PRINTBlaine’s game
Top recruit comes to MU
Missourian Photo File
After Nebraska football coach Bill Callahan was fired, top-ranked recruit Blaine Gabbert decided to stick closer to home and attend MU even though he originally committed to play for Cornhuskers.
May 29, 2008 | 12:00 a.m. CST
In August 2008, like every year before, MU freshmen will walk through the MU Columns and wonder what it’s going to take to leave in four years with a diploma in hand. One freshman, Blaine Gabbert, will have more than just a heavy class load — he’ll have some huge cleats to fill.
The MU football team finished last season ranked No. 4, and Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel is returning. Columbia native Chase Patton, an Elite 11 quarterback like Daniel, is Daniel’s backup. But both Chases are seniors in 2008. Earlier this year, some recruiting services ranked Gabbert as the nation’s No. 1 high school quarterback, and he committed to MU after initially pledging to go to Nebraska.
The pressure on Gabbert is immense, and questions are already starting to swirl around him. Will he be the 2010 Heisman winner? Will he lead MU to a national title? And most importantly, does he have a girlfriend? This 18-year-old is more than just a highly ranked player with a rocket for an arm — he’s also a regular guy who likes John Elway, steak and potatoes, and Black Hawk Down.
Blaine Gabbert was born Oct. 15, 1989. Growing up, Gabbert played baseball and basketball too, but he never strayed from his true passion. “He has always wanted to play football since he was really little,” says his mother, Bev Gabbert.
Family and friends describe Gabbert as a typical teen. He likes going to the movies, hanging out with his buddies and working out. He describes himself as fun, easygoing and smart.
From his dad and uncles, Gabbert acquired a competitive nature that he carries off the field and into his social life. “We make bets when we go fishing,” Gabbert says. “I’ve always been on teams where we’ve won.”
This attitude will be an asset for Gabbert as he comes to MU. “I’m pretty optimistic,” he says. “I’m ready to learn offense from them and other stuff, like how to handle the media.”
Winning in a competitive game is a huge part of success, but another important part is being able to identify weaknesses and improve them. Brian Kessler, athletic director at Gabbert’s high school, Parkway West in Ballwin, Mo., says Gabbert has improved his leadership skills. Leadership is an especially important trait in a quarterback.
Kessler says Gabbert has an amazing support system at home — his parents and two younger brothers: Brent, 7, and Tyler, 16. “I have known the family for a long time,” Kessler says. “And just like his family, he is down to earth and very respectful.”
It might be a challenge to maintain above a 3.0 grade-point average through high school while being a nationally ranked college recruit, but Gabbert has done just that. His mother says she doesn’t know how he does it, he just does. As might be expected from a mother, she thinks he’s a bright kid, but the numbers back up her claim: Gabbert says his GPA is around 3.55, and his favorite subject is math. “He doesn’t even really study that much, and he gets good grades,” Bev Gabbert says.
Gabbert attributes his success to something simple but important: “Time management. If you have work, don’t wait; just get it done.”
Gabbert plans to major in business and knows he will face more of a challenge. He doesn’t know exactly what he wants to do after college — but what high school senior does? He does know, however, that MU was the best option for him.
“I was more comfortable with the coaching staff at MU,” he says. “I definitely made the right choice.”
