Oh yeah, because he didn’t have to say nice things to me. That wasn’t what he was getting paid to do. He is getting paid to teach me. Boy did he! Not just about snapping, but about life, about others opinions, and how even though the world says it doesn’t matter what someone else thinks or says it absolutely does. No college coach is going to call my mom to get her opinion of me, but they will call him. His opinions and words can open or close doors.

What was my point in all of this? My point is that the world is filled with challenges. It is filled with ups and downs. I have no doubt that football has helped me prepare for the real world. This is one example. It is the most vivid example I have. I am grateful for every moment, every life lesson, every friend, and every rival. They have all prepared me for the real world.

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Rubio Long Snapping Training in YOUR Area

2015 Spring Rubio bannerAs you know, Rubio Long Snapping travels the country offering the best instruction and most exposure for Long Snappers. But, sometimes, a Long Snapper needs and wants more training throughout the year. Not a problem.

Rubio Long Snapping has certified instructors, that have actually gone through Rubio Long Snapping camps, to help around the country. These staff members not only know how to teach the Rubio way but are, more importantly, great people off the field as well. They will help each Long Snapper they work with get the basics, master the form and be ready to dominate the next Rubio Long Snapping camp.

Instructors Map

Rubio Long Snapping has official instructors in the following states and countries (more to come)…

  • Alabama
  • Arizona
  • California
  • Canada
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Indiana
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Louisiana
  • Michigan
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oregon
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Washington
  • West Virginia

and even Australia!!!

For more information and to get your training started immediately, please contact Rubio@RubioLongSnapping.com

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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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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Tyler Schmitt

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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Survival Guide for Rubio Long Snapping Parents

A couple weeks ago, a Rubio Long Snapping mom named Ashely Culbertson asked if she could put together a survival guide for the parents. She stated that there is a ton that goes into being a parent at the camp and lots of stuff to be said. Given, I said “Let it rain!” and she did.

TREMENDOUS job by Ashely and definitely something to sit down and soak in.

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Survival Guide for Rubio Long Snapper/Chris Sailer Kicking Parents: 

Quick Reference for the BIG Questions to the Little Questions Most Parent/Guardians of LS and K/P have.

I’m just a mom. It sounds funny to say that out loud, as any parent knows being a parent is not for the faint of heart, so using the phrase “just a mom” is a HUGE understatement. Equally understated is to use the phrase “just the long snapper/kicker/punter.” So, go ahead and move past the “just” and recognize the vitally important role your son (or possibly daughter, but for the sake of time and space I’ll refer to the student athlete in the male form) plays on his team. Special teams, and specifically the long snapper and kicker/punter have, can, and will make or break a football game. I encourage you to go to www.rubiosblog.com and read more in depth blogs on this subject via the link to Rubio’s blog and Sailer’s blog. Another quick and extremely relevant example would be the 2014 college football season during which both regular season and bowl games had outcomes determined by the performance of special teams in the last few seconds. Now, moving forward, I’m just a mom and my kid’s just a long snapper, and the past year and a half has been one of the most exciting journeys…EVER…so buckle up buttercup, here we go!

Your First Rubio/Sailer Camp-

     1. This is typically the one day camp that is held closest to you. You probably googled long snapping or kicking instruction/technique, or heard of Rubio and/or Sailer by word of mouth, and now you’re all signed up for your first Rubio/Sailer Camp for your son. **Prepare to be blown away.** We were. My son had just finished his freshman season, having been pulled to the varsity team and become the starting long snapper for his high school football team. His high school is known for its football program in our state, and my son became a really big fish in a small pond literally overnight. He loved it. We, his parents, thought he was the best thing that had ever happened to long snapping. Once we got to that first camp, the “pond” suddenly got much, much bigger. That’s not to say my son wasn’t good, what I mean is we saw very quickly that if he wanted to get serious about football and college, there was work to be done.

          -This may or may not be your experience and that’s okay. Every situation is unique, and it’s important to take the suggestions that help.

          -You are going to be given A LOT of information. Relax! (You’ll find this to be a recurring theme throughout this experience.) Give it time and it will sink in. Also, Sailer and Rubio are two of the most open and receptive individuals/professionals when it comes to questions. A quick tip, though- after this first camp, when a question comes up, go to the website first. If you still can’t find an answer you are looking for, ask! 

     2. What do I need to take for camp?

Sounds a bit silly, but until you’ve been there, done that, (and now can even get the t-shirt), there are things I definitely would recommend having on hand that I never thought of in the beginning.

          -Wear comfortable clothes and shoes. You will be very involved in this experience and while I love my cute sandals and sundresses as much as the next mom (comfortable clothing applies to dads as well; choose clothes you’d wear when at home working with your son), this isn’t a beauty pageant. Get out your socks and tennis/running/athletic shoes, shorts, and a t-shirt and be ready to work and learn with your son.

