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University of Minnesota Athletics
A Family Tradition; Senior Rian Melander
10/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
So Melander's ambition for gridiron stardom developed at a very young age. He vividly recalls watching his uncle Jon - a four-time letterman and former NFL offensive lineman - while attending Gopher games as an impressionable boy in the late 1980's. His uncle's success is what Melander has sought to emulate. "He's the kind of person I want to be like on the football field and in the classroom," Rian stated. "I can't do better than to model myself after my own uncle."
Instead of an added burden, Melander considers his family's history a benchmark to help him measure his development. He regards his uncle's accomplishments as the standard, so he always strived to be the best player on the field. Melander's uncle acknowledged some lofty expectations for Rian had resulted from growing up in a football family. "But knowing someone in the family had already walked that path probably made playing for the Gophers an easier goal to shoot for," Jon Melander said.
Rian, however, was not able to star at the collegiate level as early as he would have liked. Needing to add weight to his 6-feet-7-inch frame, he redshirted the 2000 season and then suffered through an injury-plagued freshman campaign. Having been a key member of the 1999 Minnesota State High School Championship team at Cretin-Derham Hall, Melander yearned to again contribute to a team's on-the-field success. "Although I was on the demo squad, I didn't feel like I was making a big enough contribution," he stated.
Melander's frustration, therefore, continued to build to the point where he actually considered walking away from football. Luckily, his uncle's first-hand knowledge of the trials of being a freshman player helped Melander avoid a regrettable decision. "I was redshirted and then sat out for nearly a year and a half with injuries, so I knew the frustration he was feeling," Jon Melander said. "I wasn't trying to preach to him, but offer honest advice from someone that actually had been through the same thing."
Rian called his uncle's advice to persevere the most important he received from anyone. In retrospect, despite the psychological difficulty of not playing, Melander now regards his redshirt season as the best thing that happened to him as a player because of his simultaneous physical and technical development during the year. As a lineman weighing less than 250 pounds, Melander said he was forced to learn correct form and footwork before he could ever push anyone around. Now tipping the scale at nearly 300 pounds, Melander could simply use his added strength and size to physically dominate an opponent. Yet he still continues to try and make the perfect block on every play. "Since I've already done it the right way so many times, I don't get away from it just because I'm bigger," he explained.
Melander's combination of great size and athletic skill make him the perfect choice to play left tackle. He takes enormous pride in protecting the quarterback's blindside, and starting quarterback Bryan Cupito can rest assured that he is guarded by one of the nation's best. Melander, a 2003 second team All-Big Ten selection, was tabbed as the 10th-best offensive tackle in the nation this season by Lindy's.
Despite the accolades, Melander may not yet hold the title of best lineman in the family. Rian described a friendly rivalry between his uncle and him that's fueled by a jovial debate about who has better footwork and who is a superior run blocker. What is obvious is that Rian bears a striking resemblance to his uncle on the field. "Everyone that saw me play back in the late 1980's says Rian looks exactly like me," Jon Melander explained. Friends have told him that watching Rian is like seeing Jon's twin. "But honestly, as far as playing ability, he's got much better feet than I had and his technique is tremendous," Jon proudly admits.
Melander said he's always playing with his family in mind because earning his uncle's respect and making his entire family proud inspires him. His parents have never missed attending one of his games, and their presence in the stands provides constant encouragement. It's a repeat performance of what the Melander family did for Jon a generation ago and now he's enjoying his new role of cheerleader. "It's been fun for me to just be a fan," Jon explained.
The success of Gopher football has changed dramatically since Jon's playing days in the 1980's. Being a part of some "not-so-good teams," he said it's especially rewarding to see a team led by his nephew winning so often. And having witnessed in person the struggles of prior Minnesota teams, it's equally gratifying for Rian to be a part of a senior class that's helped turn the program around. "Contributing to the growth of Gopher football and promoting the University of Minnesota makes me feel great," he declared.
Through his hard work and dedication, Rian has undoubtedly earned the respect of his fellow teammates, as evidenced by his selection as a 2004 team captain. Melander called it the greatest personal honor he has ever received, and it's a leadership roll he takes very seriously. Leading primarily by example, he hopes to be remembered as someone that played to the whistle on every play.
No. 74 anticipates an opportunity to showcase his skill on Sunday afternoons next season. So having a relative that formerly played in the NFL once again provides Rian with valuable insight. "He's had a solid collegiate career and if he keeps improving I'm sure he'll do just fine at the next level," Jon Melander said of his nephew's chances of making a pro team roster.
Even during Melander's struggles as a freshman his uncle assured him that his time wearing Maroon and Gold would go by quickly. Rian said he remembered early-on feeling like every day lasted a year. "But looking back, four years ago does seem like it was yesterday," he stated. "It's an important message I've tried to pass along to the underclassmen. There's going to be hard days and fun days, but it all passes really quickly."
Rian Melander's time as a Gopher football player has fulfilled his destiny and carried on a family legacy. When asked to summarize what it was like growing up in a football family, Melander recalled a time when, as a youth, he was cut near the end of try-outs for a traveling basketball team. Though obviously disappointed about not making the squad, Rian was consoled by his dad's words of wisdom. He remembered his father saying 'Son, you aren't meant to play center on a basketball court. You're meant to play left tackle on the football field.'
After all, it's a family tradition.
