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University of Minnesota Athletics
Future Gopher Q&A: John Rabe
6/7/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football
GopherSports.com will be posting interviews with all the newest Gophers from the 2011 signing class throughout the remainder of the spring and summer. The next profile in the series is a conversation with junior college transfer tight end John Rabe, who hails from Iowa Falls, Iowa.
Rabe is a graduate of Ellsworth Community College. He has three years available to play two seasons at Minnesota. Rabe led his team to a 9-1 overall record and a 7-0 mark in the Midwest Football Conference last season. He was a junior college All-America performer in 2010 as well. Rabe hauled in 43 receptions for 406 yards and two touchdowns last season. As a prep player, Rabe was a first-team all-state middle linebacker for Iowa Falls-Alden High School.
Rabe enrolled at Minnesota in January and went through spring practice with the Gophers.
| John Rabe |
John Rabe: "I definitely think it has after doing all of the winter conditioning and spring ball. I have been here for a while now and it has really set in. I've made new friendships on the team. I definitely feel a part of the team through the coaching staff that recruited me and going through the workouts with these guys."
GopherSports.com: What other schools had you been considering as well as Minnesota?
John Rabe: "I was going to go to Northern Illinois originally. I committed there last summer to go play for Coach Kill. I was going to go there all the way up until he took the job here. After that happened, Ohio University offered me. Central Michigan, Northern Iowa. Purdue and Iowa State both showed interest as well but then he ended up offering me once he came here so I just followed him."
GopherSports.com: What made you want to come to Minnesota?
John Rabe: "I never really got recruited by Minnesota at all until Coach Kill got here. But it was always been a dream of mine to play at a Big Ten school, so it was an easy decision for me."
GopherSports.com: When did you decide that you wanted to play Division I football?
John Rabe: "I'd say after my junior year. I had a pretty good junior year in high school. I wasn't getting heavily recruited though. My only option was to walk-on at a 1-AA school. So I ended up going to a junior college. I wanted to play Division I ball and it all ended up working out."
GopherSports.com: What are some of your goals for your first season as a Golden Gopher?
John Rabe: "Right now, I just want to contribute any way I can. I have been trying to work hard and whatever happens, happens. If it is a small role I need to play, I will do it to the best of my ability. But my goal is to help the team out as much as I can. Any way they want me to help out, I will."
GopherSports.com: What are some of your long-term goals for your college career?
John Rabe: "My dream would be to play in the NFL. But right now as a Gopher, I just want to build this team up and possibly win a Big Ten Championship down the road."
GopherSports.com: What are you most looking forward to at Minnesota?
John Rabe: "Just to be able to play in the Big Ten Conference and the atmosphere that it brings with all of the stadiums and great teams that we will be playing against."
GopherSports.com: What is your favorite football memory?
John Rabe: "Probably the night I got offered by Minnesota. It was really stressful the week leading up to it because I didn't know what was going to happen after Coach Kill left Northern Illinois. When I got the offer from Minnesota, it was a pretty big weight off of my shoulders and it was a dream come true to play in the Big Ten for a coach that I wanted to play for."
GopherSports.com: What's your major?
John Rabe: "I am a Business Marketing major, so I am just trying to get into that right now."
GopherSports.com: What is some of your favorite music to listen to?
John Rabe: "I am more of a classic rock, hard rock and country type of guy."
GopherSports.com: What are your favorite movies?
John Rabe: "I have always been like a war movie type guy so I like The Patriot and Gladiator and movies like that."
GopherSports.com: Do you have any 'must see' shows you have to watch every week?
John Rabe: "I am big into That 70s Show. I like The Simpsons and South Park. Comedy shows like that. I like Jersey Shore too."
GopherSports.com: Do you have anything else you'd like to say to Gopher fans who are reading this?
John Rabe: "We're working hard. We're trying to improve each day, so that we can hopefully put together a good season next year.
-Interview by Athletic Communications Assistant Kate Wadman
