Catching That Tiger - Q&A with Blaine Gabbert
1/13/2020 4:00:00 PM | Football
Former QB visits about life as a pro and his memories from Mizzou
Mizzou Football has a proud quarterback lineage in recent years, and MUTigers.com had a chance to catch up recently with one of those greats in Blaine Gabbert.
Gabbert came to Mizzou from Ballwin, Mo., where he was a standout for Parkway West High School and one of the most highly-touted prep quarterbacks in the country. He chose to stay home and play for Mizzou, playing for the Tigers from 2008-10, taking over as a starter for his final two years. Gabbert led the Tigers to 18 wins in those two years as a starter, including a 10-win season in 2010 that saw Mizzou share the Big 12 North Division title with Nebraska. Gabbert was part of several signature wins, but the one that likely stands out most for Tiger fans is the magical Homecoming evening in 2010, when the Tigers knocked off #1 Oklahoma by a 36-27 score.
After playing limited snaps as a true freshman in 2008, Gabbert stepped in and turned in two-straight 3,000-yard passing seasons the following two years, and his 6,822 career passing yards rank sixth on the Mizzou charts, while his 40 career touchdown passes are fifth-best in program history. He also ran for 662 yards and eight career touchdowns, giving him the fifth-most total offense yards in Mizzou history, with 7,280 in just two years, essentially. Gabbert chose to bypass his final year of eligibility at MU, and enter the 2011 NFL Draft, and the decision worked out well for him. He was chosen with the No. 10 overall selection by the Jacksonville Jaguars (the second-highest a Tiger quarterback has ever been picked), and he's gone on to a nine-year career in the league, with more to come. His 2019 season ended prematurely due to a season-ending shoulder injury after joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he's on the way to recovering and getting ready for the 2020 season.
Blaine took some time to answer a few questions we had for him, and here's what he had to say:
MUTigers: Blaine, it's great to catch up, Tiger fans are excited to hear from you. How about an update on your health, as we know the 2019 season ended early for you in Tampa, how is the recovery process going?
BG: Great to catch up as well. The shoulder recovery is going very well. I had surgery three months ago now and I'm finally in the final stages of the rehab process.
MUTigers: You're a veteran of nine seasons in the league now, something most people can only dream about – what has it meant to you to be a professional football player for so long?
BG: It's been a great career so far, through all of the ups and downs. It's been a journey getting to play on different teams, fight through injuries and set backs, but it's rewarding to continue to grow as a player on and off the field. It is a childhood dream of mine to play this game for a living.
MUTigers: You come from a great family that's so involved in the game of football, have your parents gotten to follow you around in the NFL like they did when you were at Mizzou?
BG: Yes they have, they haven't missed a start. I am extremely fortunate to have my parents and brothers as such a great support system traveling to games in Florida, California, Arizona, Tennessee and countless other states.
MUTigers: Of course your younger brother Tyler spent time at Mizzou, and then we remember your little brother Brett running around at scrimmages and game days here, and now all of a sudden, he's winning games of his own in college. Does that make you feel old, and did you get to follow him much at all?
BG: It makes me feel very old! It seems like yesterday Brett was in the locker room after some big Mizzou wins. It made me so proud as an older brother watching Brett win the MAC Championship and to be named Freshman Player of The Year this year. He has been and always will be a winner. I was actually able to make it to four of his games this year, watching him make his first start at Iowa's first opening night game was extremely special along with being able to fly to Detroit to watch him win the championship game.
MUTigers: It's hard to believe it's been almost 10 years since you wore a Tiger jersey! Can you think back to your days at Mizzou and reflect a little bit for us on what your time here meant to you?
BG: You truly mature and grow up as a college football player. Learning how to manage time wisely, balancing school and football. But that wouldn't have been easy without your friends on the team. The relationships I built while playing at Mizzou still hold strong today. Andrew Jones, Will Ebner and I were just hanging out together here in Tampa while they were down on vacation with their families.
MUTigers: You were part of some huge wins at Mizzou, arguably none bigger than in 2010 when you helped lead the Tigers to a win over #1 Oklahoma – what stands out to you as top memories from that experience?
BG: First off, Gahn McGaffie with the opening kick return. That play set the tone for the night, the crowd and stadium were electric. I had never seen Faurot Field so loud and energized. Big plays on both sides of the ball dictated the outcome and it was a big win for the state and football program.
MUTigers: Another game that goes down as an all-time great was the win over San Diego State when you connected with T.J. Moe on a long TD pass in the final minute. What do you recall about that play or the situation overall?
BG: That play had been in the works all night. SDSU kept disguising their cover 00 blitz pressures and we weren't executing the way we should have been until the last play. TJ bailed me out, broke a tackle and with a great block by Jerrell Jackson took off for 80 or however long it was. (MUTigers note: Blaine's memory isn't far off - the game-winning catch-and-run covered 68 yards)
MUTigers: As a freshman you got to serve as an understudy of sorts to Chase Daniel and Chase Patton. What was that experience like for you, and what did you take away from guys like that?
BG: Having the chance to learn from two seniors, watching and learning how they carried themselves on and off the field was great for me as a freshman. Seeing how Chase handled his starting QB duties and how Chase (Patton) helped him in any way he could while they both managed their school course load really laid the foundation for my career.
MUTigers: How about some favorite memories for you of your time at Mizzou off the field? Can be with teammates, coaches, friends, having fun in Columbia, anything at all?
BG: There are too many memories to count. From Lake Trips with Chase and Giss (TE Jon Gissinger), duck hunting before winter workouts with Will Ebner and the boys, fishing down at Will's bay house in Texas and all of our bowl game trips and summer fun. But winning my first start in St. Louis and having all of my friends and family there to watch it was probably the most memorable. (MUTigers note: Blaine made his first collegiate start in his hometown of St. Louis against Illinois, and he led the Tigers to a convincing 37-9 win. He completed 25-of-33 passes on the day for 319 yards and three touchdowns, while he added 39 yards on the ground and a rushing score, as well)
MUTigers: We all know that football doesn't last forever, what plans do you have in store for your post-football days? How about the professional fishing circuit? We know you love to fish!
BG: The professional fishing circuit would be a fun hobby! In the meantime focusing on my current profession takes up a significant amount of time but I'm interested in exploring different business ventures after I'm done with football - whether it be broadcasting or in the business world.
MUTigers: We understand that in your time in San Francisco, you and former Tiger Justin Smith struck up a friendship, what was it like hanging around Smitty?
BG: Justin is great, he truly is one of a kind. Watching him work day in and day out showed the team what standard we had to meet. He is just as fun off the field as he is on and being able to see him in the offseason each year has been a blast.
MUTigers: Who are some of your other Mizzou teammates that you keep in touch with the most? Anything you can dish on any of them?
BG: There are too many to name, from casual texts checking in to hanging out on vacation. The bond you build as a teammate doesn't go away. They're all doing well, most have kids now which makes me feel really old!
MUTigers: Blaine, we know you're busy so we'll leave it at that – thanks for taking the time to chat with us. Anything you'd like to say to Mizzou fans in closing?
BG: Thanks for reaching out and catching up. Always a pleasure. Just wanted to say that I am excited for the new energy surrounding the 2020 season and can't wait to get back. M-I-Z!
Former Tiger players who have an interest in participating in this type of Q&A are encouraged to reach out to football contact Chad Moller at mollerc@missouri.edu.