          -Bring a chair, you’ll need to be in close proximity to the instruction. Usually that means on the sidelines until Sailer or Rubio call parents to the field. Standing all day or sitting on the grass/turf isn’t ideal.

          -If possible, bring a cooler with water. Water is ALWAYS provided, but if you’re at a camp in the heat of summer, a small cooler (even the soft, foldable ones) that can carry water bottles with ice/cold packs definitely comes in handy. Your athlete should be hydrating daily. The reality is, so should parents. If you or your athlete waits to take in water until thirsty, you’re doing it wrong. HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE! If the camp isn’t close enough to drive to and you are flying, Google the nearest Dollar Store, Dollar General, WalMart, Target, etc. It’s worth the extra ten dollars to have cold water on hand. 

          -Sunscreen. You and your athlete will be outside (weather permitting) for the better part of eight hours. Even if the camp you and your athlete are attending is during one of the cooler months, you may need sunscreen. If it’s a summer camp and you enjoy having a nose, it’s a must.

          -You are going to have about an hour for lunch. Be prepared. Google restaurants close by that you can get in and out of quickly. Another option is bring lunch with you- think tailgating. This can be a good idea for several reasons: you don’t have to rush, your athlete has more time to relax and regroup, and you will likely have the opportunity to get to know others at the camp. It’s important to realize this group of young men will see each other again, and they are building friendships on the field, so build friendships with the parents around you. Be smart, though. If it’s 100* outside, go somewhere out of the heat for this break. Otherwise, I’m confident EMS will gladly take you somewhere cooler- just saying.

          -Bring your camera/phone. Rubio and Sailer are used to taking pictures with athletes at their camps at the end. Even if your kid isn’t big on pictures, DO IT. You’ll look back at some point and realize how far your kid has come, and you’ll be glad you did.

     3. Why does Rubio/Sailer know other kids’ names/parents/families? Will they remember my son? Are they even watching them?

          -Don’t flip out!! Some of the athletes and their families have been working with Rubio/Sailer for years. Just because they know some of the athletes immediately doesn’t mean they aren’t watching your kid. In fact, you just might hear them called by a nickname that will stick (ex. BaconHead, Oregon, MadDawg). Your son may get a “big daddy” thrown his way. This happens because they ARE noticing your kid, and while in that moment they may not use your athlete’s full name, they use these kinds of nicknames because that’s one of the ways they remember the athletes. You may also notice that your athlete is being photographed and videoed…a lot. Relax, Rubio and Sailer are noticing your son from the moment you walk up to the registration table until the moment you leave that afternoon (likely dragging, tired, a little overwhelmed by all the information you’ve been given, and definitely excited and motivated for the future).

           -Remember the big fish/small pond example? This is when you’ll probably realize that while your kid is talented, so are many other kids. Again, relax. At the end of the day, your son has just learned from the best, trained with the best, and been evaluated by the best. Once rankings/evaluations are posted, your athlete is going to have his strengths highlighted while also given constructive criticism. This part of the process ideally will encourage, motivate, and drive your son to put what he has learned to good use if he hasn’t already. Rubio has an excellent blog that explains how his rankings are done, so, again, go to the website, click on Rubio’s blog and search for how his rankings/evaluations are done. It’s fair, honest, and really quite easy to understand.

          -Be patient. Believe me when I say I understand, patience is not one of my virtues. However, Rubio and Sailer will tell the athletes and parents a date their rankings will come out. If you aren’t already, you and your athlete should follow, friend, like, etc. Sailer and Rubio on all social media sources. They will let everyone know via their blogs and social media that the rankings are up. 

     -Get familiar with social media- like yesterday. You will hear it, read it, and maybe wake up repeating it: Be sure your athlete is being appropriate when using social media. Colleges are watching and noting EVERYTHING your athlete is doing if they are a potential recruit. Think of it like Santa Claus (you better watch out…he knows when you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake)- he’s everywhere! Does your kid want to play ball or lose a spot on a team over a retweet? If you don’t know what a retweet is, figure it out right now. 

How often should my son attend a Rubio/Sailer camp? Isn’t once enough? What about Vegas?

     1. I am a parent that looks for a really good reason to do something, I evaluate its worth as well as the sacrifice needed to obtain a goal. My son that I’ve referenced here has three siblings, so a great deal of thought has to go into these decisions. The following are my thoughts as a parent on this subject:

          -When preparing to have our son, my husband and I put a great deal of time and effort into being sure he would have the things he needed to thrive. While my husband (as a new dad) was awesome at helping, and he could change a diaper, the first few weeks of diaper changes were pretty comical. Sure, our son had a diaper on, but with practice he had a diaper on that didn’t fall off when we picked him up. Another example would be when our son got his learner’s permit to drive. He was very diligent about safety, and could get us from point A to B. But with practice, he stopped using the brake like an on/off switch. The point is, your athlete will learn great things at one camp, but if his desire is to be the best he can be or to play football at the next level, giving him more opportunities to fine tune his skills is imperative. Yes, attend more than one camp. 