Written by Kevin Noth, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant Rian Melander always seemed destined to play football for the University of Minnesota. Being a Golden Gopher is simply part of his pedigree. His great uncle Raymond and his uncle Jon had worn Maroon and Gold before him, making Melander a third generation Gopher athlete. "I always knew I was going to be a football player," he explained. "It's what everyone in my family has done."
So Melander's ambition for gridiron stardom developed at a very young age. He vividly recalls watching his uncle Jon - a four-time letterman and former NFL offensive lineman - while attending Gopher games as an impressionable boy in the late 1980's. His uncle's success is what Melander has sought to emulate. "He's the kind of person I want to be like on the football field and in the classroom," Rian stated. "I can't do better than to model myself after my own uncle."
Instead of an added burden, Melander considers his family's history a benchmark to help him measure his development. He regards his uncle's accomplishments as the standard, so he always strived to be the best player on the field. Melander's uncle acknowledged some lofty expectations for Rian had resulted from growing up in a football family. "But knowing someone in the family had already walked that path probably made playing for the Gophers an easier goal to shoot for," Jon Melander said.
Rian, however, was not able to star at the collegiate level as early as he would have liked. Needing to add weight to his 6-feet-7-inch frame, he redshirted the 2000 season and then suffered through an injury-plagued freshman campaign. Having been a key member of the 1999 Minnesota State High School Championship team at Cretin-Derham Hall, Melander yearned to again contribute to a team's on-the-field success. "Although I was on the demo squad, I didn't feel like I was making a big enough contribution," he stated.
Melander's frustration, therefore, continued to build to the point where he actually considered walking away from football. Luckily, his uncle's first-hand knowledge of the trials of being a freshman player helped Melander avoid a regrettable decision. "I was redshirted and then sat out for nearly a year and a half with injuries, so I knew the frustration he was feeling," Jon Melander said. "I wasn't trying to preach to him, but offer honest advice from someone that actually had been through the same thing."
Rian called his uncle's advice to persevere the most important he received from anyone. In retrospect, despite the psychological difficulty of not playing, Melander now regards his redshirt season as the best thing that happened to him as a player because of his simultaneous physical and technical development during the year. As a lineman weighing less than 250 pounds, Melander said he was forced to learn correct form and footwork before he could ever push anyone around. Now tipping the scale at nearly 300 pounds, Melander could simply use his added strength and size to physically dominate an opponent. Yet he still continues to try and make the perfect block on every play. "Since I've already done it the right way so many times, I don't get away from it just because I'm bigger," he explained.
Melander's combination of great size and athletic skill make him the perfect choice to play left tackle. He takes enormous pride in protecting the quarterback's blindside, and starting quarterback Bryan Cupito can rest assured that he is guarded by one of the nation's best. Melander, a 2003 second team All-Big Ten selection, was tabbed as the 10th-best offensive tackle in the nation this season by Lindy's.
Despite the accolades, Melander may not yet hold the title of best lineman in the family. Rian described a friendly rivalry between his uncle and him that's fueled by a jovial debate about who has better footwork and who is a superior run blocker. What is obvious is that Rian bears a striking resemblance to his uncle on the field. "Everyone that saw me play back in the late 1980's says Rian looks exactly like me," Jon Melander explained. Friends have told him that watching Rian is like seeing Jon's twin. "But honestly, as far as playing ability, he's got much better feet than I had and his technique is tremendous," Jon proudly admits.
Melander said he's always playing with his family in mind because earning his uncle's respect and making his entire family proud inspires him. His parents have never missed attending one of his games, and their presence in the stands provides constant encouragement. It's a repeat performance of what the Melander family did for Jon a generation ago and now he's enjoying his new role of cheerleader. "It's been fun for me to just be a fan," Jon explained.
The success of Gopher football has changed dramatically since Jon's playing days in the 1980's. Being a part of some "not-so-good teams," he said it's especially rewarding to see a team led by his nephew winning so often. And having witnessed in person the struggles of prior Minnesota teams, it's equally gratifying for Rian to be a part of a senior class that's helped turn the program around. "Contributing to the growth of Gopher football and promoting the University of Minnesota makes me feel great," he declared.
Through his hard work and dedication, Rian has undoubtedly earned the respect of his fellow teammates, as evidenced by his selection as a 2004 team captain. Melander called it the greatest personal honor he has ever received, and it's a leadership roll he takes very seriously. Leading primarily by example, he hopes to be remembered as someone that played to the whistle on every play.
No. 74 anticipates an opportunity to showcase his skill on Sunday afternoons next season. So having a relative that formerly played in the NFL once again provides Rian with valuable insight. "He's had a solid collegiate career and if he keeps improving I'm sure he'll do just fine at the next level," Jon Melander said of his nephew's chances of making a pro team roster.
Even during Melander's struggles as a freshman his uncle assured him that his time wearing Maroon and Gold would go by quickly. Rian said he remembered early-on feeling like every day lasted a year. "But looking back, four years ago does seem like it was yesterday," he stated. "It's an important message I've tried to pass along to the underclassmen. There's going to be hard days and fun days, but it all passes really quickly."
Rian Melander's time as a Gopher football player has fulfilled his destiny and carried on a family legacy. When asked to summarize what it was like growing up in a football family, Melander recalled a time when, as a youth, he was cut near the end of try-outs for a traveling basketball team. Though obviously disappointed about not making the squad, Rian was consoled by his dad's words of wisdom. He remembered his father saying 'Son, you aren't meant to play center on a basketball court. You're meant to play left tackle on the football field.'
After all, it's a family tradition.
Written by Kevin Noth, Athletic Communications Graduate Assistant
