Q & A with senior linebacker Rob Tabatchnick
12/26/2007 12:00:00 AM | Football
Dec. 26, 2007
Senior linebacker Rob Tabatchnick battled through injuries his entire career, but he is leaving his mark on the field in his last season playing for the Green and White. Tabatchnick, a fourth-year walk-on, missed the first six games of the season. The 5-11, 215-pounder saw his first action of the year in the Homecoming win over Indiana. He recorded a career-high seven tackles (five solo, two assists) in the road win at Purdue, and in his first career start in his last game at Spartan Stadium, he delivered three tackles and two pass break-ups vs. Penn State. Preparing for his first bowl game, Tabatchnick talked with msuspartans.com at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort on Christmas Eve.
How has the bowl experience been so far?
"It's everything and then some. For one, it gives us an extra month of practice to still hang out with the guys, which is great. Just the experience of being down here and getting a chance to see all the sights has been memorable."
Having to battle all of the injuries throughout your career, do you see this trip as a reward for all of the hard work you have put in over the years?
"The first time I came to Michigan State and stepped out onto the football field four years ago, I never thought it would go this fast. Now that it's here, and I'm at the last game, I couldn't ask for anything more, playing in a great game at the Champs Sports Bowl. I'll get the chance to play a lot on defense too, which means so much after all the hard work and effort I had to put in being a walk-on."
was your mindset going into this year since you were injured, and how did you battle back?
"I knew it was my last year, and I wanted to go out with a bang. I had a setback at the beginning of the season and had to get my knee scoped again, for the fifth time. I'd been through it before, and I knew that it wasn't going to stop me. I wanted to finish my career out strong. It would have been easy to just throw the towel in and not worry about it and try to be just a regular student, but I would have regretted that decision my whole life. I just love football so much that I wouldn't have given it up for the world.
"There were some days where I was struggling and thinking maybe I should just cash in. But my parents said that the biggest thing in life is you don't want to regret something. I knew I would regret this more than anything if I just quit because not many people get to experience this, and to just throw it all away for something that I could've overcome, which I did, would've been stupid."
How exciting was it to lead the team in tackles in the win at Purdue?
"That game was the culmination of all the hard work I had put in over the past four years. To finally come out and have a breakthrough game and provide some positive impact on the field on game day really meant a lot to me and my family."
What were you feeling after winning your last career game at Spartan Stadium against Penn State?
"At halftime we knew we were still in the game and we could beat Penn State. The seniors kept coming together wanting to push everyone on the team, and the young guys stepped up and played great. The feeling after that game was so great. We were still in shock, still in awe of what happened (after the game).
"That Penn State game is definitely up in the top three of my favorite career moments as a Michigan State football player. I'll never forget the win two years ago at Notre Dame (44-41 win in overtime). That last win against Penn State, you couldn't ask for a better way to go out of Spartan Stadium. Beating No. 4 Wisconsin my freshman year was the other top highlight for me."
Do you have any family attending the game on Friday?
"Definitely. My dad's whole side of the family lives in Florida. My mom's parents live in Florida too. So I'll have at least 20-30 people coming to this game."