          -While things like form, speed, accuracy, and consistency are themes that remain unchanged at each camp, I can say with certainty that my son has learned something new each time he’s attended a Rubio/Sailer camp. That could mean learning a new drill all the way to walking up to register by himself and displaying the confidence he is building in himself. The best analogy I can think of for this part of the process is much like when one learns to drive a car with a manual transmission. There’s that really fine, smooth moment you let off the clutch and press the gas pedal. In the beginning, most of us had those “herky, jerky” moments and had to restart, or have heard a parent yell “you’re grinding the gears.” If you only attend one camp, it’s probable that you and your athlete will approach most of the day together. If you attend a second camp, and you nudge your son to handle things himself, depending on the kid, it’s going to be somewhat “herky, jerky.” The more opportunities to practice and fine tune skills on and off the field, the smoother the transition will be for your son to become a confident and independent individual in a very positive way.

     2. Vegas. If I could go back in time, I would have gotten my son to this event sooner. It’s honestly not something one can explain, it’s the experience itself. You will hear Sailer and Rubio say go more than once. ABSOLUTELY! The first time you and your son attend this event, it’s like the first day of high school as a freshman. Most of the time is spent figuring everything out (unless your son is a seasoned world traveler that never gets jet lag and is intimidated by nothing). If you’ve ever seen the movie “Hoosiers” (your son probably has not, but hopefully you saw it back in the day), there is a scene where the team makes it to the BIG championship game. They all walk in the arena looking like a bunch of deer in headlights. The coach has them measure the court, and so on. This is much like that first trip to Vegas. Your son will realize the distance to the target hasn’t changed, Sailer and Rubio haven’t changed, and get more comfortable with what comes along with traveling, navigating this mega event, etc. 

Is it (the camps) really worth it?

     1. The easy, quick answer: YES!

     2. The training experience offered by Chris Sailer and Chris Rubio truly is worth it, and here is why:

          -If we are talking dollars and cents, as well as probability and statistics, then it’s a no-brainer. Add up what you would spend on the camps your son attends in a given year (everything- travel, food, hotel, camp, etc.). Nope, it’s not cheap. Now add up the cost of a four year education (and even pick a school with a lesser tuition, but add in staying on campus, a meal plan, transportation of some sort, etc.). You likely have just seen in black and white how beneficial this can be.

          -Do some research. Look at the options out there. It will quickly become clear NO OTHER CAMP offers the same degree of exposure, education, and instruction, AND educates/involves the parent/guardian (maximizing your athlete’s potential by giving him the tools to work hard and smart after camp is over). This is the real deal. 

          -What your son will take away from the Sailer/Rubio camp experience is priceless on several levels. First, this is my son’s goal, his dream- not mine, not my husband’s- his. If this is your athlete’s passion, you will see great things; if it’s your dream and not your kid’s you’re doing it wrong- stop. Second, this is an awesome opportunity for your son to learn responsibility, confidence, and independence BEFORE he steps out into this big ole world on his own. If my son chose to never pick up a football again, what he has learned and gained is more than we could teach him on our own as parents, and that alone makes every bit worth it. Finally, the day I stood back with my husband and watched our son walk up to a college’s special teams coordinator, shake his hand, look him in the eye and have a conversation with him on his own, I knew we were on the right track.

I cannot stress enough how essential the website (www.rubiosblog.com) is. Hopefully you’ve gained some insight and can relax and enjoy this awesome time with your athlete. It’s been one of the best decisions we have ever made.

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper PJ Tobyansen

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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Rubio Long Snapper John DePalma Nominated for Major Award

Long time Rubio Long Snapper, John DePalma of West Virginia, has been nominated for the 2015 FAA National Football Foundation Scholar Athlete Award!

According to their website….

The NFF National Scholar-Athlete Awards, presented by Fidelity Investments, was established in 1959 as the first initiative in history to honor scholar-athletes with post-graduate scholarships for their combined athletic, academic and leadership abilities. In 2011, Fidelity Investments became the first official sponsor in the 54-year history of the prestigious program, which has awarded more than $10.7 million to 804 individuals since its inception. The program currently provides $313,000 each year in postgraduate scholarships to the nation’s top scholar-athletes from all levels of collegiate play.

Nominated by their schools, which are limited to one nominee each, candidates must be a senior or graduate student in their final year of eligibility, have a grade point average of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale, have outstanding football ability as a first team player and have demonstrated strong leadership and citizenship.

Congratulations to John and his family! What an honor and I am very proud of him. Incredible snapper and better person if you ever get to meet him.

DePalma, John

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Where Are They Now? Rubio Long Snapper Jeff Palmer

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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