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Nate Ebner Heading To Rio On Usa Men’s Rugby 7’s Team
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
No so long after announcing his return to the New England Patriots in a two-year extension deal that lands him a million-plus each year Nate Ebner will be missing training camp this summer as he heads to Brazil as a member of the USA Rugby Team. Bill Belichick, Ebner recalls, was welcoming of his pursuit – with no qualms of his absence this summer. “I was a bit nervous in bringing it to him. But he was understanding, and great!”
On Monday, USA Rugby men’s sevens head coach Mike Friday named the squad that will represent our nation at the Olympics in Brazil, among the 12 men named is current New England Patriots safety/special teamer and former Buckeye Nate Ebner.
Rugby is returning to the Olympics’ scheduled events after nearly a 100-year absence. It was last played in Summer Games way back in 1924. The USA team won the gold medal back then (this is when 15-men to a side was played then).
Ebner was a standout rugby player throughout his childhood, learning the game from his father, Jeff, who had played college rugby at the University of Minnesota. As a teenager, Nate mostly played against grown men, all of which were his father’s age – thereabouts. He was so good that at the age of 17 he became the youngest to play for the USA Sevens team, named MVP of the under-19 Junior World Championships and MVP of the under-20 world championship a year later.
Ebner decided he wanted to try football too. He would successfully walk on for The Ohio State University in 2009. This was his first try at organized football. The Patriots’ liked what they saw in Ebner despite his slender experience. They used a sixth round in the 2012 draft to add him to their family.
He has played in 57 games over the last four seasons, primarily as a special-teamer while also seeing some action at safety.
The announcement has added a feather to Nate’s hat of dreams. When his father was murdered on November 13, 2008, in a robbery attempt at the auto salvage shop he owned at the age of 54, Nate was only a month away from his 20th birthday. He was now tasked with the eulogy of the person he loved so dearly. His dream was to reach one of the highest levels of the sport that his father taught him – which they both loved so much…
…The Olympics is indeed the highest level. Nate’s father is beaming with pride from above.
Congratulations Nate!
The post Nate Ebner Heading To Rio On Usa Men’s Rugby 7’s Team appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...
jcollingsworth via our good friends at Buckeye Battle Cry
Visit their fantastic blog and read the full article (and so much more) here
No so long after announcing his return to the New England Patriots in a two-year extension deal that lands him a million-plus each year Nate Ebner will be missing training camp this summer as he heads to Brazil as a member of the USA Rugby Team. Bill Belichick, Ebner recalls, was welcoming of his pursuit – with no qualms of his absence this summer. “I was a bit nervous in bringing it to him. But he was understanding, and great!”
On Monday, USA Rugby men’s sevens head coach Mike Friday named the squad that will represent our nation at the Olympics in Brazil, among the 12 men named is current New England Patriots safety/special teamer and former Buckeye Nate Ebner.
Rugby is returning to the Olympics’ scheduled events after nearly a 100-year absence. It was last played in Summer Games way back in 1924. The USA team won the gold medal back then (this is when 15-men to a side was played then).
Ebner was a standout rugby player throughout his childhood, learning the game from his father, Jeff, who had played college rugby at the University of Minnesota. As a teenager, Nate mostly played against grown men, all of which were his father’s age – thereabouts. He was so good that at the age of 17 he became the youngest to play for the USA Sevens team, named MVP of the under-19 Junior World Championships and MVP of the under-20 world championship a year later.
Ebner decided he wanted to try football too. He would successfully walk on for The Ohio State University in 2009. This was his first try at organized football. The Patriots’ liked what they saw in Ebner despite his slender experience. They used a sixth round in the 2012 draft to add him to their family.
He has played in 57 games over the last four seasons, primarily as a special-teamer while also seeing some action at safety.
The announcement has added a feather to Nate’s hat of dreams. When his father was murdered on November 13, 2008, in a robbery attempt at the auto salvage shop he owned at the age of 54, Nate was only a month away from his 20th birthday. He was now tasked with the eulogy of the person he loved so dearly. His dream was to reach one of the highest levels of the sport that his father taught him – which they both loved so much…
…The Olympics is indeed the highest level. Nate’s father is beaming with pride from above.
Congratulations Nate!
The post Nate Ebner Heading To Rio On Usa Men’s Rugby 7’s Team appeared first on The Buckeye Battle Cry: Ohio State News and Commentary.
Continue reading...